Life is good, isn't it?(Rayray) RRRRRRRRRRRRING! I watched as the bell rang, and hundreds of kids poured out of class rooms like a wave. My mum held my shoulder tightly, half in reassurance, and half in an attempt to keep me from being carried with the kids, to the different hall ways, rooms, lockers. We hurried into the office, where a fat lady directed us to seats.

Now, I know that was mean, but there was no elegant way to describe her. She was gigantic, her rolls of fat visible even through her baggy clothes. If she had been nice, I probably would have mentioned about how nice and pleasant looking she was, but no. She was rude, ignoring my mum and then finally looking up and glaring at us with black, beady eyes. She pointed her chubby index finger at a couple of chairs, and then went back to her paper.

"That was a pleasant experience." I said sarcastically to my mum. "I love it here already."

She glared at me, exasperated. But it wasn't my fault that my dad had died, and she had decided to drag me from my town in Canada to a city in the USA. It wasn't my fault that I had had to leave all of my best friends, my school, my house.

You see, we didn't have to move. But mum chose to, so we did, and now I'm mad. I know what you're thinking. I'm just another grade 10 student who is spoiled and annoying. But I'm not.

"Natalie, just stop, ok? You'll be -"

"Ms. Alexandria Brooks?"

My mum looked up at the mention of her name to see the principal. He smiled, his round glasses fogging up. He was short and stout, his suspenders were working very hard. We followed him into a small, boring room, which he called his office. I sat down in a hard chair, and he sat opposite, behind a mahogony desk. My mum sat next to me, fiddling with her purse.

They talked a while, he handed me a schedule, and suddenly we were standing in the middle of the parking lot, the cold rain falling down on us. I shielded my eyes with my hands and wordlessly walked to the car.


Chapter 2.

I checked my final appearance in my full length mirror. My long brown hair loose down my back, my blue eys had been complimented by mascara and a little bit of eye liner. I was wearing jeans and a tank top, and a leather jacket unzipped. I smiled. I had never been out right gorgeous, but I knew I was pretty. I hurried down the stairs and said bye to my mum.
When I reached the school, I was once again overwhelmed by the hundreds of kids, but I headed to the grade 10 hallway, where I tried to ignore the whispers of how I was new. I had my soccer bag with me, as I had joined the soccer team. I went to my locker and unsuccessfully tried to open it. I tried again. And again. My face was flaming. I was about to try again when I heard an "ahem".

I turned to see a boy who was literally a foot shorter than me. I've always been tall, 5'10. But there were alot of other tall girls there too. The kid had glasses, and spiked blond hair. He pushed his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose.

"Um, you're doing it wrong."

"Huh?"

"Your lock. You're turning it the wrong way."

I mentally kicked myself as he watched me try it. Then he turned to walk away.

"Thanks!"

"No problem."

* * * *

I looked at the sea of people as I tried to find a spot to eat. The day had been disastrous. I had been late to math, because I couldn't find the class room. The teacher had been nice enough, but as soon as she left to get water, the kids bombarded me with questions.

"Hey, where are you from?"
"What's your name?"
"Do you have a boy friend?"
"Are you new?"
"Well she's obviously new, idiot."
I stared at them.
"Uh, my name's Natalie and I'm from Vancouver."
"Vancouver? So that means you only lived a couple of hours away."
"We all knew that, idiot."
Someone else asked me something.
"Pardon?" I asked.
"Did she just say pardon?"
"Yeah! She's so polite!"

The teacher returned then, and I sighed in relief, trying to ingore the stares.

And now I had nowhere to sit. I sat at a table where there was one other person. He sat alone, reading something and chewing on an apple. He seemed vaguely familiar. It took me a few minutes to realize that he was the one who had helped me with my lock.
"Um, hi." He looked up.
"Oh. Hello." He turned back to his book. I finished my lunch, and then the bell rang.

* * * *

I stepped into the girls change room. There were a bunch of girls. Every single one of them was wearing their gear, shorts and a tank top. I put on the same thing as them quietly in the corner. They finally noticed me.
"Hey, aren't you Natalie Brooks?"
I nodded.
"You're from Vancouver, right?"
The girl was confident, with almost black skin, a silky black pony tail, and bright blue eyes. She had her hands on her hips, her eyes digging into mine.
"Don't you talk?"
"Uh, yeah."
She smiled, and then laughed.
"Well, I hope you're good at soccer."

