Amanda sat in her new room on her new bed sobbing in the dark over her loss. She had just gotten back from the funeral she couldn't believe how fast everything had changed. One moment they were arguing because Amanda wanted to go out with her friends and it was Sunday night. She had gone storming out the door
Flashback
*Mom, I just want to go out for a little while. I'm 17!* Amanda argued with her mother that night.
*Amanda it's Sunday night. You have school in the morning. It's absurd to even ask me if you can go out, forget it.* Her mother shot back at her.
*Mom! Stop treating me like I'm 10. I'm almost an adult.* Amanda yelled as she stomped her foot on the floor childishly.
*Almost.* Her mother said calmly as she started to cook dinner.
*This is bullshit, I don't have to listen to you.* Amanda said turning her back on her mother.
*Oh yes you do young lady! Where do you think you're going?* Her mother yelled as she walked to the door, following her daughter.
*Out,* Amanda said simply and grabbed her jacket, slamming the door behind her.
End Flashback
*Mandy...* She heard her dad say and she wiped her eyes quickly, trying to hide the fact that she had been crying. *Oh sweetie... Are you okay?* He asked as he sat on the bed next to her. She just shook her head no as he put his arm around her back. *I know this is weird for you and hard too. But it's not any easier for me or your brother. We just have to help each other out...* He said trying to comfort her. The truth was he didn't know what to do, he was as clueless as her.
*I know dad.* She replied quietly.
*I know losing mom and the house in that fire was horrible and I know it's going to be hard to start over in a whole new town but I know we can do it.* He said looking at her as he wiped a tear off her cheek. *Okay?* He asked smiling and hoping that she would smile back and she nodded her head.
The Next Day
*So, you ready for school?* Amanda's brother Marc asked as they both sat at the table eating their breakfast. Marc was 18 and a senior and Amanda was a junior.
*Not really... what if it's too hard I mean, what if I don't make friends?* Amanda asked. She had always felt like her and her brother were more like friends then relatives and she was happy that he was there for her.
*Don't worry alright?* He said hitting her shoulder and smiling at her. He left for school in his car and a few minutes later Amanda left in her black camaro. When she got there and shut her car door she looked up and was amazed at the size of her new school. In her old town, in the south of California, there had been less than 500 kids in the whole high school and as she walked up and into the halls she knew instantly that there were probably at least 500 kids in each grade. She felt very intimidated. She walked down the hall quietly, watching all the people talking and laughing. She noticed that it was a very rich, very posh school and she didn't like it because she felt it would be even harder to make friends. She passed her brother and watched him walking with a pretty girl, a little younger then him and was mad that she couldn't make friends like him. He smiled at her and she smiled back and kept walking.
*Whoa, sorry.* She said as she bumped into someone. She had been looking over her shoulder at her brother when she hit them.
*No, don't worry about it!* He yelled as he ran off, smiling at her over his shoulder. From what she saw of him, he looked to be about her height with dark hair and sort of skinny but not scrawny. She ran a hand through her long brown hair and walked to the principles office.
*Hi, I'm Amanda... I'm new.* She said smiling at the woman at the front desk.
*Okay, one second.* The lady said as she leaned over her desk and searched through some papers. *Come on.* She said smiling at Amanda and got up as Amanda followed her into a room in the back of the office.
*Mrs. Crowel? This is Amanda, she's a new student here today.* The woman said and then left them together.
*Hi, sit down Amanda. How are you?* Mrs. Crowel asked, smiling happily as she stood up and shook her hand and then sat back down. They talked for a while and then Amanda got her schedule and was taken to her first class. *Okay, well this is Mr. Dixon's class. He's expecting you and if you have any trouble today you can come see me whenever.* She offered and Amanda thanked her. *Mr. Dixon, excuse me.* The principle said, interrupting him in mid-sentence. *This is Amanda,* She said and Amanda smiled at him and then looked at all the people in the class. There must've been about 30 people.
*Hello, you may sit right over there.* He said smiling at her and the principle left as she walked over to her seat.
