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I know she means well, but in my opinion, she’s only setting us up for disappointment and failure. However, at the end of the day, I know what she really needs is her daughter’s support—for us to be a team—so that is exactly what I plan to give her.

I head back downstairs and prepare my bag for my first day back at school. I wonder who I’ll run into that I’ve met before, and if they’ll have to pretend to remember me like Drew did. I could tell she was hiding it, but I knew she didn’t remember me from Elementary school, and to be honest, I don’t blame her. I was a reserved kid, and I still am in a way.

I remember very little of her, just that our parents were friends and we would play Barbies together while they sat around the table after dinner and talked. I particularly remember this one Barbie castle she had. I was so jealous of it. It was massive, and it quickly became all my little juvenile heart ever wanted.

I remember putting it on my Christmas list that year, only to be disappointed when all that was under the tree was a Barbie dog that walked around all stiff-legged and pooped little brown plastic pellets everywhere.

Money was tight back then, and that’s all my parents could afford for Christmas that year. I was so mad at them, but lookingback, I’m grateful that they at least cared enough to spend their last pennies on a Barbie brand toy. I wish I had never taken that for granted.

Now, my father’s gone, and my mother is silently struggling, only keeping a brave face on for my sake.

******

Monday comes around faster than I expected, and the crisp air has turned muggy and uncomfortably warm for October. The bipolar weather is definitely among the few things I did not miss about Georgia. The leaves have barely turned color, and the trees are still full and green. If you didn’t have easy access to a calendar or a phone, you’d be utterly surprised when someone tells you it’s actually fall and supposedly turning winter soon. The only characteristic fall thing right now is the rainy weather. I guess this will just be one of the many things I will have to readapt to.

As I walk into my first class, I scan the room for familiar faces. It’s hard to gauge whether a face is familiar in the way that I’ve known that person before or in the way that all American teenagers have the same comfortable yet slumpy look to them, not even considering the fact that I haven’t seen these people since the second grade. Finally, my eyes land on a familiar face.

It’s Drew.

She’s sitting alone, so I slowly walk in her direction. “Hey.” I offer her an awkward smile.

“Laine! I didn’t know you were in AP Environmental

Science?”

“Yeah, you know, I’m just a really big tree hugger.”

This makes her laugh.

I don’t think I’ve heard a laugh quite like hers before.

It’s the perfect mix of bellow and class, like she’s at a fancy

Gatsby party but can’t control her enjoyment.

I like it.

“Well, I’m no tree hugger. Just a senior in need of a

fourth science credit.” She responds, still smiling. I return a chuckle, but it’s nowhere near as jubilant as

hers.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a striped button-down

shirt, dress pants, and a cheap-looking toupee for hair

walks in.

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you around.”

Without thinking, I turn to take a seat a few rows

behind Drew, ignoring the open seat right next to her.

Why? Why did I do that? Now I’m stuck in this seat for

the rest of class, and potentially the rest of the year. I turn