Changes

Chapter one:

"Abrianna?" My mother called.
I didn't answer. I pulled the sheets over my head and sighed. "Abrianna, you're going to be late." her voice was stern but still gentle.
"I'm up." I yell back.
I pull the covers off and lay still looking at the ceiling for just a moment. Thoughts run through my head. I sit up and rub the sleep out of my eyes. My hair is still tied in a bun from the shower I took yesterday. My mother has laid out clean clothes for me to pick through. I slip on my dark blue ripped jeans and my favorite band tee. I put on my fuzzy socks and lace up my tennis shoes. I take down my hair and walk to the bathroom. Today is my first day at Manndelle High.

I'm not nervous considering how many times I've changed schools over the last couple years. With my older brother, Landon in the military, we try to move close to where he's stationed for training. I've heard Manndelle is a great school and it has many military families that attend. Maybe I'll find someone that shares a story similar to mine. It's worth a try, after all, I probably won't be here a whole year anyways.

"Ten minutes Abrianna." my mother calls
I put on a coat of mascara and a trace of eyeliner. After I brush my teeth I run downstairs to meet my mother. She plants a quick kiss on my cheek and hands me a cereal bar.
"Wait where's my.." I begin to say
"Back back is right here." She smiles

My mother was sixteen when she was pregnant with Landon. My father proposed a year after Landon was born. They got married on a beach on a beautiful sunny day. Six years later, I was born. When I turned five, my father enlisted for the military. He was killed on the battlefield when I was twelve. I don't remember every detail but however I do remember how I saw my brothers car pull up to my school. He ran in a grabbed my arm. "Abri, let's go. Now." His eyes were bloodshot from crying. The ride home was silent. We got home and I ran in to see my grandmother holding my mother on the couch. My mom was holding a blanket covered in years. I asked what was going on and she couldn't speak. My grandmother came up to me and said "Abrianna, sweetheart, sit down." I did as she instructed. "It's about your dad" she said.
"He's coming home?" I remember saying cheerfully. My mother cried harder. "No dear. He won't be coming back" she said holding back tears. My smile faded fast and I ran outside crying. I don't know what happened after that.

"You ready?" My mother called snapping me out of a daze.
"Yeah. I'll see you later. Love you" I say and walk out the door. I throw my backpack in the passenger seat and I'm on my way. It's a good twenty minutes away.

I arrive and look at the sign that says "Welcome to Manndelle Highschool" the building next to it was a huge stone building. Kinda intimidating if you ask me. First thing I do is pull out my phone and text Kelsey. Kelsey is my bestfriend who still lives in Michigan. Her older sister Alana dated Landon for two years. I say "hey I'm here wish me luck"
It's not a minute later I get a message that says "Abri! I miss you so. Be careful, you'll do fine" hearing from her gives me confidence to walk through those stone doors.

I take a deep breath and walk up to the front desk.
"Hey I'm Abrianna Lanthel. I'm the girl who called a couple weeks ago." The man at the desk looks up and smiled. "Hello Abrianna. Very nice to meet you. I'll call Bret to help you around here." I smile and take a seat in a metal chair next to the desk. I hear the man call over the speaker "Bret Daniels, please come to the front desk."

I roll my pencil between my fingers and wait. Two minutes later I hear footsteps coming around the corner. "You wanted me Mr. Mitchell?" I look up to see a tall, handsome, blonde guy with bright blue eyes standing at the desk.

"This is Abrianna. She's new here and I want you to show her around."

"Will do, sir"

He walks over to me. "Abrianna right?"

"That's me. you're Bret?"

"I am indeed."