The Difference

Chapter 5.

                         Shirley Walliams - Monte Carlo

I wake up to the ping of my phone. I checked to see a message from Corbin. It read “ Good morning. Hope you’re ready for today?” I replied with a Yes.

It’s not easy for someone to make friends with me so for him to take interest in me I’m actually happy. I feel like a new person today. I took a nice soft shower and brushed my teeth. I sat at my dressing table and applied lotion to my skin. I then wore my new pair of Victoria Secret strapless bra and underwear. I walked to my closet to see what I’d wear. After a lot of mind conflict I decided on a blue and white tank top paired with a pink high waist jeans skirt. I paired all three with long white socks and a blue, white and pink canvas to match with all three. I turned to the mirror to see what I’d do with my hair. Again after a lot of mind conflict I ended up tying it in a bun and letting some fall behind my neck. I don’t mean to brag but it brought out my beauty. I opened my jewelry box and took out the star and moon gold bracelet my mom bought for me on my tenth birthday and wore it. I packed my books into my backpack and slung it on my back. I then picked out my phone and walked out of my room.

Mike, James, Chris and Dad were having breakfast. I didn’t hear when Chris came last night since he doesn’t sleep at home often.

“Good morning” I greeted. Even I was surprised at how cheerful I sounded. I even hugged dad and high-fived my brothers.

“Someone looks happy today.” Chris said.

“Do I now?” I asked, smiling.

“What happened to your Gothic look?” James asked, looking at my dressing.

“Decided to change.” Turning to my dad, “Oh, and dad I won’t be driving to school today. A friend is picking me up.”

“You have a friend?” Dad asked surprised.

“Why does it sound like a crime for me to have a friend?”.

“No one is saying don’t have a friend. It’s just you’d never brought one home”

“Well today, you’d meet him “

“Look at that it’s a boy. Go girl!” Chris said.

“Shut up, Chris.” I said to him. “ And don’t you dare try to scare him off. I’m not your little sister anymore for you to be ridding off my friends.”

“Hey,why me?” He asked, offended. “Mike also does that.”

“Well I’m better at it than you" Mike said laughing at him. I shook my head and walked up to the fridge to pour a glass of OJ and make a sandwich. I sat down beside dad to eat. As if on cue, when I was done, Corbin texted me that he was at the gate. I’d shared my location to him the night before.

“He’s here. Chris behave.” I warned and proceeded to descend the stairs to bring him in. 

“Hi,” I said once I saw him.

“Hey,” he sounded overwhelmed. “Now this is what I call beauty.” He complimented me while looking at my dressing.

“Thanks.” I answered shyly. “By the way, my dad and brothers want to meet you.”

“I thought you didn’t want me to meet them?”

“Well, I changed my mind so c’mon up.” I said and led the way to the dining room.

“Dad, James, Mike, Chris this is Corbin. Corbin, this is my dad and brothers.” I did the introductions.

“Nice to meet you, sirs.” He said to them.

“Nice to meet you, son, make sure to take care of my daughter,” my dad said.

“Yes sir.”

“Okay, now you better get going or you’d be late for school”

“Love you guys.” I said as I held Corbin’s hand and run down the stairs with him to his car.

“So how do you feel wearing these colors?” he asked once we were in the car.

“I feel great, surprisingly. I’ve practically wore black my whole life I didn’t think of how nice it will be in other ones.”

“Well, let’s see what the school thinks about it” he said as we sped to school.

I started to tense up. All eyes are definitely going to be on us, especially me. When we started rounding up the corner of the school I could feel my stomach churn.

“Are you okay?”Corbin asked, looking concerned.

“Not really,”I answered truthfully.

“Well you shouldn’t be. You just make sure you blend with the others and be yourself. I promise to be by your side through it all.” He assured me.

I felt alright as we pulled into the parking lot. People were not really there but when Corbin got down from his side to open my side for me, they turned to see who it was. I placed my hand into his and he whispered, “smile” as we walked towards the school. Eyes were definitely on us. I could hear a lot of whispered questions as we passed by.

“Is that the new guy with Shirley?”

“What has she done to her hair?”

“What happened to the black?”

I smiled through it all. We entered and every eye in the corridor turned to look at us.

“What do you have?” he asked

“History. You?”

“Music. I’ll escort you to your class. When I leave don’t be afraid. I’ll still be there with you.”

When we got to the class everyone was seated but the teacher wasn’t in.

“Are you ready?”He asked.

“Let’s do this.” He opened the door and everyone raised their eyes to look at me. I swear I’ve never had this much attention in my life. Corbin walked me to my desk with their eyes following our every movement. When I sat down he said, “I’ll see you at recess” and left the class. Even as he left, eyes were on me. I felt shy.

I’m going to have an awesome year or let me say years with Corbin by my side.