CHAPTER 1
YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME
Justin Russo arrived at the high school on time as usual. He dialed his locker combination and took out a couple books and shut the door. He wandered off to class not speaking to anyone. He was the first to enter the class room. The science teacher, Mr. Toliver, was sitting at his desk reading a few papers. He looked up when Justin had sat down.
"Good morning, Justin."
"Good morning, sir." said Justin. A few more people walked in and took their seats and something caught his eye. A girl was standing in the doorway holding a piece of paper and looking around the class room hopefully. She was wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt and rusty-orange colored corduroy jacket. Her hair was in a pony-tail. Justin could see several orange streaks mixed in with her brown. She also wore purple high-tops.
The girl, finally making up her mind, walked hesitantly up to Mr. Toliver's desk. He looked up and the girl handed him a piece of paper from her pocket. He read it stood up. She followed him around to Justin's seat.
"Justin, this is Natalie. She is a new student and since your partner is sick with strep-throat she will be your partner for now." Justin nodded and she sat down.
"Hi! I'm Natalie!" she said extending her hand.
"Justin." he said shaking and smiling
"Now class," said Mr. Toliver once everyone had arrived, "we have a new student here today! Her name is Natalie Bridge. I would like you all to be kind to her while she gets adjusted."
--
Justin Russo had just left the English class room and was headed to lunch. Someone caught up to him on his way.
"Hi Justin!" at first he had thought it was his sister, Alex. She was usualy the only girl that ever talked to him in public. So he was surprised to see that it was the new girl, Natalie.
"Um Hi!" he said.
"Do you want to have lunch with me?"
"Sure!" he said.
"Cool!" she said grinning. They both sat down across from each other at the end of a table. They had both gotten carrots, a sandwhich, and apple sause. Justin took a swig of milk and Natalie sipped her water.
"Did you want some milk?" he said looking at her water, " 'cause I think they still have some more."
"No, it's okay. I can't."
"Why not?"
"I'm lactose and tolerant." she said taking a bite of a carrot.
"Oh," Natalie and Justin continued their lunch in silence.
--
Justin Russo left the school at 2:14. He usually walked home. He had started his way to Waverly Place when someone called his name. He turned to see Natalie running towards him, her back-pack swinging back and forth.
"Hi!" he said smiling at her.
"Hi, um" she said brethlessly, "what day is it?"
"Um, I think it's Tuesday. Why?"
"Oh, just wondering." she said trying to catch her breath, "Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye!" she turned to go.
"Wait!" he said. She stopped and turned. "Do you want to walk with me?" oh my god! did i just say that?
"Oh, um, sorry." Justin's heart sank, "I can't. I had plans."
"Oh, that's okay! No problem!"
"Maybe some other time, ya?"
"Sure! Bye!" they both turned and walked away.
--
Justin Russo entered Waverly Place and greeted his parents.
"Hello honey, how was school?" his mom said, kissing him on the head.
"Okay." Justin walked up to his bed room, dropped off his back-pack, and headed back down to the sub-shop.
"Hey Justin, can take some orders? A couple customers just arrived and I need to take a break." said Mr. Russo coming into the kitchen.
"Sure, dad!" he said picking up a small notebook. He wandered over to a table with one person sitting at it pouring over a text book.
"Hello! Welcome to Waverly Place, my name is Justin! What can we get you today?" the girl looked up.
"Justin?"
"Natalie?" he said in shock, "what are you doing here?"
"I come here every day to study! Since when did you start working here?" she said.
"My parents own this place. I never see you down here though."
"Well, I usually come for lunch. Ya' know, 'cause I was homeschooled. But I was hungry, so I felt like coming down!"
"Cool, um, did you want something to eat?" he said hopefully.
"Sure! I'll have two turkey sandwitches. What do you recomend to put on that?" she said smiling.
"Hmmm, I'd have to say I enjoy it with lettuce, cheese, and mayo."
"What kind of cheese?" she said winking.
"Swiss." she chuckled.
"That sounds great, I'll have two of those!"
"Comin' right up!" he said. He went into the kitchen and placed the order on a clip so he could read it. About ten minutes later he was putting two turkey subs in plastic baskets and carrying them to the Natalie's table.
"Mmm, this is really good!" she said after taking a bite.
"Why thank you!" he said doing a little fake bow, "but, if you don't mind me asking, what's the other sandwhich for?"
"A really good friend!" she said.
"Oh, well when your ready i'll bring your check."
"Wait!" she said standing up and walking over to him, "do you want to sit down?"
"Oh, well, isn't your friend coming?" he said jesturing to the empty seat.
"Exactly!"
--
Justin Russo and Natalie Bridge sat at the small round table and talking and finishing up the last of the turkey subs.
"Well, I should probably go." she said digging in her back-pack and pulling out an old, neon green, beaten-looking wallet. She pulled out a 5 dollar bill and some change and set it on the table.
"Thanks for the sub and company." said Justin, collecting up the trash.
"Hey," she said nudging him arm and smiling up at him, "that's what friends are for!"
Just then Mr. and Mrs. Russo came over.
"Hey Justin! Who's your friend?" said Mrs. Russo.
"Honey, this is Natalie!" said Mr. Russo smiling at her, "She comes down here almost every day!"
"Hello Mr. Russo!" she turned to Justin's mom, "It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Russo!" they shook hands, "Your son is a very talented turkey sub maker!" they all laughed.
--
Justin Russo and his parents were left cleaning up the sub-shop at the end of the day. Alex had gone out to "study" with her "lab partner" and Max had gone to a friends house.
"So Justin," his mom said, "How about that Natalie girl, huh?"
"Mom? What are you doing?" said Justin. He knew what she was doing.
"Nothing, nothing, I'm just saying that she is a very pretty girl! You should go out with her!"
"Mom! Stop trying to hook me up!" he said wiping down a table, "I'll go out with whoever I want! Plus, I'm not going out with someone just because they're a "pretty girl"!
"Honey, Justin can go out with her IF he wants to." said Mr. Russo.
"I know, I know, it's just been so long since you've gone out with someone. I don't want anyone to laugh at you!"
"Thanks a bunch mom!" he said wiping his hand on a paper towel and heading to his room.
--
Well thats it so far. i really wanted to write this because Justin needs an awesome friend/girl! she has to be the perfect match for him! cause he deserves it! Please R/R! im working on the next chapter!
