Love At its Best

                1

“Hi. Are you new here?” I turned quickly to see a shorter girl with brown hair staring at me expectantly. “Uh, Yeah; I just got here this morning.” I had just moved to Wisconsin from Texas and it was definitely a change. “Oh Hi; I’m Haile! And you are?” Haile was a bright looking girl who had kind of a high pitched voice. Her eyes seemed to take up her whole face and her smile stretched from ear to ear.  “My name is Kylie. Nice to meet you, what grade are you in?” I asked shyly. I didn’t want to move here; I like Texas better and in about two years that’s where I planned to go for college. My mom made us move here after my Big brother died in a hit and run accident. I know she was effected harshly by it but I didn’t think moving was necessary. The accident had affected all of us, my sister, my dad and obviously my mom.  It had affected me too of course but I haven’t cried since I got the news that my brother wasn’t coming home.

It was a cold spring day and it was a Wednesday, I remember that my mom and my brother, Lewis just got into a huge fight. Lewis threatened to leave and never come back; and it wasn’t an “I’m upset and I’ll be over it in a few days” kind of thing. Lewis was a high school graduate and he was capable of just leaving. He hadn’t gone to college yet and he was living at home still, at age 23. I always thought it was pathetic but hey, I kind of liked my big brother living at home with us. Anyways, my mom was in the middle of screaming at my brother when I came down to eat breakfast before school. I figured I’d just ignore it and it would be over in a few minutes. But they kept fighting and it hadn’t stopped by the time I left for school about forty five minutes later. Even then I wasn’t worried and I brushed it off.  I was thinking just that when I heard a door slam and feet hitting the pavement coming straight toward me. “Kylie!” it was Lewis. And I turned slowly wondering what it was he wanted. “Yes, Lewis?” I saw him come to a full stop right in front of me and he was holding a brown paper bag; my lunch. “You forgot this sis.” He said exasperated. “Thanks big brother.” I said with a smile. “Are you and mom okay?” I asked after a second. Lewis started walking and I followed. “Nah, I don’t know what’s goin’ on with her lately.” He said shaking his head. “Well, hopefully it’ll be done and over with by this afternoon.” I said. “Yeah, maybe.” Lewis said with a slight smile.

“I’m a Junior this year, how about you Kylie?” Haile said in her high voice. “Me too!” I said trying to sound as excited as she was. Haile half screamed and jumped up clapping her hands. “Yay! I’m so excited!” she said. She gave me the biggest hug I’ve gotten in a long time and, surprised, I just stood there. “Well, Yay!” I said hugging her back after a second. “So, where did you come from?” she asked taking my hand and leading me down the hallway. “All the way from Texas.” I told her. And right when I said that her head whipped to face me and her mouth shaped into an “o” shape. “Really!?” I nodded my head and smiled. “Pretty far huh?” I asked. “Well yeah! Was there like, a lot of cowboys there?” she said in a really girly tone. Her eyes were wide with anticipation. I laughed, “Yes actually there were.” I said. Even though there really wasn’t that many I couldn’t help but tell her there were just because that’s what she wanted to hear. She clapped again and smiled. “Cool! I have so many more questions to ask you! If that’s okay of course.” She said. “Well of course! But I have to get to class.” I said slowly. I didn’t want to be known as the bad kid already I mean it is only my first day. “Oh, Yeah. Meet me here when the lunch bell rings and I’ll introduce you to some more people okay?” she assured me that the people here were friendly and then turned and left me to go to my classes.