Found Her Next Door

Chapter 4

It was the first day of 2nd grade for Carrie and Ryan; they were attending Roseville Elementary School. Carrie woke up at 7:00 slipped on her favorite pair of tan and white sandals with jeans and a grey sweater. She rushes down stairs to get her mom to brush her hair to "make it pretty" as Carrie referred to it. Next door Ryan was a heavy sleeper and didn't get out of bed until 7:30, which left him only 15 minutes before the bus came. Ryan put on the tan shorts and blue long sleeve guy Harvey shirt with his Sperry's that his mom laid out the night before. Ryan sat down to eat his cereal with 5 minutes to spare. He heard the secret knock that he and Carrie made up to signal they were ready to go. Ryan zoomed to get his back pack, gave his mom and dad a hug and kiss, and then was out the door. Carrie awaited him near the dirt road between the two drive ways.

"Hey Carrie!" Ryan yells as he is tripping forgetting about the last step before he tumbles onto the grass.

"Hey Ryan! Watch out there's a step there!!" Carrie bursts out in tears from laughing so hard.

"Aren't you so funny, I think it's the bus?" Ryan says as he pushes himself up.

The bus comes tumbling along stopping between the two driveways pulling open the doors.

"Well hey there Ryan, ready for the 2nd grade?" The bus driver shouts greeting Ryan as he enters the bus.

The bus drivers name is Ron and all the kids love him. In a small town like this one everybody knows everybody so naturally he was a good family friend to Ryan.

"No way! Summer needs to come back! But Mr. Ron this is Carrie Taylor she lives next door to me now. She's my new best friend." Ryan explains as he moves to the side showing Carrie behind him.

"Well how do you do there Carrie I'm Mr. Ron and I think you're going to like it here in Guntersville. Stick with Ryan he's a good kid." Mr. Ron extends his hand out to greet Carrie.

"I'm mighty fine Mr. Ron! Ryan's my best friend he can't get rid of me that easy!" Carrie said with a smile that would brighten anyone's day.

"Well alrighty then Miss Carrie follow Ryan and find welcome aboard the big yellow school bus!" Mr. Ron expressed with a witty laugh.

Ryan grabbed Carrie's hand led her to the back of the bus were his name is engraved in the seat cover. Carrie let out a laugh and then sat on the seat across from Ryan's. The bus came to one more stop before reaching the school.

"RYAN! BETTER HAVE MY SEAT! WHAT'S UP ROSEVILLE ELMENTARY BUS RIDERS!?" Scott screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Scott be quiet you're such a boy." Rae in a soft yet annoyed voice mumbled standing behind Scott.

Scott and Rae walk back towards Ryan; Scott takes the one behind Ryan and Rae takes the one behind Carrie. Confused Rae and Scott look at each other look at Carrie then look at Ryan.

"Ryan who is this little blonde hair cutie sitting diagonal from me." Scott said with a cocky smirk. (Background on Scott: He lives with two older brothers in high school so his flirting skills are advanced for a second grader.)

"Well Scott, Rae this is Carrie Taylor she's my new neighbor. She moved her from Tuscaloosa a few weeks ago. "Ryan gestured toward Carrie.

"Well hello Carrie I'm Scott Matthews the man of your dreams... haha just kidding. But I'm Scott, welcome to Guntersville and you're in good hands." Scott said

"And I'm Rae Holliday; we can be best friends because it will be nice having a girl in this group of friends. And just ignore Scott he has two older brothers in high school so he thinks he's school." Rae said in her soft voice but with a slight happy tone.

"Well hi y'all. Nice to meet you Scott and hi Rae it'll be good to have a best friend around here." Carrie said with her big smile and slight southern tone.

The bus came to a stop and they arrived at the school. This group of friends walked into the office to find out whose class they were in. They all ended up in Ms. Freelance's class and bless that women's soul because this was going to be a long year. The day was over and the all gather back on the bus to head home.

"Hey y'all let's go to my house afterwards, my mom can make us snacks and we can watch movies." Ryan suggested to his friends.

You may be thinking second graders just off making plans what!?! But all the parents go to Ryan's house after the first day of school since they started going to the same pre-school. Anyways back to the story....

"Yeah like always! You coming Carrie?" said both Scott and Rae.

"Yeah my mom told me to go there after school anyways because she was helping Mrs. Hunt with some things." Carrie explained.

They hopped off the bus and raced into Ryan's house. When they ran through the front door Mrs. Hunt and Mrs. Taylor were sitting near the island at the kitchen. They had snack already for them, then asked each how their day was. Mrs. Taylor was introduced to Rae and Scott. This was yet another beginning for Carrie's new life. She made another new best friend and belongs to a great group of friends.