Nathan
I couldn't help but smile at her as I looked sternly at her. Mia is so amazing. She's fearless. No one has ever stood up to Kaitlyn like she just did.
McKenzie hugged her from a side and smiled as Kaitlyn and her friends ran off after Mia confronted them.
"Thank you, Mia. You're the best, you know that?" McKenzie said as Mia turns to her and smiled.
"You don't have to thank me. Honestly, I don't even know why everyone is so afraid of her. She is not even that scary-looking. I've seen worst girls back in my old neighborhood. She's nothing comparing her to those girls."
Kenzie stood there mesmerized by her words. Everyone, including me, thought Kaitlyn was scary and intimidating. How is it that Mia didn't think so? She had to be brave to think this way.
The bell finally rang, and we had to go back to our class, but I liked that I got to be close to her today. Even though Kenzie talked to her, Mia didn't like hanging out with anyone at all, not even us. She always sat alone under a tree, just by herself. She would take out her notepad and draw until the bell rang.
She was really good at drawing too.
She looks at me and purses her lips, then turns to Kenzie and takes her hand. "Well, I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow. And remember, don't be scared to stand up to Kaitlyn. She is just jealous of how pretty and smart you are. See you guys tomorrow, ok?" she says as she turns around, lets go of Kenzie, and sprints away to her class. "Bye, Mia."
I lifted my hand and wanted to say something, but I was left with no words. Kenzie just giggled and grabs my arm, pulling me towards our class.
"Wow, Kenzie, she was amazing. I... I think I am really starting to like Mia. She was super awesome." I babble away as Kenzie pulls me towards class. "Yeah, I know. She's the best. I told you she was amazing. I hope she starts having out with us. Have you seen her notepad? She is so good. I want her to teach me to draw like that. I hope she becomes a good friend with us."
"I hope too. Besides, I think she likes you." Kenzie says making my eyes go wide. That revelation made me superfamily. I hope she's right, because I really like Mia too.
We went back into class. Mr. Omar smiled at us and turned around to erase the board. He started writing our new list of words that we needed to study for this week and quickly asked us to start writing them down on our papers so we could study them at home.
But all I could do as I wrote them down was think of Mia and what McKenzie said. I really hope she's right. I hope Mia likes me. I would love to be her friend and get to hang out with her, even if it's hard for me to talk in front of her.
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Mia
The school day was finally over. The bell rang, and we placed our things back in our backpacks and lined up to go out and go home.
Kaitlyn was being vindictive. She pushed me on my shoulder as she made her way out when we grabbed our backpacks. I rolled my eyes and shook it off. My older sister Audrey always told me that it's never ok to retaliate against a person that is always trying to be rude to you.
They are not worth your time and effort. Their bitterness will only make you into a bitter person as well. I have two older sisters; Audrey, who is already twenty-two years old, and Nicki, or Nicole. She comes to my school too, but she's in sixth grade, so next year, she will start attending middle school.
I'm the smallest of three girls, and we live with my daddy, who is a single dad. His name is Robert Miller, but everyone calls him Robbie. He's the best mechanic in the world. My sister Audrey attends college by night and helps daddy by working at a diner during the day.
We just bought a new house nearby. Though it's still a bit far from here because it's in the mountain. It usually takes Audrey about fifteen minutes to drive up from our school to get home. It's not big, since the house only had one bedroom, but daddy just got permission to make it bigger.
He's almost done making two more rooms; one for him, and one for Audrey. Nikki and I will be sharing a bedroom since the room is pretty big and we love spending quiet time together.
"Hey, Mia. How did it go today? Finished your drawing?" Nikki asks as she makes her way to me on our line.
"Yeah. Almost, I just need to color it when we get home." I reply as I take out my notepad and show her the picture I was drawing. It was a picture of a little fairy with flowers all around, wearing a flower dress. I love drawing fairies. I love drawing anything for that matter, but fairies and mythical creatures are my favorite.
Nikki takes my notepad and looks at it. She smiles and raises her eyebrow. "This one is your best one yet, Mia. You should show it to dad. He will definitely want to put it up on the fridge door." I smiled at her words. Daddy always likes to put up our work on our fridge door. I don't think we have a clear spot on the fridge door. It's full of certificates, drawings, tests with perfect scores, and well... Daddy's grocery list as well.
"Mia...Nikki, let's go, guys, come on." My big sister Audrey calls out from the gate's entrance. She was still wearing her work t-shirt. But like always, she wore her big oversized sunglasses.
She was so cool. Both of my sisters are very pretty, and they are very popular. They have so many friends, but I don't like having so many friends. Too many friends are not always good. I like being alone, and the only friend I have in school right now is Kenzie. I don't hang out with her all the time because she's always with her friend, Nate.
He makes me nervous. The way he looks at me with his big green eyes makes me feel nervous, that's why I don't hang out with her at lunchtime.
I tap my teacher on her arm and she looks down, over her shoulder. "Yes?" she says a little serious.
"Teacher, my sister is here. May I go?" I ask and point to Audrey. She looks at my sister, Nikki, then Audrey, and then looks away. "You may go, Mia. Good job on your test today by the way. So far, you are the only one with perfect scores for the past few weeks. Keep up the good work." I smile and look at Nikki who ruffles my hair.
"Thank you, teacher," I reply and clutch my backpack strap. Kaitlyn glares at me angrily. I can sense her, making me turn around and getting her to give me a mocking stare. I roll my eyes and leave.
"Hey, kiddo. How was school? Made any friends?" Audrey asks, making me sigh. "No. But I got 10 out of 10 on my spelling test again. I can't wait to show daddy." I say smiling. "Good job, sis. Dad is going to be so happy. But you really should try and make friends, baby. Promise you'll try and make a friend tomorrow, ok? What about you, Nikki? How was your day?" she says opening the car and letting me in on the back seat. I sigh and go inside.
She doesn't get me. I know she worries, just like my old teacher. They think I may have autism just because I don't like making friends, it's just the way I am. I don't feel any different, I just don't like talking to many kids.
"It was good. I made two new friends today, oh, and we got a sheet for our new project today. I'm going to need supplies for it though. I'll ask dad to put them on the list when we get home."
"Awesome, but dad already has too many expenses Nikki. I'll try and buy them for you, ok? Let me know if you need help too. Let's go guys, I'll make dinner before heading off to my class. Dad should be home before I leave, so make sure you do your homework so I can help you if you need it. This way, dad can rest."
We made our way out of the parking lot and stopped right before we were ready to turn. I looked towards our school and saw the same boy Kenzie hangs out with again. He was looking at me with those same big green eyes. I started feeling nervous again, so I quickly looked away and slumped down on my seat.
No matter what I do, those big green eyes got stuck in my head. They're not scary, or intimidating. I don't know what they are, but they just get stuck in my head, and I can see them, even when I close my eyes.
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