We arrived at the bus stop in great timing. Hayden parked her pink bike and waited for me to get off the back pegs.
"Stay near me." she murmured to me. I didn't say anything but obeyed. She tied up her bike and stood close by me as we walked to the stop sign. Three prissy rich girls talked to each other with about five feet of distance from where Hayden and I stood. I held on to the stop sign and tried to ignore them. They laughed and glanced back at us.
"Who are they?" I whispered to Hayden.
"Shh, it doesn't matter. They aren't talking to us." she whispered back.
"But they're talking about us." I didn't want to look at them but I could feel their eyes.
"But not to us so ignore them." she replied and held her books tightly to her chest. I knew she felt subconscious about her bigger chest because it made her look more mature but she always got teased more her breast when she got in junior high. That's when her awkward stage kicked in. She had braces, a pizza face, glasses, big breast and butt, curves, thighs, and she felt like her body was outgrowing her. Everything went wrong. She used to come home crying because she said the girls were picking on her. She didn't tell my parents but she would talk to me.
I looked back at the girls and back at my sister. Her legs were quivering slightly from the unwanted attention.
"Do you feel okay about them girls?" I asked her. She didn't look up at me.
"You know they ain't all that. You see the blond? She looks like her she used cheese to brush her teeth." I joked. Hayden glanced up at her and giggled at my joke.
"And the other girl, she looks like she got a giant honey bun on her head and she has a gap in the middle of her teeth just like uncle space face." I smiled. She laughed again but a little louder. Her smile made me happy. We giggled to ourselves at the girls.
"Pickett." the blond called. We both looked up at them, no smile shined on our faces.
"Is that your sista?" she asked in one of them Jersey accents. Hayden nodded slowly.
"What's ha name?" she smiled at me. Her friends giggled to themselves. I gave them a stank face and they rolled their eyes and twirled their gum with their index fingers. It was disgusting to me.
"Why don't you ask her yourself, Jennifer?" Hayden retorted harshly. Jennifer looked over at me with a disgusted look.
"What's wrong with ha? She looks sick. Just tell me the girly's name." she chewed on her gum harshly. She was right I was feeling sick.
"Her name is Ashley." Hayden spoke my name proudly.
"What's wrong with ha? She ain't gonna puke is she?" she looked me up and down.
"Ashley?" Hayden looked at me with worry.
"I'm fine." I whispered to her. She touched my forehead to check for a fever. I knew it wasn't a fever. I felt queasy because of the confrontation. It's like stage fright, I didn't like a lot of attention from negative people.
"Stand up." she whispered to me.
"But they are..." I looked up at her stern face.
"We have to be brave." she declared. I found some type strength and turned toward the girl.
"I'm Ashley Pickett. I'm new to the high school. Hopefully we will learn to co-exist Ms.Jennifer. Hayden is my older sister and if you bother her again don't forget she has back up." I gave her a fake smile and turned back to Hayden who had a cocky grin on her face.
"What?" I smiled at her.
"You're so brave, little red bird." she laughed.
I looked passed her smiled too,"You're turn."
She turned around and quickly turned back to me with a huge girly smile. Her teeth shined like purls and she looked up at the sky trying to hold her happiness. "What is he doing here?" she looked at me.
"Well AnnyMay Jimbring is Brody Jimbring's little sister and this is her first year in high school too." I explained as I watched him and his sister walked toward us, holding hands.
"Hey, Brody Boy." all the older girls sang when he reached the stop sign with AnnyMay. She quickly danced to my side and held my hand. She didn't talk, she never talked but she wrote notes. Everyone thought she was a mute with the beauty of a doll. She had always been quiet and cute and my best friend. The Jimbring's were close family friends. They were like a second family to Hayden and I and she was in love with Brody a.k.a. Brody Boy. Hayden used to tease him with that name growing up and it stuck.
"Hey, Ashley. Hey, Hayden." he kind of sung her name and fell into her gaze.
