After San Francisco

My name is Emma. I have an older brother named Noah. My mom’s name is Nicole, my dad’s name is Jackson. We used to live in San Francisco. My mom is a doctor; my dad is a cop. They had my brother when they were only 18 years old. They had me about 14 months later. Noah is 17. I'm 15, almost 16. My mom and dad both got offered great jobs in Chicago, so we moved. I’m not mad that we moved because I didn’t have friends back in San Francisco; nobody liked me; I still don’t know why. Right now I am putting the finishing touches on the decorations in my new room. After I finished hanging up a painting I made and making sure it was even and straight, I headed to Noah’s room to ask if he needed help. As I walked to his room, I was looking at our new house, how happy I was to get away from all the people who hated me. When I got to Noah’s room, it was wide open. When I walked in, I started to admire Noah’s decorating skills. His walls were grey, like mine. He had sports posters along his walls, and a small picture of him and his big group of friends from San Francisco that he started hanging as I walked into his room. “So how are you doing with all of this?” Noah asked after hanging the picture. “I’m actually happy we moved,” I replied after sitting on his bed. “How? Don’t you miss your friends?” I sighed, I never told anyone about everyone hating me at school. “What’s wrong,” Noah asked, sounding worried. “Noah, I never had friends, ever since I started pre-school everyone would bully me. Everyone hated me, so no. I don’t miss my friends because I never had any.'' I hadn’t realized I had started crying until Noah wiped a tear that fell down my cheek and gave me a hug. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that by yourself Emma, why didn’t you tell me? You could have hung out with me and my friends.” “I didn’t want anyone to worry about me. Yes, you would have let me hang out with you guys but none of your friends liked me either, so I didn’t want to,” I replied, Noah just nodded his head. We sat in silence for a few minutes, until we heard Mom and Dad in the doorway. They both looked at me with a worried look, “What?” I asked. “Have you been crying?” My dad asked with a hint of concern in his voice. “Yeah, Noah asked me how I was doing with moving and all. I told him I was happy that we had moved. He didn’t really understand because he thought I missed my friends. Little did you all know, I didn’t have friends back in San Francisco. Everyone had bullied me since pre-school and everyone hated me. I didn’t have friends.” I deadpanned. My parents didn’t reply, they just sat on Noah’s bed and hugged me for a couple of minutes. When they finally let go, I asked Noah, “hey wanna go get pizza for dinner, I mean unless you guys have a different idea?” I looked at everyone and they shook their heads, “ OK, but you get to drive. I mean you are getting your driver’s license in a couple of weeks. You need more practice.” I nodded and went to change. I grabbed a pair of dark-washed ripped jeans and a blue crop top. I slipped sandals on my feet and went to my full-length mirror to assess my appearance. My jeans hugged my hips and thighs in just the right ways. My black hair was straight down my back with some pieces in the front of my shoulder. I leaned over to my bedside table and grabbed my purse and my phone. I made sure my purse had my wallet in it along with a couple of tampons, just in case. I turned my head when I heard a knock on my door, “Hey, are you ready?” Noah asked through the door. I walked over to the door and opened it, “Yep let’s go.” We walked down the stairs to the kitchen. There was a small grocery list lying there for us. “Since you’re going out, will you pick that stuff up? Oh, also you are starting school tomorrow.'' my mom said as she was putting some kitchen appliances on the counter. Noah and I nodded, “Yeah, sure.'' He said as he handed me the keys. I am a bit on edge now. I am starting a new high school tomorrow. What if no one likes me here either? I think Noah could tell something was bothering me because once we got in the car he said “Are you nervous about going to school tomorrow?” He could always tell what was wrong with me, even when I tried to hide it. “Yeah, what if no one here likes me here either? I don't wanna go another 2 years with no friends. I’ve already lived with no friends for 15 years.” I said as I pulled out of the driveway and started heading to the grocery store. “I don’t know why nobody back in San Francisco didn’t like you, but trust me. I have a feeling Chicago will be different. Just give it a chance.” He said his words did make sense. Maybe it was going to be different here. When we got to the grocery store, we parked far from the entrance because there weren’t any open stops. As we were walking to the entrance, a guy who looked 16 came up to us. “Hi, my name is Kyle. So I saw you walking and I thought you were really beautiful and I was wondering if I could have your phone number?'' He said nervously while rubbing the back of his neck. I didn’t know what to say or do. Kyle was very handsome and had a lot of muscle. But I don’t understand why he would want to talk to me. I am nothing special. