Post by Koisplash on May 7, 2011 6:37:58 GMT -6
"Are you going to do it or not?" Amber hissed.
"I am! I just need to figure out the right time to do it," I said.
"You're just chicken," she sneered.
"Am not!" I snapped hotly.
"No one's looking. Do it now! I'll give you five minutes before we go to lunch without you." Amber ordered haughtily as she left.
I watched the door slam shut behind her; and then turned back to looking out from behind the book-crammed shelves. I could feel the sweat soaking the parts of the T-shirt against my armpits and my stomach squirm.
Why am I doing this? I asked myself for the millionth time that day. But the answer came easily; like it always did. Because if you're part of Amber's clique; no one will pick on you. No one will call you names. No one will put you down---except Amber.
Amber was the baddest girl at school. She wasn't popular (in fact, far from it---she was well-feared more than well-liked); but she was infamous for her pushy, tough attitude and her constantly looking down her nose at those she thought below her---and that was everyone besides those special enough to be included in her group. And even then; she treated those in her private clique like trash and used them like pawns and puppets just to get her way.
But if anyone messed with her or a girl in her group; she would see to it that their life would be a living hell until they found a way to leave the school.
I was the new girl, though; vulnerable to teasing and other kids' cruelty. I had moved from a tiny, rented apartment in New York City with my mom; who just recently filed a divorce against my dad. He had pushed her around so much that she had gotten sick of it, and decided to take custody of me and leave. To be honest; I was extremely relieved. My dad's constant yelling and terrorizing and trying to push my mom around had terrified me into utter silence whenever he was around; and now we were finally getting away from all the fights and anger and hatred.
Not to mention that the old junior high school I went to in NYC was like a living hell. I was picked on for my acne and glasses and the type of clothes I wore---mostly faded hand-me-downs from my mom and now-in-college older sister. I was absolutely miserable with no friends and no good social life---only the love of reading and my perfect grades and schoolwork that topped everyone else's kept me going.
Now; though, I had saved up enough money to buy contact lenses, so I didn't have to wear those huge glasses anymore. And my acne had cleared up. And though I still wore hand-me-downs; Mom had bought me new stuff for school the day before I started there; so I thought I looked pretty decent; with my shoulder-length, dark brown hair and brown eyes and perpetually fair skin.
I guess maybe I wasn't that much of a loser if Amber thought I was good enough to take the initiation to be in her private clique. After all; I had only been in this school for two weeks and everyone was pretty decent to me. I even had made a few new friends; two girls named Laura and Annie, who had showed me around when I was first new and sat with me at lunch and invited me over to their houses.
But did being behind Amber's mean-spirited protection worth stealing from the new new girl? Was it worth ditching my two first real friends in a long time? Amber told me that I had to dump them if I wanted to be in her company.
I mean; Annie and Laura were friendly and we had a lot in common together; but they were just...ordinary; they couldn't grant automatic protection like Amber against other bullies. And bullies hurt me easily.
I thought of what my mom would say if she knew what I was going to do. She had been a sort of friend; and had taken care of me my whole life; and always encouraged me to do my best. I didn't want to disappoint her, and I knew she would be ashamed of me if she knew what I would do.
But she doesn't understand how things work in this school.
I glanced out nervously again. The new girl; Courtney Robins; was still looking around in the science book section, still picking out books, still leaving her notebook on the table completely open and vulnerable. The librarian still wasn't looking. I still had my chance. It was now or never.
Without thinking; I bolted forward at top speed, pretended to pick up a book on the table while immediately ripping out a random page from the notebook, crammed the paper into my pocket, put down the book, and ran out of the library; the door swinging shut behind me.
I let out a huge sigh as I leaned against the closed door. I did it. But a small bubble of guilt still lingered in my chest. Hastily pushing it away; I ran as fast as I could to the cafeteria.
Cramped and noisy and crowded; I searched frantically for Amber and her group. Annie and Laura were both absent---Annie sick and Laura having to eat her lunch in homeroom to do some make-up work---and I needed to sit with someone, if I didn't want myself bursting in tears in response to a bully.
Then; I spotted them. Amber was at the front and center; talking about something to the four other girls; Jen, Katie, Sally, and Lindsay.
"Wait up!" I huffed, catching up.
Amber sat down at a table and; suddenly not talking anymore, narrowed her mismatched eyes at me---one hazel and one pale green. "What took you so long? Did you get it?" she snapped.
