Prologue
Part 1
The rain beat down against her skin, soaking her clothes and hair, as she ran hopelessly across the wet grass to the giant willow tree. Its branches seemed to reach out in all directions, and its leaves hanging low to the ground, creating a small, loving shelter. She collapsed near its trunk and burst into salty tears, uncontrollable sobs escaping her lips.
Thinking about what had just happened made her cry even more. "Daddy, Daddy..." Mikah moaned, fresh tears running down her cheeks, mixing with the rain. Her ribs were still hurting from the impact of the crash, but she didn't care. Mikah only thought of her father, and how their last few minutes together consisted of watching ‘Grownups’ before he was torn away from her by the stupid, reckless driver on the highway. At least they were laughing.
(Where am I?) Mikah had just woken up. “Honey? Are you awake?” Mikah’s mom, Ava asked in a worried voice.
“Yeah, Mom, I’m fine. I had the scariest dream! On the way back from the movies, Dad and I got hit. Dad was killed! It was so scary!” Mikah said.
“Honey, I’m sorry, but that wasn’t a dream.” Ava explained, as tears rushed down her cheeks. (What?!? No. That’s not funny, Mom!) Mikah wanted to scream all of that at her, but the hot tears rushing down her face stopped her.
“I’m sorry honey. It hurts me too.”
(This isn’t happening. Dad’s not dead. He’s just…he’s just…oh I don’t know! There’s no way to explain it! How am I going to live without him?) Mikah thought as she lay in bed that night. There was just no explanation other than that it was real.
Part 2
“Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!” Mikah ran downstairs.
“Yes? What’s wrong, honey?” Ava asked in a very confused voice.
“Mom? Where are you? I had the weirdest dream!” Mikah yelled, trying to find her mom.
“In the kitchen. What happened?” Ava asked.
“Okay so I had a dream that Dad and I were on the way back from the movies, and someone hit us, and we spun out of control, crashed, and then I told you when I woke up, and you said it was real, and then I was freaking out, and then I woke up. Crazy, right?” Mikah rambled.
“Honey, that was all real. It happened yesterday morning. Dad’s gone.” Ava explained, tears rolling down her cheeks.
(What? That CAN’T be true! *pinch! pinch!* ouch! I’m not dreaming! He’s really gone!)
Chapter 1
“Mikah, honey! You have to get ready for school!” Ava yelled from the kitchen.
Mikah Blake had been in a deep depression since her father died on June 14, 2010. Today was August 9, the first day of school. I would’ve had enough trouble starting freshman year with dad here. How the heck am I going to do it now? “Ughhhh!” Mikah dragged herself out of bed. It was hard enough for her mom to work full time as a military nurse, AND take care of a teenager and twin babies. She just couldn’t make it any harder for her. “I’ll be right down, Mom!”
What should I wear? Jeans and a tee-shirt? No…too casual. New skirt and cardigan? No…too “Perfect Little Church Girl”. White tee, leather jacket, and ripped jeans? No…too “Rocker Chic”. “White Sundress with cute new gladiator sandals? Perfect!
Mikah ran down stairs. “Mom! What do you think?” She spun around to show her mom her cute outfit and curled brown hair.
“You look beautiful! That’s a perfect outfit for the first day of High School! Casual, but cute!”
“Thanks, Mom! Mikah said happily. “Hey, do you need me to help with Abby and Mitchell?”
“Could you feed them for me? Thanks!”
“Sure, Mom!” Mikah happily put her twin siblings into their high chairs and got out their food.
“Well somebody’s in a good mood today! What’s up?” Ava asked as she made her “famous” first day breakfast.
“Well I was IMing Bridget last night, and she said she’s going to Fairview High, too! She was planning on going to Brentwood, but her mom and dad decided not to move! Now I’ll have my best friend with me!” Mikah explained excitedly.
“That’s great, honey! I’m so happy for you!”
They ate their breakfast quickly, talking about High School. “The bus is here! I have to go! See you after school, Mom! Love you!” Mikah said as she rushed o
out the door.
Chapter 2
When Mikah got on the bus, all she saw was new, nervous faces. A couple people were talking to each other, but most people didn’t know anyone. Where’s Bridget? Her stop is before mine! Was she lying about not moving to Brentwood? If she was, I’m gonna… “Mikah! Back here!” Thank God! She’s here! How did I miss her? She’s the only person I know on here!