"Hey, Brody Boy." she giggled like the lady she was. He smiled at her bubbliness. I smiled at their love story play. AnnyMay squeezed my hand to get my attention. I looked over and she had a huge smile on her face.
"What?" I asked her. She jumped up and down and danced me to the bench. I watched as she unpacked her lunch box and gave me a note. It had a drawing of a smile and a girl. She was going to a school.
"Are you excited to go to school today?" I guessed. She nodded her head happily. "Me too." I smiled.
She looked down and pulled a pencil out to scribble on a another piece of paper. It didn't take long and she gave me another picture. It was a girl and another girl. They were holding hands and going in doors and then out doors. It had a clock and the sun.
"Do you want me to stay with you all day?" I guessed. She nodded again with pleasure. "If I can. Okay?"
She shrugged but still seemed pleased with our successful communication. She had a hard time talking to other people but she loved to carry conversations with me because I usually found a way to understand her. I remember when she grew frustrated on drawing a heart and I taught her. She gave me that heart and I still have it in my writing book. AnnyMay is the only person I have ever let read my writing book. She was good at keeping secrets and I was sure mine were safe with her. She knew things that not everyone thought she knew, her silence was a powerful tool of hers.
"I think your brother like my sister. I know my sister likes your brother. Did you tell him what I told you? That Hayden might consider a ring from him?" I asked. She shrugged with her hands and tapped her lips.
"Well of course you couldn't tell the boy but did you give him hints?" I rephrased. She smiled.
"I told her about him. She was dancing and singing about him like a love sick pup." I laughed. She laughed her silent laugh. The movements but no sound.
"I'm telling you AnnyMay, it won't be long before they get married and we become sisters too. My best friend becomes my sister and you get two new great sisters." I looked over at our siblings and curved my hand it put it up in the air on the image of the talking pair. AnnyMay took her hand and did the same thing, she then paired it with mine and sealed the shape, and in closed them in the hand heart.
We saw Brody slowly reach for Hayden's hand as they spoke and when their skin touch she jumped at first until she saw what was going on. The prissy girls were talking glaring over at my sister. It was a good thing her back was toward them. Brody tried again and they held hands quietly but I could see her blushing like wild fire.
AnnyMay nudged me. She was poking through her lunch box and pulled out a pop tart packet. I turned to her and pulled out my lunch box. I pulled out two juice boxes. I gave her one and she traded me a pop tart. It was our tradition to do this in the morning for breakfast. We silently pretended that we were English ladies in a tea party. We toasted our small juices and sipped with our pinkies up, with caught a lot eyes from the prissy girls.
"Girls." Brody called for us. AnnyMay and I packed up and put our unfinished breakfast in my lunch box for later.
Hayden and Brody laughed and made a picky promise before he let her hop on the bus. I quickly followed behind her and AnnyMay ran over to hug her brother before she ran back to me and held on to my hand tightly and we got on the bus. We shuffled through the loud crowd of teenagers to the near back and sat in the sit that would fit both of us and we could still see Brody through the window. AnnyMay let out one tear as she waved goodbye to her brother and he pulled out a paper with writing.
I'll be here when you get back. He then flipped it. You'll be fine. Don't cry. I love you.
She wiped her tear and blew him a kiss. He caught it in the air and put in his pocket and then waved as we drove away. I hugged her and I talked to her to cheer her up. I told her about funny times and my adventures during the summer. I told her about my dreams and hopes and teenage things Hayden taught me.
"You know you grow hair down there too?" I asked. AnnyMay looked down in shock and back up at me. She made an "ouch" face and I agreed. "And on your legs too. Hayden said you get rid of it but shav'in it off. She said if you aren't careful you could cut yourself." I explained. AnnyMay made a silent gasp.
"It's true but she told me when my little hairs become like that she will help. Don't worry I asked and she said she would help you too." I reassured her. She sighed in relief. We looked out the window at the farm land. More buildings were coming into view and it was becoming more like city land that farm land. More cars, stores, shops, people, and more but we were just entering town. I knew this was Missouri and the closest town to our old country community was Backersfield so that's were the high school was. The town didn't hold a elementary and junior high that our families could afford. I didn't recognize this town but I was sure Hayden did. She managed to come here to buy stuff for us and herself. She would ask friend to take her into town for airiness.
