13 year old Ned Bigby of James K. Polk Middle School walked down the crowded halls.
"Hi Ned!" said one of his best friends, Moze.
"Hey Moze!" said Ned, "How was your weekend?"
"It was ok." She said sighing slightly, "I've had better."
"Yeah, sorry I couldn't come over to watch 'Step Up' with you on Saturday." said Ned opening up his locker, "My parents forced me to go with them on a 'family night' or something."
"It's ok." said Moze doing the same Ned.
"Where's Cookie?" asked Ned now putting some of his books in his locker.
"Oh, yeah." said Moze, "He's sick. I think he has a cold."
"That's too bad." He closed his locker and started down the hall to his first class. Sat down at his desk and opened up his science book. Mr. Sweeney walked into the classroom looking stern as usual.
"Everyone!" he shouted over the classroom conversations, "We have a new student joining us." He gestured to the open door. A brown-haired girl walked shyly into the room. She had slightly curly hair with a couple red streaks tangled in it. Her ears had about five piercing all together and dark eyeliner. She had on a Rolling Stones t-shirt and ripped jeans with red high-tops.
"This is Amanda Klay." said Mr. Sweeney, "Amanda, can you tell us something about yourself?" she said nothing, "Amanda?" she looked around the room at the many faces staring at her, "Fine," said Mr. Sweeney, "I will just ask you a question. Uh, where did you go to school before James K. Polk?"
"Well, I never exactly went to school." She mumbled.
"What?" said Lisa Zemo, "how did you get an education?"
"I…I was home schooled since I was in first grade."
"What's that?"
"It's when you don't go to school." said Ned, "It's basically the same thing as school, but you don't have classes. You just do your homework."
"Weird." said Suzie Crabgrass under her breath.
It was lunch time. Ned sat down across from Moze. He set down his tray of food.
"So, did you see the new girl?" asked Moze.
"Yup, she seems nice." said Ned.
"How do you know? I mean, have you talked to her?" said Moze surprised, "I hear she isn't the most talkative person in the world, if you know what I mean."
"No, I haven't yet." Ned looked across the cafeteria. Amanda walked in carrying a brown paper bag. She looked around trying to find somewhere to sit. Amanda walked over to a table with a bunch of people at it, looking hopeful. Immediately, everyone spread out on the benches.
"Sorry," said a girl wearing all pink, "all full!" she repeated the experience two more times, Ned still watching all of this. Finally Amanda went to the last table, besides his own, that had one more seat at it. Suzie was right next to the empty spot. At least Suzie would be nice about letting her sit down. Thought Ned, but when Amanda was about to sit down Suzie scooted over about an inch so that the space was filled.
"Sorry." She said, and continued eating. Ned was shocked. Suzie was usually nice about letting people sit down next to her. Why would she be acting like this?
Amanda glared at the back of Suzie's head and walked out of the cafeteria.
"I'll be right back." said Ned who hadn't touched his food. He got up and followed Amanda through the doors. He made it out into the halls, but couldn't find her. Just then he heard a crash. He speed walked to the direction in which the noise had come from. He turned a corner and saw Amanda kneeling on the floor next to a spilt trashcan. Her food tray was sitting on the floor a few feet away from the spill. She was picking up the trash that had fallen out of it.
"Here," said Ned walking over and kneeling down next to her and started to pick up the crumpled up papers. Amanda looked up and stared at him.
"Thanks." She said, "I just wasn't watching where I was going and…"
"Yeah, sometimes your head can just be…" but he stopped as they both put their hand on the same crushed soda can, his hand on top of hers. They looked at each other for a moment, but quickly looked away, both of them blushing furiously.
"So, have you always lived here?" said Ned half an hour later. They were both sitting on the floor with their backs against the wall with their trays on their laps. They had been sitting there for twenty minutes, just talking about family, weird experiences, embarrassing moments. Right at the moment they were talking about places they've been and other strange things.
"No." said Amanda, "I used to live in Boston, but my dad had to get a new job, so we had to move."
"Oh," said Ned taking a tiny bite of a potato chip, "Sorry about that, but do you still like it here?"
"It's ok. Nothing is ever better than home though." Amanda took a drink of water.
"So, what about home schooling?" said Ned after a few scoops of pudding.
"It's ok. It can be brutal at some points, but other than that it's great!" she said, "The up-side of being home schooled is I get to do a lot of stuff during the day. But the bad thing about it is I don't know anything, anyone, or…or whatever's happening at school!" Ned listened to her. He listened until they had to leave because the halls were becoming filled with people.
"Hey Ned!" said a voice behind him.
"Huh?" Ned turned around and saw Moze standing behind him, "Oh, hey Moze."
"So?" said Moze nudging him in the arm, "who's it gonna' be?"
"What?"
"Didn't you see the notice?"
"What notice?" he had been so distracted by his and Amanda's conversation that he hadn't paid attention to anything but his thoughts.
"The Dance?" Moze pointed at a bulletin board with a giant poster that was covering the whole surface. Get Ready to Dance! Make sure you have that date! Saturday, 8:00 PM!