"Yep." I raised my head proudly.
"I don't believe you. Give it to me." She put out her hand.
I sat down along with the other girls; pulling out the crumpled paper, and placed it in her palm.
Amber scanned it, and then her face broke into a huge grin. "Ooh, this is going to be good. Wait till everyone hears about this! Loser should stop writing in her pwecious notebwook in public; it makes it easier to have her pegged." she laughed maliciously. The others joined in; though slightly halfheartedly. So did I.
But inwardly; I knew this was wrong. I had probably just handed in Courtney's most humiliating experience ever. If she found out it was me who stole the paper from the notebook she constantly wrote in at all times; she would hate me forever. And knowing people hated me made me feel awful; even though I knew it wasn't my problem.
"When are you going to do...it?" Katie asked. I noticed her cringe at the word "it."
"Tomorrow morning at announcements," Amber said carelessly; flipping her thick blond hair. "I'll convince the school secretary to read this out loud over the announcements; and boy; Robins won't ever want to step in this school again."
We all knew what she meant by "convince", though. It basically meant, "threaten to punch the living daylights out of."
I saw Courtney appear then; timidly clutching that tattered dark green notebook, her dirty blond hair still ruffled as if she ran her fingers through it instead of combing it, and her blue-green eyes almost always downcast. Seeing a huge guy nearly knock her over when he pushed past, and a girl push her as she walked by, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Courtney when I saw her face. But what could I do?
Lunch was over, and we were all going back to class. Thankfully; Amber wasn't in any of my classes except for study hall, so I wouldn't see her again until then.
I had science with Lindsay; though. She was pretty nice, but I couldn't really trust her. Being a long-time member of Amber's group; what if that friendly exterior was a disguise?
But during class; she slipped me a note. It read:
The hawk is entrusting the bait to you. Be careful.
Reading the note made me feel uneasy. I knew who the hawk was and what the bait was. It was part of the initiation; to prove you could be trusted. If I destroyed or lost or handed over the paper "bait" to an adult who could bust Amber's butt, then Amber would come after me, and I would end up just like that girl with the broken jaw.
When it finally was that dreaded time of study hall; Amber didn't talk to me during the entire time; but I could feel her steely, hawk-like gaze burning into my back from rows away. It made my stomach flip and my skin pop out sweat beads all over again; knowing she was still watching me.
At the end; Amber grabbed me by the arm just as everyone was leaving. I jumped and spun around the moment her fingers made contact with my skin; but she ignored it. She was still glaring at me with those mismatched, cold eyes.
"Final part of the initiation is keeping the important bait safe," she snapped; shoving the crumpled paper into my hands. "If you lose, or give away, or do anything with it besides keeping it safe, it won't be pretty when I get hold of you." Her voice was a deadly, frigid hiss.
Goosebumps ran over my arms, but I shook off her hand. "Don't worry; I-I won't do anything to it," I said shakily. I swallowed. "Promise," I whispered meekly.
"You better." Amber was still glaring at me. "I'm watching you; Marianne James." Then; with that; she spun on her heel and stalked off.
I watched her go; trembling slightly, and then crammed the paper into my pocket and slowly walked down the seemingly-endless hallway and back to my locker. Suddenly my arms felt very weak and sore, and I felt dazed and faint with fear and confusion.
When the bus dropped me off; I took the elevator up to the sixth floor, unlocked the door with a key my mom had entrusted me with, and flung my backpack onto the couch; slamming the door shut behind me. I found a note in the kitchen from Mom; saying she would be home late and that there were leftovers in the fridge if I got hungry and she didn't get home in time for dinner.
Good, some alone time, I thought. I wasn't in the mood for her constant questions.
I plopped down on the couch next to my backpack and pulled out the crumpled paper from my pocket. Wrinkled and creased and a corner ripped off, it had been handled roughly since the moment it had been torn from its' notebook. I slowly unfolded it and smoothed it out gently. The writing on it was spidery and in blue ink, but it was easy to make out.
I don't know why Grandma and Grandpa had to take me here; of all places, and make me go to this school. Everything is so confusing and I keep getting lost on my way to classes. I've been let off for being new; but if I keep wandering into the wrong classrooms; even the teachers will start hating me.
I honestly don't know why no one at least can say hi to me. Some people have been nice to me; but they just seemed to forget me after my first day. It's like they expect me to know everything and be adjusted right away after they show me around and everything.
