Ludvig yawned widely as he walked out of his front door, thankfully his father had already left for work so he could avoid the endless request for him to try out for the football team. For some reason, his dad had not let his dream of having a football star as a son go. Even though Ludvig had as much athletic prowess as a blind sloth.
He quickly glanced at his watch and saw that it was only 07:10. Meaning he had time to go get coffee. He threw his backpack in the backseat as he started the car before driving in the direction of his best friend’s house. On the way over he stopped by the coffee house where he had worked just 7 hours before. After popping in and ordering a muffin and a cappuccino to go he soon arrived at the DeLuca residence. Putting the car into park, Ludvig pulled his phone out to send a text to let Camila know he was waiting outside.
“First day of school back in Columbus,” Camila muttered as she remained hidden from the outside world. Her blankets covered the majority of her body, though part of her auburn hair caught the sunlight from her bedroom window.
She had been awake for some time now. Whether excitement to see all of the friends she had left behind, as well as those who she didn’t know yet, or if it was anxiety taking root, filling her mind with thoughts about scenarios that might not even happen. Whether it was the approaching dread she felt in the pit of her stomach or the sense of nostalgia sprouting, Camila wasn’t exactly sure nor was she ready to hop out of bed.
She kept glancing at her phone, using it as the sole reason for her not being up and about. Truth was, she definitely
was nervous. It was a strange feeling for her but one that she found herself experiencing often. Ever since she had moved away from Columbus and had to settle into new surroundings in Staten Island, she’s always felt nervous about new locations. Of course, she loved being back home. She wasn’t in her old home, but she was near it and she was near Ludvig again. Plus, some of her older friends that maintained contact with her.
So it wasn’t like she had any reason to feel like this, yet as she sighed, scrolling through her InstaFeed and seeing all of her friends from Staten Island posting about their Junior year, even tagging her, saying they missed her and wished she was still in New York with them, she was feeling conflicted.
“Rise and shine, Camila!”
Her father came bursting into her room, door slamming open, blanket swiftly pulled off her bed, and exposing a sixteen-year-old whose eyes hadn’t adjusted to the forced light in her eyes and she closed them immediately.
“Dad! What gives!?” She complained to him, eyes still closed.
“C’mon Camila! It’s your first day of school back! You can’t be late, not when you spent so much time with Ludvig!”
She sighed. This wasn’t how she wanted to start the day, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Ugh, fine.”“Very good!” Stephen smiled at a still sleepy Camila. He turned around and walked towards the door of her bedroom, but then he stopped halfway out. “So get ready. Breakfast will be ready soon!”
“Yes sir!” She gave him a sarcastic salute and propped herself up. Camila knew she had to push whatever uneasy thoughts were on her mind out. Regardless of what was on her mind or how she was feeling, she knew that she had to put on the bravest face she had and remain optimistic. She was capable of doing that much.
For the next twenty minutes, she showered, brushed her hair to perfection, and picked out an outfit. Her mindset had changed and her mood was back at its usual focused, centered self. Just as well because she was faced with probably the biggest decision of her life: what to wear.
First impressions were everything to her. While it was a fact that some of those at Rosefell wouldn’t care nor would it be their first time seeing her, it’s been over three years since anyone last saw her (save for Ludvig). Back then, she was a flat-chested ginger who was a little too nice and somewhat shy, but now she’s different. She has more confidence than she did when she last lived in Columbus and was a little more sure of herself in a lot of ways.
So, while some might think this to be not important and a little minuscule to other important issues in the world, Camila DeLuca was trying her damndest to decide what route to go for her first-day outfit.
“Should I wear pants? It’s not that hot outside, so maybe I could get away with it.” She held up a pair of red, half-leather pants to see if she was feeling it. A moment later, she shook her head, putting it back in the closet.
“Maybe a leopard print skirt?” Looking at it, she shook her head again.
“I just don’t know!”She ran her hands through her auburn locks, screaming mildly, though the panic was anything but.
A few minutes later, she received a text from Ludvig and he said he was outside.
“Oh that’s perfect timing!” She smiled and ran out of her room with her robe on. She heard her father complain about how she wasn’t dressed -- which she ignored for the time being -- and ran to the door, gesturing Ludvig in.
“Camila Violet! Why aren’t you dressed?”
Oh great, there he went using the middle name.
Cami rolled her eyes.
“Don’t worry daddy, Ludvig is just going to help me with something and I’ll be ready. Promise!”“Oh fine, but hurry it up! Your breakfast is getting cold and you’ll be late if you don’t make it fast!”
