Far and Away

by Quackyduck123

Chapter One

I scurried around the house, shouting, "Where's my backpack? Where's my backpack?" Finally, I found it lying in the corner of the living room. It was a very old backpack: I'd had it since kindergarten, but now I was in 8th grade. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad didn't have money for what seemed like anything anymore. Mom was a cashier and Dad was a janitor. As you can probably guess, they didn't make much money at all.

    My little 5-year-old brother Rob screamed, "I hate school! Hate school!"

    I dragged him to the bus by the arm.

    I left him to sit by himself as I headed for the back, then turned into my usual seat. At the next stop, my best friend Sophia came on. 

    "What did you do for the summer?" I asked, trying to be friendly. But I knew what she did already; we'd spent an hour texting each other every night of June, July, and August.

    "Nothing, really," Sophia groaned. She and I were so different-she had long, curly brown hair that was always manageable. I had short, straight blonde hair that looked smooth but was tangly. She was more popular than I was and I was smart with a group of small yet loyal friends. She hadn't really changed much (at least her looks hadn't) during the summer.

    We sat in silence for a few minutes. Suddenly, Sophia turned to me and giggled. "I heard the girls saying that this new boy is coming to our school," she said hurriedly, twirling a thin strand of hair with her finger. "Really, I don't know if it's true, but if it is, he's supposed to be

in Science with you."

    Suddenly, for a second, Sophia looked jealous. I could tell she already had a crush on him, but she hadn't even seen him yet!

    As soon as the bus stopped at the school, everyone fell back into their seats at the exact same time from the pressure. Sophia got up and hurried into the line of kids getting off the bus, which I'd noticed looked like a river (I had figured this out a few years ago). I quickly followed in the open path she created. The bus sped away to drop off the elementary school kids.

    When we reached the hallway, she started to go off and talk to some other popular girls! I felt sad and jealous that she'd ditched me for those kinds of people. But that was okay. It was a new school year and I could make new friends.

Chapter Two

The main hallway I was standing in was decorated from floor to ceiling in purple and yellow, our school district colors. A big banner hung from the ceiling saying, "Welcome, students!" Below those words, in smaller handwriting read, "If you are new here, please go to  Mrs. Danis in the main office for your locker number and combination."

    Quickly, I sped through people and made my way to the science room. First period would start any minute then. When I collapsed in my seat a few seconds before the bell rang, I saw a guy staring into space. He was sitting next to me, and it took me a few seconds to realize I hadn't seen him before, but looked like a nice person. He had brown hair and blue eyes that looked like ice. But when I looked 

in them, I saw kindness, empathy, and...sadness. He'd must have been the new kid that Sophia was talking about. (Don't worry, I didn't have a crush on him.)

    To make sure, I slid a note to him under the desk saying, "Are u new here?"

    He scribbled something on the note.    

    Yeah. How 'bout you?

    No. When did you move here?

    Oh. Somewhere around August. I like this place so far.

    That's nice.

    Sorry the teacher's talking now. I think I shouldn't be writing anymore. Oh, and by the way, the name's Chris.

    My name's Elise. Bye, then.

And that was my first conversation with New Boy (Chris). It wasn't a very deep or wholesome conversation, but I can get more into that later. 

    So, after all my morning classes, and to lunchtime, I was just sitting at a table with Sophia, but she wasn't really talking to me. She was talking to the popular girls, and I just was tagging along like an annoying shadow. Suddenly, Chris came over and asked me if he could sit next to me. The girls were all mesmerized by him and said, "Yes! Of course!"

    Chris sat down and the girls all started talking to him at once. I could tell his frustration was increasingly growing. It was like I needed

him to get out of there before he blew up.

    "Want to go outside?" I asked. Chris looked relieved. "Yes, please," he said quietly.

    I almost laughed.

Chapter Three

It was very hot outside. Chris and I were sitting on the long grass outside of the school. As he wiped his face with the back of his hand, I asked, "You've never experienced heat like this?"

    Chris shook his head. "I used to live in Vermont where it wasn't so hot in the summer," he responded. "I miss Vermont."

    I was about to say something, but then someone burst through the lunchroom doors. It was Sophia! She looked angry, but maybe that was because I was with somebody.

    "We've been looking everywhere for you!" she cried. "You were called to the main office from the loudspeakers. Go. Now."

    Suddenly, I think she noticed Chris. "Helloo," she said. "What's your name?" She walked over to him, forgetting all about me.

    Chris gave me an empathetic look as I pushed the doors to the lunchroom. Stares followed my face, and students cleared a path for me. I pretended not to notice them, though I was sure my burning face would show on the outside.

~~~~~

The 5 minutes I waited for the principal may have been 5 years. Each second felt like it dragged on forever. Finally, the secretary popped her head in the doorway. "Principal Friedman's waiting for you," she said. Slowly, I got up and walked to a small chair, where Principal Friedman beckoned to me to sit. I turned around, my eyes scanning the room. But I saw something that shocked me--Dad was there!

    His face looked gray and sagged at the cheeks. His eyes looked hollow and endless. His gaze was guided towards his feet. "Daddy?"

I whispered.

    Dad shook his head somberly. Then he said, "It's about your mom-she's lost her job."

    Just when I was about to speak, he started to talk again. "And another thing--about your aunt Sal. She's passed. From a car accident. I'm sorry, Elise. We didn't want to tell you, so we waited for perhaps too long."

    I was absolutely shocked. My aunt Sal, my favorite aunt? I loved her so much. She was the best--she gave the best gifts, she was super nice, and super fun to play with. Out of nowhere, I felt my eyes watering up, and I remembered Principal Friedman was also in here with us just as he cleared his throat.

    "Mr. Nelson," he addressed my dad. "Don't you think it might be, 

well, best if Elise stays home for the rest of the day?"

    My dad nodded. "I agree," he said.

    About five minutes later, a classmate came over with my homework and backpack, and I left with Dad.

    The car ride home was silent. Then I spoke up. "Are you going to tell Rob?" I blurted out.

    "Yes," he said, but not immediately. I could tell he was thinking.

~~~~~

Rob was surprised to find me home when he came home from school. "What you doing here?" he asked suspiciously, giving me a look. I gritted my teeth. Dad probably wouldn't have wanted me to tell him, so I said, "How about you ask Daddy?"

    Rob threw his backpack on the floor and scrambled away to Dad.

    Just then, the front door opened a second time. It was Mom. She sighed when she noticed me sprawled out on the couch. "He told you?" she asked.

    I nodded, feeling a little awkward. "But why?" I asked.

    "They caught me slacking on job," Mom said. "It was only for a second, though. I felt my phone buzz and it was a text from your dad saying that he was going to your school. I was quickly responding just when my boss saw me. He has a strict no--phone policy, and he told me I shouldn't ever do that again. He doesn't want me on the team anymore."

    I looked at my feet. Mom walked away upstairs, and I could tell she was tired by the way her feet dragged. Suddenly, Rob walked into the living room again. "I'm boorrreed," he whined, dragging his feet. "Da-

ddy told me to wait 'till dinner."

    Suddenly I felt very angry. My parents had lost their jobs and would probably not be able to pay for this house anymore, and Rob was complaining he was bored?

    I sighed. "I know he'll tell you," I reassured him. "Just not now--maybe later."

    Robert walked away, satisfied. But what if I was over thinking it? Maybe they could solve the problem quickly.