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Noah call my name. “Oh right sorry, yes you can have my number.'' Kyle smiled and handed me his phone to put my contact in it. “So your name is Emma? What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” I blushed at Kyle’s comment. I handed him his phone back and handed him my phone as well to put his contact in it. Once he had done so he looked over at Noah and said, “are you her brother?” Noah nodded and said, “Yes I am, and this brother will hurt you if you hurt her. Got it?” I glared at Noah, but Kyle seemed unphased as if he expected that response. “I would never. I have to go now but it was very nice to meet you.” and with that last comment, he smiled at us and walked off. Noah and I didn’t say anything as we walked in to get the food. Finding everything on moms’ list wasn’t hard, we paid for the groceries, got them into the back seat of Noah’s car. He took the keys from me because he wanted to drive, I had no complaints. When we pulled into Pizza Hut Noah and I went out to get the pizzas. I walked in front of Noah and before we walked in he grabbed my arm and asked “Are you on your period Emma?” I shook my head with a confused look. “Well, you have blood on the back of your jeans.'' At the comment I felt myself start to tear up, he ran back to his car and came back with a pair of my leggings and one of his hoodies. “Why do you have my leggings?” I asked as I started crying. “Just in case something like this happens. Go chance, you can wear my hoodie too if you want to, I will get the Pizzas. Wait do you have tampons? I have a couple in the glove box of my car.'' I laughed and nodded. I gave him a hug and said thank you and headed inside straight to the bathroom to change. When I got cleaned up and changed my phone, I checked it expecting it to be my mom. It was Kyle. Kyle: Hey beautiful ;) Emma: Hi Kyle, how are you? When I sent that text I pulled on Noah’s hoodie and put my phone in the pocket. I grabbed my purse and my jeans and headed to the car, when I got in the car my phone dinged. Kyle: I’m doing great now that I am talking to you. How are you? Emma: I am doing pretty good, thank you for asking. So tell me some things about yourself. Once I sent the text Kyle was handing me pizzas so he could get into the car. The heat from the pizza boxes felt amazing on my stomach. “Are you ok? Does your stomach hurt?” Noah asked with some concern in his voice. I laughed a little bit, “Yes Noah, I am ok. Yes, my stomach does hurt but it is nothing i can’t handle. On the way home will you take me to a dollar store, I want chocolate and ice cream.'' He nodded, he was about to reply when my phone rang. “Is that mom or dad?” He asked, I shook my head “No, it’s Kyle. he texted me when we were getting dinner.'' after I said that I opened the text from Kyle. Kyle: I am 16, I play football, baseball, and basketball for the Highschool teams. My favorite color is red. I want to go to the army after I graduate and then become a cop. My favorite food is pizza and ice cream. So, Emma, it is your turn to tell me about yourself. Emma: That is very cool Kyle. I am 15, however, my birthday is in 2 weeks. Back at my old school, I played basketball, softball, and track. My favorite color is either blue or purple, I want to become either a lawyer or an ER nurse. My favorite food is also pizza and ice cream. As soon as I sent that text Kyle parked the car in a Dollar General parking lot, he and I got out of the car and headed inside. I started to grab a small basket but Noah took it from me saying he was going to hold it. I didn’t complain. We went down the candy aisle and I grabbed a couple of chocolate bars and put them in the basket. Next, we went down the ice cream aisle and had a couple of small pints of cookie dough ice cream. Noah started to head to check out but I went down a different aisle to grab a box of tampons. We started to check out and I was about to give the worker my money but Noah told me no and ended up paying for everything. I gave him a hug and grabbed the bags and headed to the car with Noah in front of me. I put the bags in the car, Noah and I got in the car and headed home. I got my phone out of the hoodie pocket and realized Kyle texted me. Kyle: That is very cool Emma, just out of curiosity did you just move here? I have never seen you or your brother around here. Emma: Yes we just moved here from San Francisco, we start school tomorrow. I am a sophomore, Noah is a junior. Are you a sophomore too? Kyle: Yes, I am a sophomore. If you would like I could show you and Noah around school tomorrow. “Hey Noah, Kyle said that he would like to show us around school tomorrow, he is in my grade. Would you be okay with that?” I hadn’t realized we were home until Noah put the car in park. “Yes that would be okay, I am very glad that you might already have a friend here Emma.” He smiled at me and grabbed the pizza and said he would come back out to help me with the