I really was good. I had played it since I was 5, where they discovered I had a talent for dribbling the ball. I had only got on the team because their star forward had moved, and there was a spot on the team for me.
We walked out into the cold rain. The girls were friendly. The girl introduced herself as Monique Edwards. She was team captain. We all made our way to a guy who was standing, talking to a group of guys.

"Boys soccer team", Monique said with a glint her eyes. "Idiots."
We stood on the other side of the man, facing the team. I felt immediate friction.
"Wally," Monique said, "Do we have to practice with THEM again?"
'Wally' nodded.
"Yes, Monique. Practice game. Guys against girls.
She sighed and pouted.
"Oh, and Wally, this is Natalie, replacing Jen."
He nodded. "Hi, Natalie. Our new star forward."
I smiled.
"Thanks."
A bunch of the guys started jeering.
"Ooooooooh! A NEW girl!"

They started laughing. Stupid boys, I guess. Monique just told me to ignore them, and that if I was any good at soccer, I would tell them off. And I did.

It started badly. I was nervous. I got a perfect pass from a girl named Alicia but fumbled with it, and one of the boys took it away easily. But soon I was a star, making passes and recieving them perfectly. But the highlight was when I got another pass from Alicia, and started dribbling through defense. I made them look stupid, and I'm bragging but who cares? I shouldered one of them, reared back my foot, and sent the ball into the top right corner. Everyone cheered but I was too warm to say anything. Wally noticed, and blew the whistle.

"You ok?"
"Yeah, I'm just getting over heated badly." I was feeling pretty dizzy. I've always had this problem, heating up easily.
"Jake! Take Natalie to the water cooler!"
"Sure, Wally."

I started walking to where Wally was pointing, but stumbled. Not enough food, or too over-worked, I guess. Jake trotted up. He was pretty good-looking, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He took my arm and escorted me to the cooler.
"Thanks," I said.
"No prob," He smiled, "Hey Gray! Bring some more water!"
A small boy with blond hair and glasses ran up, holding water. He was obviously the water boy.
"Hey!" I said in recognition, "You're the kid that helped me this morning!"
He nodded. "Yeah."
"Ih, well, um-"
He handed me some water and walked away. I stared at the bottle.
"Um, well, that was awkward."
Jake was staring at me.
"HE helped you?" I nodded.
"Yeah. So what?"
"Well, um, I don't know," he said sarcastically, "He's GRAY?"
"Gray?"
"Yeah, that's his name. He never helps anyone." He looked thoughtful. "He must like you."
I blushed.
"Huh. I don't see why he would like me."
Jake looked at me.
"Really? You're pretty, and tall, a good soccer player, and nice. And smart," he addded. "I was in your math class."
"You were?"
"Yeah. I was watching the commotion and feeling terrible for you."
"Oh."
He grinned. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Hey, uh, Jake?"
"Yeah?"
"Why does the girls soccer team hate you guys?"
He shrugged. "Rivalry. Our team is actually full of idiots, and you know."
I nodded, and we ran back to finish the game.


Chapter 3

"I'M HOOOOO-OOOOOOME!"
"Natalie? Is that you?"
I sighed.
"Who else would come in and yell I'm home?"
I heard an audible sigh even from where she was, upstairs.
"So how was school?" She yelled down as I walked into the kitchen, and grabbed some juice from the fridge.
"Ok."
"Ok? Just ok?" She walked into the kitchen, and hurriedly put some earrings in her ear.
"Yeah. It was fine."
She looked at me. "Natalie, I don't think that that's good. Shouldn't you -"
RRRRRRRRING!
"Phone, mum."
"Yeah, yeah."

