Linda's Story

When Linda Met Danny

Linda absolutely did not like being the new kid in school- in fact, she absolutely hated it. She didn't know anybody, and Jimmy would be of no help. He had been going there for a year already, and therefore had made his friends and knew all the teachers. She didn't know anyone at all.

Linda sighed as she picked a light blue skirt, white tank top, and a matching blue cardigan to wear. Her skirt was a little shorter than the stupid dress code required, but they surely weren't going to stand there and measure her skirt... would they? She bit her lip, debating whether or not to wear said skirt. Maybe she should just wear her dress pants, and change her cardigan to her yellow one. She shook her head, "dress code be damned."

"Linda! Hurry up!" Tony's voice yelled up the stairs. "You don't want to miss the bus!"

Why had she decided to live with her father? "Coming, Dad!" She grabbed her book bag from the chair in her room and ran out the door.

It was going to be an awful day.

************

Linda looked around at the doors in the building. She was trying to find the principal's office. Finally, she found it, and then knocked on the door.

She was led to the principal's office, and sat down in one of the plastic chairs. She read the name plate on his desk, "Principal Sharma."

When the door opened, she turned around and saw the principal and a tall black girl. She smiled a little, watched the girl sit next to her, and the principal sit in his seat.

"Linda, I'm Principal Sharma. Welcome."

She nodded, "thank you."

"This is Simone Baxter. She'll be helping you out for your first week."

"Hey," Simone smiled and waved a little. Linda returned the smile and wave. "It's a little daunting at first, but you'll get the hang of it."

************

Linda was coming out of her reading and English class when she suddenly rammed into someone. She fell to her butt on the cool floor.

"Hey, watch it, you d-d-d-" she stuttered when she saw how incredibly cute the guy was that she had run into.

"Dummy?" He questioned.

She blushed profusely, "yeah."

"Way to go, Linda," Jimmy snarked as the cute boy helped her gather her things. "I was gonna introduce you two, but now that you've smacked his head..."

"Did I hurt you?" She reached her hand out to touch his head, but then yanked it away.

"I'm fine." He smiled at her, handing her a piece of paper she'd dropped.

"Way to make a good impression, Linda." Jimmy's voice was sarcastic. "Though I'm pretty sure you didn't mind, Danny!" He laughed, and Danny shot him a warning glance.

"Don't be a jerk, Jimmy! You can still introduce me to your friend," Linda kept her eyes on the boy- Danny apparently- as she stuffed her papers back in her folder.

Jimmy's friend stood up as he said, "Linda, this is Danny. Danny, this is my baby sis, Linda."

Danny grabbed Linda's hand and pulled her to her feet. He was about to say 'hi' when she spoke up.

"I'm sixteen. What's such a baby about that?"

Jimmy only rolled his eyes and acted like he was bored by the two new friends.

"Sorry I ran into you," Linda apologized, not even noticing Jimmy rolling his eyes again and walking away.

"No biggie," Danny shrugged in a noncommittal way. "Are you new here? I don't remember seeing you around. And I'd definitely remember you."

Crap, Linda thought, he was flirting with her. She didn't want to be flirted with, not after her last disastrous relationship. "Uh... yeah. Yeah, I'm new."

"Do you know where your classes are and shit?"

She smirked, "yeah, mostly." She started to walk alongside him, "Simone... somebody.... is helping me with the classes for the first week."

"You the new kid on the block?"

"I live in Staten Island. I did move recently though."

"I live in Bay Ridge."

"Oh, I like that neighborhood. All those old, beautiful houses."

Danny was going to say more when Simone walked up to them. "Hey, Simone."

"Hi, Danny. Linda, want to check out the library during study period?"

"Yeah, I'd love to." She took a step towards Simone and then smiled at Danny, "I'll see ya later, Danny."

"Yeah, see ya."

*********

Linda was late to lunch that day because Simone had a headache and had to go to the nurse's office to get a Tylenol. Simone had been smart and packed her own lunch; Linda had been handed fifteen dollars and then pushed out the door. Maybe she could buy lunch for a kid who didn't have any.

Simone found Linda waiting in the hall, "sorry, Linda."

"That's okay," she smiled, acting like she didn't mind being left alone. Ever since her last boyfriend, she hated being left alone... particularly with a boy.

She lead Linda to the cafeteria; thankfully, the line was short. Unfortunately, the cafeteria was packed. Simone said, "I'll find us a seat- you go get food."

The food looked awful, but she was going to eat it anyway. She was hungry, and she got angry when she didn't have food in her. Linda sighed heavily and scanned the crowd for Simone. When she saw the girl stand and wave, she walked over to the table. The only seat left was next to the boy she had run over earlier.

Linda put her tray down and sat in the plastic seat. "Thanks for saving me a seat."

"Sure thing."

"What's your next class?" Danny asked her as she tried to open her juice bottle.

"Physics, I think."

He took the bottle from her and easily unscrewed the top. "But you're a junior, aren't you? Physics is for seniors."

"I'm taking the class with the seniors. Math class too," she smiled when he put her juice bottle down, and dropped the cap to the table.

"Senior classes for a junior? You must be smart."

She felt her cheeks heat up, "I'm really not."

"Yeah you are!" Simone interjected. "I've seen the senior math class. It's hard!"

Linda shrugged, not wanting the spotlight on her. She tried to think of another subject as she put her fork in the gray-ish mass that was supposedly meat.

"Do not eat that," Danny pointed to the 'meat'.

"Huh?"

"It will not end well. Here," he handed her a sandwich from his paper bag.

"Oh, uh... aren't you gonna eat this?"

"Nah, I ate. My Mom always gives me extra food if someone doesn't have a lunch."

"Oh. Thank you then, I guess."

Little did Linda know that she had just met with her future soul mate.