Chapter 2

Of course that's when Stew hurries up. He runs to the front door and flings it wide open. I'm too busy trying to get Gregory to calm down, but I know who it is. It's Herbert, the best boyfriend in the world. He picks me up for school everyday since I don't have a car. But I'm running a little late today, which for me is usual. My brothers and sisters drive me insane.

"Hi Herbert," Stew says formerly. Then he turns around and yells "Junie, your boyfriend is here!" One day I'm going to strangle him.

"Give me a second!" I call to Herbert from the couch. I'm still trying to get Gregory to calm down when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up, it's Herbert.

"Morning," he tells me and takes the baby out of my hands. I look at him gratefully.

"Thank you so much," I tell him and give him a quick peck on the cheek to show him my appreciation. I'm not one to give out kisses and hugs, but I am really grateful for such a great boyfriend.

"Why don't you clean up," he says looking at me. I look down my t-shirt and groan. Gregory's milk was all over my shirt.

"Thanks." I tell him again and go up and change into a better shirt, one that I knew Herbert would like. It's a cream colored shirt with jewels on the collar. I paired I with my jeans and navy blue converse. I like to dress nice but being "mommy" doesn't give me much time to get myself ready. I take the rare opportunity to put on some strawberry pink lip gloss that I've been able to keep hidden from May.

I quickly go down, hoping that Herbert is fine. But I know he is, he always is. He has some magic power over my siblings and is always helping me with them. I love him.

When I get back down, I see that Herbert is empty handed and waiting for me.

"Ready to go?" He asks me. I nod. I grab my backpack from where I had plopped it on the ground in front of the door and yelled a good bye to my dad once again. I quickly slam the door so that my dad can't call me back in. sometimes I'm glad to go to school, to get away from all the craziness. I follow Herbert to go to his old camery that was once his mother's.

Herbert's not the best looking, coolest guy at school, but he's mine and the best and I love him just the way he is with his longish brown hair and brown eyes. He has the cutest smile I know though. I love his smile.

I climb into the passenger seat and slump down. Herbert starts the old car and it sputters out my driveway. The driveway I've run down so many times as a young girl to my mother and father who were sane back then to solve all my problems.

"Hard morning?" Herbert asks me.

"Yeah" and we stay silent the rest of the ride. Herbert knows me so well. He knows that I don't like to talk much anymore, especially when I'm mad or sad and especially on hard mornings.

We get to school in 10 minutes. He parks and we get out. He walks me to my locker. While I get my books, the locker next to me opens and I look up to see Grace, know my somewhat friends. When my mom went insane, I kinda drifted away from my all my friends except Herbert. I don't hang out with them anymore, only at school and then I'm only half there.

"Hey Junie!" Grace says happily. Looking at her, I can't imagine how I used to think life was like just a year ago. I was so happy, looking like her and every thing was possible.

"Hey," I said a little grumpily. Grace looked a little hurt. I didn't mean to hurt her, it's just, she doesn't get it anymore. No one gets it except Herbert. Herbert must have seen Grace's face change too because behind me he says,

"Ignore her, she's had a rough morning."

"Oh," Grace says. "Well, see you in English," She smiles at warmly and walks toward her friend (and once was my friend too) Annie. Annie and Grace walk away laughing and talking and I feel a pang of jealousy of not being able to be them. I turn back to my locker in a huff and slam my locker door shut. Herbert just ignores me, just like always. He sure does know me.

The bell rings and we part ways. Me to math, him to science.