Title- untitled again UNDER REVISION

1

I knew the new girl was different the moment she stepped into the room. I lifted my head from my desk and looked at her. She was pretty with flowing brown hair, light blue eyes, and as flawless face, but didn't walk in in a I'm-so-beautiful way. It was a prideful yet graceful stride that implied she was individual. Her eyes locked with mine and then she smiled. I felt my ears glow red so I buried my head back into my arms. She took her desk in the middle row right next to mine. I knew from the start Junior year was going to be very different.
The teachers voice rang through my ears as he started class. ???Class, this is our newest student, Stephanie Greenwood.??? If there was one person in the world that had the most annoying voice possible it was Mr. Anderson. Why he bothered announcing a new student i didn't know but it's a small town so then again why not? Everyone did the usual ???Hi Stephanie.??? that lacked a certain amount of enthusiasm but enough to get away with. And, as usual, I flipped my bangs in front of my eyes and dazed off into the distance.
Class ended as quickly as it usually does on the first day of school. After the bell our principle walked into the door and said something to the teacher. After about three minutes the teacher finally asked the class ???Alright, which of you would like to escort Ms. Greenwood to here classes???? Not to my surprise every boy in the class shot their hand up faster than you could see. Everyone except me of course. I'm not a social kinda guy. And I'm sure you can guess who got called on. I lifted my head because I knew what was coming. The teacher spoke again ???Alright, you Mr. Harper, since you seem so enthused about our new student today.??? I really was.
I saw this coming. Me and Mr. Anderson have been enemies ever since I accidentally kicked him in the head with a soccer ball and broke his nose. What? It was an accident I swear. Well the power increase in my kick was. Anyway it was all a big bloody mess. He went to the emergency room and I went to the principles office.....laughing of course, which earned me yet another detention.
After the decision for me to show her around I glimpsed over at her. She was already turning pink. It wasn't until then I realized just how stunning she was. We got up and gathered our books and in the hallway she turned to me. ???Hi I'm Steph.??? She offered her hand out to me.
???I'm Travis.??? I took her hand. It was warm and soft. I forgot about my books in that hand and dopped them. We both slammed heads when we bent to pick them up. Cliche i know. She stood up and laughed lookeing at her school list and asked.
???So where is algebraII????
???Just follow me I have the same class next.??? She smiled at me again and went into the class. This class was taught by te fastest talkng woman i know, Mrs. Lang. Sucks when you cant catch what she says because you were daze for a second. About halfway through class, I felt something stab the bck of my neck. I turned around to face Duke, the grinning douchebag. He leaned in close to my face and whispered, "This year at the bonfire, you are dead." The bonfire was a town traditon as a sort of initiation for freshman and an excuse for the football team to get wasted." I decided to reply "Kinda like your brain cells?" Mrs. Lang chimed in with "BOYS! NO TALKING!" The bell rang and I got my books and let it pass when Duke slapped the back of my head while I waited for Stephanie. Mrs. Lang pulled me aside. Travis, I know you can do better this year. I have faith in you. You have the brains you just need the dedication. Don't let me down, or, even worse, yourself. These years shape who you are Travis. Don't waste them." I walked out of class and thought about some of the words tht struck my mind in that conersation. Words like faith, dedicaton, and the phrase "who you are". I wasn't sure about my faith or my dedication to anything. And I still don't know who I am OR who I will become. My thoughts were interrupted by that sweet voice. we got our books and I noticed we had all the same classes. Great, another distraction. We did the same routine with each class until it was lunch. I took my usual seat where no one else ever sat and wasn't surpirsed when I saw her sit down next to me. ???I'm guessing people here don't like you much do they???? I sat there, wondering what to say next. Finally I answered,
???Whats to like? I'm just the kid that likes the music,art, and clothes that no one else does. Like I said, whats to like???? Her reply was simple.
???I guess we'll have to figure that out now won't we???? just as she finished the bell rang and lunch was over. She took out a pen and grabbed my arm and scribbled down a word I didn't recognize. ???Look it up tonight." I gave her a confused look.
???Who are you exactly???? her reply was, again, simple. I was starting to see a pattern.
???I guess we'll have to find out now wont we???? I stood there in confusion as she walked away.

