Alexis had been living with the Hart's for a week and she loved being a part of a family. She was to start school that morning at Kyra's school, the same school that Cheyanne and Van attended a few years earlier. Reba was a little nervous of her starting school there because Kyra was frequently ridiculed for being Cheyanne's sister. She hoped the same thing wouldn't happen to Alexis.
"You look great Ally," Cheyanne told her when Alexis came downstairs for breakfast.
"I'm kinda nervous," she confessed.
"Don't worry," Van replied, "it'll be fine."
"I hope so," Alexis said.
"Kyra is coming over here to catch the bus with you this morning," Reba said, looking up from her newspaper. "She thought you'd rather avoid Barbara Jean on your first day of school."
Alexis just smiled.
Just then Kyra walked into the kitchen.
"You ready?" She asked.
"Yup," Alexis smiled.
She turned to everyone at the table.
"Bye," Alexis said.
"Bye girls," everyone choursed.
On the bus Kyra turned to Alexis.
"I'll warn you," Kyra began, "people weren't nice when they found out that I was Cheyanne's sister, they weren't nice. So just watch out ok?"
"Thanks," Alexis replied as they pulled up to the school.
"We don't have any classes together so maybe I'll see you later," Kyra said, walking towards the school.
"Yeah," Alexis sighed, "but for sure after school. Your mom is picking us up," she reminded her.
"Oh yeah," Kyra said, "I totally forgot. See you later."
Kyra headed off to her class while Alexis headed for hers.
Alexis found her homeroom and took a seat in the middle of the rows of desks. Within a few minutes the bell rang and the teacher began taking attendance.
"And we have a new student joining us today, Alexis Montgomery," She announced.
Alexis smiled at the sea of faces that stared at her. Class began.
"Great," Alexis thought, "math, my first class at a new school and it's the one that got me into this mess."
After a half hour of teaching, Mrs. Kennedy, the teacher was called to the office.
"I'll be right back," she said, heading out the door.
The 3 girls who were sitting closest to Alexis turned to her.
"So are you Van's little sister?" a pretty blonde girl asked.
"Yeah," Alexis shrugged, remembering what Kyra had warned her about.
The girl sitting next to her turned to her, "maybe you could sit with us at lunch," she offered.
"Yeah," the third one agreed, "it'll be fun."
Just then Mrs Kennedy returned to the classroom and the lesson continued.
At lunch, Alexis was looking to sit with Kyra. She wasn't sure that the invitation of the girls in her math class was genuine. As she scanned the cafeteria for Kyra, she saw the girls from her math class waving her over. Alexis decided to go over and sit with them.
"Hey Alexis," the blonde girl said, "take a seat. I'm Becky," she introduced herself. "That's Samantha and Brooke,' she motioned to the two other girls who were in her math class. "We're on the drill team. Did you ever think of trying out?"
"Umm," Alexis began, "I don't know."
"You've got to," Brooke insisted, "it's sooo much fun."
"Well…I did take gymnastics in Switzerland, so ok, I'll try out," Alexis agreed.
"Great," Becky said.
Just then the bell rang, signalling 10 minutes untill next class.
"I guess I'll see you after school," Alexis said, standing up from the table.
"Bye," the girls chorused.
After school Alexis went to meet Kyra at her locker as planned, although she wasn't going to go home with her, she was staying for drill team tryouts.
"Hey Alexis,' Kyra said, walking up to her locker.
"Hey Kyra," she replied. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure," Kyra agreed, pulling her back pack out of her locker.
"Tell your mom that I'll be home late," she said. "Some girls asked me to try out for the drill team."
"Fine!" Kyra slammed the locker and walked quickly away, leaving Alexis staring wide eyed after her.
Kyra got into her mother's car and slammed the door.
"Where's Ally?" Reba asked.
"She's trying out for drill team," Kyra snapped, "some girls asked her."
Reba knew that Kyra was upset that people wouldn't accept her because of her sister, but Alexis was instantly popular.
"Do you want to talk about it honey?" Reba asked.
"No," Kyra replied.
The rest of the ride home was silent.
That afternoon at practice, Alexis was surprised to look into the bleachers and see Cheyanne.
"What are you doing here?" Alexis asked, walking over to her.
"Mom told me that you were trying out," Cheyanne explained. "So I wanted to come watch."
"Well, I'd better get back over there," Alexis said, motioning to the other hopefuls,
"Good luck," Cheyanne called after her.
When Alexis and Cheyanne arrived home, Reba jumped up from her spot on the couch beside Kyra.
"So?" she asked.
"I made it!" Alexis busted out.
"Congratulation!" Reba exclaimed, throwing her arms around Alexis in a big hug.
"I'm outta here," Kyra mumbled, heading out the front door.
Alexis pulled herself out of Reba's arms. She turned after Kyra.
"No sweetie," Reba said, grabbing Alexis' hand. "Don't go after her. There's no point trying to talk to her when she's like this." She continued, leading Alexis to the couch, "I want to set some things straight before you get right into this drill team stuff."
"Sure," Alexis replied, sitting down beside Reba.
"On nights when there is practice I want you to come home straight after practice unless you check with me first," Reba explained, "and on nights when there is no practice, the rules stay the same. Home right away unless you call, and home for supper unless you ask. You have to keep at least a B- in all your classes or you're done with the team. But don't worry if you get a lower mark, just let me know and we will see how we can improve it. I won't expect you to quit the team for that, ok?"
"Yeah," Alexis replied, "no problem."
"You know that I'm just saying this to make sure you know the rules… I don't worry that you'll cause any trouble. You're a good kid," Reba smiled.
Reba could see a few tears sparkling in Alexis' eyes.
"Thanks Reba," she said.
"You don't have to thank me sweetie," Reba replied, "you're the one who made the team."
"No," Alexis looked Reba in the eye, "I mean for everything. This is something that I've wanted my whole life… someone to love me," her voice was shaking.
"Its not hard to love you," Reba replied, taking Alexis' hand.
"Sometimes I get scared though," Alexis looked away.
"Of what?" Reba asked.
"What if my parents decide to take me back?" Alexis' voice was fast and trembling. "Even if they take me back, I know that I'll never get the love that I have here." She began to cry.
Reba pulled her into a hug.
"Don't worry about that right now," Reba tried to comfort her, patting her back. "We're just going to take all of this one day at a time."
Alexis pulled away from Reba's warm embrace, sniffed and wiped her eyes. She stood up from the couch.
"I'm tired," she announced, "I'm going to go upstairs."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Reba offered. It killed her to not be able to help "her" little girl.
"Sure," Alexis sniffed.
Reba led Alexis up the stairs and into her room. Reba lay down on her bed, propping herself up with pillows. She spread her arms wide, inviting Alexis to climb up. Alexis crawled onto the bed and Reba wrapped her arms around the thin girl's body. She grabbed a blanket and pulled it over Alexis. Alexis snuggled in close and shut her eyes. Within a minute she had drifted off to sleep.
Reba opened her eyes when she heard footsteps on the stairs. She hadn't even realized that she had fallen asleep. Cheyanne came into the room.
"I've got the stuff from the grovery store that you needed," she called into the room.
"Shhhh," Reba whispered, motioning to Alexis, still asleep in her arms.