"Are you guys ready for the last first day of school tomorrow?" Jared asked Mel and I as we laid on our backs watching the clouds in the sky. Tomorrow we would start our senior year, and frankly, I couldn't have been more happier. It's not that I didn't like school, I was just often bullied and was a nobody who sticked to the shadows.

Mel snorted," Who is excited for school tomorrow? Most people right now are mourning that their summer is gone."

Jared grinned," And I guess were apart of that group now, huh?"

"Oh stop it!" Mel said lightly swatting his arm. Jared caught her wrist, rolling on top of her, kissing. I awkwardly scooted away from them, hoping they would stop before they became more passionate.

Is this what it will be like if I ever have a boyfriend? I wondered. I hope not. I have had enough from just watching Mel and Jared makeout.

"Uhhh guys? You are aware that my presence still lingers, right?" I asked timidly.

Slowly, they stopped and sat up, and Jared started laughing when he saw the expression on my face.

"Sorry Wanda, forgot you were there for a sec."

I rolled my eyes."This is why I don't date." I muttered.

Mel hugged me." Don't take it so personally Wanda, it was a joke."

"Well it wasn't very funny."

"Oh lighten up, you shouldn't take everything so seriously."

"Wanda needs to find a boyfriend," Jared noted,"That'll loosen her up."

I blushed and glared at him." I am perfectly fine on my own, thank you very much."

"Oh come on," Jared said," You can't graduate from highschool single."

"Can too."

Can not."

Can too."

Can not."

"OK stop!" Mel shouted, interrupting our argument." Wanda can graduate single is she wants." I smugly smiled at Jared.

"But….." Mel slyly grinned," After I dress her up for the first day of school, that'll soon change."

I sighed, exasperated. Ever since I entered highschool, Mel made it a tradition that I let her pick out my first day of school clothes. She had a habit of picking out clothes I always seemed to despise. Fortunately, people at school seemed to like them, and that's all that mattered.

Just as the sun started to go down, I stood up and brushed the grass from my jeans. I looked down at myself. I did not look that bad. My "save the earth" green T-shirt over my non-existant chest, hide some of my cut-off jean shorts that showed my spindly pale legs. Yep, I was still as skinny as a stick and looked like a 12-year-old. When would I ever grow up?

"Come on Mel, it's time to go home if we want to make it on time to dinner."

Mel sighed."Fine. Let's go." She kissed Jared one last time before getting up and following me.

"See ya tomorrow!" Jared called after us as we walked away. We gave him a wave in return before falling into step with each other.

"Wanda I just want you to know…," Mel started.

"Know what?"

"If anyone at school is giving you a hard time come to me, OK?" Mel looked at me straight in the eye. It made me sort of uncomfortable.

"OK Mel you'll be the first to know, though under one condition."

"What is it?" She gave me a strange look.

"That you won't beat up that person, too badly."

She laughed."OK I agree to your terms."

"Really?!"

"Ya, I'll let Jared do the punching."

I laughed with her this time. Then I looked at my watch and freaked.

"Oh my gosh were ten minutes late, com'on were tardy!"

I started to run but Mel grabbed my arm and pulled her by my side.

"Wanda don't worry so much, mom and dad will be cool with it."She said all matter-of-factly

"But were gonna be in trouble and I don't want to get them mad."

"Wanda what's the worst they can do to us?" She asked

My eyes started to fill with tears."Theycouldsendmebacktotheorhanage." I said.

"What?"

"I said they could send me back to the orphanage." I sniffed

"Oh Wanda," Mel murmured hugging me as I broke out into sobs.

Mel and her family adopted me when I was nine. I had previously lived in a cruddy orphanage that never had enough food, blankets, etc. I was at first very shy with them because I thought they were going to be exactly like my orphanage. But when they weren't I soon fell in love with them all, they are truly the best family ever.

"It's OK," she soothed,"Wanda why would you think they would ever send you back? They love you, not to mention Jamie too and would never dream of sending you back." She broke off as realization dawned on her.

"Is that why you're always trying to do you best when you're around them? Doing all the extra stuff?" She looked at me and I nodded.

"I'm trying to earn my keep,"I whispered." To show them they I'm valuable for manual labor." I looked down at my feet, ashamed.

Mel grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her.

"Wanda we will never get rid of you know matter what." She smiled softly," You're just being paranoid thats all."

I smiled a little at her."OK, but let's go home now."

We continued walking, in peaceful silence, just listening to birds chirping and the trees whistling in the wind.

"Wanda?"

"Hmm?"

"Your horrible at manual labor anyway, so they aren't keeping you because of that, you know?"

I smiled."Now I do Mel, thanks."

She laughed."Anytime."