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Second Street: Chapter one
The morning air is cool, though not quite cold yet. But I can definately tell it isn't summer any more. I hurry across the street, ignoring the din of angry people laying on their horns. Who cares? I'm late for school. I race down the sidewalk, trying desperately to keep my hat on. I have to squint to see obstacles. Who knew the sun could be so blinding?
The five story school building looms ahead of me. I start to speed up, but something brings me to a halt. I turn to see the sidewalk on the other side of the street, as well as try to catch my breath. On the other side, leaning against one of the buildings is a boy. How I noticed him through running, I have no clue. But I recognize him. I've seen him before. He turns to me, his dark eyes glittering in the light, which also catches that hint of blue in his hair. His eyes lock onto mine and hold for a second, if that, and he's gone. I blink. He was there, right? My mind questions me. Yes. He had to be. I'm not crazy.
I sigh, head back toward school, make my way up the concrete steps and start thinking. That's never a good thing. Me plus thinking always ends in disaster. I try to rack me brain anyways, searching for that boy's name, where I've seen him.
Even by the time I reach first block, I've got nothing. I slump into my seat, letting my bag drop to the floor and try to ignore the chastizement from my teacher. Eventually, he gets on with the lesson.
I'm still contemplating when I enter the lunchroom and receive what ever mystery meat is for lunch today. I take my normal seat next to Diahn, who has followed me around since third grade.
"Mornin' Reiley." She as as I sit down.
"Ditto." I reply.
"Reiley!" I hear footsteps coming in my direction and a rusty haired girl slides into the seat next to me.
"Lila? What are you doing over here?" Lila is in high school, so she goes to school across the street, but we used to hang out in grade school.
"Oh, well, I was on lunch break, so I figured I'd drop by." I smile.
"Well, I'm glad you did. Oh, by the way, is there a blue-haired boy in your class?" She looks at me, puzzled.
"Blue-haired? No, why?" I sigh.
" 'Cause I keep seeing this boy on the other side of the street when I walk to school. I think he's stalking me or something." Lila raises an eyebrow.
"That is creepy." She grabs a carrot off my plate and sticks it in her mouth. "Well, I should be gettin' back. I'll catch ya later 'kay?"
" 'Kay. See ya." I wave to her. She waves back before dissapearing out the door. I stare down at the mystery meat, picking at it a little with my fork before deciding it's not worth attempting to eat it.
When the 'end of day' bell rings, I waste no time in picking up my packpack and racing out the door, glad it's finally the weekend. The sun is shining brightly overhead, but I wear my sweater simply because it's fall.
I head towards the cafe to start my shift. My friend Chelsea and her brother, Isaac, run a cafe down on harriet street. Isaac and I work there after school, but Chelsea's almost always there, since she's homeschool. She used to go to the public grade school with me, but her mom pulled her out when some of the boys started throwing tennis balls at her during recess and attempting to cut her hair with sisscors.
I swing the glass door open, hearing the familiar ringing of the bell overhead.
"Hey!" I call out. There aren't any costomers here right now, so I figure it's okay to yell. Chelsea's head pops up over the counter.
"Oh. Hi, Reiley." She comes around front with her notepad. "Dress up quickly and go help Isaac before he burns down my kitchen." Chelsea's really only one year ahead of me, but she definately acts a lot older. I smile.
"Understood." I head past her, into our little changing slash locker room, which may as well be a closet. I quickly change into jeans and a tee and hang my school uniform in my locker.
I tie my apron around my waist and head into the kitchen. It's not a very big kitchen, not very high-tech either, but it works for our purposes. I find Isaac talking to himself and trying to pull bread from the oven. I grab two oven mits just in case.
"There we go... almost got it... okay... wagh!" He lets the bread fly. I miss the pan entirely, though I manage to save the bread. It's a good thing I thought of the oven mits. He tumbles back onto the floor. I sigh, setting the bread on the counter.
"Nice one, graceful." I say. Isaac looks up, a little surprised. I don't think he knew I was there.
"Oh. um.. thanks for catching that."
I shrug.
"Well, I can't have you wasting food, now, can I?"
He smiles
"Guess not."
I shake my head slowly.
"Well, get up and start the dishes."
He sighs.
"Fine." He pulls himself to his feet, heading over to grab a dishrag.
I smile, my eyes catching a pan of cinnamon buns, ready for the oven. I carefully open the oven door and slide them in. It's not long before the place is roaring with people.
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