This notebook Grandma got me is practically my only friend. I can "talk" to it---well; more like write---and it listens to what I have to say. The only problem with it that it doesn't talk back; but at least we can't fight that way. Fights have done too much in my life. A fight was what split up my parents and landed them in prison.
It's not fair. I know I'm not the prettiest or smartest girl in the world and that I'm stupid and bumbling and clumsy, that I don't wear the "in-style" clothes or have my own phone or anything. I don't even have my own shoes; I have to share them with Grandma.
I wish someone would at least talk to me, and not just to be polite to the new kid. I just want someone to treat me like a friend. I miss Amy; but she was my only friend at my old school and she moved away to Canada just last month. We've lost contact because even though she promised to call or email me at least once a week, she never did; and when I call or email; she's either too busy to answer the phone or call back, and she never answers my emails. It's like she's forgotten me.
I've never been this lonely in my life. Grandma and Grandpa are great; and I love them; but they don't understand how it's like at school. Amber is just terrifying; she's like the menace of the whole junior high. Even the girls who hang out with her seemed scared of her. Particularly that brunette; Marianne was her name; I think. She seems the nicest, and she has her own friends outside the group; but she doesn't seem to notice me.
I wish someone would at least say "hi" to me instead of a teacher. Just a "hi," that's it. Or maybe at least sit with me at lunch, because the wall sure doesn't make a good friend. Ha, ha, ha. That's just so funny. It would be even funnier if there was someone besides my grandparents to laugh at it.
I feel like everyone's got their own circle of friends except me and I'm the only one who sits alone at home; turning up music just to make me feel better.
I wish it'd be that easy; to just go up to someone and introduce yourself and ask their name and have a big smile on your face the whole time. It doesn't work that way anymore. I tried that; once, twice, maybe three times. Every time I try; the person I'm talking to usually just mumbles an excuse and leaves, or giggles and walks away, or just stares awkwardly and then maybe leaves. It's humiliating. For once; why can't someone just say their name and smile back? Why isn't it that easy anymore?
I wish[/color]
It seemed like all my senses had gone completely numb. I just stared at the paper; running my fingers over the ink script and everything melting inside me as I felt the hurt and sorrow and loneliness behind those lines. The feelings that I had had when I was lonely and bullied at my old school with no friends.
I felt so ashamed. How dare I even consider joining in Amber's humiliation of Courtney and ditch my own true friends? For what; her so-called protection? Amber would just use me like a puppet; like she did to Jen and Katie, Sally and Lindsay. I wasn't going to let her do that to me. Who cared if anyone picked on me. I would always be comforted by the fact that my friends would still be there for me. And seeing Courtney's sorrowful lament about wanting friends; it made me feel like Annie and Laura were rare treasures. But they always had been.
The last sentence had been cut off by a rip at the bottom; which had taken out the last paragraph. But I didn't care. I had read enough.
I made up my mind; then and there. I didn't give a crap if Amber went after me. But I wasn't going to pass her initiation. I was going to fail it; and I'd be proud of it.
I put the paper down; wondering what to do next. But then it hit me. I did know what I had to do next. And I'd do it; right here and then and now.
I grabbed the school phone book and flipped through it; coming to the "R" section. Soon; I came to "Robins," and dialed the number printed there. A few minutes of waiting passed.
"Hello?" A voice said. I immediately recognized it as Courtney's.
"Hello. Is this Courtney?" I felt silly asking when I knew it was her; but it was the only polite introduction I could think of.
"Y-yes." The voice had suddenly become slightly shaky.
"Hi; this is, um, Marianne, from school. I was wondering if I could come over to your house. There's an English test tomorrow and I wanted to know if we could study for it together."
There was a pause. Then the voice spoke again; and by the sound of it; it was suppressing a lot of excitement.
"Sure! You can come. Is your mom okay with it? Do you need directions?"
"My mom's okay with it." Alright; that was a lie, but she wasn't home anyway. "And it's fine; I can get over to your place soon."
"Okay! See you!"
Courtney hung up on me before I even had a chance to say anything; but I couldn't care less. A warm feeling was bubbling happily in my chest; and it felt good. I felt proud of myself.
I grabbed my backpack and swung it over my shoulder, folded the paper neatly and slipped it into my pocket (for once not cramming it unceremoniously), and headed out the door and took the elevator down. As I darted out the lobby door and down the steps and into the parking lot; I looked up at the clear sky, and smiled. There would be another seat at the table Annie, Laura, and I sat at during lunch tomorrow.
