Beginnings(2)

“Okay, you two have fun today,” he said, smiling, but as he turned to look at his daughter his face changed, “You are not wearing that to school!” He looked horrified.

Finally, the reaction I was looking for!

“Oh, don't be silly, Daddy. Everyone my age dresses like this.” She still called my uncle daddy. She had figured out at an early age that if she gave him her most sugary sweet smile and called him daddy she always got her way.

“Anna doesn't,” he said still frowning and nodded his head in my direction.

She shot me a look full of loathing. “Well, that's because Anna is a loser who spends her days in the library.”

“There has to be another skirt you can wear? Something a bit longer?” He asked, waving a finger at her pink, ruffled skirt. If it was any higher she would have been fully exposed.

She came over and gave him a peck on the cheek, “Bye Daddy, I don't want to be late.”

He let out a sigh, shook his head, and continued reading the paper.

I got up and followed Haley out of the kitchen. “Bye Uncle, have a good day.”

“Ah huh,” he mumbled, absorbed in the paper.

Adam quickly followed behind me, “I couldn't help but look. She has an awesome body and that outfit shows off every inch of her.”

I let out a grunt.

“Aw, don't be mad Annie.”

“I'm not mad,” I grumbled under my breath as I grabbed my backpack by the door.

My aunt eyed me as I walked past her out the front door. It wasn't the first time I'd been caught talking to myself. By now everyone was used to it. It didn't happen all the time, but enough that it could be added to list of things that made me an outcast.

I got into the back seat of my aunt's Volvo. Haley was already up front primping in the mirror. Adam sat in the seat behind her. My aunt started the car and we made the dreadful journey towards school.

We pulled up to the front of the school just as the warning bell rang, telling us to get to class. We hurried out of the car and made our way to our first class, which sadly, we shared.

“Remember Anna, it's the same as last year: don't talk to me in school.”

I rolled my eyes. Why would I even want to?

We made it to class just as the final bell rang. I sunk into my usual seat in the back row of the classroom. Adam leaned against the wall behind me.

“Good morning class, I'm Mr. Timmons. I thought we'd ease into the morning by going around the room and telling everyone something fun you did this summer. I'll go first. My oldest son got married in Hawaii. I spent ten glorious days with my family, and watched my son marry an amazing woman.” He pointed to the boy up front on the far right, “Okay, lets start with you and work our way down. Don't forget to say your first and last name. I'll be making a seating chart. This will be where you sit for the year.”

I watched the boy stand up, looking awkwardly around the room. “I'm Henry Olsen, and this summer my family and I went to Washington D.C.”

I slouched deeper in my chair. I really hated when teachers made you do this. At least I was in the back so it would be awhile until my turn. My stomach was in knots. I barely paid attention to what anyone was saying. Some people were quick and others dragged on.

“That's it!” Adam said, his voice so high it startled me, “I've been trying to figure out what you should tell them.” He came and stood next to me, “You have to tell them about saving that little girl's life from drowning. You were incredible. One minute she went down, and the next thing I know you jumped in the ocean and had her out in seconds. I was so proud of you.” I basked in his compliment. “No wait! Instead, tell them about sneaking on the tourist boat and getting to see the ship surrounded by dolphins. Man, that was fun!”

I smiled. That was fun.

“Hi everyone! I'm Haley Matthews,” she spoke, flipping her perfectly groomed blond hair. She rested her hand on her hip, “This summer I also went to Hawaii where I learned to surf, which I'm a natural at, and I went para-sailing.”

“She's so full of shit,” Adam said next to me, “She screamed in fear the whole time that a shark was about to get her. After twenty minutes she gave up.”

I had to suppress a giggle.

Just as the next person was about to speak, the door opened and in walked the most gorgeous guy I had ever seen. He looked like he had just stepped off a film set. His dark hair was tousled like he just came in from a heavy make-out session, which immediately made me notice his lips. They were incredibly sexy, so full and plump. His intense dark brown eyes, with the thick long lashes, were his most beautiful feature. My eyes trailed down his perfectly sculpted body, never realizing a high school boy could be so appealing.