Time for change

Chapter 3

In 2 days I had to start school. Having the school about 5 minutes from your house is both a blessing and a curse.

On the plus side, I don't have to wake up all that early. On the down side, either my brother or my parents have to take me. (Since it's only 5 minutes my parents don't want to buy me a car. I'm not involved in anything outside of school so they don't see the point in a car for me.)

It wouldn't be all that bad for my brother to take me if his car didn't look like a really sketchy van that someone would use to kidnap people in. I mean seriously. It is the ugliest car I have ever seen and I have no idea what possessed him to buy it. Oh and it has a name. Herbie. If Herbie from Herbie fully loaded was his inspiration, he is sadly mistaken. I mean come on. Herbie is so much better than this barn yard explosion. How does Ryan even expect to get a girl in this piece of junk. I definitely wouldn't go home with a guy with this kind of car. I suffered through the humiliation of "Herbie" because it's better than being driven by your parents. Right? I sure hope so.

I got out of the car and just like that the powerful aroma of smoke hit me like a soccer ball to the face. I didn't realize Kennedy High School was so laid back and carefree.

As Ryan and I walked past the culprits of the powerful smell, I made awkward eye contact with one of them. I have to admit, he was dreamy. He was tall, strong, healthy looking (other than the joint in his hand). He had dreamy brown eyes and dark brown smoothed back hair. He looked about a staggering 6 foot, which is pretty dang tall compared to a small petite girl who measured 5'3 on a good day. Too bad he's a druggie. I don't really go for bad boys. Contradicting my thoughts, we locked gazes and I couldn't look away.. Until I found myself face down in a dumpster. It was the most humiliating experience ever. After Ryan fished me out, I glanced back towards the druggies and found them all rolling on the ground laughing. Glad to know I amused them. Gosh, men are pigs. Ryan whispered "you owe me," and ran to go smoke a joint with the rest of them. I suspect owing him meant not telling our parents about the joint. I don't understand how we are related. At all.

As it turns out, I have 3 classes with that dreamy druggie. He is in my AP lit, zoology, and AP calc class. Not to sound boastful, but I'm surprised a druggie like him could get into the smart classes I was in. I mean, if he's wasting his life on drugs that are hurting his health, which proves he doesn't have common sense, how is he in those classes?

In my first class, lit, he avoided me other than when he pointed at me and burst into laughter with his friend. I'm assuming that was about the dumpster incident. That was an hour ago how are they still on to that. I couldn't figure it out.

Through out the whole day, I didn't say a word other than to my brother or a teacher. I even had to sit all alone at lunch. That wasn't so bad because I got to make a phone call to Kim. She said she was doing alright. School wasn't the same without me, but she did have her other friends, unlike me. We made plans to see each other the first break of the school year. It's a miracle our schools are on the same schedule. She said she wanted to come down here to meet cute boys on the beach, but I assured her I'd be on the lookout.

I got a call from Kim when I got home and before I said hello she interrogated me.
"So does that mean you haven't seen any cute boys?" She asked intuitively. Great conversation starter.
"Well I never said that." I teased.
"Spill it Sky I need every juicy detail! What does he look like?"
"It doesn't matter", I admit (half to Kim and half to myself, "he was smoking a joint before school."
"And?"
"Kim!"
"What? It's not like you've given him a chance! You can't judge a book by it's cover." She said tauntingly.
"Well you know I don't go for bad boys and-"
"Oh come on! Just spill already!" She interrupted. "Ok. Fin-".

"Yay!" She squealed. "What's his name?" "Umm, I'm not sure" I explain.
"Umm ok. Is he in any of your classes?" she questions me.
"Yes. And Kim, I only saw him for like 5 seconds this morning. Right before I fell into a stupid dumpster." I blurted out that last part. "Well yo-, wait. You what?" I could just imagine her facial expression as I explained.

"We caught each other's gaze and I stopped paying attention to where I was going and then-"
"Aw it was because of him!" She exclaimed tauntingly.
"Yeah but then he and his druggie crew just started laughing at me."
"Aw it's true love isn't it?" I know she won't stop taunting so I decide to hang up. "Goodness gracious I have to go. Bye."
"No wai-". I cut her off before she can finish.

After the ambush phone call, I was eager to go to school and see him the next day. I was so caught up with him I forgot to go downstairs for dinner. By the time I got downstairs, my parents had just sat Ryan down for a talk, and my mom was just about to fetch me.

..

"What's going on mom?" I asked.
"Sky, would you sit down with your brother please?" As I sat down I asked if something was wrong. My parents longingly looked into each other's eyes and then exchanged looks with me and my brother.
"We are having a baby!" They exclaimed in perfect harmony.
"A what?" I asked. Things definitely have changed. I guess that's why they wanted a bigger house.
"Mom how could you do this to me?" Asked Ryan.
"Ryan Willis Robertson, what is wrong with you?!" My dad scolded my brother.
"Well I don't need my life to be taken over by a stupid baby. I'm gonna get a chick soon and all my time is going to be taken up with her. Not this, this, kid" he said almost with disgust pointing at my mom's stomach.
"That's it. Go to your room."
"What? Are you practicing for the new one?" He asked stomping up the stairs. Gosh he is so immature I don't know who he thinks would actually want to become his "chick".

"Well for the record, I'm happy for you. Mom and dad."
"We knew you would be," my mom said with a smile. "In fact, we thought in exchange for some help when the baby comes, and just because it's about time, we bought you your own car!"
"Are you serious?!? Thank you so much I love you both! Well I'm going to bed, goodnight!"

I woke up with a shiver. Woah. What a weird dream. I really wish I was getting a car. I wouldn't be upset if the dream were real. But I mean, come on. My parents are too old to have a kid.

As I wandered to the kitchen, I found my mom. "Good morning sweetheart, sleep well?" She asked.
"Yeah I did. I had a really weird dream though."
"What about?" she asked.
"Well you and dad were having another kid and were also getting a car for me and, as usual, Ryan was being a pain." I tell her.
"Well, that is definitely weird. Wonder what food made you have that kinda dream." she tilts her head back in laughter.
"I didn't have any." I reply hesitantly.

She frowns at me with a disapproving but loving look of concern. Only my mom seems to be able to pull that off. A few years back, I was not at all fond of how my body looked so I quit eating for a while. When my mom caught on she put me in therapy for a month or two and has wiggled her way into my eating schedule since then. I have just been eating healthy and exercising so I don't have to worry about skipping meals, except accidentally of course.

I give her a comforting smile and explain that it just slipped my mind to come downstairs for dinner. It took a little convincing, and then she dropped the subject. Just in time for school..