Rough Around the Edges - Chapter 1

[Caitlin Plathe]

Rough Around the Edges
By Caitlin Plathe

(I'm not the best author, I realize... but I love writing stories. :) Enjoy.)

Chapter 1: Moving On

Once upon a time… ok, so we all know that those kinds of stories never happen for a regular 16 year old teenager, right? I wish! My life is crap right now. My mom just died of lung cancer. My dad is starting to get a little whacko, and my brother… well, let’s just say he isn’t any less normal.
The worst part about all of this is that my dad is being moved to Orlando. Orlando, Florida! I am excited, I admit, but I hate moving to new places. A new place means new friends, new enemies, and new guys. Although that last part isn’t all that bad, except when my dad moves and I’m in the middle of a relationship with a guy I really like!
Example: Two years ago, I was living in a boring old town in Texas, and I was dating this really cute guy named Josh. (Yeah, Josh is such an ordinary name, I know.) It was getting pretty serious. I mean it. Like, he was probably just about to say ‘I love you’. Well, maybe. Anyway, after we were dating for about 3 months, my dad gave the family a little message, “We’re moving to Idaho!” My mouth dropped open. Idaho. That was a long way from Texas!! So I had to break up with Josh. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. I mean it. Josh fell to the floor and hugged my legs. That’s how much he didn’t want me to leave!
But this time, leaving wouldn’t be such a bad idea. I don’t like to live in a place where my mom just died 5 months ago.

I sat in my dad’s car for about ten minutes; he was starting to get a little impatient. “Ava! Get out of the car and get to school; now!”
I looked at him. He looked tired. His bright green eyes seemed darker than usual, and his blonde hair was a little greasy, he also had some bags under his eyes. I had all the same features as him, well, except for the bags under my eyes, but you know what I mean. The only thing I got from my mom was my bright blue pale eyes, and my talented dancing skills. “Bye, Daddy.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek and got out of the car.
I pulled my book bag closer up to my shoulders, and took a deep breath. I took out the little schedule I had gotten for the school year. The school was called, “Ors High.” Get it… because it’s Orlando… and they just took off the “lando” part? Funny, huh?
First class: science/chemistry. Ugh! That should be perfect. An up for the day. Especially since it’s the class I hate the most, and I’m terrible at it! I walked to room 122. When I opened the door, there were only a few people in class. I looked at the clock: 7:50. I guess I was a little early, but that gave me time to talk to the teacher without having eyes watch me. I went up to the teacher’s desk, the name tag said: “Mrs. Goodie”. I giggled at the name.
Mrs. Goodie looked up. She had those glasses that had long chains around the rims, and it was almost sliding off her nose. “May I help you?” She asked, her voice was small and high pitched. I almost started bursting out laughing.
“Um, my name is Ava Longing. I’m a new student here?” I said it like a question, though I’m not sure if it was supposed to be.
“Oh,” she said in her small voice, “You may go take a seat by the windows. Your lab partner will be…,” she paused, looking at a piece of paper with shaky fingers, “Aiden Casky.”
I muttered, “Thanks,” and walked to my desk, setting out some papers, and a pencil. Aiden Casky; sounds like a really cute guy name. Hopefully it wouldn’t be one of those freaky nerd kids who actually liked science… and any of the other classes.
The bell rang; long and high pitched and other kids came filing in. No, not one by one, they came in like an angry mob, except for the fact that these people were a lot happier than an angry mob would be.
I saw a really cute guy messing with his black hair, and laughing with his friends. “Oh, please let that be Aiden,” I whispered to myself. Of course, as soon as the second bell rang, Aiden sat down right next to me. Guess who it was?
“Hi,” Aiden said. It was the cute guy! He had dark blue eyes, and a razor white smile.
I had a lost for words, “H-hi, A-Aiden. My name is Ava Longing, I’m new here, and the reason I know your name is because the teacher told me and—,”
I stopped talking when I saw him chuckle a little at how fast I was talking. “Nice name, Ava.” Aiden smiled a little bit and looked down at his paper, writing some words because Mrs. Goodie had started class.
I thought he was writing down some work he had found or something, but instead, he moved the paper close to me, it said: So you’re new here, right? Where did you move from?
I smiled a little bit, and wrote in my sleek handwriting: I’m from Idaho. My dad travels a lot, and I was living in Texas before that. My mom died about 5 months ago, and he’s been trying to cope with it by moving from the place where she died. I gave him a little more information than he asked, but I was weirdly honest with him. If that would be anyone else, I wouldn’t have told them anything about my mom. He took the paper from me.
Oh, I’m really sorry, but how are you still sitting there without the guys pouncing? My buddy over by the door thought you were the hottest thing he’s ever seen. I’m surprised he hasn’t made a move yet.
I giggled a little, and Mrs. Goodie gave me a stern look and wrote some boring junk on the board. Ha yeah right! I’ve only had about one boyfriend in the past; I highly doubt that whoever that guy is would think I’m anywhere near hot.
Really? You don’t think very high of yourself. And “that guy” is named Vince. I mean, I don’t blame him, you’re gorgeous.
I blushed a deep red, and scooted the paper back to him without saying anything else. He took my blush as a thank you and nodded once, laughing a little. I started laughing, too. Aiden definitely knew how to perk me up. “Shh! Ava, Aiden, don’t make me give you both detentions on the first day of school!”
I stopped laughing, but smiled a very big smile. I do not regret moving here.