“Hey, Bee!” Mikah said excitedly as she squeezed in next to her friend. “Thank God you didn’t have to move! I don’t know what I would’ve done if you did! I can’t just replace my best friend!”
“I know, right? I’m way less nervous since I’m with you!” Bridget said, hugging her friend.
They spent the rest of the bus ride talking about summer and school.
Oh my gosh! We’re here! It seems even scarier than it did when we came to the Open House in July! It’s fine. Bridget’s here. We’ll get through this together!
“SCHEDULES AND LOCKER NUMBERS ARE TO BE PASSED OUT IN THE CAFETERIA IN 5 MINUTES.” The speakers
blared.
“I hope we have a lot of the same classes! That would be so cool!” Bridget squealed as they ran to the cafeteria.
They ran to the cafeteria, desperate to get their schedules.
Once they got there, there was already a huge line of students, mostly eager freshmen. They waited patiently in line, chatting with each other, and the students around them, about how much fun High School was going to be.
When they finally got their schedules and locker numbers, they compared them, and had bittersweet results.
“Yay! Our lockers are right next to each other!” Bridget exclaimed.
“Yay! My schedule is: 1. Biology (Mr. Smith), 2. Spanish (Mr. Granados), 3. Geometry (Mr. Boone), 4. English (Ms. Drabs), 5. Drama (Ms. Norbury), 6. PE/Health (Mrs. Allen), 7. Speech (Mr. Cooper) What about you?”
“Oh no! The only classes I have with you are Geometry and Speech! What are we going to do?” Bridget squealed.
“It’s okay. At least we have those classes together and we’ll see each other in between, right? I mean, if you moved, we wouldn’t get to see each other at all, right?” Mikah said in a reassuring voice.
“That’s true. We’ll hang out at break, lunch, and after school! It’ll all work out.” Bridget said in a now happy voice.
The girls walked to their lockers together, both thinking about how great High School was going to be.
*what do you think? please be honest! thanks!
(things in parenthesis are thoughts)*
Thanks, Jaspa! That really means a lot!
Part 1
The rain beat down against her skin, soaking her clothes and hair, as she ran hopelessly across the wet grass to the giant willow tree. Its branches seemed to reach out in all directions, and its leaves hanging low to the ground, creating a small, loving shelter. She collapsed near its trunk and burst into salty tears, uncontrollable sobs escaping her lips.
Thinking about what had just happened made her cry even more. "Daddy, Daddy..." Mikah moaned, fresh tears running down her cheeks, mixing with the rain. Her ribs were still hurting from the impact of the crash, but she didn't care. Mikah only thought of her father, and how their last few minutes together consisted of watching ‘Grownups’ before he was torn away from her by the stupid, reckless driver on the highway. At least they were laughing.
(Where am I?) Mikah had just woken up. “Honey? Are you awake?” Mikah’s mom, Ava asked in a worried voice.
“Yeah, Mom, I’m fine. I had the scariest dream! On the way back from the movies, Dad and I got hit. Dad was killed! It was so scary!” Mikah said.
“Honey, I’m sorry, but that wasn’t a dream.” Ava explained, as tears rushed down her cheeks. (What?!? No. That’s not funny, Mom!) Mikah wanted to scream all of that at her, but the hot tears rushing down her face stopped her.
“I’m sorry honey. It hurts me too.”
(This isn’t happening. Dad’s not dead. He’s just…he’s just…oh I don’t know! There’s no way to explain it! How am I going to live without him?) Mikah thought as she lay in bed that night. There was just no explanation other than that it was real.
Part 2
“Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!” Mikah ran downstairs.
“Yes? What’s wrong, honey?” Ava asked in a very confused voice.
“Mom? Where are you? I had the weirdest dream!” Mikah yelled, trying to find her mom.
“In the kitchen. What happened?” Ava asked.
“Okay so I had a dream that Dad and I were on the way back from the movies, and someone hit us, and we spun out of control, crashed, and then I told you when I woke up, and you said it was real, and then I was freaking out, and then I woke up. Crazy, right?” Mikah rambled.
“Honey, that was all real. It happened yesterday morning. Dad’s gone.” Ava explained, tears rolling down her cheeks.
