The Journal

Chapter 1

        Her jet black hair fluttered behind her , she walked as confidently as she could but her knees were jelly like ,  of course they'll be after all it's a new city a new school . She had every right to be nervous it was high school we're talking about . Her black jeans were sticking to her legs and her shoes were suffocating her feet .
      Her deep brown eyes widened at the sight and her face illuminated with curiosity . Her lips parted to give a gasp . In front of her stood a magnificent building made of red bricks and creamy coloumns . The shape of the doors and windows were ancient to her . The lawn was lush green with several flowers giving it a beautiful texture for a lovely landscape . The trees were swaying to the beat of the wind and the leaves were dancing merrily .
    The breathtaking  beauty of nature and the magnificent man-made building blended to form a wonderful view of a landscape .
     The sudden shrill screaming of the bell brought her back to reality . All of a sudden there was a wave of a crowd that flowed past her in such a speed that she didn't realise it at first .
She just stood there gaping at the fast moving crowd . Atlanta had certainly not been like this , children were helpful and often friendly towards new comers , here it so seems that the new comers were most unwelcome .
"New bee ? Stop gaping , come on I'll show you 'round !" said a boy about her age . He had long hair , nicely gelled with black current eyes . He wore a jacket with no hood and was unzipped . It showed his red shirt which said ' I'm tech-savy ! #watchwhereyou'relooking @ Ilook anywhere I like ' . He wore black skinny jeans and running shoes . He grinned at her .
She smiled back and without any second thought followed him .
He pointed to a swimming pool where boys and girls swimming .
"That is the swimming pool . You swim there that is if you join the swim team ." he said .
She nodded, comprehending here surroundings and asked , " Are you in the swim team ?"
"No ! Never ! Infact never in a million years ! I'd never do that ! The coach makes you practice every day including Sundays even if it's winter . Do you wanna join ?" he asked .
"No . At least I don't think so . Not after the way you've discribed it " She said . She hated water in winters .
He laughed heartily and shook his head .
He then pointed towards an arena that had a net fence .
"Now that is the gym . Here you have the  running team , basketball team , cricket team , foothball team , vollyball team , badminton team and tennis team  . Now you have to join any two teams . It's compulsary . In the words of our teacher himself 'Sports keeps you fit , fine and energetic .' Since then it's compulsary . What would you go for ?" the guy asked looking at her .
"Well , this is the first time I have ever seen so many options for sports , to be frank I'd go for basketball and vollyball ." Emilia said after thinking hard .
"Wow ! Even I go for basketball and vollyball , infact I started a few days ago . I think we could be in the same team ! Our teams aren't chosen yet ....." he said cheerfully .
"Now we come to the classes !" the boy said .
She was shown the art room , the music room and several other rooms . Including the math room to which the boy showed great interest unlike her who showed very little . Math was certainly not her thing .
"Well , what's in your schedule ?" the boy asked .
The school shedule was mailed to her just before she left Atlanta . She had nine classes each day .
"History " she replied .
"Oh ! I have it too !" he said enthusiastically .
"Sorry , but I didn't catch your name ?" She asked .
"Oh where are my manners ?I'm Edward , Edward William Johnson . People call me Ed , Will or Bill but classmates call me Johnson . " the boy said sticking out his hand .
"I'm Emilia Helen Stewart . People call me Em , Emma or Lia ." Emilia said shaking her hand .
"C'mon time for class !" Edward said enthuisiasticaly .
"Yay !" Emilia said sarcasticaly .
Time passed very quickly , History was a real bore as it usually was . Soon after History was English and so on , Ed and Em shared most of the classes other than Biology and Political Science .
Now during lunch they sat together at the very edge of the popular section .
"Well , well , Johnny found himself a girlfriend !" said a brunette as she walked upto them. She had long pretty hair but her face was mashed up with a lot of unwanted makeup .
    "Who is that ?" Emilia asked furrowing her eyebrows.
     "That's Britany.  The school bully , she also a popular." Edward replied
    "You never told me you were bullied !" Emilia exclaimed
    "Yeah. I kinda forgot to mention that." Edward said rubbing the back of his neck.
    "She is not my girlfriend Britney !" Ed said as calmly as possible .
    "Aww ! Poor ickle Johnnykins !" Britney said faking her concern.
     "So dark-haired-girl-with-no-make-up-which-makes-her-look-ugly what are you doing here sitting with Edgar here." Britany asked , her blue eyes widening.
     "Well , for starters, I'm not ugly . I just prefer not to look as a clown such as yourself. Secondly , his name is Edward not Edgar. And last but not least that is none of your business to know every detail." Emilia snapped , she absolutely hated insults.
     "Oh!  We have a competition girls ! You don't know what you are playing with." Britany warned.
     "I am not playing ! I am providing you with facts." Emilia said innocently.
     "Unfortunately, you can't spot the obvious. Let me tell you , that you are playing with fire." Britany said clenching her teeth.
     "Oh ! I did not know that. FYI you're playing with water." Emilia said walking off.
     "You need some ice for that burn ? I right here." Ed said with a smirk
     "Well , ice melts in fire." Britany smirked.
     "It melts to form water which extinguishes fire." Ed grinned
     
