story of another us 》michael clifford

Chapter 1: Straight Ahead

Amara shot her eyes open as she searches frantically for her phone, she sees the time, 6:04 AM. She sighs as she slumps into her bed. Her heartbeat slowed down as she realizes that she has more time before she has to head to school. She changes into her running clothes as she quietly heads out, carefully not waking anyone in their house.

She jogs through the cemented pavement, thoughts racing in her head as she jogs. Though her eyes were on the way, but her focus was on her thoughts. Unknowingly, she bumped shoulders into someone. She turns around to apologize, meeting a pair of dull green eyes, he was wearing a red hoodie, grey shirt beneath it and blue pants. But what caught her attention was this person had a black on his left eye.

"I'm sorry - oh gosh, are you okay?" Amara asks. She didn't know this guy, but somehow, his face looked familiar. "Just, leave me alone." The guy says as he runs off. Amara stood there in confusion, but shrugs it off and returns to her jog.

At 6:51 AM, she arrives back at their house. "You're up early." Her mother comments, brewing a pot of coffee. "Yeah." Amara pants. "I'm gonna need you to drive your little sister to school today. I need to to get to work early." Her mother says.

"No problem. I'll just shower real quick." Amara heads up to her room. She picks her outfit for school, an army green criss-cross top, white skinny jeans, noir combat boots and black suede jacket.

The water hits her back as she feels some of the tension lifts off of her back. Amara gets dressed and head downstairs to eat her breakfast. "Honey, I'm leaving, take care of your sister. I love you both." Her mother says, kissing them both on the cheek.

7:37 AM, Amara had dropped off her sister at her school, and was now driving to her school. But somehow, she can't shake off the memory of the boy from earlier. He was so familiar. She thought that maybe he was from her school. But it couldn't be. Her school wasn't that big, there were no more than three hundred students. Surely, she'd recognize him. She parks the car and heads inside. Her friends walk up to her. "Are you ready for next week's basketball's game?" Eleanor asks.

"She needs to be ready, she's co-leading with Tessa on the squad." Yvonne hushes Eleanor. Amara arrives at her locker, taking her first three books needed. "Yvie's right. Ready or not, I need to be." Amara answers. "What about you Yvie? How's that band coming along?" Eleanor asks.

"As usual, Wes has the whole song figured out, we're practicing non stop this week." Yvie says, letting out a loud sigh. "That also means less time for me." Maxwell, Yvie's boyfriend of five months appears at her side, kissing her at her temple. "Oh hush Maxwell, not everything is about you." Eleanor rolls her eyes. "And stop coddling him, Yvie." Eleanor continues.

"I do not coddle him." Yvie says. Maxwell runs off to catch up with his friends as the trio walks to their first class. "You're awfully quiet." Yvie softly bumps Amara. "I just, have a lot of things on my mind right now." Amara admits. "Well, better set them aside for now, we're entering hell." Eleanor says, as they enter their first class, Math.

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"And, five, four, three, two and one!" Amara finishes the counting of the routine. She faces the girls behind her. "So? What are your thoughts?" Amara asks Tessa. "Everything looks great, although I think we should replace the pike, with a toe touch. Some of the girls will have a harder time stepping onto the pyramid. Including you." Tessa suggests.

"Okay. Let's do it again." Amara says. "I'll be counting and you should practice the inside hitch." After performing a series of stunts, and dances. The girls transitions into place, "...three, two, one!" Tessa counts as the flyers, including Amara, jumps into two of the awaiting base's hands, steadies herself on the spotter, as they raise her high.