~It's that guy,~ She thought as she saw the boy that she had ran into in the hall this morning. She sat down at her chair and crossed her slender legs as she ran a hand through her hair nervously. She always thought that she was bad at meeting new people and things but she didn't know that many people she saw thought that she was beautiful. Amanda was about 5'4'' and weighed 125 pounds. She had blue eyes and long brown hair and soft, light skin. Before she knew it the bell was ringing and she got up out of her chair with her new book and walked towards the door.
*Hey, I'm Alyssa.* A girl said as they walked out the door together.
*Hi,* Amanda said a little timidly.
*Where you from?* She asked her.
*Some town right outside of San Francisco.* Amanda replied.
*Oh yeah? Then you must not be used to such a big school.* Alyssa said and Amanda sighed, happy that someone was talking to her. They talked for a couple minutes and then went to their different classes.
Lunch
*Hey...* Amanda heard her brother call from a lunch table and was grateful that they had the same lunch. She walked over to her brother and he pulled a chair up next to him for her to sit down. She was amazed at how many friends he already had. The table was filled with people, guys and girls. It was the typical stereotype table... cheerleaders and basketball players. *Guys, this is my sister Mandy. This is Brian, Rory, Steph, AJ, Simon...* Marc continued on until he had named everyone.
~So his name is AJ...~ Amanda thought as she looked at the same boy she had bumped into. She was happy that she saw him again... they had two classes together and lunch now. She got to talking to most of them and she was happy to see that Alyssa was sitting at the table too. The whole week went smooth. She liked most of her classes, she even got a photography class that her old school didn't offer and was extremely happy about that. She had met a lot of people and exchanged numbers with a few girls that she talked to a lot.
On Friday afternoon, after the bell had rung she was at her locker. She had stayed after for a little help in Math and now all her books were on the floor as she kicked and screamed at her locker.
*Whoa, chill baby... want some help?* A familiar voice said from behind Amanda and she jumped and turned around.
~Oh god... he thinks I'm a psycho...~ She said to herself. *You scared me.* She told him as he smiled at her. AJ was wearing a white shirt with dark baggy jeans. His hair was spiked up and the tips were a dark color blue. *My locker won't open and it's really pissing me off.* Amanda explained and moved aside.
*What's the combination?* He asked her as he stood in front of it.
*25, 11, 35...* She told him slowly while he turned the lock. It didn't work.
*I'll get it I'll get it.* He reassured her and she laughed a little at him.
*So what are you here on a Friday for?* Amanda asked him as he still worked on her locker.
*I was cleaning actually... I got detention and I just wanted to get it over with.* He explained to her smiling up at her from his knees. *Oh yeah who's the man?* He asked as he stood up and threw his arms in the air.
*You are.* Amanda said laughing at him as she shoved all her books in her locker.
*So, what are you doing after you leave?* AJ asked her as they walked out to the back parking lot.
*Uhm I don't know. Marc's probably going on a date and... I don't know.* She admitted and he smiled at her. *You?*
*Well I was gonna go bowling actually,* AJ said waiting for her to laugh and of course she did.
*You are going bowling?* She asked as they stopped at her car.
*Yeah, why is it so hard for people to believe that I like to go bowling??* AJ asked loudly, as a joke and Amanda laughed harder.
*You're just so... well you seem like such a ~bad boy~ I'd think that you were gonna go party or something...* Amanda confessed and he smiled at her.
*Hey, I'm only bowling until 9, good parties don't even start until 11.* He said and she laughed at him.
*So the truth comes out.* She said leaning against the car. *Who are you going with?* She asked him.
*People... you could come if you have nothing else to do.* AJ suggested and she smiled at him.
*Yeah that would be fun.* She told him, squinting from the sun and he smiled at her face.
*I'll call you at around 5.* He told her.
*Okay,* She replied smiling at him and silently she was jumping for joy. Since the first day she had seen him she had been attracted to him. She usually wasn't attracted to his type but for some reason he just got to her. Her friends had warned her about him, that he got into a lot of trouble and that she shouldn't get involved with him because he had a reputation of being easy but she couldn't help it. He was so cute and he was always so nice and sweet to her.
*Phat ride.* He told her as he started to walk away and she smiled at him and then got into her car and drove home.