"That was AWESOME !" Ed said catching up with Emilia .
"Now I feel I shouldn't have done that ..." Em said , a little worried .
"Are you serious ?" Ed asked quizzicaly .
"I am not Sirius , but I am s-e-rious ." Emilia said with a slight smirk .
"No you're not ! What you did out there should have been done long before but unfortunately we were all afraid of Britney ! No one messes with Britney ......." Ed said and began explaining the situation and each word made Emilia paler and paler .
"Oh my goodness ! What do I do ? First day itself I got into a fight and that too with the school's bully !" Emilia said putting her head on her hands .
Before Ed could answer , the bell rang . The classes crawled by until it was time to go .
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"Um .... Ed do you suppose er .... you know a place for a part time job or something ?" Emilia asked at the end of the day , nervously because she was embaressed .
"Sure , I know a restraunt that is opposite to my house it opened up a month ago , it is in need of a waitress ..... er are you up for that ?" Ed asked .
"Oh sure , I just need to pay my dues you see I'm living in a rented apartment , and Mum can't pay the loan so er I was looking for a part time job before I came here ....." Emilia said .
"Follow me !" Ed said marching foward , Em giggled and followed his foothsteps . Soon , they were standing infront of a glass door with and a wooden railing .
As they opened the door , the bell rang announcing their arrival . Inside was a cosy and comfy restraunt with a few tables and chairs . The buisness seemed to be great , but Emilia fought with all her might so as not to keep her hopes high .
"Hello ?" an old lady asked with a curious look but a warm smile .
She looked at Emilia puzzled but one look at Edward brought her to recognition .
"My little Ed ! How are you dear ? And who is this pretty lady you brought with you ? " the old lady asked looking Edward with a mischevious glint in her eyes .
"Oh this is not who you think it is ." Ed said with little laugh .
But all Emilia could think was This is a wierd place . Even the old ladies here are wierd !
"This is Emilia , my friend ....." began Ed but before he could continue the old lady cut him off .
"Your friend ! Oh my you never bring your friends here this is so wonderful .  !" the old lady said eveloping Emilia in a hug who was struggling to breathe .
Emilia gave the old lady a awkward smile . These people seemed really wierd to her .
"Yes and she would like to work here ....." began Ed .
"Work ! Here ! That would be simply lovely ! Come here dear !" the old lady said gesturing Ed to go .
"Oh and Em ! " Ed said calling her and he took out a piece of paper and gave it to her .
"I throught you might need it !" Edward said giving her a piece of paper .
Emilia looked at it quizzicaly.
"Your phone number ?" Em asked amused .
"Yeah ! Being in a new town must be tough for you. If you need any kind of help ?" Edward said making it into a question before he left .
Emilia looked at the old lady who had a mischevious smile on her face .
Em looked at the piece of paper , smirked and shook her .
She was then led by the old lady to cook's room and began taking in orders from different customers
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Buisness was very smooth that day , there were a lot of customers . Emilia was very tired by the end of the day .
"I should be going ." Emilia said .
"No dear , eat something and then go it's a policy , please " the old lady said .
Reluctantly , Emilia agreed and began serving herself some spegatti and sause .
"You know you're very lucky to have Edward as a friend ...." the old lady said , her eyes looking very distant .
   "He is very polite boy with such good manners." She continued.
"Oh how forgetful of me ! I'm Merlinda but you can call me Mum or Merli or aunty ." Merlinda said smiling .
"I'll call you aunty " said Em .
"Polite like Ed you are !" Merlinda said .
"Thank you !" Em said blushing at the compliment .
"I better be going got a lot of work to do !" Emilia said .
"See you tommorow dear !" Merlinda said waving her hand .
Emilia scurried off to her apartment .
Without even changing she went off to a dreamless sleep ......