****a/n: I want to give a shout out to everyone who has reviewed this story--each time I get one, i sort of run around my house looking stupid with a ridiculous grin on my face. it's a nice feeling. also, most of these characters coming up; even though they might not be immediately familiar to you, are ann's. i've tried to include as many bsc series veterans as possible.****
I woke up way before my alarm went off.
It was a lot easier to be the new me in the dressing room at Zingy's than it was to be the new me around people who had known me for my whole life. Like my mom. When everyone else in the house was sleeping, even the dog, I had been putting on clothes and taking them off, deciding just what exactly was the best way for me the debut myself to high school, my family, and my friends.
Finally I had decided on a little black tshirt, low-slung dark denim flares, and pair of red wedge flip flops. It was pretty much the same as the old me: tshirt + jeans; yet it was different enough for people to notice a change. Also, I wanted people to notice me. Yeah, I'm short and loud and proud; but I wanted to be known for being cool as well. Someone you'd want to be at your parties and someone you'd want to date.
It was hard for me to resist the temptation of hitching up my jeans and securing them with a belt. What if people saw my underwear? I scolded myself silently, reminding myself that Claudia never seemed to care.
By the time I applied my makeup, I was ready. My ears aren't pierced; but I could make do with some silver bangle bracelets. I gave myself a thumbs up in the mirror and said, "Okay, Thomas. You're ready for your breakfast closeup."
I clamped down the stairs--okay, so it wasn't the most graceful gait; but these shoes were really hard to walk in. I reached the kitchen and was immediately bombarded with smells of eggs, bacon, and waffles. For the occasion, Mom and Watson had cooked up an extra-special breakfast. All the Thomas-Brewers, except for Charlie, were seated around the big table, awaiting their turn to be served. CHarlie had left a few days ago for Boiceville State--only forty-five minutes away; but Charlie had refused to live at home. The tuition was so cheap that Mom and Watson really didn't have a leg to stand on when it came to arguing with him about it.
Charlie's absence at the table was definitely noticable, but it sure wasn't spoliing anyone's appetite. Everyone was just so hungry that no one noticed my presence until it came to be my turn to be served.
"Okay, Kris--" Watson caught site of my outfit--and my makeup. "Kristy," he said at last. "You look ready for your first day of high school."
I smiled at him and accepted the steaming hot plate filled with my favorite breakfast foods.
As I poured syrup on my pancakes, David Michael was snickering at me. "What is it?" I asked, knowing full well what the answer was going to be.
"Ooooh, Kris-tee, are you trying to get a-- boyfriend?" David Michael could hardly contain himself. Sam joined in.
I rolled my eyes. Luckily, Mom was on my side. "Can it, you two," she said, joining Watson at the stove. Nannie was on juice duty, with Emily Michelle "helping."
"Wow, Kristy," Karen breathed. "You look so much like a teenager." I smiled to myself. For as long as I've known her, Karen has wanted to be one thing: older.
I gulped down my breakfast, wanting to leave the zoo that was my family breakfast. I clomped back upstairs to pack up my backup, wanting to make sure I didn't forget anything.
Schedule--check. Binder--check. Assignment book--check. Assortment of pens and pencils--check. Graphing calculator--check. I slung it over my shoulders and went downstairs.
"Come on, Sam," I called into the kitchen from the foyer. "We're going to be late!"
"Still the same old Kristy, all right," he mumbled, shoving in his mouth the last bit of eggs.
Sam had inherited the Junk Bucket from Charlie. We got in, slammed the doors, and the car rattled so much that we were afraid the whole thing would come crashing down on our heads any second. But as usual, it didn't; and Sam started the car up. After making a few spitting noises, the engine started and we were on our way.
Sam didn't say much to me on the way there. He kept on looking at me and making little know-it-all comments under his breath. It was going to be a long year; but that was okay. SHS was so huge, Sam and I would hardly ever see each other. Right?
Soon, we arrived at our destination. Sam dropped me off at the front entrance before he went around the back to park. "Good luck, little sis," were his parting words.
I saw my friends at the front entrance, waiting for everyone else to arrive. Everyone was there except for me. Even Abby was there. She had called me last night to tell me that she planned to walk, since SHS was closer to our houses than SMS had been.
My friends' reaction were akin to Mom and Watson's: no snickering, but they looked a little perplxed. Finally, Abby spoke.
"Cool duds, Madame President."
"Heyyyy, I'm no longer the president," I said to her calmly. "Now I'm a mere peon."
My friends smiled, albeit weakly.
Just then, the bell rang. Claudia groaned. "Another school year has begun," she said dramatically.
I found my locker and looked at the combo I held in my head. I spun the numbers and the locker opened easily. I relaxed a little. At least I had a good locker.
I didn't really have anything to put in my locker, but I just wanted to check it out before homeroom began. Now that that task was finished, it was time for homeroom with--I checked my schedule--Ms. Delavecchio.
I found her classroom easily; it was just down the hall from my locker.