groceries. I grabbed a couple of bags and headed inside. Mom and dad were both sitting on the couch with worried looks, but they soon went away when we walked in the door. “What took so long?” My mom asked as she and my dad got up to hug us. “Well, when we got to the grocery store a boy came and talked to Emma in the parking lot, and asked for her phone number because he thought she was beautiful. I told him I would hurt him if he ever hurt her. Then when we got to Pizza Hut Emma got her period so she had to handle that and change. After that, she wanted to go to Dollar General to get some stuff. Plus it took a minute to find our way around.” Noah explained after we had brought in all the stuff from the car. “A boy?” My dad questioned. I laughed, “Yes dad, a boy. His name is Kyle, he is 16 but in the same grade as me. He also offered to show me and Noah around the school.” I said as I grabbed a slice of pizza. “Is he cute'' my mom asked with a smile on her face. “Mom! But yes, he is very attractive. I am actually very excited I might have my first friend.” I replied with a huge smile on my face. “Hey! That's rude, I'm your friend.'' Noah said in a playful manner. I shook my head, laughed, and started to put the groceries up. “Nope, we got this. Go sit down.” My dad said as he and Noah took over the kitchen. I grabbed a box of pepperoni pizza and mom and I headed to the living room and sat on the couch. “How are you feeling?” she asked as we sat down. “My stomach hurts a lot but it is nothing I can not handle. How are you?” I said as I took another bite of pizza. “I am doing very good, thank you for asking. So tell me more about Kyle.” my mom said with a smile as she grabbed a slice of pizza. I laughed and was about to answer when I remembered I never replied to him. Emma: Sorry, it has taken me so long to reply. I am eating pizza. Anyway, Noah and I both said that it would be awesome if you could show us around school tomorrow. I was about to set my phone down but Kyle instantly replied. Kyle: Great, also do you happen to have your schedule yet? I was wondering if we had classes together. “Hey, mom do you by chance have my school schedule? Kyle wanted to know if we had classes together.” My mom nodded and grabbed a piece of paper out of her purse and handed it to me. I took a picture and sent it to kyle. “So you wanted to know more about kyle. He is 16, a sophomore like me. He wants to graduate then join the army and eventually become a cop. His favorite food is the same as mine, pizza and ice cream. He plays a lot of sports, including basketball, football, and baseball. He has a very muscular and athletic build, he has called me beautiful many times already.” I told my mom as we were eating, I couldn’t help but blush at my last comment. “He sounds like a very nice boy, your father might like him,” she replied as Noah and my dad came and sat down to eat. “Noah, what do you think about this boy?” my dad asked as he grabbed a slice of pizza. “I don’t really know yet, but he does seem like a good kid. He just better not hurt Emma.” Noah said as he went to the kitchen to get us some drinks. My phone dinged but before I checked the text I looked at the time. It was 8:45. “I’m going to go take a shower and get ready for bed. Love you.” I said and started waking up the stairs to my room. I looked at the text from Kyle. Kyle: We have every class together! Even lunch and the only empty seat in the classes are by me. Emma: That’s amazing. I am going to take a shower and get ready for bed. I put my phone down after I sent the text and went to take a shower. It wasn’t a very long shower, so I was out and had pajamas on in less than 20 minutes. I headed to Noah’s room once I was dressed, his door was open so I headed right in. He was sitting on his bed, FaceTiming his friends from San Francisco. I sat on his bed next to him but didn’t say anything. “Hey sis, what’s up?” He asked as soon as I sat down. “Nothing just came to see what you were doing. Do you want me to leave?” Before Noah could answer his friend Cooper said, “Yes, please leave. No one wants you here.” I didn’t say anything I just started to get up but Noah grabbed my hand to make me stay. “Listen Cooper I do not give a crap if you are my best friend or not. You will not talk to my sister like that, if you don’t like that then you can leave.” Noah angrily yelled at his friends through the phone. Nobody said anything, they just hung up. Noah put his phone down and gave me a hug. “I am sorry, and Cooper is wrong. I want you here.” I hadn’t realized mom and dad were right there until dad said “You are a great brother Noah.” Mom and dad gave us hugs and said goodnight and headed to their room. I stayed in Noah’s room a little longer. I told him I had all my classes with Kyle, even lunch. He said he was glad that I had a friend. I nodded and said goodnight and headed back to my room. I looked at my phone and there was a text from kyle. Kyle: Ok, goodnight beautiful. I will see you tomorrow. Emma: Goodnight Kyle, I will see you tomorrow. After I sent the text it did not take long for me to go to sleep.