It was just a crush!!!

Chapter 2

My dad passed away a few years later. My entire universe collapsed. We had a close bond.  He would always dance with me when we went out for ice cream after school. It's the butt ugly dancing, not the formal dancing. We used to have a competition to see who could dance the worst. Of course, I always won.  I was plagued by the years before his death. I didn't give it much thought because I was twelve. I was confident that he would recover quickly. (How stupid I was!) He did well the first year. Even though mom insisted that he go to bed, he always made time to play with me since he was still his silly, lovable self. "My baby girl's happiness always comes first," was Dad's motto.  He would smile broadly as he said it. I knew he meant it. Mother would sigh and give us room.  

That second year wasn't as smooth. Mom told him to go to bed more frequently, and he did as she said. Though not as much, we still had fun. But he did recall that the most essential thing is for me to be happy. That's what he told me a lot of those few years. till his final breath.

Now I'm going to start high school, which isn't the most thrilling thing ever especially with a recently dead dad. School not fun unless my best friend Avery asks you. She adores everything about school. Assignment's , teachers, and extra credit. She is the most popular girl in the school, which goes against what you would anticipate given how much she enjoys her studies. The fact that she even spends time with me is a surprise. That's what everyone tells me, anyway. Still, I don't believe that. Since we first met in seventh-grade gym class, Avery has always been outgoing and gregarious. She ran alongside me as we did laps around the gym.

I sat with Avery and her friends at lunch. At first I thought it must be some kind of joke that she invited me to the popular kids' table. Avery was one of the most popular girls in school, and I never imagined she'd want me to sit with her inner circle. But then I heard her voice call out, "Over here!" She waved me over enthusiastically. I took a deep breath and made my way to the table. 

The conversation died down as soon as I sat. Leave it to the bubbly Avery to break the awkward silence. "Guys, this is Nova. I met her in gym class and we're adopting her into our friend group!"

"You don't have to..." I started to object, but she waved it off. 

"I think we have math together," said Paige, a beautiful blonde who was dating Jack Walter, quarterback of the football team and my childhood nemesis. I was surprised that Paige, part of the popular inner circle, even acknowledged me. But Avery's invitation gave me a sense of belonging with the in-crowd that I'd never felt before. I listened absently as the girl chattered about other topics, feeling invisible to everyone . Only Avery spoke to me. Over the years, I came to know her well, and I'm glad to call her my best friend.

Now I sit on her couch as she frets about starting high school. "So Nova, what should we wear the first day?" she asks. 

I glance at my outfit then back at her. "How about this?" I say. 

Shaking her head, Avery replies, "You're kidding, right?"

I'm wearing my white stained shirt and gray sweatpants with water stains. Grinning at her, I say, "Come on Avery, lighten up."

Avery started pacing, her face tense. "This is not the time for jokes. My reputation is at stake here," she said seriously.

"You mean your popularity," I replied with a disappointed tone.

"Yes," Avery shot back without hesitation.

I sighed. "When will you stop worrying so much about what others think?"

"I'll stop when you start caring," she retorted.

"Fair enough." I said, nonchalantly.

"Get up - we're going shopping," Avery said as she grabbed my arms and pulled me up from the couch.