Growing Better or Worse

Chapter 4

I get to school and forgot that I had homework last night from all the excitement. The teacher wouldn't stop yelling at me. Maybe because I was happy from last night and had a smile on my face the whole time it was going on. I got that clue from when I heard him say, "You think this is funny?" At that moment I thought it was actually funny.

The rest of the period were okay. Lunchtime! I can't wait to see T-Bone. The only thing I don't like about him is his name. I'll have to come up with a new one. I get my food and sit down at the table. Then he walks in. He sits down and I don't waste anytime. "We got to come up with a new nick-name for you. I don't like it." He laughs, "And you think I like the name Tanga?" I squint my eyes. I had pride in my name. It was unique. "I got it, your name is Taylor. You like it?" he asks me. "I actually do. Now you, let me see. T, T, Ta, Ta, Tat, Tate. Tate! Like tape just with a t instead of a p. Good?" He looks at me, "I love it! It sounds so... muscular and athletic which, obviously, I am," he tells me. I laugh. "Your a little show off. You now that right?" He smiles, "Yeah, that's something I've got to work on." It was silent for awhile.

 "Come here." He grabs my hand and pulls me to a group of girls. His hands are so warm and I just love them. "Hey T-Bone," they say almost in sink. How do they all know him. I guess I'm not that special anymore. "Hi ladies, what's going on around here," we sit down. "Oh nothing. Enough talk about us, what about you?" a pretty girl says poking his chest. She was flirting. Now I was really jealous. Doesn't she see that he is still holding my hand? "Oh Lacey," he tells that girl. He's blushing. "This is Taylor. Have you seen her around? Well I now that you guys are pretty nice, so why don't you try being nice to her? Okay? Okay." he was gone. I look around. "Hi Taylor, I'm Lacey if you didn't figure that out already." we shake hands. "Ooh, sweetie. Come to the bathroom with me," she grabs my hands. What is she going to do? We get in the bathroom and she pulls make-up out of her purse. She starts, "I see that things happen at home that shouldn't. I want you to keep this. It will cover everything up. Honestly, I think people would talk to you more if you had this on. Don't take this the wrong way." I can't believe this. "This is the nicest thing ever done to me. I appreciate this so much." She rubs it on me. I don't mean to be cocky, I looked pretty, for once. Tate was going to like this. We walk back out. I see Tate and his eyes popped. He mouthed "WOW!" I smiled. This is going to be such a good year.