(What? That CAN’T be true! *pinch! pinch!* ouch! I’m not dreaming! He’s really gone!)
Chapter 1
“Mikah, honey! You have to get ready for school!” Ava yelled from the kitchen.
Mikah Blake had been in a deep depression since her father died on June 14, 2010. Today was August 9, the first day of school. I would’ve had enough trouble starting freshman year with dad here. How the heck am I going to do it now? “Ughhhh!” Mikah dragged herself out of bed. It was hard enough for her mom to work full time as a military nurse, AND take care of a teenager and twin babies. She just couldn’t make it any harder for her. “I’ll be right down, Mom!”
What should I wear? Jeans and a tee-shirt? No…too casual. New skirt and cardigan? No…too “Perfect Little Church Girl”. White tee, leather jacket, and ripped jeans? No…too “Rocker Chic”. “White Sundress with cute new gladiator sandals? Perfect!
Mikah ran down stairs. “Mom! What do you think?” She spun around to show her mom her cute outfit and curled brown hair.
“You look beautiful! That’s a perfect outfit for the first day of High School! Casual, but cute!”
“Thanks, Mom! Mikah said happily. “Hey, do you need me to help with Abby and Mitchell?”
“Could you feed them for me? Thanks!”
“Sure, Mom!” Mikah happily put her twin siblings into their high chairs and got out their food.
“Well somebody’s in a good mood today! What’s up?” Ava asked as she made her “famous” first day breakfast.
“Well I was IMing Bridget last night, and she said she’s going to Fairview High, too! She was planning on going to Brentwood, but her mom and dad decided not to move! Now I’ll have my best friend with me!” Mikah explained excitedly.
“That’s great, honey! I’m so happy for you!”
They ate their breakfast quickly, talking about High School. “The bus is here! I have to go! See you after school, Mom! Love you!” Mikah said as she rushed o
out the door.
Chapter 2
When Mikah got on the bus, all she saw was new, nervous faces. A couple people were talking to each other, but most people didn’t know anyone. Where’s Bridget? Her stop is before mine! Was she lying about not moving to Brentwood? If she was, I’m gonna… “Mikah! Back here!” Thank God! She’s here! How did I miss her? She’s the only person I know on here!
“Hey, Bee!” Mikah said excitedly as she squeezed in next to her friend. “Thank God you didn’t have to move! I don’t know what I would’ve done if you did! I can’t just replace my best friend!”
“I know, right? I’m way less nervous since I’m with you!” Bridget said, hugging her friend.
They spent the rest of the bus ride talking about summer and school.
Oh my gosh! We’re here! It seems even scarier than it did when we came to the Open House in July! It’s fine. Bridget’s here. We’ll get through this together!
“SCHEDULES AND LOCKER NUMBERS ARE TO BE PASSED OUT IN THE CAFETERIA IN 5 MINUTES.” The speakers
blared.
“I hope we have a lot of the same classes! That would be so cool!” Bridget squealed as they ran to the cafeteria.
They ran to the cafeteria, desperate to get their schedules.
Once they got there, there was already a huge line of students, mostly eager freshmen. They waited patiently in line, chatting with each other, and the students around them, about how much fun High School was going to be.
When they finally got their schedules and locker numbers, they compared them, and had bittersweet results.
“Yay! Our lockers are right next to each other!” Bridget exclaimed.
“Yay! My schedule is: 1. Biology (Mr. Smith), 2. Spanish (Mr. Granados), 3. Geometry (Mr. Boone), 4. English (Ms. Drabs), 5. Drama (Ms. Norbury), 6. PE/Health (Mrs. Allen), 7. Speech (Mr. Cooper) What about you?”
“Oh no! The only classes I have with you are Geometry and Speech! What are we going to do?” Bridget squealed.
“It’s okay. At least we have those classes together and we’ll see each other in between, right? I mean, if you moved, we wouldn’t get to see each other at all, right?” Mikah said in a reassuring voice.
“That’s true. We’ll hang out at break, lunch, and after school! It’ll all work out.” Bridget said in a now happy voice.
The girls walked to their lockers together, both thinking about how great High School was going to be.
*what do you think? please be honest! thanks!
(things in parenthesis are thoughts)*
Thanks, Jaspa! That really means a lot!