A few moments later she yelled up the stairs that she was going for a job interview. I decided to go for a walk. I walked down a little side road, with walls on each side. Ivy grew everywhere. I turned the corner, and saw a figure leaning against the wall, kicking at the ground.
"Jake?"
He looked over. "Oh, hi, Natalie."
"What are you doing here?"
"Just going for a walk." He looked up at the clouds.
"I love walking in the rain." I said.
"Really? Why?"
I struggled for the right words.
"Well, if it's autumn, I love it if there are maple leaves plastered to the ground. I like wearing rubber boots and I love cold wind, as long as I have a coat."
He nodded. "So you love walks in the rain."
"Yeah."
"Me too," He said, "Except I like them because not many people are walking when it's raining. Except for you, of course."
I nodded and grinned.
"Can I ask you something?" He asked.
"Yeah, I guess."
"Why did you move here?" The question triggered the memory of that night. The phone ringing, my mum jumping up to answer it, the phone clattering to the floor. We rushed to the emergency room, and there he was. Except he wasn't my dad anymore.
"Uh, well, my mum and my dad, I mean, well, my dad kinda.... Died."
He went pale. But he didn't apologize like so many people did. He didn't back away as if he was afraid that I was too fragile to touch. He just nodded.
"Same here."
"What?" Had I heard that right?
"My dad died 2 years ago. Except we didn't move."
I nodded. "Well, at least I'm not alone."
And for the first time in a few months, I felt happy.

* * * * *

School was getting better. I sat with the girls soccer team at lunch and in my classes. Except for French class. That awful, terrible class. Where Mdme. Teller separates you from your friends and puts you at a table with random people. Of course I HAD to sit at the table with 3 other boys. The 3 boys who are the class clowns, the idiots. They are all on the boys soccer team, hence the reason they're so popular.

I sat and just watched them. One of them started singing silent night and his friends were giggling uncontrollably. Then they had thumb wars. Were they 5 years old? Their names were Alex, Gabe, and Hayden.

Alex had blond hair, blue eyes, and a goofy smile. Gabe was similiar, except he was chunkier and his smile was more diabolical. And Hayden was a fiery red haired idiot, with bright green eyes with a scary gleam in them.

The first part of the class went well. I got sympathetic glances from my friends, including Jake, although he was half laughing at my poor luck. But Mdme. Teller went on obliviously. And then it happened. Hayden poked Alex in the knee cap. Alex squealed girlishly, clutching at his knee, his voice getting higher and higher, until he managed to stop. The room was quiet. Alex went red. And Gabe, Hayden and I burst into uncontrollable laughter. I couldn't stop. And then Mdme. Teller was on us like a hawk, pointing at the door with a mean glint in her eyes.

"OUT. Now." I tried not to giggle as I walked out with the rest of them. As soon as she closed the doors, I turned and glared at them.
"You IDIOTS! What were you thinking? You just got me in SO much trouble! And I barely know you!"
Hayden put his nose in the air.
"YOU laughed." I sighed. This was going to be a hard year.


Chapter 4.

"We won?"
"Yes!"
"We're in the finals?"
"Yes!"
"OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!" I couldn't help but scream in joy, wiping the sweat off my brow. The boys team were cheering too, although they were just watching. Monique had just scored the winning goal for us, and we were heading to the provincials. Jake ran up and hugged me. It had been 3 months since I arrived in Mapleton. I loved it. My French buddies had started to realize that I can be fun. Jake and I had grown closer. And I now had friends. I had arrived in November. It was now february, the next day would be Valentines day. And Jake had asked me to go for a walk with him. My life was becoming perfect. I hugged Jake and then ran to Alex, Hayden, and Gabe. The boys team hadn't made it, but they were happy we did. I hugged all of them, and then I hugged the rest of the team.

When I arrived at school the next day, there were Valentines decorations everywhere. I went to my locker, opened it, and found 3 roses, 4 cards, and a tiny teddy bear. I heard a low whistle. I turned to see Gray standing there.

"Oh, hi Gray!" We'd become pretty good friends. But he didn't answer. He just shoved a pink card into my hands and scurried away, his face red. I opened it. It said, Natalie, You are very pretty and mature. I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?
Uh oh.
I ran to find him. He was standing outside, looking up at the sky.
"Gray?"
"Huh? Oh, hi."
"Um, about this card, I-"
"It's ok."
I looked at him.
"I watched you open it. I know you like Jake, I just thought I'd try it."
"Oh." I felt terrible. "Gray, I'm sorry." He looked at me and smiled sadly.
"S'okay." The bell rang, and we walked inside.