“Yes, I know, Dad!” She rolled her eyes as she saw Ludvig walk up to the door and she opened it for him.
The blond boy squinted up at the house as he got out of the car and slowly made his way towards the open front door. He plastered on a smile as he had learned to do as of lately
“Good morning Mr. DeLuca, how are you, sir?” Ludvig greeted as he offered a small short wave.
Stephen smiled at the young man. “As well as one can be in the morning.” Stephen sized up Ludvig and half-chuckled to himself. “Are you excited for the new school year, Ludvig?
“Yes sir. As excited as one could be I guess…” he offered a small thin-lipped smile. Excited was the last thing Ludvig was feeling about going back to school, but at least he would get to go back with Camila by his side.
Stephen laughed, appreciating Ludvig’s sense of humor, though he saw his daughter desperately wanting to get Ludvig away from him, so he nodded, allowing the two teens to go to her room. “Remember, the school won’t wait for you two slackers!” He joked mildly as they left for her room.
A small chuckle escaped the tall boy as Camila dragged him upstairs towards her room, eyes widening when he saw the clothes spread out on her bed.
“Well…” he began.
“I see you’re having a hard time deciding what to wear for your grand entrance to Rosefell.” He turned to look at her with an amused face.
“Uhm let’s put this in the… no pile.” he said picking up a heinous leopard print skirt.
“You’re not a 40-year-old lady are you?” he turned and grinned at her.
“What are your other choices?”She laughed, though couldn’t help but playfully roll her eyes at his reaction to her 80s throwback.
“That was for a costume party before I left the Island. I just couldn’t bring myself to part with it.” She sighed, her mind briefly reflecting on that party. A moment later, she would hang it up and return to the three choices that had her scatterbrain this morning.
“So I’m equally divided between this white blouse with this multi-colored mini-skirt, my red jacket with a black blouse and red pants outfit, and.” She paused, pulling out another outfit that had a
spaghetti strap top and black pants.
“There’s also this one,” she sighed. Her indecisiveness was gonna be the death of her.
Ludvig cocked his head to one side biting his lip in thought
“Well… is it cheesy that we kind of match if you wear that?” he said pointing at the white top and skirt combo. He turned to her and wiggled his eyebrows
“You know walking in together and all?”“You have a point there.” “I always do” he pondered.
Camila was half-deep in thought, her eyes dividing their attention between Ludvig and what he had on and the outfit she found herself being drawn to the more she looked at it. It wasn’t before long that the redheaded girl was fixating on just that one outfit. Given it was too hot outside for that much polyester, so as stylish as it was, her red-on-black-on-red one would have to go back into the closet and the same could be said for the one she had just pulled out.
Nodding in approval, she smiled at Ludvig.
“Then it’s decided! We’re gonna walk into Rosefell, matching and in style!” She grinned at her best friend, slipping off her robe, unveiling her undergarments.
“And I do have to s-” he started to say as he turned around seeing his long-time friend in her underwear. He cleared his throat and shuffled around a little. They had known each other for so long and it had never been anything but platonic between them but still, Ludvig was still a bit awkward seeing someone he has known for eleven years in just a bra and panties.
She wouldn’t do anything to cover up, though she found it amusing how quickly Ludvig tensed up as soon as her robe came off. She shrugged it off and slipped on her skirt as it slid up her legs. It was a little tighter than she remembered.
“I’ll have to get this refitted when I get the chance,” she noted aloud, reaching for her blouse, though she caught Ludvig’s glance.
“Sorry, is this too much of Camila for you?” She giggled.
It took the boy a moment to regain his composure and he shook his head to center himself.
“Maybe just a bit… Just put the shirt on Cami!” he laughed looking at his watch
“Crap! We need to book it if we want to be on time!” he said gesturing for his best friend to speed up.
ShitShe panicked. As much as she wanted to keep teasing him, the Good Lord was telling her it was time to move along. So she quickly put on her blouse, which just like the skirt was a little tight on her. It was supposed to come down to just above her waistline, but due to the size of her bust, it was a few inches of Waistline City. She wanted to complain about it, but again, pressed for time.
She stood in front of the mirror in her room, making sure everything was aligned perfectly. She grabbed a hair tie from her nightstand and put up her hair in a neat ponytail. She made sure it was perfect.
“Well, how does it look?” She asked Ludvig, desperately seeking his approval.
