SOMETHING STUPID - JAMES MAGUIRE

001

Nora sped down the street, swerving through various annoyed patrons on the street. Bumping into several people, all they got from the girl was a faint "sorry" as she rushed to meet her friends before school. 

By the time she approached the street the friends usually meet at, her usually pale face was such a dark shade of red that one may not be able to see the many freckles that littered the girl's face. Her long brown hair had already started to frizz in her ponytail, a feature that doesn't usually occur until later in the day. 

Rounding the corner, Nora can make sight of her friends. She picks up her pace, trying so desperately to get to them. Instead being met with the back of a middle aged women she failed to see. 

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't -I didn't" the girl sputtered out apologies as she scrambled around the floor picking up the groceries that the women had dropped. 

"Here yer go, good as new" Nora smiled up at the lady holding her now messy bag of groceries. The lady let out an annoyed grunt, grabbing the bag and storming off as Nora yelled at her to "Have a good day"

"Well look who decided to show up" 

Nora shoots up from her place on the floor and turns to see three of her best friends. Orla is at the back giggling, obviously seeing and being amused by the incident her friend had just been through. Erin, the one who spoke, stood in the middle, with a smug look on her face: Nora noted that she must be going into the new year with a new confident attitude. Clare stood to her left, the usually cheerful girl held a frustrated look upon her face. 

A grin broke out on Nora's face, already forgotten the embarrassing fall she had just experience.

 "Aye girls, who's excited!!" she giggled as she hoped over to give Clare a hug. Instead of being met with the usual warm embrace, Clare held out her hand, stopping the girl from experiencing her affection. 

"Where's your Jean jacket?" the short girl accused, gesturing to Nora's surprisingly perfect uniform. Nora's faced drop "

Ah Shit, I was so caught up doing....another thing, that I forgot about us being individuals"

"And what was that other thing?" Erin questioned with an accusing look, causing Orla to gasp. "Erin you can't just ask people about their other thing, that's just wrong" 

"It was just stuff , nothing special" Nora stated trying to start walking to school. 

"Did you make us back to school gifts again?" Erin again questions. 

"No" Nora squeaks out, being met with unconvinced looks "ok yes fine" 

She dug through her school blazer puling out a handful of beaded bracelets "they're bracelets"

 "Ohh nice" Orla compliments, grabbing the exact bracelet Nora had hoped she'd pick and slipping it on her hand. Nora prided herself on being a good gift giver, maybe even the best.

 "Nora you can't just make gifts every-time anything happens in our life"

"Ye, you painted me a portrait on the anniversary of my first dentist appointment, I don't know where to put it" Clare complained, though still reached out and picked her favourite of the beaded bracelet's.