The Taylor Swift song playing wakes me, and I sit up startled. Was that a dream or a flashback or a memory or whatever it is called?? Starting to freak out, I push off the covers and glance at my clock. I'm late. My dream-flashback-memory thing made me oversleep. I sigh and go into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I'm still confused, and I go into the kitchen looking for orange juice, but also for Mom. Maybe she can explain all the crazy weird things that have happened in the last (quick mental math) 17 hours. Just as I am opening my mouth, I remember Emma's (whoever she is) words:
PS please don't tell anyone about this letter. Not yet.
I sigh. Instead of mentioning the letter, I ask her if Lexi can come over Friday night. She says why not, and I go back into my room to text Lex, pack up my bag, and try to wake up a little more. I have to be out the door in exactly 7 minutes. I turn on my phone and text my friend.
Wanna sleepover on fri? 💜
Her response is almost immediate-
Sounds fun. I'll ask:)
I smile down at my phone, slip it into my jeans pocket, and slip on my shoes.
As we pull up to school, I am reminded of my other teenage girl crisis. Or really, my friends' teenage girl crisis that I have been dragged into. Ugh. Trying to push the thoughts of another long day of middle school drama out of my head, I think of how this is my last year at middle school. Next year is high school, which is good? bad? I don't really know. I smile and say goodbye to Mom.
"Pick you up after dance, k?"
"K. Thanks!"
"Have a great day at school." She replies, smiling as she pulls away. I turn around and head up the stairs and see the giant purple WMS sign in front of school. WMS stands for Waterbrook Middle School, and our school is very into school spirit. Hence the giant purple sign. I have to admit though; our school colors are awesome. Purple and silver go well together. Just as I'm walking up pulling the doors open and heading to my locker, Riley comes up behind me and screams BAILEY!! Very loudly in my ear.
"Ow! I'm right here, you don't have to yell." I say, giving her an annoyed look.
She shrugs. "I know". Then she smiles at my still fake-hurt face and says,
"C'mon Bails, don't take the fun out of everything!!" She looks me in the eye and we burst out laughing. Sometimes it's nice not to worry I about drama. But, just as I am thinking this, I see Lexi walk in with a very hurt look on her face. I decide sometimes it's nice to not deal with drama, but it's also nice to resolve drama. I duck under Riley's arm and jog over to her.
"Hey."
"Hi." She says softly, looking at the ground.
I sigh, maybe a little too loudly.
"Look", I say, "just because she's been excluding you doesn't mean I should exclude her, right?"
She keeps her face pointed at the floor, but lifts up a shoulder. I decide the two of them need to talk. Badly. I keep myself from looking too upset. I guess this day is gonna be more stressful than I anticipated.
I'd really love some feedback/comments/suggestions!
Thanks,
Lili
YOU ARE READING
Connecting the Dots
Teen FictionUnlike normal teenage girls, Bailey Crane doesn't remember the first four years of her life. She has always been told it is because she has a bad memory, but something has always seemed off. It's not until just before her fourteenth birthday, when...
