"Pizza or burger, honey?"
"Pizza, please," answered the girl.
The woman standing behind the counter put a slice on her plate. "Thanks," said the redhead. She walked off.
Teresa June, or TJ to family and friends, began making her way across the immensely crowded cafeteria to an empty table in the corner. In her pathway was the popular girls' table, which no outsiders were invited to, ever. Ever.
As she was innocently walking past, she gave an exclamation as something hit her foot and caused her to trip.
She fell to the hard tile cafeteria floor with a thud.
As she sat up and began recuperating from the hard fall, she looked behind her so determine the cause of the trip.
It was none other than Alyssa Bluebury, the most popular girl in the school.
"Oops," the girl said in a snarky, sarcastic manner. She laughed. "So sorry, hon."
Her laugh ground hard on TJ's ears. She shook her head to forget the sound.
TJ rolled her eyes and looked forward. In front of her was a equally redheaded kid with what appeared to be a triangle for a head. He was offering her a hand.
She took his hand, and he helped her to her feet. "Sorry about that," the kid said.
"It's...fine," she said.
"Name's Phineas," said the kid. "What's yours?"
"Um, Teresa June. You can call me TJ, though," she replied.
"Nice to meet you, TJ. Here, let me help you." He began to help her pick up her lunch tray and what had fallen off.
"Thanks," she said. She began to pick up the mess as well.
After they were done, they put the food in the garbage. "Here, I'll buy you another lunch." offered Phineas.
"No, no, that's okay. I wasn't that hungry anyway." she said, shaking her head.
"You sure?"
"No, seriously. But thanks anyway, Phineas was it?"
"Yeah. Okay. Well, at least sit with us?"
"Sure."
They walked over to the group's table. Once there, Phineas introduced the new recruit.
"Hey guys, this is TJ. I invited her to sit with us." said Phineas, gesturing for her to sit down.
"Hi." said TJ softly.
"TJ, this is my brother Ferb, and Isabella, Buford and Baljeet." he said, pointing to each.
Everyone greeted her kindly. She sat down.
"So, TJ, you new here?" asked Isabella.
"Yeah. Transferred here from California," said TJ.
"Cool! Where at?" asked Phineas.
"An orphanage in Los Angeles." she answered.
Everyone sighed sympathetically. She blushed.
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Phineas.
"Yeah. My parents died a few months ago. In fact, the reason I transferred here is because they're close to locating who my parents left me to in their will."
"Oh. That's good." said Phineas.
"Yeah. My uncle died, so I'm going to live with my aunt." she said.
"Well, at least you have a place to stay." said Isabella.
She nodded. She looked at Phineas. He looked familiar...maybe too familiar. She suddenly gave a start. "I...need...to...go," she said, jumping up and rushing to the bathroom.
She ran down the hall into the girls' bathroom. She ran up to the sink and splashed water on her face. Why had it not dawned on her before? This Phineas kid looked...
Just...like...Dad...