He was almost halfway out of her bedroom door when he turned around and surveyed Camila. A warm fond smile lit up his face
“You look perfect.” he said grabbing her arm dragging her out of her room.
“Yeah that’s what I thought so too,” she muttered under her breath and her face gleamed with a bright smile. She quickly picked up her school bag and purse from her bed, grabbed her circular
sunglasses with a golden rim, and followed Ludvig out of her room.
“All righty, let's be on our way. Daddy’s probably gonna be mad that I didn’t eat breakfast, though.” she had just a mild worry. He worked so hard on it, so she couldn’t help but show some concern.
“I have a muffin in the car, you can have it!” Ludvig said as they got down the stairs. He turned his head and yelled into the house
“Have a good day Mr. DeLuca!” before he bounded down the porch stairs and headed over to his car and unlocking it.
“But I made breakfast with all the fixings!” Stephen whined, looking at a halfway-out-the-door Camila.
“I’m sorry daddy! Time got away from me. I’ll make it up to you after school! I promise!” She blew a kiss at him and followed Ludvig’s suit, getting into the passenger side of Ludvig’s green Volvo station wagon.
“So many memories in this car...” She commented fondly, leaning back into the worn-out cushion of the seat.
“Yeah… I can still remember when grandpa bought it for me.” he paused a moment. It was still too painful to think about his grandparents so he caught himself before he spiraled downwards as he usually did nowadays. A small sniff and a nervous smile later they were on their way towards school.
“So you nervous coming back? Have you told anyone besides me that you’re back?” he asked drumming nervously on the steering wheel trying to change the subject from him almost crying a few moments ago.
She saw that he was desperate for a topic change, so she happily would oblige with very little hesitation.
“No, you’re the only one. I mean, I’m not trying to keep my return a secret. Anyone who follows me on Insta knows I’m back. I’ve just been so swallowed in getting reused to Columbus and unpacking, that I haven’t had the time to reach out to anyone. I doubt they’d recognize me if they saw me.” Camila tried not to ramble on, but maybe she
was a little nervous but that wasn’t the only thing she was feeling right now.
She lamented on just everything, trying to find the right feeling.
“Nervous isn’t the word I would use, though. I’m excited to see who will recognize me but also, I’m worried nobody would. I don’t know if you remember since we kept in constant contact since I left, but I was pretty flat when I left,” she laughed, remember the summer she left was when she blossomed like a beautiful, busty butterfly.
A scoff left the boy as he gave Camila a quick side glance before returning to the road.
“Yeah well, most of the people have changed since middle school babe. And besides, if they don’t remember you we’ll just have to make sure they notice you know.” He said as he pulled into an empty parking spot. He turned his car off and pulled the keys out and pocketed them before turning to face Camila.
“I’m really happy your back…” he sighed before pulling his friend into a warm embrace.
She clung onto him for dear life, enjoying the tight embrace for as long as she possibly could.
“I’m happy too! I’ve missed you and Columbus, even if it’s the same, dirty town as always!” She laughed, finally releasing Ludvig after a long minute.
As she got out, grabbing her bag from the backseat, something -- or rather the lack of some
things -- caught her immediate attention.
“Lud, I think we’re a little late. There’s hardly anyone around.” She surveyed the parking lot and saw all of the various cars.
“Huh?” he asked as he retrieved his backpack straightening up looking around.
Suddenly, a voice came from the intercom.
"Attention all Rosefell Juniors' and Seniors'. Please report for your mandatory welcome back assembly in the auditorium at eight-thirty sharp. Thank you. That will be all."
When they finished, she looked to Ludvig.
“Say, Lud, what time is it right now?” She asked him.
Rolling his eyes he checked his watch
“It’s… eight, ten. We have some time!” he said putting an arm around his friend as they walked together towards the main building. Looking around he saw some of their fellow students milling about. Coming closer he spotted his fellow blonde Aria sitting alone at one of the red picnic tables.
“Good morning Aria! Breakfast of champs again I see!” he smiled eyeing the TacoBell wrappers strewn about the table as he sat down he gestured to Camila to do the same.
“Aria, this is my good friend Camila! She just moved back from New York!”Upon seeing Aria, Camila’s heart had nearly sunk at how drop-dead gorgeous she was. Of course, she couldn’t let anyone know that, so she put on the bravest,
fake smile she had. She had to or else the obvious attraction she felt towards the blonde would be seen as such.
“Hey, nice to meet you, Aria!” Camila smiled politely at the blonde.
