A/N (please read): I hate to take up your time, but I'd like to mention a few quick things before I begin that I think will be of some importance in the future, if not now. First of all, this story will be updated daily. Second, I have absolutely no idea where this story is going. Third, each day will have a one-word prompt that will be the premise for that chapter.

So, basically, it's the daily shenanigans of some quirky high school kids. Obviously, as the story progresses, you'll be able to learn more about the characters and hopefully grow somewhat attached to them. The chapters may not always be directly associated to the one previous, but they will be in chronological order (unless stated otherwise). Hopefully I'll be able to keep it interesting, but it'll be up to readers – if I manage to wrangle any, that is – to tell me what they think and if it's boring or funny or weird or what. So, please review if you have the time! :)

Okay, that's pretty much it. Thanks for taking interest in the story!

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Day 1, May 13th – Orange

Lauren had always considered it incredibly funny that her best friend's name was a type of food. It was a fruit, specifically; a tropical of some kind, she believed. But, the most sardonic part was that she was allergic to the very fruit she was named after.

Persimmons herself didn't find it particularly clever, and whenever Lauren even dared mention the irony, she would silence her with an exasperated glower.

It wasn't just persimmons themselves that Persimmons was allergic to. It was something in the skin, or maybe the citrusy flavoring – Lauren wasn't sure, as the topic was a bit touchy for her short, fiery friend.

One day, however, curiosity got the better of her, and during lunch she grabbed a piece of fruit from her lunch tray and, holding it out to her friend, asked, "Persimmons, can you eat oranges?"

Persimmons looked up from where she was finishing her due-next-period homework and quirked an eyebrow. "What kind of question is that?"

Lauren nodded to the orange. "But can you?"

Persimmons stared at the orange for a moment, before returning her gaze to her paper. "Of course I can, but I don't like them."

Mildly irritated by her friend's general disinterest, Lauren tilted her hand, allowing the fruit to roll off her palm and bounce onto Persimmons' work, much to the aggravation of the strawberry blonde.

"What do you want, Lauren?" she snapped, slamming her pencil down and glaring up at her friend. Lauren couldn't resist smiling, but merely shrugged. Persimmons sighed loudly and pushed the orange to the side.

"I swear, you are the weirdest person in the whole world. How did I of all people end up stuck with you for a friend?"

Lauren leaned forward and rested her chin on her folded arms.

"Just got lucky, I guess."

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After school, Lauren and Persimmons met up by the large, army-green trashcan out by the main doors, Lauren's traditional backpack cushioning her as she leaned against the wall, while Persimmons gripped the strap of her oversized messenger bag with stubby fingers.

"So," said the latter after a moment of silence, "what're we doing today?"

Lauren watched a couple pass by, arms thrown around each other as though letting go would be the end of the world; she averted her eyes the clear blue sky. "It's nice out today. We could go to the park." She glanced at Persimmons, who shrugged.

"Works for me. I've got nothing better to do."

Lauren grinned and pushed away from the wall, and the two started down the street side by side.

The entire town of Miridae Grotto was beautiful; small and quaint and safe. There was Ivy Avenue and Oakley Drive, where all the larger-than-life houses were; there was Willow Lane and Cedar Street, where the houses were nice for families and close to all the schools (Lauren herself lived on Cedar Street); and then there was Hemlock Road and the Kestrel Cul-de-sac, where every house was petite and white with a pastel trim. Persimmons lived on the cul-de-sac, in a square house with baby pink windows and roof trimmings and welcome mat. She claimed it drove her crazy, but Lauren had a sneaking suspicion that it was starting to grow on her.

Past the cluster of nature-themed streets with their quirky houses was the park. It was neglected and stonewashed, with a metal slide, two flat wooden swings with rusty chains, and a graphitized rocking horse, which was beginning to rot and bend against the wind. There was another park, a newer park, all fresh and colorful, the place where mothers took their children. But Lauren and Persimmons preferred the old park, the ugly park, the ghost park; because it was their park, and as selfish as it was, they liked it that way.

Wading her way through half-dead grass, Lauren plopped herself down on one of the swings and inhaled the icy May air – it was shockingly cold for late spring, but she supposed that each month wouldn't be complete without at least one day of uncharacteristic weather.

Persimmons set her bag under a young oak tree and joined Lauren at the swing set. When she hopped up onto it, her feet didn't quite reach the ground. Lauren glanced away and did her best to suppress her smile.

"School's almost out," Persimmons said, leaning against the chain closest to her friend. Lauren pushed her swing into motion and nodded.

"June first," she sighed wistfully, sticking her legs straight out in front of her as she glided forward. "I can't believe freshman year is almost over."

Persimmons mumbled agreement before jumping off her swing and walking over to her bag. Lauren, curious, skidded to a halt and followed. When she crouched down beside her friend, she found the blonde pulling the orange from earlier out of a side pocket.

"You still have that?" she asked, surprised. Persimmons gave a small nod and began to peel it with her bare hands. Lauren watched her fingers turn a powdery shade of orange, as ring after ring of peelings fell into the green grass at their feet.

Once she was done, Persimmons ripped a slice away from the rest, the whites catching under her fingernails. She handed it to Lauren, before pulling off a second for herself. Then she popped it in her mouth, chewing slowly.

"Does it taste good?" asked Lauren. Persimmons screwed her eyes shut and shook her head.

"It tastes like the end of the school year," she whimpered with her mouth full. "Bitter and sour and overwhelming."

"That's because you left the whites on," Lauren laughed, flaking away the unwanted membrane with her thumbs. Then she ate it, flashing Persimmons an orange-slice smile before biting. Persimmons snickered.

"What does it taste like to you?" she asked once she had finished. Lauren pondered this for a moment, then replied.

"Like the end of the school year," she said at last. "Tangy, but fresh and invigorating."

Persimmons rolled her eyes. "I figured you'd say something like that."

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A/N: Okay, so this is my first, multi-chaptered piece of work to be posted on a public site. Hopefully it's not too terribly awful, and please give me some Constructive Criticism if you have the time! :) Thanks for reading!