Life with the Stevens' Boys

Chapter 6

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"Vanessa. Vanessa!" The shrill voice of a girl yelled into my deep sleep. "Wake up! We have to leave for school soon!"

I groaned and rolled over, ignoring her. Brenda huffed and walked out of my room with a sassy, "Whatever!"

The party was three days ago and ever since, my new life hasn't been better. Chris and I were getting closer and things between Nate and I were slowly repairing itself, back on the road to friendship.

Brenda walked back in. "Vanessa!"

"I'm up!" I shouted, annoyed. As soon as she walked out, my head hit the pillow again.

First day of junior year. When I had thought of junior year a month ago, this isn't what I had expected. I was just starting to get comfortable here. I didn't want school to wash all of that away right before my eyes.

"Oh, Vanessa, you're up!" Joanna said happily as I took the seat next to Brenda, who was fully dressed already.

"Are you excited for school?" Joanna asked, putting a piece of toast on my plate.

"I don't think anyone's excited about school, Mom." Chris said as he sat down. Chris smiled at me. I smiled too, suddenly feeling more aware of myself. I was in a camisole and shorts, my hair in a messy (very messy) bun and no makeup. Looking down, I ate my toast quickly.

* * *

"Ready?" Chris asked, holding the door to the school open for me.

"Eh." I answered and Chris laughed. Joanna took Dylan and the twins to school and Nate drove the rest of us to the high school. As soon as we got here, Nate went off the meet Leah and Rob swept Brenda away, looking sulky.

Chris led me to the guidance office to get my schedule.

"Who do you have?" Chris asked, as we walked to his locker.

"English with Ms. Lee, Chemistry with Mr. Jones, Trig with Ms. Carter --"

"Hey, we have English and Trig together!" I smiled, overjoyed we had classes together. "What else?"

"I chose Art as my elective and Psychology, Theater III, and ... Oh no. Chris."

"What?"

"I have U.S. History... With Donavan."

"Donavan?!" Chris' smile fell.

"I don't want to be in that class!" How was I supposed to sit in class everyday and stare at a teacher whose house and car I egged?

"Maybe you can switch?" Chris bit his lip.

"How?" I said, exasperated. Chris chewed on his lip some more, with no ideas of how to save me.

* * *

"Okay, class." Mr. Donavan was a tall, stiff-looking man with mean eyes and a scowl. My morning was fine, Chris was in my first, third, and fourth period but I had a feeling my good day was about to be done with. "Welcome to U.S. History. I'm Mr. Donavan."

Mr. Donavan walked in between the desks, his arms behind his back. "Everything you've heard about this class is true." He's happy about everyone thinking he's a mean, rude, unfair teacher?

"This is a new class. So that I and your classmates can get to know you, we're all going to stand up, introduce ourselves and say one fact about ourselves." Icebreakers. Single-handedly the worst part of the first day of school.

For some reason, all teachers believe that us standing up, saying our name and a sport we like to do is going to ensure their and the class' understanding of each other.