Just Take A Chance On Me

Chapter Two

The first week of school flew by, and if the rest of the school year goes like this, I don't know what I'm going to do with my life. It's Saturday morning and I'm up at nine. Damnit Rayne. Why can't you sleep in like a normal teenage girl. Andie won't be up until noon, so what am I supposed to do for three hours? My mom is making pancakes for me when I walk down the stairs. Her hands work tirelessly on a new cake design. She's a baker, and her specialty is designing the cakes and cookies at a bakery a few blocks from here. The cake is chocolate with purple swirls winding up the three layers. "Looks good mom." I say as I fill a glass of orange juice and take a seat at the table.

"Thanks honey." My mom stands back and observes her work, touching up a few places with her gloved hands. "Bored?" I take a bite of my pancakes and nod.

"I think I need more friends mom." I admit with a laugh. A smile spreads across her lips as her tired eyes wink at me.

"Let me know when they are on sale."

"Wow!" I put my plate in the sink and pretend to be hurt. "Thank you mother." I try to walk around her but her hands shoot out and start to tickle my sides. "Mom!" It's hard to speak through my painful laughter.

"Go!" She starts shooing me out the door. "Go outside. Do things." I start hopping down the front steps.

"And if I don't?"

"No Internet for you!" Her face is trying to be serious but we both start laughing.

"Nice one mom." I turn and start walking towards Andie's house. Her dark brick house stands out in the light colored neighborhood, most of the houses being a light pink or white. Bo is barking from her bedroom window. That dog never leaves her side. It's almost annoying but he's an amazing dog. I almost trip on a skateboard lying at the bottom of the driveway but catch myself. "Damnit Andie." I hear door open and Andie's grandmother steps out.

"Hello Rainie. How are you dear?" I smile and continue walking forward.

"I'm doing swell Ms. Parker, how are you?" She is Andie's mom's mother, that's why she and Andie don't have the same last name.

"Good dear, I'm good." She starts to sweep the front steps. "Andie is sleeping."

"Go figures." I laugh and run up the stairs. Andie's room is at the end of the hallway, her lights are still off. I knock softly on her wooden door. "Andie?" The lump under the blankets on the bed moves and groans. "Andie wake up." There's more groaning.

"No!" She snaps at me, raising her butt in the air and moving the covers slightly so I can see her face. "Not today Satan." I shrug my shoulders and click my tongue. "Alright then. Come here Bo." The mass of golden fur jumps off of the bed and walks over to me. "Good boy." I pat him on the head and close the door behind us. We both run down the stairs and stop at the front door where I take Bo's green leash off of its hook. "Let's go for a walk. Do you want to go for a walk?" Bo barks as his tail beats against the door, his big brown eyes telling me to hurry up and open the door. "Alright, let's go!" I hook his leash to his collar and open the door, immediately getting pulled down the driveway. Ms. Parker is watering the lilac bushes that grow underneath the windows in the front of the house. She waves to me as I pass her.

"You're taking him for a walk? Good! He needs the exercise!" I laugh and continue walking. I like Bo when he's fluffy. I stop when the street ends and stare at the woods in front of me. There's a small outlet mall behind the woods, and there's a hospital beyond that. I hear the sound of wheels rolling over pavement and turn my head.

"Well look who decided to show up." I say sarcastically. Andie stops herself from rolling by dragging her right foot along the ground. She has bags under her eyes and her brown hair is pulled into a messy bun. When she reaches me she rips Bo's collar from my hands and sticks out her tongue.