The Grass is So Much Greener on Your Side Ginger.

"Dodie, Macie did you guys notice the new girl in our third period? I wanna ask where she got her top but I can't remember her name. Do you guys know who she is?" Ginger asked as the three walked down the hall to lunch.

Dodie piped up "Do you mean the girl with the light brown, really short but quite flattering hair and the soft violet top with the baby blue bib and matching hairclip? No clue."

Ginger blinked before responding a bit shocked at Dodie's attention to detail. "Y..yeah her."

"I'm not sure of her name but I can ask Meranda and Mipsy. They know everybody, but i'm pretty sure she's not new."

Macie stopped, beconing the others to stop as well. "I have my yearbook collection in my locker. Wanna stop and grab them? We can see if we've ever had her in any earlier grades!"

Ginger smiled. "Great idea Macie, we can check them out during lunch and skip talking to Meranda and Mipsy. We'll help carry them."

...At the girls lunch table...

Ginger pointed to a page in the yearbook in front of her. "Guys look, here she is. Her name is Tammy Wilde and according to this she's been in the same grade and most of the same classes as us since Lucky Elementary. Wow I..I never noticed her before."

Macie pointed at Tammy leaving the lunch line carrying a bag lunch and a carton of milk. "Well here's a good chance to say hello gals because she's headed our way"

The girls looked up and saw Tammy, with her short light brown hair, rosy cheeks, and blue eyes, looking for a place to sit. Her outfit was cute, if a little old and worse for wear, her overall look was very nice, but in the end was ruined by the dark, black sunglasses she always wore even though they were inside.

"Hey Tammy! Come sit here!" Ginger waved her hand in the arm, motioning her over to their table. She walked questioningly over to the table.

"Did uh..did you call me Ginger?" She asked when she reached the table.

"Yeah. I was gonna invite you to sit here if you like." Tammy thanked her and sat down. "I was also gonna ask wehere you got your top, it's really violet color looks great on you."

"Oh...uh thanks but I um.. I made it. i got the fabric at the market downtown just uh...just if you still wanna know."

Macie piped in. "Handmade huh? Wow, it's really well made Pat on the back for workmenship heh-heh" Macie giggled and gave Tammy a pat on the back. As her hand clapped (softly mind you) on to Tammys back the jumpped, threw her hand over her mouth and cried out. (it was very muffled otherwise the whole caf. would have been staring) Of course Macie jumpped a mile realizing that she had hurt her. Tammys eyes jolted over to Macie.

"Oh Maci I! I...you didn't...Oh!" And with that she ran from the table with the girls, of course, right behind her. They caught up to her when she darted into the girls bathroom.

"Tammy?! Are you alright?"(Ginger)

"What's going on?"(Dodie)

"Im so sorry, it would seem I swung a great deal harder than I ment to!"(Macie)

The girls all spoke in a rush until Tammy shouted "Girls stop! im ok, my back is just sore is all, I fell down the stairs at my house last night, even a light touch like Macie's really hurts alot. It's not your fault Macie, its mine ok? I realized I must have made you feel terrible, but I freaked and couldn't find the right words to explain so I kinda...ran off. Im sorry girls."

Macie and Dodie sighed in relief and headed off to the table again, Tammy started to head that way too but Ginger blocked the door. "Um...yes Ginger?" Tammy said looking confused.

Ginger spoke. "Ya know Tammy before my mom got married to Dave, she dated a guy named Buzz. Having his overbearing "Man's Touch" around the house was too much for her to handle, for me too but I wanted her to be happy so I kept quiet, she dumped him. But I never told her that Buzz used to smack me around whenever she and Carl weren't home. All my mom knew was that i "fell down the stairs alot" That's all anyone knows about the bruises when Buzz was still in the picture"

Tammy looked puzzled. "Ginger that's really sad and all, and please don't take this the wrong way but, why are you telling me all this?" Ginger turned and opened the door as she spoke.

"My point in telling you is quite simple really..." She turned, halfway out the door, and faced Tammy. "...It takes one to know one Tammy, and I know you didn't fall down the stairs anymore than I did. So when your ready to talk, you can come to me, ok?" Ginger took a step back and let the door close behind her.