The Difference in Our Lives

Chapter 1

   "Winter, you should seriously consider applying for a scholarship next year," Lauren suggested, salad muffling her voice. "Sorry for my rudeness, your highness. I know what you're thinking. I was serious, though. You should try applying for, like, Harvard or some crazy school like that." I smiled and silently nodded my head, looking towards Summer as she talked with Lisa about something completely unrelated. 

   "You should! You'll probably have tons of schools knocking at your door while Harvard accepts your scholarship." I expected the voice to be from Summer, but it was instead by my second best friend, Winnie. She smiled at me happily after she scolded Lauren for talking while eating salad. Everyone was applying for scholarships, but we all knew that only a handful would actually be accepted. Everyone, except Adrian, expected me to get accepted by some insane university that only extremely educated people would be able to attend. Adrian was my rival when it came to academics- back in sixth grade, we always found ourselves battling through crazy intense paragraphs we wrote in science. After that year, we rarely talked, unless he came to tease me about how he thought he was smarter than me.

   "Ooh, is someone on your mind, lowly subject?" Adrian's voice startled me out of my trance as he and his group of friends approached our table. His use of "lowly subject" infuriated me, but I knew I had to keep my distaste concealed. I smiled flatly as everyone stopped to stare at us. I stood up, and proudly(but stupidly) said, "Yes, you were on my mind, Adrian. I was thinking about how I got invited to represent our school, but Mr. Medieval Times didn't. Doesn't that infuriate you, peasant?" I sat back down again as he looked at me, stunned, and to my surprise, smiled at me.

   "Just so you know, Winter, I don't hate you. I actually came just to ask if you got invited. Congratulations." He smiled again and left, leaving me stunned, this time. 

   "Did that just happen?" Summer finally turned back to me, an expression of surprise painted on her face. I nodded, stupefied, and turned to look at Adrian's back as he left our area.

   "I can't believe that-" Winnie grabbed my shoulders, shook me, and laughed crazily. "Adrian just congratulated you. You must be very proud." She got up and pretended to bow down to me, Lauren, Summer, and Jessica following suit. I laughed and curtsied, lifting the edges of my black skirt slightly. I grabbed my backpack and prepared to leave, and Winnie accompanied me. Summer ran after us, backpack in hand, and walked beside me.

   "I am genuinely surprised," Summer said, hooking her arm in mine. I hooked mine in Winnie's too, and agreed profoundly.