Meant to Be

Chapter Two

"Rylee! Time for dinner!" my mother called about an hour and a half later.

"Okay," I called back, setting my pencil down. I hurried downstairs and sat down at the dining room table. Soon, my little sister came running in, and my parents followed her. They sat down at the table and my mother began passing around food.

"So, Brynn, how was second grade today?" my father asked my little sister.

"It was good. We played tag at recess and we had art today. I drew a flower and two butterflies," Brynn replied.

My mother smiled warmly as she spooned macaroni and cheese on Brynn's plate. "I'm sure it was a beautiful picture."

"How was work, Todd?" Mom asked, turning to my father.

"It was fine. I think we'll be done with this case soon. The defendant's lawyer is planning on making his closing arguments tomorrow." My father took a bite of chicken. "Laura, this chicken is great! Where did you get the recipe?"

"One of the other preschool teachers gave it to me," Mom explained.

My family kept talking, but I was quiet. I couldn't stop thinking about the boy I saw. Is he my age? Will he go to my school?

"Ry, are you okay? You seem awfully quiet, and you've barely touched your food," my dad said, worry lines creasing his forehead.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just not that hungry," I answered. "Can I be excused?"

My parents let me leave, and after putting my dirty dishes in the sink, I retreated to the safety of my bedroom.

I flopped onto my bed and grabbed my phone. I dialed my cousin Ava's number. Ava was only a few months older than me. She was super nice and outgoing and could always give me good advice. She was the closest thing I had to a best friend. 

"Hey, Ry! What's up?" Ava asked as soon as she answered the phone.

"Not much. You?"

"Well..." Ava began, and I knew she was about to launch into a long story, most likely about her latest boyfriend. I was right. "So this guy, Ryder? He sent me a picture of him holding a paper over his face that said 'Will you go out with me?' It was super adorable, but the only thing was, I barely knew him! So he said, 'Meet me at your locker after school' and then..."

I tuned out. Ava always had a story for me, but it wasn't what I needed to hear. I needed to talk to her.

"Ry? You okay? You haven't said anything for a while. Don't worry; I may have a new 'Ry' in my life, but you're the original. And you know how it goes; you can try, but you can't beat the original!"

"No, it's not that. Ava, someone's finally moving in next door. And I saw a boy watching the movers. I'm pretty sure he's moving in. He was about my age, and he saw me looking at him from my bedroom window and smiled! Av, I'm just nervous. Will he go to my school? Will we be friends?"

"Oh, Ry, I'm beting that he'll go to the private school. You'll never see him again! It'll be fine, I promise. Like, I was nervous about Ryder, but he's great. We were like, meant to be."

"Yeah," I said, not really paying attention. "Well, I better go. I have a ton of homework."

"Talk to you later, Ry. Love ya!"

"Love you too. Bye." I hung up the phone and put it back on my dresser.

Later that night, I laid in bed, thinking about the new boy.

Will he be nice? Will he like me? Will he talk to me? Could we be friends? 

Eventually, I fell asleep. I dreamed that I had a best friend. We, like Ava said, were meant to be.