There was school today. I woke up early so I could do an extra long chant. I don't want to have a bad first day. I also hoped I could find a new friend, because Matt disappeared last night. (That was good though: it would have been awkward to see him.)

I didn't exactly find a new friend, but there's a new girl in my class. Apparently she was in the other class until just now, but I'd never seen her before. Oh well. It doesn't really matter, because she's absolutely gorgeous. She smiled at me over her lunch tray, and I felt embarrassed because I only ever bring a green apple for lunch. Getting hot lunch is so glamorous, especially when you have to dodge the lunch lady's fiery glare.

But her dress was so red and bouncy and her hair was so red and curly and bouncy, and her red shoes shone against the dull, probably bloodstained floor of the cafeteria.

I am absolutely certain that I am in love. She came and sat by me and told me her name was Carlotta, and what was my name, and it was nice to meet me and wow that was a good-looking apple and what are you writing and I thought City Council banned pens?

I mutely showed her the charcoal I had begged from Big Rico to be able to write my diary. I didn't show her the diary. I didn't even talk to her. God, it must have been awful. I hope she didn't find me dull. It seemed like she liked being able to talk without any interruptions, and her voice was really, really compelling for some reason.

Too soon, lunch was over, and I had only ever taken a single bite from my good-looking green apple and I was watching Carlotta's red hair, dress and shoes bounce away from me.

Tonight, I will chant extra hard. I think Dad's out, so maybe I'll be able to do it audibly too. That would help matters greatly, I think.

School in general is also going well. My Weird Spanish class is exactly as I'd hoped it would be. The curriculum changes they've implemented since it started have really helped the program along, I think.

School actually seemed a lot better after lunch. I'm not really sure why exactly, since I only had a bite of apple, but somehow my mood was just lifted up like a cloud.

Now that I think about it, it probably was Carlotta, wasn't it?

I'd better start the chant now. Longer, louder ones always work the best.