"I am! I just need to figure out the right time to do it," I said.
"You're just chicken," she sneered.
"Am not!" I snapped hotly.
"No one's looking. Do it now! I'll give you five minutes before we go to lunch without you." Amber ordered haughtily as she left.
I watched the door slam shut behind her; and then turned back to looking out from behind the book-crammed shelves. I could feel the sweat soaking the parts of the T-shirt against my armpits and my stomach squirm.
Why am I doing this? I asked myself for the millionth time that day. But the answer came easily; like it always did. Because if you're part of Amber's clique; no one will pick on you. No one will call you names. No one will put you down---except Amber.
Amber was the baddest girl at school. She wasn't popular (in fact, far from it---she was well-feared more than well-liked); but she was infamous for her pushy, tough attitude and her constantly looking down her nose at those she thought below her---and that was everyone besides those special enough to be included in her group. And even then; she treated those in her private clique like trash and used them like pawns and puppets just to get her way.
But if anyone messed with her or a girl in her group; she would see to it that their life would be a living hell until they found a way to leave the school.
I was the new girl, though; vulnerable to teasing and other kids' cruelty. I had moved from a tiny, rented apartment in New York City with my mom; who just recently filed a divorce against my dad. He had pushed her around so much that she had gotten sick of it, and decided to take custody of me and leave. To be honest; I was extremely relieved. My dad's constant yelling and terrorizing and trying to push my mom around had terrified me into utter silence whenever he was around; and now we were finally getting away from all the fights and anger and hatred.
Not to mention that the old junior high school I went to in NYC was like a living hell. I was picked on for my acne and glasses and the type of clothes I wore---mostly faded hand-me-downs from my mom and now-in-college older sister. I was absolutely miserable with no friends and no good social life---only the love of reading and my perfect grades and schoolwork that topped everyone else's kept me going.
Now; though, I had saved up enough money to buy contact lenses, so I didn't have to wear those huge glasses anymore. And my acne had cleared up. And though I still wore hand-me-downs; Mom had bought me new stuff for school the day before I started there; so I thought I looked pretty decent; with my shoulder-length, dark brown hair and brown eyes and perpetually fair skin.
I guess maybe I wasn't that much of a loser if Amber thought I was good enough to take the initiation to be in her private clique. After all; I had only been in this school for two weeks and everyone was pretty decent to me. I even had made a few new friends; two girls named Laura and Annie, who had showed me around when I was first new and sat with me at lunch and invited me over to their houses.
But did being behind Amber's mean-spirited protection worth stealing from the new new girl? Was it worth ditching my two first real friends in a long time? Amber told me that I had to dump them if I wanted to be in her company.
I mean; Annie and Laura were friendly and we had a lot in common together; but they were just...ordinary; they couldn't grant automatic protection like Amber against other bullies. And bullies hurt me easily.
I thought of what my mom would say if she knew what I was going to do. She had been a sort of friend; and had taken care of me my whole life; and always encouraged me to do my best. I didn't want to disappoint her, and I knew she would be ashamed of me if she knew what I would do.
But she doesn't understand how things work in this school.
I glanced out nervously again. The new girl; Courtney Robins; was still looking around in the science book section, still picking out books, still leaving her notebook on the table completely open and vulnerable. The librarian still wasn't looking. I still had my chance. It was now or never.
Without thinking; I bolted forward at top speed, pretended to pick up a book on the table while immediately ripping out a random page from the notebook, crammed the paper into my pocket, put down the book, and ran out of the library; the door swinging shut behind me.
I let out a huge sigh as I leaned against the closed door. I did it. But a small bubble of guilt still lingered in my chest. Hastily pushing it away; I ran as fast as I could to the cafeteria.
Cramped and noisy and crowded; I searched frantically for Amber and her group. Annie and Laura were both absent---Annie sick and Laura having to eat her lunch in homeroom to do some make-up work---and I needed to sit with someone, if I didn't want myself bursting in tears in response to a bully.
Then; I spotted them. Amber was at the front and center; talking about something to the four other girls; Jen, Katie, Sally, and Lindsay.
"Wait up!" I huffed, catching up.
Amber sat down at a table and; suddenly not talking anymore, narrowed her mismatched eyes at me---one hazel and one pale green. "What took you so long? Did you get it?" she snapped.
"Yep." I raised my head proudly.
"I don't believe you. Give it to me." She put out her hand.
