Short Stories HS Edition

California Heat

The weight of my backpack surprised me. Surly three text books and a few supplies weren't that heavy. Wrong.

"Honey, do you need some help with that?" Dad asked from the driver's seat of our dated (actually it was falling apart) minivan.

"No, no. I'm fine, really." I said straining to pick the thing up. I inhaled deeply preparing myself, and hauled the bag over my shoulders. "Oof!" I didn't know how the heck I was going to do this. Honestly there wasn't that much stuff in it. I mean it was only, two pairs of spare clothing, in case of, you know accidents. Sneakers, for gym. A sweater in case I got cold. My glasses, because I was basically blind. Ten spiral spined note books. Forty two black ink fine tipped pens, and three text books. See not that much. It really shouldn't be this heavy.

"Move out of the way Ellie!" My younger sister Evette screeched. She pushed me slightly to the left causing me to almost tip over. Almost, but I caught myself. See? I was fine. Evette and I had missed the bus. Our other sisters Emily, Emilia, and Esme were already inside the ever frightening brick building in front of me. Green Bay High School. We'd moved almost two weeks ago to the small town of Green Bay, Maine. The town was quiet and beautiful in a quaint kind of way. It suited us, or rather it suited me.

"I don't want to move to a stupid city on the other side of the country!" Esme screamed when Mom and Dad first broke the news. Her blond curls were wild and her blue eyes were bloodshot from her tears and hysterics.

"Actually it's a town." Emily had replied matter-of-factly.

"A nice little town by the sea according to my research." Emilia, Emily's identical twin added.

"We live by the sea RIGHT NOW!" Esme resumed her antics. Mom and Dad simply ignored her, knowing that she'd eventually cool off on her own.

Now I stood before the home of the Seahawks in all its grandeur. What a sight to see. In all actuality it was smaller than our old school in L.A., but because it was all so new I was horrified, and just a bit over dramatic. But not by much.

"Ellie, I'm all for you standing here, staring at the building all day, but I need to go to work." Dad teased. I tended to space out into my own world from time to time.

"Sorry, Bye Dad."

"Bye Honey, have a good day."

And then I was off, sprinting full speed towards a new adventure! Or walking as fast as I could at least. The backpack was killing me.

"Theodore Abel." Mrs. Quills squawked. She was an older lady that oddly reminded me of a goose. Her nose was long and beak like with a rounded bridge. Square glasses were perched on the tip of her beak, err, I mean nose.

"Elliot Bradley." She said.

"Here." I answered.

"Oh, Class we have a new student here today. Everyone say hello to miss Bradley. Elliot dear, would you like to tell the class a bit about yourself?" She looked at me with one of those 'I'm not really asking faces.' Dang it I hate public speaking. I stood up, determined not to make a fool of myself.

"Um, Hi. Ellie. Err. California. And four sisters. Seventeen." I said confidently, and sat back down. Based on the student's faces I didn't do that bad. They were only mildly confused. Last time I got disgust.

One guy, however, looked at me curiously. Once a few of the cheerleader-looking girls in the vicinity caught his drift, their odd looks turned to distain, and quickly to disbelief and finally anger. What was their issue? He was only looking at me.

I turned my attention away from the girls in uniform and back to the guy. I noticed then that his shirt was blue. But THEN I realized that he was as hot as the California heat. I mean WOW. He smirked at me and cocked his head to one side. Oh no. He caught me looking. HIDE! But alas, I had nowhere to turn! So I grabbed the hood of my sweater and threw it over my head, (Quite dramatically I might add) and pulled the hood strings tight. Surly he wouldn't notice right?! I turned back inconspicuously to see. He was laughing lightly to himself and staring right at me! I whipped my head back to the front of the class and tried to concentrate on Mrs. Quills.