School was finally over. I was going to meet Jake at the wall that we had met at on that first rainy day. I went home, and put on a jacket and boots, and then went out to meet him. He was already there, sitting on the ground. I went and sat next to him.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"So, uh, you wanted to talk?" I asked.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah."
"Ok," I said,"go on."
"Um, Natalie, I uh, I kinda... I kinda like you."
I held back a smile.
"No, I really like you." He turned to me, and said, "Will you go out with me?"
"Jake," I said, "I kinda like you too." I gave him a hug, and we went for a walk, ending in another hug.


Chapter 5.

Jake and I had a fight. It wasn't over nothing, either. One of his drunk idiot friends tried to kiss me. I punched him, and then Jake got mad at me for punching him. He didn't know that the guy had tried to kiss me. And he wouldn't believe me. I told him if he didn't believe me, I would break up with him. And he let me.

Finals. A huge tournament in Vancouver. We would have to pass 2 rounds before the championship game. The first game went well. we won 2-1.
The second game was harder. If it hadn't been for Jackie's quick goal tending, we may have lost. But it was the final game that was the worst. It started fine. Alice passed the ball to me, I dribbled up, and cleared it back to Monique who passed it right back to Alice. We formed a passing triangle, but it was immediately intercepted.

"KEEP YOUR EYES ON YOUR CHECKS!" Wally was yelling.

The other team dribbled down, shot, and missed. But not by much.
We used the same strategy, this time Monique was able to get a shot in, and we scored. But the other team quickly scored 2 goals, and then we tied it up. 10 minutes to go: The other team dribbles down toward our goal.

9 minutes to go: Monique clears it up to me, and I get checked. The ball is taken away.

5 minutes: Alice gets knocked down. Penalty kick for us. Direct.
Monique flashes the hand signal. I quietly take position, and so does Alice. Monique passes it to Alice, almost. But her quick feet are able to curve the ball. It flies toward me. I kick the ball, and then I hear a scream, and something hits me. The goal post flies up to my face, a pain in my leg sends stars to my eyes, and everything goes black.

I open my eyes. Walls spin, peoples faces are blurred. I see my mum. And I see a man in a white coat.
"Natalie? I'm going to tell you what's happening."
I nodded painfully.
"You got a severe concussion from hitting your head on the goal post. Another girl was checking you, and she tripped, and landed on you. Your left leg is broken, and it's in a cast."
"Ok," I said to the doctor. My mouth was dry. My voice sounded raspy.
"Honey," my mum said, "would you like to look in the mirror?" I nodded.
She gave me a small hand mirror. The whole right side of my face was swollen. 3 stitches were on my forehead. It was terrible.
"Mum?"
"Yes?"
"I want to go home."
She nodded. "I know. I'm trying to get you to leave. I know how you are in hospitals." Ever since my dad died, I've had trouble in hospitals.
In a few days though, I was able to go home. A nurse would come check on me once in a while. I got streams of visitors. It was good and bad at the same time. It was bad when my French buddies came, because, well, they're idiots. It was good when everyone else came.

I was finally able to go to school. My face was still swollen. I went to my locker, trying to remember my combo. And then, there he was. Jake.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Can I talk to you?"
"Sure."
He led me outside, helping me with my crutches.
"So,um, about that drunk guy that tried to kiss you, well I believe you."
I looked at him.
"But, you see. it was his party, right? And he is, well, WAS, my best friend, and we're close. I couldn't deal with it, so I took his side." He looked at the ground.
"I don't talk to him anymore."
I nodded.
"Ok, well, um, what now?"
He looked at me shyly. "Can we ever go out again?"
I grinned. "Someday."


Chapter 6.

Well, it's time to end my story. I'll have you know that my daughter, Melissa Hudson, is pulling at my leg. And now Jake is looking at me, telling me that it's time to go on our date. I inspect my wedding ring that he had given me 3 years ago. I'm now 24, living with Jake, and Melissa. Life is good, isn't it?

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