Chapter One (for now)

Kaelynn didn't look much different than many other 12 year old girls. Inside, though, she was shy, insecure, and extremely introverted. While other girls in her class spent recess and lunch time playing kickball or Chinese jump rope on the playground, Kaelynn could be found in the school library, lost in an book, feeling more comfortable with the made up stories and characters than with the kids her same age.

Her parents were concerned. Kaelynn was a bright girl, according to her teachers and IQ test. She wasn't deformed or strange to look at. She didn't have any hairy warts on her nose or birthmarks on her face to make people look at her oddly. They had Kaelynn involved on a soccer team and she seemed to make friends there, so why was she hiding away during school?

Her parents began to blame themselves. Did they push her too hard to study and get good grades? Did skipping the 1st grade emotionally damage her and if so, why is it just now showing up? Did something happen to Kaelynn that they don't know about?

It wasn’t something that happened to Kaelynn, but rather that the only thing the other girls in her class would talk about is boys.

"Mark is so cute," Kaelynn would overhear Mary say to Diana.

"He is so diggin' you, Mary. Mark told John who told Sarah who told me that he so likes you and wants you to be his girlfriend." Diana replied between girlish giggles.

Kaelynn rolled her eyes at the exchange, which went on to discuss ways to reply to Mark that Mary wanted to be his girlfriend, involving a very complicated plan of delivering a note through four people.

Kaelynn just didn't understand the fascination with boys. She had an older brother and there was certainly nothing special about him. As far as she could tell boys were just kind of messy and dirty, found belching and farting to be hilarious (not to mention making odd sounds with their armpits.) All this left nothing for Kaelynn to have in common with her schoolmates.

All that changed one spring day, when a new student joined their school. Kaelynn was walking home from school and she didn't notice that the new student was following her home.
"Hey! Wait up!" Kaelynn heard someone cry out. Kaelynn kept walking, since she figured that this person could not be talking to her.

"Hey! You in the rainbow shirt! Wait up!" Kaelynn stopped and turned around, and saw this taller girl with curly brown hair and freckles run up to her. "Hi!" She gasped, somewhat out of breath. "I'm Renae. What's your name? Do you live down this street?"

Kaelynn was caught a little off guard as she was used to people ignoring her at school. "Kaelynn. Yeah, at the end of the street."

"Cool. We can walk together then." With that, Renae started walking, and Kaelynn joined her. Kaelynn studied the friendly girl as they walked together down the street. Renae was tall for her age with wavy hair that couldn’t decide if it was brown, red, or blond. Freckled covered her face, clustering over the bridge of her nose, also dotting along her arms. Her eyes were a cool light brown color that was nearly yellow. She was dressed unimpressively in jean shorts and a purple tee-shirt. She looked just like she came across: friendly.

This began a daily ritual that quickly progressed into a firm friendship. Renae, having a military dad, had moved around a lot, and thus developed a personality that created friendships easily. Kaelynn felt that she was the complete opposite from herself.

“Do you know Morrie? She lives down this street, too.” Renae chatted easily.

“Mmmm. Yeah. We play on the same soccer team.”

“Oh, cool. I play, too, but since my dad just got reassigned here, I haven’t had time to register. Is there space on your team?”

“I don’t know. My dad coaches the team. I can check with him if you want.”

“That would be cool. I met Morrie last week when we moved in. She seems really nice.”

“I guess so. We don’t see each other much outside of the soccer team.”

“Hey! Do you want to have a sleep over Friday night? I can check with my mom and see if you and Morrie can spend the night. We can stay up late, eat popcorn, watch TV .. you know, all that stuff.”

Kaelynn had never had a sleep over before and was enraptured about the idea. “Ok, I’ll ask my mom. Give me your phone number and I’ll call after I check with my parents.”

After speaking with Renae’s mom, Kaelynn mom relented. That Friday Kaelynn carefully packed her overnight bag (sweatpants and a t-shirt to sleep in, toothbrush and toothpaste, pillow and sleeping bag.) Morrie was already at Renae’s house when Kaelynn arrived, but Renae didn’t let any awkward moments settle into the fun they all hoped the evening would provide.

“Girls,” Renae’s mom shouted up the stairs, “Do you want me to bring up some popcorn or chips?”

Renae, Kaelynn, and Morrie all giggled.

“No thanks, Mom. We’re not hungry yet.”

Renae turned to Kaelynn and Morrie. “So, what should we do first? I have the new TeenBeat Magazine.”

“Oh, cool. Who is on the cover this month?” Morrie wanted to know. Kaelynn didn’t really have anything to contribute, as she hadn’t yet been initiated into the rites of teenage crushes.

Morrie had blond hair, but it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be curly or straight. Underneath she had really curly-q ringlets, but on the top it was bone straight. She had pretty blue eyes, but unfortunately she looked like she was going to have problems with acne.

Kaelynn was relieved that neither girl had begun to develop yet. Some of the girls in her class had already, but she hadn’t. Kaelynn felt dull next to Renae and Morrie. Kaelynn’s hair was long, brown and straight with bangs across her forehead. She was shorter that both of the other girls.

“Oh, wow. That Johnny Dannon is too cute.” Morrie squeaked. Johnny Dannon was the hottest teen actor in television. Scores of teenage and preteen girls had poster of him plastered in their rooms. Renae was no exception, as she pointed out to Morrie. “Oh, I love that poster.” Morrie cried. “I have the same one in my room.”

“Hey, do you guys know where you are going for Jr. High next year?” Renae wanted to know.

“I’m going to Edison.” Kaelynn replied.

“Me too!” Morrie screamed.

“Cool! We can all go together. I wonder if we’ll have the same classes. How fun would that be? We can eat lunch together, too.” Renae went on making plans for next year already.

Kaelynn was just thinking of this summer and how different it was going to be than the last. She finally had friends. They liked her. She was determined to open up and get to know Renae and Morrie, rather than let her shyness keep her installed in the library at school. Next year would be different, Kaelynn vowed.

Renae was thrilled to have already met two girls who lived next to her that she liked. She felt more comfortable now with the strange school she had been thrust into just one week ago. She knew this coming school year would be great and this summer would be spent with Morrie and Kaelynn sealing the bond of their new friendship. Next year looks promising, Renae vowed.

Morrie was thrilled to be out of her house. She had two older sisters who were constantly fighting with her over protective parents. Morrie was a mistake child, but she was never treated as one. Her parents were much older when they had her, though, and just seemed to not have as much energy or time for her after dealing with both of her sisters who were in college locally. Morrie was hopeful that this summer would include many more sleepovers that were not at her house. Next year, she vowed, I will be perfect in school so my parents will be happy with me.

* * *

That summer was magical for Kaelynn, Renae, and Morrie. Each girl learned something from the new circle of friendship. Kaelynn began to initiate conversation and grew to offer opinions on clothing and teen idols. Morrie learn advice on making her hair curl on top like she wanted. Renae learned that she was likeable and didn’t have to force people to interact.
All these lessons helped them get through Jr. High at Edison, but would the help at High school?

* End of Chapter One *

I was planning on describing more of the summer bonding events between the 3 girls, but I don't know if that would drag out the story and how important it is. I think the crux of the plot takes place in high school when they are older and the friendships begin to unravel, so I guess this first chapter in more a background or prologue to the 'true' story.

Words Day One: 1447
Total words: 1447
Words to go: 48553 (Gasp!)