Chapter one

It was a warm sunny morning when I woke up for my first day at Roopville High School. My dad just got a new job here in town and we moved in next door to this large white house. I didn't want to move here. I had friends back at my old town who I know miss me terribly; especially poor Don.

I finished getting ready before I grabbed my bag and then I left my room. Dad, I had noticed, already left for his new job, so as usual I was stuck making my own breakfast. After I ate I locked the house and headed for school.

Once I got there I trudged inside and then walked into the cafeteria. The first thing I noticed was that there were a lot of students. 'Great' I thought, the annoyance building inside of my head sounded.

I took a seat at a very round table.

"Hi," a voice said cheerfully in my ear. I turned around and saw a girl around my age with shoulder length blonde hair smiling at me. Her bright gray-blue eyes shone with warm and kindness upon me as I smiled back as calmly as possible.

My hands began to sweat uncontrollably so I wiped them on my jeans. 'Why is my heart beating a mile per hour?' I thought. I shook the thought away before giving the girl my reply.

"Uh, hey," I replied stuttering. 'Aw, crap, I wanted to sound cool. Great, she probably thinks I'm a dork.'

I heard her giggle quietly.

"What's your name?" asked the girl. I looked up at her.

"My name's Avery. Avery Winter," I replied her. "What's yours, darlin'," I asked her smoothly.

"My name is Teresa," she responded. "Teresa Keppel," she added.

" Teresa… I like it," I told her and she blushed cutely.

"You do?"

"Sure," I said. "It suits you."

She blushed harder and I couldn't help but think how adorable it was when she blushed.

"So are you new here?" she asked me.

I nodded. "My dad and I just got here last night. He just got a new job at this company. I think he wants to start fresh again." I shrugged my shoulders trying to not show her the hurt on my face.

She must have noticed because she then asked, "what's wrong?"

I looked at her. "Oh…, well, my mom passed away a couple of years ago. It's been really hard on us since she passed. We moved because we wanted to get away from all the memories we had left of her at our house. But even when we moved, her memories are still with us."

"I'm so sorry to hear that," said Teresa placing a hand gently on my shoulder. I flinched at the unexpected contact.

"It's ok," I replied. I gave her a smile and she grinned in return. She then sat down next to me.

"So, uh, how old are you, Teresa?" I asked her.

"16," she replied in her sweet voice. "You?"

"17."

"Do you have your license?" she then asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. I got it last year. It feels great that I can drive to school alone and not with my dad."

"Oh. I don't have mine yet," sighed Teresa.

"Don't worry. You'll get it eventually," I said encouragingly.

"You think so?" she pondered.

"I know so," I answered before giving her a wink. She giggled, blushed and then looked down at her hands. The bell above our heads rang and we began to file out of the doors to our separate lockers.

"So, I guess I'll see you later?" I said as we reached her locker. She smiled at me.

"I guess so," she replied.

"Okay. Bye Teresa," I said as I turned around.

"Bye Avery," I heard her say before I walked off.