"Oh," said Ned, "that dance."
"So?" she said again, "who are you taking?"
"I'm not sure." He said. The bell rang, it was the end of the day. Ned collected his books and headed for the exit door that was stuffed with people. He made his way out and stood by the door. All of the teenagers flooded out of the double-doors. Ned waited for Amanda to come out. For some reason he didn't want to leave until he said goodbye to her. She was the last person out of the building, aside from the teachers.
"Hi Amanda!" he said cheerfully. Amanda's expression changed as he came up to her.
"Hi Ned!" she said hitching up her camouflage book bag. It was stuffed with books and papers and the strap had many buttons on it.
"Why didn't you leave?" asked Amanda looking around to find that there was barely anyone left in the parking lot.
"I dunno'. I just wanted to say bye." Ned said shuffling his feet with slight embarrassment.
"Oh, well, bye!"
"See you tomorrow."
Ned started down the hall of James K. Polk Middle School on Wednesday. It was almost the end of school. He saw Amanda standing with her back up against the wall. In front of her was a group of cheerleaders, jocks, and some other popular kids. He was glad that she was making friends with people. How could she not? He thought. With her red streaked hair and her rocker chic clothes. Those deep brown eyes and… wait! What am I thinking? He kept on walking towards her but stopped when he saw the scared look on Amanda's face. As he had gotten closer he could hear what the group was saying.
"So Klay, what are you doing for the dance?" said one of the cheerleaders.
"I bet she'll wear jeans." said another.
"Who's your date?" said a jock.
"It's probably…oh right! You could never get one!"
"Hey Klay!" said a cheerleader, "Hear you had to move!"
"That's probably because he got fired!" Amanda looked like she was about to burst into tears.
"Got any siblings?" someone said.
"I know why she doesn't!" said a girl in pink, "It's because he died, isn't it!" Amanda burst into tears and ran off with everyone laughing at her and shouting 'Boo hoo! Boo hoo!' pretending to sob.
"Amanda?" said Ned as she came towards him, "it's ok! Don't let them get…" but she pushed past him and ran to the exit, "Amanda!" he shouted after her. Ned turned and marched towards the laughing group.
"What's wrong with you?" he shouted at them, "Why do you think she's so bad?" he went off after her. He ran out the doors as the bell rang and everyone came rushing out. He waited next to the door for Moze.
"Moze?"
"Yeah?" she said.
"Can you call my mom to tell her I'll be home late?" he asked desperately.
"Fine, but why?"
"No reason." he lied.
When everyone had left Ned started looking around for Amanda. Finally he heard sniffing around the corner of the brick wall. He looked around it and saw Amanda sitting against it with her legs crossed and head down.
"Amanda?" he said. She looked up at him.
"What do you want?"
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok." He said sitting down next to her.
"I'm fine." She said wiping her eyes.
"It doesn't look like it." Amanda laughed a little, but it sounded sad, "come on, you can tell me!"
"It's just I don't know what to do!" she said, tears pouring down her face again, "There are just so many problems at home and with my parents."
"I don't want to sound nosey or anything, but what about your brother?" he said carefully.
"He…he died last year. It was a car accident. He was severely injured, but he died three days before Christmas." She sobbed, "It wasn't a very good Christmas present." She buried her face in her hands. Ned didn't know what to say, so he put his hand on her shoulder. Before he could do or say anything she had flung herself on him and had started hugging him. He surprised himself by hugging her back and whispering encouragement into her ear.
"It's just so hard without him." She said with her arms around his neck. She withdrew from their embrace and wiped her eyes.
"Look at me!" she said half laughing.
"It's ok. I would probably be doing the same as you." said Ned, trying to think of something to say. He helped her stand up and gave her her book bag lying on the ground.
"Would you…?" he hesitated, "would you like to get a milkshake?" he held his breath waiting for her answer.
"Sure. I'd really like that." For the first time she really smiled. She had very straight teeth.
"Cool." Said Ned, "come on! We can walk." The two didn't speak a word on the way there.
"That was great!" said Amanda as they left the building "Thanks for taking me! I needed it!"
"It was no trouble at all!" said Ned, "the only problem is how we're going to get to your house."
"I walk home from school every day. We can just take a shortcut through here. They turned into the woods and up a hill. As they approached Amanda's house Ned could see that she had turned slightly red in the cheeks. Her house was old and peeling. The paint was an ugly green color and some of the shudders were falling off.
"I'll see you tomorrow!" said Amanda as she walked up the steps to the old porch in the front of the house.
"Oh! Uh, Amanda?"
"Yeah?" she turned to face him.
"I was wondering, if we could do this again sometime? But maybe we could go and see a movie or something." He stammered.
"You mean, a date?" asked Amanda smiling.
"No, not exactly… Yes!"
"Sure."
"Really?" he said surprised.
"Yeah, I'll call you!" she said opening the door.
"Great! Er, yeah! Call me! I mean, I'll call you! I mean…" he tried to put his words together.
"I'll see you tomorrow." She said laughing, and closed the door behind her. Ned walked away feeling happier than he had in a long time.