Teen-Adulthood 101

Chapter Two

We arrived at school just in time for second block, which was my favorite class, Honors English III, taught by Miss Tillman. She was very young and talented in the writing field. I know this for a fact because she showed us her poetry and had us write our own, which was really enlightening. We were also encouraged to create a portfolio of our poems and short stories at the end of the term for extra credit, which was awesome for me because writing is my passion.

After second period, I was walking to lunch when a blonde girl walked up to me. "Are you Haley Nowell?"

"That's me. Why'd you ask?"

She handed me a flyer for afternoon college courses. "Mississippi has selected Louisville School District to host free college courses for the top fifty juniors and seniors and you were selected. There's a meeting in the auditorium after lunch explaining more. I hope to see you there."

"You will." I replied. "What's your name, anyway?"

She just laughed. "Oh, it's Amanda! Amanda Morgan! I sat behind you in AP English."

"Cool! You want to sit together at lunch?"

"Sure, let's go!"

Lunch was a total bore, but I met up with Rain and she, Amanda, and I sat together. We talked about taking college courses and Rain and I got more acquainted with Amanda, who was also a fourteen-year-old junior and like me, is raised by a divorced mom and has a younger sibling. She also dreams of being a writer and musician sometime before she graduates high school or college, making her even more like me.

Anyways, after lunch, the three of us went to the meeting, which lasted the last two blocks. So afterwards, we left the building and piled into Jake's car.

"So, Amanda?" I asked, starting the vehicle. "What courses are you taking?"

"English Composition I, College Algebra, Public Speaking, and U.S. History! What about you, Rain?"

Rain chuckled. "Same! You, Hales?"

I played Trapt's "Black Rose" and started driving. "I have English Literature I, Anatomy and Physiology I online, Human Growth and Development, Music Appreciation, and Microbiology online."

"I figured that! You've been taking college courses since seventh grade, so it makes sense you're already a college sophomore. Like Logan always told me, you're a nerd!"

"Look who's talking, Rain." Amanda replied. "We're all nerds, and you're no different!"

I just laughed a little and asked Amanda where her mom worked, so we could drop her off.

"She owns a hair and nail salon called Laney's." she answered.

"That's next to the jewelry store where my mom works."

"And across the street from my dad's accounting firm." Rain added.

As I pulled in front of the salon, I saw my mom exiting her car and heading towards the store when she saw me.

"Hi, honey!" She called out. "How was school?"

I exited the car. "Great! I signed up for more college courses."

"Honey, you need to slow down! You have another year of high school and it's going to fly by quickly if you keep this up! Did you change clothes?"

"Yeah, you like it?"

She shook her head again. "At least it's not all black! Now, get that car to Jake's before there are road blocks!"