Suddenly Popular

Chapter 2

   "Bye, Bri!" Zoey cried, pulling her in for a tight hug.

Brianna hated goodbyes, probably because she never experienced too many but for once, she felt like she was leaving her friends.

"What if they find someone better and replace me?" she thought.

Sam awkwardly pulled her in for a hug but after a couple of seconds, the embarrassment left and for some reason, Brianna felt safe. Her mother and Zoey were high-fiving one another and winked at her with no discretion.

"I'm going to miss you, Bri," he smiled, a sad look on his face.

"I'll miss you more, Sam," she replied.

Her eyes filled with tears and she quickly brushed them away. Sam grabbed her hand and her chestnut eyes locked with his emerald eyes. He mouthed "I love you" and Brianna was uncertain on how to take it but she preferred to see it as a friend's love.

"Don't forget me," he whispered.

"I won't, I promise," she murmured back.

Her parents were both smiling at the two teenagers but when Brianna's father glanced at his watch, he shrieked.

"Kids, I don't want to interrupt this adorable moment but it's nine o'clock and if Brianna still wants to go on the little trip, we need to go now."

"Dad, we're not kids," Brianna rolled her eyes.

"Well you act like one," Zoey giggled.

"Ugh, come on. Well, I hate to say this but goodbye, I'm going to miss you both so much!"

The three of them hugged one last time and all had tears in their eyes. Brianna got in her parents' car where her mother and father were already patiently waiting. She waved through the back seat window and only turned around when her friends' silhouettes had disappeared.

~

"The park?" Brianna raised an eyebrow.

"Sweetie, you asked for a fun trip around town, and considering the number of times you've played in the park, it was only logical to come here."

"Aw, thanks, Mom!" she laughed. "And Dad."

They headed towards the benches and silently observed the young children who were playing with their friends as their parents carefully watched over them. A little girl, with ponytails and a bright purple dress, reminded Brianna of her younger self, carefree and joyful. Things had definitely changed since then.

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"When you were my age, what type of person were you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't know, did you have a lot of friends? Were you depressed? Were you a straight-A student?"

"I was an average teenager, not smart yet not getting bad grades, not beautiful yet not ugly, not popular yet not lonely."

"What about you, Mom?"

"I was like your father. An average teenage girl but don't worry, you're special Brianna."

Maybe that was her problem, she was like her parents, an average teenage girl. Nothing special or outstanding about her, or, at least, nothing that particularly interested the people her age.

Suddenly, something - or someone - caught her attention. A boy with jay black hair and hazel eyes was pushing a little boy - most likely his younger brother - on the swings. His eyes shined with joy as the child giggled each time the swing reached a higher point.