First Kiss

My First Day

    I don't want to be here. When my mom dropped me off at Smith Middle School this morning, I told her, but did she listen? Nope. That's why I'm walking up the stone steps right now. 

     Oh, you haven't met me yet. That's okay, I'm used to it. I'm Lilly Schuyler. I've never been the most popular person, what with my frizzy brown hair and glasses, but I've never been unpopular. I guess I just float somewhere in the middle. 

     I look around at all of the school. The halls are decorated with posters advertising different clubs that I will probably never go to. Its a lot bigger than my old school. There are students trying to make it through the crowded halls to their classes. I wished that one, maybe two, would come and talk to me. 

  I think back to the morning of chaos I just had. Mom, trying to hug me, but squeezed the life out of me. Dad, trying to get me to eat some more oatmeal because "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." And Robbie, my little brother, actually was excited to go to school.

  Just then a teacher starts walking towards me. I recognize her as my science teacher. 

  "Lilly? Lilly Schuyler, is that you?" She says in a baby doll voice, "Hey! It's Mrs. Jones! How are you!"

  Miserable. Awkward. Wanting to leave. "Fine. Just a little confused."

"Well, let me show you to the office! You'll get your 'buddy' there." She said, motioning to follow her. 

A buddy? What are we, kindergartners? I follow anyway. 

  We walk past many groups of kids, and get many strange looks. Finally we come to a tall room with flyers for bale sales and such. The moment I walk in the door the scent of chocolate chip cookies  overwhelms me. An office lady motions me towards the corner of the room. 

  A boy with shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes looks up at me and says the words that alter my life from then on, "Hey Lilly! My name is Henry. I'm your Buddy for the day."