Hello, World

Chapter 1

Thirteen Years ago

          "Come on, Gia let's go!" I could hear my cousin, Abby yell at me as I tried to pick up my pace in the woods to catch up to her.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked. I wouldn't think anyone would call the police on us for setting off fireworks in the middle of the night; mainly because we were pretty much through the woods to the river on the other side, but still someone somewhere still may be able to hear us.
"Yes, I'm sure, Abby replied. "I've done this every year the day before a new school year. It's my way of saying that it's a new year, fresh start. I wish you would have done it with me but you were worried something would happen so I get it."
"I'm still not sure about this," I said hesitantly. It's the end of August, not even the Fourth of July. What if someone wakes up and calls the police?"
"You worry too much, G. You need to learn how to live life and have fun a little. You need to live life your way with no regrets or that's exactly what you'll end up doing. Regretting the chances you were too afraid to take. This is our last chance to do this because we will be out of high school in nine short months. We have to do this."
I just stared at my cousin. The way she looked back and smiled at me told me that she knew I knew she was right. It was our last chance to do this tradition. As I got up to her, I saw that she had lit five big fireworks at the same time. The fireworks were absolutely gorgeous. Free with spirit. Happy and unafraid. Everything I wish I could be.
As I looked at Abby, I noticed she was just like the fireworks. The way she yelled, "woo hoo!!!"At the top of her lung and clapping her hands just told you how free spirited she is.
At this moment I could see that she was calming down a little as she bit her arm around my neck. "It's going to be a good year, Gia. There's nothing to fear."
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First days of school can be really exciting and good, or they can be really hard and stressful. For me personally, it's never been hard. It's never been stressful. But it's also never been exciting. It's just been good.
                      I don't really have a lot of friends. Well, I take that back. I have a lot of friends but most people I haven't talked to, like had a real conversation with them in years. Ever since, well I don't even know when, but I've always been that quiet, insecure girl whom everyone likes, but just can't seem to figure out. Mainly they can't seem to figure out why I'm so quiet and why I always hang out with not the best group of people. They have good intentions, but for a while now they haven't been that good to me.
                        As I look around my first period class, I try to see if I can spot Anna, Kate, and Zoey. Once I found them, I saw that there a seat left next to Zoey. With Anna beside her, and Kate next to her. When I was almost to them, I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. It was Abby.
                       "You probably shouldn't sit with them Gia. Remember how they never talked to you really unless they needed something from you or when they actually thought you may be able to handle conversations they were talking about? Or when Zoey constantly keeps bossing you around and putting you down because your not just like them? She thinks you can't handle anything. C'mon G. It's a new year. Let's just find an empty space and sit with me. Well, until Mr. Hayes gives us a seating chart."
                        I smiled at her when she said that last statement, gave a nod and the quietest little "okay" ever. Abby could hear me though. As the final bell went off, I looked back at my friends just laughing and talking, not worried about me, I don't think. I turned around as Mr. Hayes came in and shut the door just wondering if this was a good idea or not.