The Ways She Loved Them

Chapter 1

"It's to early!!" I yelled at my alarm.

"Ali get up, your making me late! Stop being lazy!" mom shouted through my closed door.

I look at the clock that reads 5:45, and realize have 3 minutes to get dressed and brush my teeth. We only live 7 minutes from school but mom's the coach so we have to be there a few minutes early. I get up and throw on spandex, socks and a t-shirt and head to brush my teeth. I throw my hair back in a poor excuse of a ponytail, and head to the car where my mom is already waiting. Still had a minute to spare, I was getting pretty quick in the mornings, we'd been practicing during the summer time so this wasn't my first rodeo.

"Are you ready for school today?" mom asks cheerily.

CRAP.

Today was August 13th, 2012. My first day of highschool. How did I forget? I guess I was just to wrapped up with summer to remember. Most girls would be up late prepping for what they would wear, how they'd do their hair, and all the girly stuff, but not me.

"I totally didn't even think about it, I don't even have clothes to wear, we will have to run home after practice."

"We won't have time, you'll have to wear your sweats over your spandex and just get through the day." she responds quickly.

"We live 5 minutes away can't you just run me home? I didn't even bring sweats with me because it's already 80 degrees out." I backtalk.

"You should've woken up early, that's being irresponsible and lazy. I don't know why I'm surprised." she snaps back.

"I guess I'll just be in spandex all day then." I respond knowing there's absolutely know way I'll be allowed to do that. Not just because of my mom's dress code but the schools.

"Don't be disrespectful, I'm done dealing with you. Wrap it up quick after practice so we can run home and get clothes." she sighs but there's irritation behind her voice.

I know she's tired of putting up with me. She's already stressed that she put me up on varisty this year, all though I am good enough and there wouldn't really be anyone better to beat me out. She's worried about the responses of other parents but I couldn't give a crap. If we are winning games, no one will fuss.

"Sorry mom, I shouldn't have been disrespectful. Thanks for being willing to take me home. Let's just get inside to set up the net." I try to lighten the mood. I really am a brat to her.

Practice flies by rather quickly, everyone is talking about what they will be wearing to school and I just try to ignore them. My mom was telling my teammates about how she is going to try to get me to care about what I wear today, even though she told me earlier I'd be wearing sweats because of my lazy behind. I knew she was just being grumpy.

I end up going with a pair of gray sweat pants, a Green Bay Packer hoodie and birkenstocks on my feet. Even though its now 88 degrees outside I know the classroom will be freezing, I'd rather be comfortable then cute. I'll dress up another day maybe, not likely but maybe. I throw my hair into a messy bun after brushing and do a quick swipe of mascara on my lashes. I look like I'm still half asleep so that should hopefully bring some life to my eyes. After some deoterent and Pink Chiffon body spray from Bath and Body Works I got for my birthday a few days ago, I'm in the car ready to go. I just bring a notebook in a bag today until I know what all I need to go buy. My mom is displeased with what I chose for my wardrobe but decides not to comment. Probably a good choice on her part.

When we get to school, everyone is dressed up. New clothes, backpacksand lunchboxes are filled in the hallway. A lot of familiar faces make me smile, and it seems as though we've added a few new faces as well. We are an extremely small school, Hope Academy was only founded a few years ago, a lot of us were homeschooled a few years back. A family in our church with a background of education, leadership and money started the school and it's grown enough that it's gaining business, not loosing it. We always win state, and this year we are competing at a higher level, so our sports programs is where we are making money. We have decent teachers too, we were able to get a pretty good batch, they are just the right amount of tough yet understanding on homework loads. We have an AB day schedule, and this year I don't have any study halls, all classes. I guess my mom was trying to make it hard on me this year so the next few years wouldn't be such a load.

We only need 21 credits to graduate and this year I was taking 11. More then almost anyone in my class, there goes having any fun this year. With school and volleyball I won't have much time for anything else, which is a good thing probably, grades actually count this year so it'll be time to buckle down and get serious. What could get in the way of that? My thoughts suddenly shift though when I walk to my first classroom and see who is sitting there.