Chapter One
“ Jefferson, was right, of course. But things have changed since then! Science has revolutionized. Why, the increase of technology isn’t even rational anymore!” Exclaimed Mr. Goodwin, Redwood High’s ditsy science teacher whom which every student and teacher thought had lost his mind.
The bell rang and the students began leaving their seats, some pushing them in and some not. The somewhat irritating sound of voices from other teenagers began to flow the hallways as they began leaving from their classes and heading to their next. Mr. Goodwin continued talking even as I, the last person, was exiting the classroom into the halls.
Once school ended and I began walking home, I thought about how moving to California was supposed to “be good for me”, according to my mother. Instead, it had resulted in the loss of my friends, a new school, and a new house. An entirely new environment for me, and I didn’t like it. It wasn’t Kansas with the farms, the small towns, it wasn’t home.
“ Hey Hun, how was your day at school?” My mom greeted me from the kitchen, chopping vegetables, as I opened the door to our house.
“It was great mom, thanks.” I couldn’t tell her how school really was, I thought.
I walked over to the staircase and leaned on the wall, letting my long, wavy, black hair fall to either side of me.
“Where’s Mike? He wasn’t at school today… ” I said, changing the subject to evade anymore questions about my day.
With a sigh followed by a frown she said “He’s still out looking for a job.”
I smiled, “Be happy mom, he’ll get one soon. There’s plenty of opportunities for him.”
Returning the smile she said, “You’ve always been the optimist in this family. You’re father always loved you for that, ya’ know..”
I laughed, “Yeah.”
Walking up the stairs, my mind was filled with amazement. My mother almost never made a reference of my father after he passed away, and when she did it was only for financial situations.
I shut the door to my bedroom and threw myself on to my bed small bed in the corner. Taking a deep breath, I sighed. I longed to get out of this house and into college. To start a new part of my life and begin my career. Or maybe I just wanted to go back to Kansas and be free. To see and hug all of my old friends … If they even missed me.
I kicked my shoes off while still laying down and stared out the window, looking outside into my neighborhood. A few cars passed by, children played in a neighbor’s driveway, and a flock sparrows flew out of the oak tree. I watched as Mike pulled into the drive in his mud stained dark blue truck. A screech of the tires then a slam of the door and he walked out, into the house.
“Mom, Guess what! I got the job!” I heard him shout from downstairs. His voice was deep, with a smooth southern accent in play.
There were loud footsteps up the stairs, and he swung open my door, “'You here that Audrina?”
My mouth spread into a grin at his sheer innocent excitement and happy mood. “ Good job Mike.”
He smiled once more, and shut my door . He and mom were talking downstairs. I looked back out the window, content for Mike and his new job. It was something that me and my mother both could get off our minds.
I noticed someone sitting in the passenger seat of Mike’s truck. His name was Tyler… or John, was it? I noticed him from school, he was a senior and in my advanced English class. One of the more popular teenagers in school, in the clique. Otherwise known as someone that I’d never converse with if it were for the death of me. I wouldn’t deny that he was attractive, though.
Oh well, I thought. Any hopes of finding romance or even friendship in the male population had faded a long time ago. Laughing to myself, I thought about how I didn’t mind that my mother wanted me in college before I started dating, although, I guess I was never the average seventeen year old girl in the first place.
I shifted the thick, burgundy curtains over the window to masquerade the sunlight that was intruding through the window. Opening my binder, I sifted through all of the papers homework that was required to be completed by tomorrow. I seized the textbooks from my bag and began, what seemed to me, an endless process of questions and answers.