AnnyMay looked at me with concern about the town.
"Don't worry, AnnyMay. Everything will be fine." I held her hand. She smiled slightly put her face was flushed. She dusted off her pretty black dress and put on her back bag.
I looked around for my sister. "Hayden." I called but my voice was drowned out by all the noise from everyone else. I called again louder and louder until I gained a response.
"Ashley?" her head popped up from a group of girls. They were friends. I dropped on the floor and crawled toward her. one jerk stepped on my finger and I kicked him when I got the chance. I popped up in the group and slipped next to Hayden.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"What are we supposed to do when we get off?" I asked her.
"They will call for the freshman. That's you and AnnyMay. They will pull ya'll to the side and explain everything. You will get a schedule and you have to get to your first class before the bell rings. Everything after will be easy." she briefly explained and then the bus stopped. "Hurry up and get to your seat. AnnyMay might have a panic attack if you aren't there." she instructed and I obeyed. I crawled down on the dirty floor again and found AnnyMay where I last placed her. She smiled at me politely and tapped the empty space next to her. I sat down and started explaining as she dusted me off and nodded to my words. She kept her polite smile and the bus doors opened and the kids were leaving like there was no tomorrow.
There was no order and everyone was talking and laughing loudly. They all were tall and large like adults. We felt like shrimp compared to them. People were pushing and shaving their way through I turned and AnnyMay was gone. I looked around in the small ,compacted place for my friend and I called for her. I wasn't going to get a response but I called for her anyway. The crowd pushed me through the bus and out. I was calling for her and looking through all the faces.
"Oh my goodness. What did I just do? I'll tell'ya what I just did. I just lost a girl who can't talk in a school full of strangers and thousands of them in a town that neither of us are familiar of." I stressed and spun around looking for her. Suddenly a hand tapped my shoulder. I turned and saw my mime. She had a huge grin her face like she was watching me breakdown. I quickly kissed her cheeks and hugged her tightly.
"Where did you go?" I asked her perfectly unharmed body. She opened her mouth but I hugged her, not caring for her sign. She wasn't going to talk, she only did that to tease me. "You must be feeling funny today, don't Ms.AnnyMay?" I put my hand on my hips. She blushed and played a flattered face with motions. I laughed and grabbed her hand. I saw Hayden and was going to go talk to her before we heard an announcement.
"All freshman recruit here. All freshman." a woman's voice called. AnnyMay Stopped and tugged me back. She looked at me with worry and pointed to the moving crowd toward a woman on a post. I looked back at Hayden as she walked toward the school with her group of friends. I looked back at AnnyMay as she pointed and we walked toward the lady.
"Welcome to Bakersfield High. You will be the new class of 1974. The paper's passed around will be your first schedules of the year." the woman spoke clearly and loudly. The speech was short and straight to the point which was perfect because AnnyMay and I had to compare schedules. We had Reading Language Arts, Math, Lunch hour, and Art together. She was sad about the other two school lessons that we would not spend together but I assured her that we would be together at the end of school.
We walked inside the school. It was so much larger than any school I had ever been in. We rushed to our first class together and sat next each other in the front. The teacher came in calmly as the rest of the class behaved rudely and loudly. They smoked and talked about stupid stuff like the latest fashion. I pulled out my writing book and scribbled down my thoughts. The teacher stood up and began writing on the chalk board.
Everyone started taking their seats and got out the window. AnnyMay drew a note and sent it to me. It was a picture of a man and hearts around him. He was wearing attire similar to the teacher. I pointed to him slightly while looking at her. She nodded happily. I looked at him from behind and when he turn to the class I saw his good looks. I giggled and nodded while giving her back the note. I saw a boy on the second row behind us near the window looking at me. When I looked at him, his eyes shifted from me and back to his group of friends. They were talking and I seemed to distract him from the conversation.
