New friends in a new town

[Ashlyn Stone]

Another town, another foster family…and another school. But she really couldn’t complain too much, at least her and Bryan were still together. And that was something. Ashlyn had found that if she was good, and didn’t get into trouble the families often agreed to take both her and Bryan . She really hoped this time would be different, in the end. Living in the orphanage was awful.…too many bad things to hide from or just flat out keep things from happening.

Ashlyn sighed and leaned her head back on the head rest, while she stared out the window at the passing buildings. The Fisher’s were enrolling her in school today, and she should be used to how things would go, but it still never failed to have her insides all twisted up and anxious. As much as things were always the same….they were also always different.

Waking out of the office, Ashlyn paused in the middle of the hallway and rolled her eyes as she read over the schedule they had just given her. Now she was going to be walking into another classroom, and another school….late. Again. She sighed and glanced up and down the seemingly empty hallways. Then she shrugged her shoulders and just started walking., not sure if she was even headed in the right direction. Maybe if she was lucky enough, she could wander around long enough until it was time for the next period. Ashlyn just hated walking into a room and having every eyes turn and look at you. And it was even worse when you didn’t know a single soul in the room.

She glanced back down at the slip of paper in her hand and wasn’t paying attention as she continued walking. So she didn’t know or see that the hallway wasn’t entirely empty anymore.

[Liza O'Shea]

Liza hated to be sick, she simply hated it, she missed her old life, the time when she used to play basketball for hours, the time when she was capitan of the cheerleader squad, the time when she simply didn't have to go everyday first hour in the day to the nurse office to get a daily check up, blood presure, heart beats' rate, etc. But she aslo thank to be alive, to be able to go to school, to spend time with her family, friends and her love, Luke.

That morning she was late to her first class, Science 101. but after all it wasn't that bad, she already had read the whole chapter the month she had spent in the hospital, so she knew she wasn't going to miss a lot from class.

Walking down the hall, she thought on the look that everyone was going to set on her, the news about her disseease had already spread all over the school like fire in a gas station. she also hated that, but she wasn't going to change, in fact she was as always, sweet and tender with all of them. suddenly she almost crashed against someone.

"Sorry..." she said in a gentle way and then looked at the girl, she didn't know her so for sure the girl was new. "Are you new?... don't tell me, you got lost" she smiled at her, the county school wasn't that large, but still it was a bit confusing for someone new. She waited for the reply, what would happen if she got 10 minutes more late? nothing... well maybe Luke would go out to look for her, but... nothing else, and this girl seemed to need some help.

[Ashlyn Stone]

Knowing and thinking that she was alone in the school hallway was completely shattered, when Ashlyn heard a girls voice, almost in her ear…saying sorry. She jerked her head up and away from the class schedule in her hand and immediately found the person the voice belonged to. The petite brunette was standing extremely close to her…had she almost walked right into her? Ashlyn hadn’t been looking up, watching where she was going, so it was possible. She gave this other girl a nervous, small, apologetic smile and repeated the word. “Sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going…”

Ashlyn glanced back down at the paper in her hand before looking back up at the girl and answering, with a slight wrinkling of her nose. “Yes, to both……is it that obvious?” She didn’t want it to be, but it usually was. And Ashlyn just hated the looks and the attention you got being new. But so far this girl standing in front of her didn’t seem to giving her the funny look she was used to, or acting snobby. “I’m supposed to be heading to Science 101...but I don’t know which way….” Her voice trailed off as she glanced around the hallway.

[Liza O'Shea]

Liza smiled at the girl, she was sure she was new because of the schedule in her hand, by that time of the year they already knew their schedules. but yet, she didn't want to embarrass her. "I can tell" she winked at the girl and then smiled even more when she told her the class she was suppossed to be in. "Really!?... well i happen to know the way... it's also my class"

"I'm Elizabeth O'Shea, but call me Liza" then she walked with her down the hall, "so... not trying to be nosey, but where do you come from?" she aske din an innocent way and smiled at her. She was glad that her dissease still allowed her to seem healthy, she hated when new people met her and treated her like a cripple.

[Ashlyn Stone]

Ashlyn looked back at the girl in front of her, and relaxed a bit when she winked and smiled. It was nice to meet someone friendly first off. She hated having 'new kid' written all over her, but maybe here things wouldn't be so bad. Especially not if she was making a friend this soon, and for some reason she found that she hoped she was. "It is?" Ashlyn asked her eyebrows wrinkling.

"Ashlyn." She replied glancing over at Liza as the walked down the hallway, together. This Liza seemed genuine and nice. Ashlyn thought about what to answer. What if Liza looked down on her because of her circumstances? "We've been here for a few years, my brother and I. But we just moved on this side of Chicago."

[Liza O'Shea]

Liza looked at her when she mentioned she had a brother, also that she had just moved to that pert of the city. "nice! where do you live now?" for some reason liza really enjoyed the idea of being friends to this girl, like maybe they were friends in other life or something like that.

"I live at 78 Spain Street" it would be good to be neightbors or something like that. then she remembered Science 101. "don't worry, Mr. johnson is a good teacher, sometimes boring, but when he takes us to outside practices" She giggled.

