The Bookish [complete]

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As I expected, the last days of school before winter break were agonisingly slow, while Christmas went too fast to comprehend. Over the 2 week break, the house down the street had been moved into. The old house had been for sale for about a year after its previous owner, Mrs. Dunlap had died. It was really a sad affair. The whole street had loved Mrs. Dunlap and went to her funeral.

While the people were moving in, I had peered out the window to see if there was anyone my age moving in. I didn't see anyone that looked remotely my aga for almost an hour, they were all movers or parents. Even the next door neighbors were surveying the scene behind their windows. Then I saw a girl. From this distance, she looked to be about the same size. She carried a backpack that was filled to the brim with rectangular shaped objects. In her hands she held a box of booked in the same fashion; filled until the girl had to hold down the top of the book stack with her chin. 

Judging from the amount of books she was holding, I could tell that we were going to be friends. 

I didn't get to meet the new neighbours over Christmas break, which was unfortunate.

Now, in the present, I was back at school mulling over events and math, when a knock came at the doo. The door opened to reveal the Headmistress and the girl from down the street. My eyes widened. 

"Class," the teacher announced, "This is Annie. She will be joining us until the end of the school year. You can sit in the empty desk behind Jarod. Make yourself at home,"

The girl acted like making herself at home was the last thing on her mind. She almost tripped walking down to the back desk. The back desk right next to mine. She sat down, then put her head down. 

~

Later in the day, we had recess. It was too cold to go outside, below freezing. I sat in the back of the room reading. And so did Annie. Her straight, dark brown hair fell onto the pages, and occasionally she had to wipe them away. 

I took a deep breath.

"Hi. I'm Hermione. I saw you move in. You live down the street from me,"

"Hi Hermione," Annie said quietly, almost at a whisper.

I waited a minute. I didn't want to seem nosy after all.

"What are you reading?" 

"James and the Giant Peach," she held he book up in front of her face to show me the cover.

"I haven't read that one yet. Do you like Roald Dahl?"

"Yes," Annie said, smiling, "He's my favourite author,"

"Me too! My favourite is Matilda!"

"I haven't read that one yet,"

"It came out later last year, in October,"

Annie's mouth made an "oh" as she put her bookmark in her book.

"What's it about?"

And so we talked. I explained some of Matilda. She gave me some book recommendations. We didn't want  recess to be over! 

And that was the start of my first friendship with someone other than my parents or a book character.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! My Christmas present to you all is updating all of my stories on the same day, which resulted in a lot of late night writing for me. I hope you like this! And for all of you who don't celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays!!!

I know I once said that this would be finished soon, but I lied. This story will probably have at least 10 more chapters, and I might just do them in bulk one week. Anyway.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!