The Same

Chapter 1

Nobody really pays attention to the "new kid." Once you're a sophomore in high school, everyone pretty much has their friends, and not many are willing to share.

That's probably why I was so surprised when I looked up from my lunch to find her staring at me. Her.

To say she was beautiful would be an understatement. Her long brown hair fell around her face effortlessly. Everything about her glowed. Speaking of glowing, her eyes. They shone so blue I forgot I was looking at an actual person, and not the sky.

Realizing I had been staring at her long enough to creep her out, I quickly looked down at my sandwich. But when I looked up, there she was again.

"Hi..." she gave me a timid smile. I knew I should say something, but I was too shocked to speak.

"I, um, saw you sitting alone here and I didn't have anyone to sit with so I just figured..." her voice trailed off and I sensed that I was making her uncomfortable.

"Hi," I finally replied. "I'm Sam Woolf. I'm new to Bradenton."

"Me too! I'm April. April Waxler."

"My birthday is in April!" I blurted out without thinking. Really Sam? your birthday? You sound five!

I was sure she was going to walk away, but she surprised me yet again with her response.

"Really? Me too! That's why my parents named me April!"

This girl is full of surprises.

"Wow. Cool."

"So where are you from? I'm from Maine."

"Michigan," I replied. Just saying my home state made me want to move back. I wanted to be back in Michigan, with my real friends and my real school and my real house and my real parents and my real life. But no, I'm stuck in Florida, the state famous for oranges of all things, living with my grandparents. I love them, but I still miss my parents.

I realized I was zoning out and I snapped my attention back to April. She was talking about why she moved here. Apparently, her dad got a new job in Florida, and they all moved because their mom was out of work to and they were struggling and it was about then that I stopped following what she was saying.

"So what about you?"

"Me?"

"Why did you move here?"

I froze. Now what? I wasn't about to tell her about all of my family issues. Sure, I just heard her entire life story, but I had a feeling she didn't lock herself in her room, write songs and cry about her family's financial issues.

"Sam? are you okay?"

I started to say something, but stopped myself. April was the only person at this school that I have actually had a real conversation with, and I didn't want to ruin it. I was sure if I started telling her the truth, I would either burst into tears or song, and I'm not sure which is worse.

"I'm sorry. I-I have to go," I blurted out.

I must've gotten up and thrown away the rest of my lunch. I must have heart April calling for me to come back. I must have left the cafeteria, but I barely noticed. I was too busy trying to get ahold of myself before my next class.

The bell rang, interrupting my thoughts. I reminded myself I was at school, and I had better figure out where room 125 was.

The hallways started to fill with people rushing to period 6, and I remembered I should probably do the same.

I momentarily forgot about April as I joined the sea of people and began to search for my science class.

But only momentarily.