I sat down along with the other girls; pulling out the crumpled paper, and placed it in her palm.
Amber scanned it, and then her face broke into a huge grin. "Ooh, this is going to be good. Wait till everyone hears about this! Loser should stop writing in her pwecious notebwook in public; it makes it easier to have her pegged." she laughed maliciously. The others joined in; though slightly halfheartedly. So did I.
But inwardly; I knew this was wrong. I had probably just handed in Courtney's most humiliating experience ever. If she found out it was me who stole the paper from the notebook she constantly wrote in at all times; she would hate me forever. And knowing people hated me made me feel awful; even though I knew it wasn't my problem.
"When are you going to do...it?" Katie asked. I noticed her cringe at the word "it."
"Tomorrow morning at announcements," Amber said carelessly; flipping her thick blond hair. "I'll convince the school secretary to read this out loud over the announcements; and boy; Robins won't ever want to step in this school again."
We all knew what she meant by "convince", though. It basically meant, "threaten to punch the living daylights out of."
I saw Courtney appear then; timidly clutching that tattered dark green notebook, her dirty blond hair still ruffled as if she ran her fingers through it instead of combing it, and her blue-green eyes almost always downcast. Seeing a huge guy nearly knock her over when he pushed past, and a girl push her as she walked by, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Courtney when I saw her face. But what could I do?
Lunch was over, and we were all going back to class. Thankfully; Amber wasn't in any of my classes except for study hall, so I wouldn't see her again until then.
I had science with Lindsay; though. She was pretty nice, but I couldn't really trust her. Being a long-time member of Amber's group; what if that friendly exterior was a disguise?
But during class; she slipped me a note. It read:
The hawk is entrusting the bait to you. Be careful.
Reading the note made me feel uneasy. I knew who the hawk was and what the bait was. It was part of the initiation; to prove you could be trusted. If I destroyed or lost or handed over the paper "bait" to an adult who could bust Amber's butt, then Amber would come after me, and I would end up just like that girl with the broken jaw.
When it finally was that dreaded time of study hall; Amber didn't talk to me during the entire time; but I could feel her steely, hawk-like gaze burning into my back from rows away. It made my stomach flip and my skin pop out sweat beads all over again; knowing she was still watching me.
At the end; Amber grabbed me by the arm just as everyone was leaving. I jumped and spun around the moment her fingers made contact with my skin; but she ignored it. She was still glaring at me with those mismatched, cold eyes.
"Final part of the initiation is keeping the important bait safe," she snapped; shoving the crumpled paper into my hands. "If you lose, or give away, or do anything with it besides keeping it safe, it won't be pretty when I get hold of you." Her voice was a deadly, frigid hiss.
Goosebumps ran over my arms, but I shook off her hand. "Don't worry; I-I won't do anything to it," I said shakily. I swallowed. "Promise," I whispered meekly.
"You better." Amber was still glaring at me. "I'm watching you; Marianne James." Then; with that; she spun on her heel and stalked off.
I watched her go; trembling slightly, and then crammed the paper into my pocket and slowly walked down the seemingly-endless hallway and back to my locker. Suddenly my arms felt very weak and sore, and I felt dazed and faint with fear and confusion.
When the bus dropped me off; I took the elevator up to the sixth floor, unlocked the door with a key my mom had entrusted me with, and flung my backpack onto the couch; slamming the door shut behind me. I found a note in the kitchen from Mom; saying she would be home late and that there were leftovers in the fridge if I got hungry and she didn't get home in time for dinner.
Good, some alone time, I thought. I wasn't in the mood for her constant questions.
I plopped down on the couch next to my backpack and pulled out the crumpled paper from my pocket. Wrinkled and creased and a corner ripped off, it had been handled roughly since the moment it had been torn from its' notebook. I slowly unfolded it and smoothed it out gently. The writing on it was spidery and in blue ink, but it was easy to make out.
I don't know why Grandma and Grandpa had to take me here; of all places, and make me go to this school. Everything is so confusing and I keep getting lost on my way to classes. I've been let off for being new; but if I keep wandering into the wrong classrooms; even the teachers will start hating me.
I honestly don't know why no one at least can say hi to me. Some people have been nice to me; but they just seemed to forget me after my first day. It's like they expect me to know everything and be adjusted right away after they show me around and everything.
