A Hole in the Heart

Chapter 1

"Have a great day, Amanda!" Dad is always the optimist. He would be going through the first day of high school with a huge grin on his face.

"See you later, Honey," Mom calls from the kitchen. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks Mom!" I call out before I leave the foyer.

I am so not ready but at least I look okay. I have on my new flower skirt and light pink shirt. My hair is up in a chic new French style with my new pale pink wedges.

I open the door and take a step out. All of a sudden I feel my feet leave the ground.

What's going on?! Wait... MINT! I know that scent!

"Bryan!" I squeal, as I throw my arms around him.

"Happy birthday!"

"Is it really?" I ask. "We're waiting for the bus to go to school."

"Look on the bright side," he says. "You get to see me!"  he says and sets me on the ground.

I give him a warning look and he stops.

"Seriously though, you get to see your friends," he reminds me. "The first day we don't do anything so you get cedit for doing nothing."

"Oh well, I just wish that we didn't have to go to school. Not everyone is going to even use what they 'teach' us," I complain. "Do you think I need history, or English to be a fashion designer? No."

"Okay, well why don't you take up your argument with the president," Bryan replies with a smile.

Just then the bus pulls up. I climb on before Bryan and am greated with a deafening "Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks everyone!" I call. Bryan plops down next to me. "Not such a bad welcome now was it?" He is obviously thinking 'I told you so!'

"I know you want to say it so just do it," I say without looking at him.

He looks at me with the most fake innocent smile, " Now would I do that?"

"Of course you would. I really hope we have classes together," I say.

"Yeah, me too. It'll be sooo boring without you. If we don't, though,  we definitely need to meet at lunch."

"Bryan, has summer break gone to your head? Of course we're going to sit together at lunch-we always do!"

He puts his arm around my shoulders and smiles at me. "I don't know, Amanda.  I think you'll have a lot of company, at least for today."

"Get real!" I say as I push his arm off and glare.

The stupid grin on his face grows even wider.

I try to ignore his ridiculous remarks until we get to school, but it is not easy. As soon as the bus stops I jump to my feet. Bryan gets held back a few people and I hear him calling my name. Just as he gets off the bus I yell "Catch you later!" He knows I'm talking to him by the way he sighs and watches me scurry away.

Walking through the halls on the first day, everything is chaotic, but it all stops when people see me. My birthdy has never been on the first day of school, usually the day before. Today, though, everyone wishes me a happy birthday.

"Amanda!"

I turn to find Bryan has caught up to me.

" I told you that you would have an audience," he says with a smile. I roll my eyes but can't help the smile that creeps onto my face.

I head to my locker to put my  bag away. Seriously, why are we not allowed to have bookbags?  When I get there, there's a banner hanging from it with balloons and streamers in the vents. Sarah appears from arround the corner and wraps me in a hug.