Turning Over A New Leaf

Chapter 4

Author's Note:

Without further adieu...

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January 21, 2010

I’m officially packed. When I get ready for school, I have to unpack my tooth brush, tooth paste, hair brush and clothes. Mom said we’re leaving after school on Friday. It’s Saturday today. My dad just got home from a business trip and he hasn’t unpacked. I guess he could just not unpack, since we’re leaving in six days. I’m scared. I guess about leaving Jacki, moving in with Grandma Sophie, and going to a brand new school, where I will be the “new kid”.

Scarlett

Scarlett grabbed the first shirt she saw from her suitcase, a pair of jeans, and headed to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth, hair, and then got dressed. Her shirt read, “BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN”. It was a little small for her, and the jeans were almost worn through in the knees. They were too short. Scarlett shrugged and opened the door, just as Joey was about to pound on the door, asking when she was going to get out. Scarlett laughed, expecting him to laugh too, but he just glared at her. She walked awkwardly around him and back to her room.

Vicky walked up the stairs and told her, “Breakfast is ready!” Scarlett made a small detour into her room to grab her school bag, and then started towards the kitchen. Setting her bag at the door, she aimed for the huge plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. She ate every particle of food, then chugged a glass of milk and asked for more bacon. She loved bacon. She ate six pieces total. Then she missed her bus.

“Hi.” Scarlett waved at Jacki as she spun the dial on her locker.

“Hey!” Jacki grinned.

Scarlett half-smiled, furrowing her brow in confusion. “Why are you so happy?” She asked.

“’Cause there’s a new guy on my bus and he is cute! And – I love my bus driver -she told him to sit with me!” Jacki said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“Really” Scarlett asked, “Where is he?”

Jacki grabbed Scarlett’s hand and pulled her down the hallway. “Okay, but he’s mine!”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Scarlett joked. “I only have four days.”

Suddenly, Jacki’s smile faded. “Oh, I’m sorry!” she squealed.

“It’s fine!” Scarlett replied. “Now, show me this guy!”

“Okay,” Jacki said, her smile slowly returning. She pointed at a guy walking down the hall. “Him,” she emphasized. He had longish, dark hair, freckles dotting his face, and thick glasses. “His name is Phil!”

Before Scarlett could react, Phil saw Jacki and, smiling (with a cute dimple in his cheek), made a beeline towards her. Scarlett nervously smoothed her hair. Phil was a little taller than Jacki, who was an inch and a half taller than Scarlett. Phil stopped in front of them and said, “Hey.”

“Hi,” Jacki replied, playing it cool. “This is Scarlett.”

Scarlett held out her hand. “Hi!” she managed to squeak out.

Phil took the proffered hand. “Hi, I’m Phil.”

“What class are you in?” Jacki asked, stealing back the attention.

“Um…” Phil reached into his pocket and pulled out a square of paper. Unfolding it, he answered, “Grade 8, and class B.”

 Jacki’s jaw dropped. “Really?” she asked, her eyes going wide. “Me too!” She turned around slightly, facing Scarlett but making sure Phil couldn’t see, and did her little Cheshire Cat smile again. Turning back to face him again, her face relaxed into a more natural smile.

Scarlett smiled. It was really nice to see that Jacki would have someone to hang out with after Scarlett was gone.

The bell rang and the three of them walked to class together.

January 23, 2010

Sorry I didn’t write yesterday. I was busy calling people for my mom, like Fed-Ex. They came that night and picked up a bunch of stuff. They took my suitcase. I still have my book bag, toothbrush, hairbrush, and just enough clothes to last until Friday. They even took my books! And notice I didn’t say toothpaste. No, they took that too. I’m sharing with Penny. I’m brushing my teeth with the Little Mermaid. Nice.

Scarlett

Scarlett, Jacki, and Phil were sitting in the library, eating their lunches. They were the only ones allowed to eat in the library, and only because the librarian trusted them. Scarlett glanced casually at her watch, then stood up and swallowed her sandwich. “I’ll be right back. I have to go return these textbooks.” She wrapped her fingers around the handle of her book bag and lugged it to the librarian desk. She set it on the floor and riffled through it. Finding all four textbooks, she set them on the desk and smiled as the librarian checked them out. Back at the table, she absent-mindedly looked at some of the books that were on the shelves. Pulling out a dark red, hardcover book without a title, she flipped it open and was astonished to find that there were no words, only page numbers. Scarlett flipped to page 1, page 7, page 64, with no luck. She closed the book and realized that the edges of the book were worn out and the cardboard underneath was visible. This is a very old book, she thought. For some reason, she felt compelled to check it out, but there was no barcode on it, and she was leaving in only three days. Shrugging, she set it back on the shelf, between Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

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Author's Note:

No need for this, I suppose. Cause no one's reading it!