The Green Days

Chapter One

March 1st

"Hey, Alexis!" I turned my head toward the voice. It was coming from my best friend, Sky. She stood next to her boyfriend, Grayson. Behind her I saw Miranda, my other friend. They beckoned me toward them. I could see Miranda hiding balloons behind her. I smiled at the surprise.

"Guys! Awww." I received a hug from each of them, hearing 'happy birthdays' from not only them but the people close to us, too. Miranda handed me the knot of balloons. They each said happy birthday and seventeen on them. "Are you guys coming over tonight?" instead of having a public invitation party, my parents decided to let me have some friends over.

They all nodded in unison, making me giggle. As if on cue, we walked off to our next class. It was great having the same classes, perfect even.

______

The doorbell rang. I ran down the stairs and to my front door, so happy that my friends could make it. I pulled the door open quickly, bowing to them. When I looked up, they were all very serious - looking. This worried me.

"Umm, what's wrong?" I asked, eyeing them carefully. Grayson was the first to chuckle, than Sky and Miranda. "Not funny."

"Oh c'mon, you know that was funny." Grayson said, giving me a bear hug. I pushed him off, trying to hold in my laugh. I shoved them all up the steps and into my room, making sure to close the door.

"So.... I'm sorry I don't know how these go." I said. I rarely had friends over, but that never bothered me. We were all squished together on my bed.

"Let's play truth or dare!" Miranda clapped her hands together, applauding her idea.

"Kay."

"Sure."

"Whatever." She made a face at Grayson. "Okay," he continued, "my turn. Let's see...Alexis, truth or dare?" I didn't know what to pick.

"Truth."

"Hmm, is it true that you find me attracting?" I immediately laughed at this.

"Definitely not." I said, still laughing. He looked hurt, but I could tell he was faking it.

"My turn." Sky spoke up. "Truth or dare Miranda?"

"I choose dare." Miranda stuck her tongue out at her friend.

"OK." Sky smiled. "Tomorrow, I dare you to kiss Mark Hamilton at lunch." Mark was a sophomore that sat at our table, he was really nice...and cute. Miranda had been gushing over him for a while now. The blush on her cheeks did not go unnoticed.

"Absolutely not." She frowned, embarrassment written all over her face.

"You chose dare." Sky shrugged, keeping her face composed. Miranda nodded while Grayson and I laughed.

"My turn."Miranda sighed. "Sky, truth or dare?"

"Truth." Sky said, her tone wary.

"Is it true that you have a crush on Kenneth Jones?" Miranda asked, not sounding evil, but bored. Grayson turned to look at Sky, his eyebrows raised and his face truly hurt. Miranda picked the dirt from under her fingernails.

"No." Sky's voice shook as she glanced at Grayson. Miranda didn't seem to notice what she had asked.

"Sky..."she tried to apologize, but Sky shook her head. Grayson got up and left.

"Where are you going, Gray?" I purposely called him by his nickname. We all had names for each other. Miranda's was Mimi and Sky's was Blue. Mine was Alex.

"Does it really matter? Your mom would have made me leave anyway. I'll leave you guys to your girl talk." he snapped. Sky's face dropped. I heard his boots against the stairs and the slam of the front door.

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna go too." said Sky. She wiped her eyes before turning to me. "Happy birthday." her voice was sincere. Then, she too, was gone.

"I'm so sorry." Miranda stood from her place on my bed. "But I have to go."

And then I was alone.

March 9th

Mrs. Draid was my favorite teacher. Mostly because of the subject she taught: Music. She was so encouraging and one of the sweetest people you would have ever met. It was too bad that it was her last year. Just turning sixty, sadly, she had to retire. She would always pick me to do things for her. Whether it was staying after school to help clean, or just running errands for her. When I was thirteen, she had been my piano teacher. I could (still can) play piano so well that I had been accepted into Ohio's Top School Of Performing Arts (OTSPA). I played for her everyday, whether it was pieces I had written or ones that I heard when I was younger.

After I had helped Mrs. Draid clean after class, I went home. I checked my phone once I got out of my Nissan. I walked to the front door with my phone in hand, unlocking the door. No missed calls. But one text from Miranda.

I'm so sorry for ruining your birthday. I don't know why I said that, sorry.

I sighed, then replied to it.

I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. Grayson still won't talk to Sky and yesterday I saw her getting into her car...she was crying.

I pushed the phone in my back pocket and walked into my room. I was always the first one home. I was always pleased by this, seeing as to I could play my white piano without any interruptions. I closed my bedroom door and sat on the little white bench that was placed in front of the piano. I remember when I got it. It was a year after I started lessons with Mrs. D. One day I came home and it was there in my room with a big baby blue bow taped to it. When I removed the bow, the piano had my initials engraved in it. Alexis Marie James.

I took a deep breath before I pressed my fingers to the cool keys and slowly drifted into Moonlight Sonata.

March 20th

Beautiful. He was beautiful. Kind. Sweet. Perfect. In French class I had begun to ignore the words on the board and focus my attention on the boy across from me. August. That's what his name was. Whenever I thought of his name I could feel the cool breeze of an ending summer. I could picture the pools being closed, the winter and fall clothes beginning to stock at the stores. He had jet black hair and warm, hazel eyes. He was nice to me. But, then, everyone was. But he was different. He seemed interested in me rather then interested in my life.

He would always smile at me, walk with me on the way to gym, and sometimes sit next to me at our lunch table. Kind. Sweet. He was kind and he was sweet.