"Welcome, freshmen," Ms. Delavecchio smiled out at us. The PA crackled to life, sounding exactly like the one at SMS. I relaxed a little. So far, high school wasn't that much different from middle school.
Famous last words.
I woke up way before my alarm went off.
It was a lot easier to be the new me in the dressing room at Zingy's than it was to be the new me around people who had known me for my whole life. Like my mom. When everyone else in the house was sleeping, even the dog, I had been putting on clothes and taking them off, deciding just what exactly was the best way for me the debut myself to high school, my family, and my friends.
Finally I had decided on a little black tshirt, low-slung dark denim flares, and pair of red wedge flip flops. It was pretty much the same as the old me: tshirt + jeans; yet it was different enough for people to notice a change. Also, I wanted people to notice me. Yeah, I'm short and loud and proud; but I wanted to be known for being cool as well. Someone you'd want to be at your parties and someone you'd want to date.
It was hard for me to resist the temptation of hitching up my jeans and securing them with a belt. What if people saw my underwear? I scolded myself silently, reminding myself that Claudia never seemed to care.
By the time I applied my makeup, I was ready. My ears aren't pierced; but I could make do with some silver bangle bracelets. I gave myself a thumbs up in the mirror and said, "Okay, Thomas. You're ready for your breakfast closeup."
I clamped down the stairs--okay, so it wasn't the most graceful gait; but these shoes were really hard to walk in. I reached the kitchen and was immediately bombarded with smells of eggs, bacon, and waffles. For the occasion, Mom and Watson had cooked up an extra-special breakfast. All the Thomas-Brewers, except for Charlie, were seated around the big table, awaiting their turn to be served. CHarlie had left a few days ago for Boiceville State--only forty-five minutes away; but Charlie had refused to live at home. The tuition was so cheap that Mom and Watson really didn't have a leg to stand on when it came to arguing with him about it.
Charlie's absence at the table was definitely noticable, but it sure wasn't spoliing anyone's appetite. Everyone was just so hungry that no one noticed my presence until it came to be my turn to be served.
"Okay, Kris--" Watson caught site of my outfit--and my makeup. "Kristy," he said at last. "You look ready for your first day of high school."
I smiled at him and accepted the steaming hot plate filled with my favorite breakfast foods.
As I poured syrup on my pancakes, David Michael was snickering at me. "What is it?" I asked, knowing full well what the answer was going to be.
"Ooooh, Kris-tee, are you trying to get a-- boyfriend?" David Michael could hardly contain himself. Sam joined in.
I rolled my eyes. Luckily, Mom was on my side. "Can it, you two," she said, joining Watson at the stove. Nannie was on juice duty, with Emily Michelle "helping."
"Wow, Kristy," Karen breathed. "You look so much like a teenager." I smiled to myself. For as long as I've known her, Karen has wanted to be one thing: older.
I gulped down my breakfast, wanting to leave the zoo that was my family breakfast. I clomped back upstairs to pack up my backup, wanting to make sure I didn't forget anything.
Schedule--check. Binder--check. Assignment book--check. Assortment of pens and pencils--check. Graphing calculator--check. I slung it over my shoulders and went downstairs.
"Come on, Sam," I called into the kitchen from the foyer. "We're going to be late!"
"Still the same old Kristy, all right," he mumbled, shoving in his mouth the last bit of eggs.
Sam had inherited the Junk Bucket from Charlie. We got in, slammed the doors, and the car rattled so much that we were afraid the whole thing would come crashing down on our heads any second. But as usual, it didn't; and Sam started the car up. After making a few spitting noises, the engine started and we were on our way.
Sam didn't say much to me on the way there. He kept on looking at me and making little know-it-all comments under his breath. It was going to be a long year; but that was okay. SHS was so huge, Sam and I would hardly ever see each other. Right?
Soon, we arrived at our destination. Sam dropped me off at the front entrance before he went around the back to park. "Good luck, little sis," were his parting words.
I saw my friends at the front entrance, waiting for everyone else to arrive. Everyone was there except for me. Even Abby was there. She had called me last night to tell me that she planned to walk, since SHS was closer to our houses than SMS had been.
My friends' reaction were akin to Mom and Watson's: no snickering, but they looked a little perplxed. Finally, Abby spoke.
"Cool duds, Madame President."
"Heyyyy, I'm no longer the president," I said to her calmly. "Now I'm a mere peon."
My friends smiled, albeit weakly.
Just then, the bell rang. Claudia groaned. "Another school year has begun," she said dramatically.
I found my locker and looked at the combo I held in my head. I spun the numbers and the locker opened easily. I relaxed a little. At least I had a good locker.
I didn't really have anything to put in my locker, but I just wanted to check it out before homeroom began. Now that that task was finished, it was time for homeroom with--I checked my schedule--Ms. Delavecchio.
I found her classroom easily; it was just down the hall from my locker.
"Welcome, freshmen," Ms. Delavecchio smiled out at us. The PA crackled to life, sounding exactly like the one at SMS. I relaxed a little. So far, high school wasn't that much different from middle school.
Famous last words.