Chasing Stars

A n c e s t r y P r o j e c t

     ".....James and Mallory, George and Brenna, Josh and Sally, Tess and Austin, Stewart and Zoey, Cooper and Kelly" Mr.Foster finished reading his list. "This is the person who you will be working with for your ancestry project. You will decide which one of you the project will be based upon, and then research their ancestry. You will then create a presentation and present it to the rest of the class. Today you will talk with your partner and start the outline of your project"

   He clapped his hands. "Get started".

     There was a rush of movement as everyone tried to get to their partners. Luckily, mine was sitting right next to me.  I turned to Austin.

    "Your family" we said in unison.

"No way are we doing my ancestry. Our family is really...uhm..bland" Austin said, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

    I thought for a moment. There was no way we were doing my family. I didn't want questions about my father to rise up.

    "No." I said firmly. "We are not doing my family. We are doing yours. No matter how 'bland' it is."

   "But-" Austin started to object, but I silenced him with my death stare.

   "Fine" he muttered.

  The bell rang and I stood up and took my books into my arms.

  "Meet me after school at the front" Austin called as I headed out the door.

    I gave him a quick nod as confirmation and started towards my next class.

   I was walking through the hallways when someone bumped into me.

   "Oops sorry!" a girl giggled. She looked up and her eyes widened.

   "Oh hey its you! I've heard about you!"

she said grinning.

   "Your mom was yelling at the counselor today!" she said laughing.

  I shook my head in confusion.

     "Wh-What?" I stammered.

  The girl twisted her mouth in a cruel smile.

     "Did your dad really walk out on you? How sad" she said, pouting.  "Your mom said that's why you don't have any friends!" she said laughing loudly.

  By now a group of people had gathered around us and were staring shamelessly.

    "I don't know what you're talking about" I said quietly.

   The crowd started snickering and my cheeks flared up.

   "I-I have to go" I stuttered.

  "The counselor's face when your mom was yelling was priceless! I don't remember what she was saying exactly...something about you needing more of a social life..and uhm..how concerned she was about her little baby! How sweet Tess!" the girl screeched loudly.

   "I-I have to go" I stuttered.

   I pushed my way through the throng of people, desperately trying to ignore the stares and crows of laughter.

   I ran through through the school gates and kept running, tears welling up in my eyes. I ran fast and hard through the trees, past the roads, and I finally stopped in front of my house.

   Furiously wiping the salty drops from my cheeks, I rang the doorbell three, four, five times.

  The door swung open and my mothers astonished face peeked out.

  "Tessa? Tess, baby, what's wrong?" she asked anxiously.

  "What were you thinking mom?" I whispered.

    "You yelled at the counselor?" I asked softly.

  Her face turned ashen.

    "Honey, I'm sorry, I-I got carried away, I was trying to get you into a club, to help you make friends, and I was so frustrated-"

    "I don't need anybody mom! I'm perfectly fine! I dont need anyone. Everyone I love could disappear at any moment! Just drive off one day! I dont want that pain anymore mom! You have to understand!" I yelled.

  "Tess I-"

I rushed past her, not bothering to hear her reply and hurried up the stairs into my room.

      I fell onto my bed and sobbed into my pillow. If I had any chance of making friends before, they were gone now.