2

I went to my door, put the key in the lock and turned. I looked down at my arm one last time before opening my door. As I walked into the door I smelled the familiar liquor and heard the snoring of my father. He'd been drinking since after moms death. Ironic, seeing as she died of a drunken accident. He was alright for a few weeks but then he lost his job and thats when everything crashed. Every day he would sleep during the day then drink himself away at bars at night. The only thing I had to remember my mom by was a key chain with her name imprinted on it. Every time I touched it I could feel her with me.
After about two years of putting up with my dads drinking my grandpa stepped into the picture. He would act like a real father. Taking me fishing, building forts with me, even taking me to the movies. But that ended when my dad got wasted and called my grandpa and screamed at him. I can still remember what he said.
???HES NOT YOUR SON HE'S MINE. STOP TRYING TO BE HIS FATHER!??? Then he smashed the phone on the counter and my eyes welled up with tears. He look at me then yelled ???STOP CRYING! CRYING MEANS WEAKNESS! WE DO NOT CRY??? Then he struck me across the face. I can still feel the sharp pain and the sight of the blood trickling down my face. Even after that though I would visit grandpa every weekend. My home is there, not here. This is just a house.
At about six o' clock I decided to see what the phrase on my arm meant, so I got on the internet and searched the words Je suis moi. It came up with one result that stuck out. The translation came from an old French poem. the excerpt was "Hausse par rapport aux autres car je suis moi." "Rise against the others, for i am me." How does that even make sense? "I am me." Jeesh this girl was weird.
At about ten thirty I crashed on the couch after eating a feast of frozen pizza and three colas. Just before falling into a dreamless sleep, the words rang in my head. "I am me."

3 STOP

The next morning I woke up, put on jeans, T-shirt, and some shoes, ate some toast, and walked out the door, books in hand. Out of nowhere I was suddenly tackled and forced to the ground with a knee on my chest.
My vision was blurred but I could tell who the figure was on top of me. ???Morning Travis!??? she said in a perky tone.
???Morning.... Stephanie????
???So you take this way to school too huh????
???Would you GET OFF me now???? All of a sudden she slapped me as hard as she could. ???WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!??? I asked while rubbing my face. Her reply was simple as usual.
???I didn't like your tone.??? She smiled sweetly and stood up. I stood up after her and she grabbed my shoulders looked into my eyes and kissed me. My ears started burning and I backed up quickly.
???What was that for???? I asked stunned.
???Well I know you've been thinking about that since we've met so might as well get that out of the way and become best friends.??? She smiled sweetly again.
???Alright.??? Was the only answer I could come up with. She grinned.
???Yay!??? She said picking up her books and running. I had enough sense after knowing her for nine hours that this was going to be a very interesting year.

4
My day had already twisted around but as it just seemed to be getting weirder. For instance, Mr. Sintago, our math teacher, was accused of being a drunk driver the night before and taken into custody only to find out the next day the breathalyser was faulty and he was just a bad driver. Anyway, he didn't show so no math for that day. Normally this would have excited except my next class was with English with Mr. Anderson and if that wasn't bad enough Stephanie was there too. And, quite frankly, she scared me.
The moment I stepped into the room her eyes shined and she looked directly at me. Crap. But, as weird as it was seeing her, I couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. Of course, noticing this, my ears burned bright red. She ran over to me and put me in a bear hug. All I could do was hug back and hope that I didn't pass out from lack of air. The girls in the class saw and like the small minded beings that they are, said, and I quote, ???Aw.??? While the guys in the class gave me envious and evil stares. Then Mr. Anderson walked in. The class went quiet and I sat in my seat. He looked at Stephanie. ???Ms, Greenwood what are you doing out of your seat???? She smiled sweetly and replied in an ever-so-innocent tone.
???Well I was admiring your mahogany desk from a better angle. It's hard to see the cheap design of the wood from where I sit.??? The vain in his head was throbbing. The expression on his face was the same I get everyday. It meant detention. Then she brought out her sweet smile again and I saw his anger slowly melt away. She was good. He sighed and said,
???Please take your seat miss.??? She did as he told and as soon as she turned her back she flashed me her familiar mischievous smile. I couldn't say a word but my eyes said it all.
???What just happened????




5

Finally. The morning classes were over. Time for lunch. I sat at my usual table and wasn't surprised when I saw Stephanie sit beside me. ???Can I borrow your notes for algebra I wasn't paying attention???? She asked me in her perky voice. I finished chewing my bite of bologna and slowly turned my head nonchalantly. I swallowed and said in my calmest voice.
???You are a very strange girl. You tackle me slap me kiss me bear hug me then hypnotize the meanest teacher in the school and now your sitting here asking me for my algebra notes????
???Yes. Yes I am.??? She said grinning. I stared at her for a long while with a confused look on my face.
???Yea sure here.??? I handed her my notes. ???But I have one question.???
???Oh yea? Whats that???? She asked still smiling.
???Most new kids try to blend in with everyone else avoiding people.? Why are you acting so weird.????
???Not weird. I'm acting different. I figured you of all people would understand. You don't act like every other person around here and neither do I. In my opinion we should all be our own people. It seems like God gave us the choice to be our own person but all people worry about nowadays is trying to be just like everyone else. So I feel like if I do things differently and my own way, I can make things in life more creative. Take for instance this orange. Say we eat it like everyone else is by just eating the fruit and throw away the peel. But say we take the peel off we get more from the fruit and it tastes better. Or even if we do this,??? She threw it at the back of one of the jocks head. ???we can have more fun with it than by just eating it.??? The guy he hit turned his head back quickly. He looked mad. All of a sudden he got up and screamed.
???FOOD FIGHT!??? We quickly dove under the table for protection as multiple foods flew over out heads. She smiled mischievously again and said
???See all it takes is one thing done differently and all of this can happen.??? I Tried not to think about the food stuck to my back or the how much trouble we were gonna get in after this was over and I ESPECIALLY wasn't gonna think about the fact that we were alone under the table.