[Ashlyn Stone]

Ashlyn started to answer Liza's question but stopped when the girl kept talking and mentioned her own address. And she was surprised that they were neighbors. The Fisher's lived on Spain Street. "I live on Spain Street, too. Hhm....60 is the house number. I think." Ashlyn finished her sentence with a light laugh. She hadn't really paid attention to the address, but now she was wishing she had.

"Oh! Is he the science teacher?" Ashlyn asked and then thougth about what Liza had said, "Outside practices? For what?"

[Liza O'Shea]

Liza looked at Ash and smiled widely, so she was her neighbor, just a couple of houses down the street!! that was great!, because even with her disease, she would be able to visit her even in some years in the future, when it would got worse! "Great!, then we could go home together!" then she smiled embarrassed. "I'm sorry... I'm not a freak or anything, just that... I'm glad to find someone who lives close to my place, besides my boyfriend" she winked at Ash again.

Then at her question about the outside practices, Liza thought for a moment and then said. "well... sometimes he takes us to special gardens, or museums, just to take notes and see what he describes as 'real' science" she giggled. as they got to the classroom. "ok... so now don't worry, just get in after me and you won't get scold due the lateness"

She opened the door and smiled at the teacher, he was a 40 year old man who had a severe look. "sorry... for our lateness. This is Ashlyn, she's a new student, and she helped me" with those words, the teacher chenged his look and smiled gently at Liza and Ash and made the sign to take a seat. "Well, first introduce yourself to the class and then go and take a seat next to Miss. O'Shea."

Liza smiled at Ash and went to her seat.

[Ashlyn Stone]

Was this girl for real? Ash thought listening to Liza ramble on about going home together and not being a freak. She didn’t think Liza was a freak at all, just a little bit more cheerful and hyper than herself. “Ok..sure.” Ashlyn really wasn’t sure if she could make it to the house by herself, let alone the right neighborhood. “So you have a boyfriend?” She had never had one herself. Ashlyn had a tendency to push people away when they got to close, that way she wouldn’t hurt when they left.

She nodded as Liza explained about the outside practices. Which sounded real nice! They paused outside the classroom door, and Ashlyn was glad she had ran into Liza. Cause she had been headed in the wrong direction and never would have made it by herself. She found Liza’s comment slightly confusing, but didn’t have time to ask since the other girl opened the door. Ashlyn followed her inside and heard her speaking to the teacher. Who told her to introduce herself and sit.

Ashlyn hated this part, but atleast she hadn’t stepped into the room by herself. She quickly introduced herself and did so with a practiced ease. Then she slid into the seat beside Liza and gave her a small smile.

[Liza O'Shea]

Liza nodded when Ash confirmed the information about her having a boyfriend, then she waited for her at her seat. The rest of the class went smooth and kind of boring, but well, it was better than socials... Liza hated that class.

After class, Liza and Ash walked to their next class, Physics. "about your question, yes... his name is Lukas Saga McKinnon, but just call him Luke" she smiled and then walked into the classroom with ash and looked around, she frowned and then walked to the window, from there you could see the gym, she shook her head really slowly.

Then she looked at Ash and sighed. "He is capitan of the basketball team, and they have a very important competition next week, so he's extra training..." but she didn't like when he just skipped classes. And he always did it with hyun Sang, his best friend and also member of the team.

"but you'll meet him later, well if you'd like to go with me to see their practice at lunch" she smiled and sat on her seat. "come sit next to me, he usually sits here" she pointed at the seat behind her, but the other seat was empty too and the teacher walked in at that moment.

[Ashlyn Stone]

Ashlyn was glad when the class passed quickly and without much attention turned in her direction. Maybe it was because she had come in with Liza, instead of on her own, but she wasn’t complaining. Liza seemed real nice and very easy to get along with. She noticed her new friend seemed kind of down after they got to the next class and then once Liza started talking, Ashlyn understood why.

“But surely too much practice can’t be good.” Ash shook her head looked out the window towards the building Liza had previously been looking. “I don’t understand basketball…but I guess it shows dedication and responsibility.” She turned back to Liza “Of course I’ll come with you. I don’t think I could handle being in a crowded lunch room by myself. Besides, you’re the only person I’ve met.”

Ashlyn quickly took the seat Liza had pointed to as the teacher walked in, and gave her a stern look for not already being seated and ready to start class. She ducked her head and slouched down in the seat as some of the other students turned to look.

The class seemed to drag on and on, Ashlyn didn’t like Physics, and she was so thankful when class was over. She grabbed her bag off of the floor and turned towards Liza, speaking as they both stood and headed towards the door. “Lead the way!”

[Liza O'Shea]

Liza nodded at Ash, she was right too much practice wasn't good, but well, she didn't know Luke and his obsession of winning. "yeah... but he let them rest for 2 days before the competition, then a day before that another slight practice and then ready for it." she smiled and looked for her book and shared it with Ash.

She liked Physics but couldn't understand a thing, Luke was the good one on that class. After it, Liza picked up her stuff and walked with Ash. "ok, come, you're going to love him! and HyunSang, they're best friends since ever and they are almost always together." she giggled and then winked at her at the 'almost always' expression.

_{To be continued in some days}