I smiled and waved at him slightly. He just glanced up at me with a little anger in his eyes. He looked dangerous but there was something else about him. He reminded me on my favorite singer, Elvis Presley. He looked a little like him in his god like features. He had a strong jaw and flawless skin. He looked like the average heart breaker. I felt attracted to him in a way. Maybe it was of how close he looked to Elvis. I loved Elvis, I was going to marry the man.
The boy had sleek black hair and a black shirt with black pants. He seemed like a bad boy and when he would laugh at the jokes being thrown in his corner, his teeth flashed as white as snow. I couldn't take my eyes off of him and blushed when he couldn't control his glances and deep glares at me.
My thoughts were interrupted my the shouting of my name.
"Ms.Pickett." the teacher roared my name in command for my attention.
"Yes, Mr.Ryan?" I stood up.
"Come write the sentence in cursive writing for the class, please." he seemed to be holding back a bad temper.
I could hear giggling and feel all eyes on me. I took one step forward.
"A-Are y-you s-s-sure you want m-me to M-Mr.Ryan?" I asked through my fear of the negative thoughts and words being passed around.
"Yes, ma'am. Unless you would like to repeat the task for a hundred times after school." he suggested. I shook my head, my curls bouncing everywhere. I took another step closer and nearly fell over. Giggles and laughs sang in the room for a brief moment before I stood to my feet. I looked back at my friend and she had a worried supportive smile on her face only looking at me. Everyone was looking at me. I looked at all the faces and looked over the boy. He was watching me too. His face twisted up into a crooked smile, just like Elvis Presley. I felt my stomach twist and I turned immediately.
I took a breath and took the rest of the steps to the board. I picked up the chalk and read the setence in print and quickly wrote the words in cursive. I placed the chalk back in place and turned to the class. I didn't make eye contact and rushed to my desk. AnnyMay gave me a thumbs up and I smiled as I looked down in my lap.
"Ms.Pickett." Mr.Ryan spoke in a gasp. I stood and looked at my feet.
"Yes, sir." I answered.
"Where did you learn to write like this?" he asked.
"My older sister, Hayden, taught me, sir." I spoke quietly.
"Hayden Pickett? Yes, a star student here. I think she's a senior now, yes?" I heard his feet turn to me.
"Yes, sir." I nodded once.
"Look at it." he spoke to everyone.
"What about it? Is there anything wrong?" I looked at my hand writing.
"No. Ms.Pickett, this is absolutely perfect. The curves are all of perfection. It takes years to gain such precision in this type of calligraphy. Absolutely marvalise. What do you do, Ms.Pickett?" he marveled at the hand writing.
"I'm a writer, Mr.Ryan." I answered him.
"Of what style?" he walked closer to the board.
"I don't know. Of what ever comes to my mind. Lyrics, songs, poems, diary entries, books, you name it." I shrugged. I heard some people laugh at me but I ignored them.
"Well you must be very talented. I can't wait to see some of your work. You know you can tell a lot about a person from their hand writing." he informed me.
"I'm aware, sir." I smiled.
"I'm not surprised." he smirked and sat back in his seat. I smiled and sat back in my seat and class contiued on with the rest of the lesson.
By the end of class AnnyMay and I packed up our things to leave. The boy from before glanced up at me from time to time and I'm sure he stole long stares with out me watching during the pop quiz. I leaned on my desk and waited for AnnyMay. The boy and I made eye contact as he and his friends packed their things. Some girls walked over by them and one curled under his arm to leave with him. He looked a little angered by my staring and he looked back down and said nothing. The girl tried to ask him something but he didn't want to hear it. I saw her ask him what was wrong and he look up at me with deep eyes and said "nothing". His group glance at my direction and they shrugged me off their shoulders and he requested that they left out the back door instead. I didn't think they had plans to go straight to class.
A/N
Picture: AnnyMay