6
The food fight ended when the principle heard a noise complaint and rushed into the cafeteria to see what all the commotion was about. Not one kid made it out alive. Okay that was an exaggeration but we still had to clean the cafeteria for what seemed liked hours. The worst of it all though was the fact that we still had to make up the homework for the classes we missed while cleaning. The janitor said he like that we were building out character with this but I could tell he was laughing and he just went back into his office and watched his TV.
After all the classes ended I walked home with Stephanie. ???Wanna hang out this weekend???? She asked me.
???I can't. Every two weeks I spend the weekend with my Grandpa to visit him. My dad forbids me from any other visits so I always go.
???Your dad seems like a piece of work. Think I could ever meet him????
???Trust me you wouldn't wanna. He'll probably say something crude to you like he always does me. Just take my word for it.???
???Oh. Well how about your Grandpa. Can I meet him.???? I was a little stunned by her question.
???Well sure. Meet me at my doorstep at 8:00 A.M. Tomorrow morning and we'll walk there.??? She smiled wide and hugged me.
???Yay! I can't wait! Wait should I wear something nice???? I laughed and answered.
???Steph, just wear whatever, it'll be fine. But wear some sort of old sneakers we like to trail the woods beside his house.???
???Awesome! Well this is my turn. I'll see you tomorrow morning.??? We stopped at a street that crossed two separate directions. She smiled and hugged me again. I went right she went left. I looked back at her as she walked away and I noticed her stride again. Graceful as always. I smiled and stepped into the door of my house. I felt something I hadn't felt in a while. I felt happiness.

7

I woke up at Seven the next morning and got dressed, brushed my teeth, and sat in front of the TV with a bowl of Cap'n Crunch. At 8:00 I heard a knock on the door, chugged my milk from the bowl, and rushed to the door. Stephanie stood there with a huge grin on her face wearing faded jeans and a Beatles T-shirt. Her eyes were sparkling and had a shade of dark blue in them today. It was weird how her eyes could do that. She grabbed my arm and yanked me outside. I laughed and followed her. She stopped at the street and asked ???Okay what way do we go????
???This way.??? This time I grabbed her arm pulled and ran. I stopped at the house and took a deep breath laughing. ???We're here.??? I said in between breaths. We ran up to the doorstep and rang the bell. A tall man with white long hair and a beard pulled into a pony tail answered the door. ???Hey Grandpa!??? I hugged him and he gladly hugged back.
???Hey Travis! Who is this stunning young lady you brought with you today???? He asked me with smirk on his face.
???I'm his friend Stephanie.??? She said flashing him a brilliant smile and shaking his hand. Grandpa winked at me and said,
???Wow Travis, you scored high with this one. She looks like an angel.??? He winked at me and I felt my ears glow red hot. I glimpsed over at her. Her face was just as red as mine. Then Grandpa spoke up. ???Well are you two just gonna stand there all day or are you coming in????
We stepped inside and the first thing I noticed was the piano in the corner. I'd been practicing the piano since I was five and I'd written about five pieces myself. I stepped over to the bench, sat down, shut my eyes, and played. I felt chills run down my back as the soft vibrations ran through my fingers to my ears. My spine tingled at the notes that I must have played hundreds of times till I memorized each one. When I finished the song I looked over to Stephanie whose mouth was open in shock. I smiled to myself at the reaction I knew would come. Then Grandpa spoke up again. ???AHAHA THAT'S ME BOY! Always impressing the ladies with his talent. What did you think girl?
???Well I think Travis can play the piano ALMOST as good as me.??? And she flashed her giant smile. ???Well move over.??? She said pushing me off of the bench. ???Let the pros play.??? She stretched out her fingers and played. I stood there wide eyed as she played one of Beethoven's most famous symphonies. When she was through, she stood up smiling and I heard my Grandpa whistle. We were both shocked and impressed. She said two simple words while smirking. ???Beat ya.???