Chapter 3 – Lara

Present

Aonghus looked down the empty hallway. His mom was later than she said she would be. He was the only one left, except for a few guys left from soccer practice. What a great way to end a Friday, thought Aonghus.
2 Hours Ago

"So why am I here again?" Aonghus asked Amanda, looking around the pathetic looking press room.

"The one guy couldn't make it at the last minute so we needed someone to fill in for him," Amanda explained. "So we need you to do his story. Just finish it up and we are good."

"Ok, but just one more question," Aonghus said.

"Shoot."

"How long does this last?" Amanda rolled her eyes at Aonghus, and moved forward to this junior who looked oddly familiar.

"Yea, we couldn't sell many of the bracelets, so we might not be able to get the copier," the junior said. Then, Aonghus remembered. She was the girl in the hall last week at lunch.

"Fine. It's ok Melanie, I didn't expect it to work," Amanda said back to her, "That's why I scheduled that candy fundraiser for next week." She turned around to Aonghus. "Can you do it? I need a lot of help."

"I really don't want to," Aonghus said, giving her a look that was asking her not to ask him again.

"Please?"

Aonghus studied her face. "Oh alright. What are friends for?"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." She leaned in to hug him, but Aonghus mistook the gesture and leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Amanda blushed.

"Excuse me, I have to... go to... the uhhhh... bathroom," Amanda walked out into the hall.

At first, the school's "press room" wasn't so full, but after about 10 minutes, the room was packed. Aonghus could barely move his elbow without hitting someone.

After about knocking over five people, he had to get out of the room. The article, "The New Basketball Floor" was enough to put him to sleep.

Once he got out in the hall, he saw Amanda sitting down in the middle off the floor, sobbing. How no one noticed was beyond him.

"Amanda?" Amanda looked up and, when she saw it was Aonghus, wiped her eyes.

"Yea?" she asked.

"You okay?" he asked her.

"Uhhh, yea," she said, her voice quavering, "why wouldn't I be?"

"I dunno, that's why I asked if you are ok," he said back to her. "So you are handling everything ok?"

"Uhhh, no, not really," she said. Amanda looked up at Aonghus. To Aonghus, it looked as if she was deciding whether or not she should tell him. "Uhhhhh"

"Uhhhh what? Common. I am your best friend what can't you tell me?" Aonghus asked her.

"It's nothing really. I'm just overreacting,"

"At?"

Amanda stared at Aonghus. "I'm... stressed. That's all." Aonghus leaned in and gave her a hug.

"It just feels like a lot now because it's all new. After a while, you will feel better about it," Aonghus said. They broke the hug. "You feeling any better?"

Amanda wiped her eyes and nodded her head. "Let's get back to work now." Aonghus nodded now.
Present

Aonghus finished his homework about five minutes ago while waiting for his mom to come. He went up to his locker and brought his books up to put away. He then realized he needed his Vocab. book to study for the test, so he took it out.

On his way back down the stairs, he dropped his book. He ran down and reached to pick it up. But, a smaller, smoother hand beat him to it.

He stood up straight and looked into her deep green eyes. Her black cascade of hair looked as soft as a pillow.

"Drop something?" she asked.

"Wow," Aonghus said. Then shaking his head, added, "Yea. I- I meant yea." The girl let out a small laugh and handed back Aonghus' book.

"I'm Lara."