The Girl Who Dared

Magic & Amanda

The teacher Mrs. Evans speaks to the class about our hobby journals and interest journals. All the other kids nod their heads understanding everything she is saying but all I hear is the annoying tapping of pencils and manicured finger nails on the desks all around me. I see her lips working but hear no words come out of those dried lips that tell me that she hasn't drank anything for a while. I move my head towards my best friend Jessica Morel who is my only friend. She's staring at me and pointing to her journal that was handed to her by Mrs. Evans. I smile at the title "Boyfriends". I give Jessica a thumbs up and a sly smile which she doesn't return; she flips me off under the desk and turns back to her journal. I look at the journal sitting on my desk practically drawing me in by the title. I cannot believe it. It's the "Wish" journal. I quickly flip through the other entries and chuckle silently at the ridiculous titles and stories like: "I wish I had a boyfriend!" or "I wish that I could have a puppy!" all very stupid I think. We might be freshman but we aren't ten years old anymore. This is so stupid and so are these people. I flip through a few more ending up on one that is titled "Magic & Amanda" I quickly read through the small entry and frown. This entry was about a fan of my mothers someone who was obsessed with her so much he/she wrote in the Wish journal and messed with magic. Everyone in the world believed mother knew real magic but she's a fake she doesn't even know how to cook eggs let alone fly. I quickly flip to the next blank page and write:

 I wish that I won't have to be the laughing stock anymore, I don't want to be 'that girl' anymore, I want to be the one who dared. The girl who dared to be different. 

I stop to look at what I have written in the Wish journal. Some people signed their names others put funny things like "Sparkly Unicorn King". I left mine nameless so that I wouldn't be bullied for writing my own wishes down. I look over at Jessica who has finished and is flirting with a baseball player who just happens to be too old for her anyways. The bell rings causing all sound to return to my ears just in time to hear Mrs. Evans tell us the homework for the week. I shove everything in bag including the stupid Wish journal I need to figure out who this fan of my mother's is. I run out after Jessica and mister hot shot baseball player. "Hey Jess, we need to talk about our upcoming project for science." I nudge her in the ribs and smile at the guy who looks so disappointed that he won't be getting anything today behind the bleachers. Yeah buddy I know your secrets. Jessica looks up his sad face and smiles brightly "How about I give you my number and you call me later?" His face brightens and he nods "Sure." I frown and jab her in the ribs again, she groans sneaking me a deadly glare so I just look away whistling. After the number exchange I drill Jessica. "What the hell Jess? You can't be giving out your numbers to older guys!" She just stares with her mouth gaping open. "Shut your mouth before birds make a home." I say under my breath. "Penny are you jealous that your only friend is getting male attention?" I grin and look away "Nope." I say in the most honest voice I have knowing that I'm lying to my best friend and myself. "Whatever Pen, I gotta go I have a shot to attend to." Jessica waves as she runs to her mother's bright red Honda civic. I reach into my bag and grab the Wish journal and stare at it before the loud beep of the truck my mother drives.