This notebook Grandma got me is practically my only friend. I can "talk" to it---well; more like write---and it listens to what I have to say. The only problem with it that it doesn't talk back; but at least we can't fight that way. Fights have done too much in my life. A fight was what split up my parents and landed them in prison.
It's not fair. I know I'm not the prettiest or smartest girl in the world and that I'm stupid and bumbling and clumsy, that I don't wear the "in-style" clothes or have my own phone or anything. I don't even have my own shoes; I have to share them with Grandma.
I wish someone would at least talk to me, and not just to be polite to the new kid. I just want someone to treat me like a friend. I miss Amy; but she was my only friend at my old school and she moved away to Canada just last month. We've lost contact because even though she promised to call or email me at least once a week, she never did; and when I call or email; she's either too busy to answer the phone or call back, and she never answers my emails. It's like she's forgotten me.
I've never been this lonely in my life. Grandma and Grandpa are great; and I love them; but they don't understand how it's like at school. Amber is just terrifying; she's like the menace of the whole junior high. Even the girls who hang out with her seemed scared of her. Particularly that brunette; Marianne was her name; I think. She seems the nicest, and she has her own friends outside the group; but she doesn't seem to notice me.
I wish someone would at least say "hi" to me instead of a teacher. Just a "hi," that's it. Or maybe at least sit with me at lunch, because the wall sure doesn't make a good friend. Ha, ha, ha. That's just so funny. It would be even funnier if there was someone besides my grandparents to laugh at it.
I feel like everyone's got their own circle of friends except me and I'm the only one who sits alone at home; turning up music just to make me feel better.
I wish it'd be that easy; to just go up to someone and introduce yourself and ask their name and have a big smile on your face the whole time. It doesn't work that way anymore. I tried that; once, twice, maybe three times. Every time I try; the person I'm talking to usually just mumbles an excuse and leaves, or giggles and walks away, or just stares awkwardly and then maybe leaves. It's humiliating. For once; why can't someone just say their name and smile back? Why isn't it that easy anymore?
I wish[/color]
It seemed like all my senses had gone completely numb. I just stared at the paper; running my fingers over the ink script and everything melting inside me as I felt the hurt and sorrow and loneliness behind those lines. The feelings that I had had when I was lonely and bullied at my old school with no friends.
I felt so ashamed. How dare I even consider joining in Amber's humiliation of Courtney and ditch my own true friends? For what; her so-called protection? Amber would just use me like a puppet; like she did to Jen and Katie, Sally and Lindsay. I wasn't going to let her do that to me. Who cared if anyone picked on me. I would always be comforted by the fact that my friends would still be there for me. And seeing Courtney's sorrowful lament about wanting friends; it made me feel like Annie and Laura were rare treasures. But they always had been.
The last sentence had been cut off by a rip at the bottom; which had taken out the last paragraph. But I didn't care. I had read enough.
I made up my mind; then and there. I didn't give a crap if Amber went after me. But I wasn't going to pass her initiation. I was going to fail it; and I'd be proud of it.
I put the paper down; wondering what to do next. But then it hit me. I did know what I had to do next. And I'd do it; right here and then and now.
I grabbed the school phone book and flipped through it; coming to the "R" section. Soon; I came to "Robins," and dialed the number printed there. A few minutes of waiting passed.
"Hello?" A voice said. I immediately recognized it as Courtney's.
"Hello. Is this Courtney?" I felt silly asking when I knew it was her; but it was the only polite introduction I could think of.
"Y-yes." The voice had suddenly become slightly shaky.
"Hi; this is, um, Marianne, from school. I was wondering if I could come over to your house. There's an English test tomorrow and I wanted to know if we could study for it together."
There was a pause. Then the voice spoke again; and by the sound of it; it was suppressing a lot of excitement.
"Sure! You can come. Is your mom okay with it? Do you need directions?"
"My mom's okay with it." Alright; that was a lie, but she wasn't home anyway. "And it's fine; I can get over to your place soon."
"Okay! See you!"
Courtney hung up on me before I even had a chance to say anything; but I couldn't care less. A warm feeling was bubbling happily in my chest; and it felt good. I felt proud of myself.
I grabbed my backpack and swung it over my shoulder, folded the paper neatly and slipped it into my pocket (for once not cramming it unceremoniously), and headed out the door and took the elevator down. As I darted out the lobby door and down the steps and into the parking lot; I looked up at the clear sky, and smiled. There would be another seat at the table Annie, Laura, and I sat at during lunch tomorrow.
That means a lot. And I do want to be a writer.
