Just Another Day

Chapter 1: Just Another Day

Julie E. Miller

2002

I pushed skip on my CD player and went forward to listen to MXPX's "Move to Bremerton". I hate riding in cars. Oh well. At least the drive was only an hour and a half. It could have been like over the summer when I'd spent over twenty hours in a car in one week alone. My parents sat in the front. It felt odd not having my brother there, but I guess when you get older and go to college, that you're too cool to hang out with your parents and your sixteen-year-old sister.

I pulled one headphone off my ear as I asked, "When are we getting there?"

"A few minutes, Hannah," my mom told me. I nodded and put my headphone back on.

I got bored eventually and went through my purse. I had thirty dollars to be spent on other people. Fat chance of that. I wanted an Ataris CD. Four exits and ten road signs later, and we pulled into Erie.

My parents drug me around to Lowe's and Builder's Square before we got to the good stores. We went into Kohl's. I handed over the few shirts I found to my mother, and walked the short walk to Media Play. Along the way, I thought of Ben, my latest crush at school and a small smile spread across my face. Ben was a pure cutie.

Entering Media Play, I dashed for the CDs. I picked out the one I wanted. I continued walking around. I heard two people talking. Now, I've always been curious. I'm an eavesdropper. What can I say? At least I admit it. I looked at the two people; a guy of about sixteen and a boy around ten.

The younger boy was in a long sleeved red tee shirt and was fussing over a CD with an older guy that I assumed was his brother. My eyes went slowly from the younger brother to the older. As I met his face, I dropped the CD and bent over quickly, as if I was looking at the selection in front of me.

I knew my face was bright red. I bit my lip and let out a stifled laugh. I continued on my CD trek and when I got far enough away, I started to laugh. I looked back at the guy. He was wearing a red hoodie with some skating company on it. He had this spiky black hair and these gorgeous green eyes that just called out to you. I put my hand on my neck, looking down at the CDs. The next thing I know, the guy is in the same row of CDs as I am. I slowly walked to the other side of the CDs. A few minutes later and he's in my row again! I walked away. I saw my mom enter and practically rushed to her. I bought my CD and we left.

The short drive to Applebee's lasted longer than normal. I kept thinking about that guy. Oh well. I'd never see him again anyway to wonder. Might as well move on. We arrived at the restaurant and went in. After we were seated, I ordered and we sat there talking.

Then HE arrived.

His whole family took up two tables. He kept smiling at them and I bit my lip, attempting to forget him. It was odd though that he was there too. The entire meal, I sat there, wondering if he even noticed me. Even more, if he did notice me, did he remember me? Was I even noticeable?

After we ate, my mom pushed us to Target. I love that store. It has the best prices. I looked at the lip-gloss, deciding on whether I should buy them for my friends for Christmas, or look onward. In the end, I picked them up and headed to meet my mother. She had a cart full of items and I dumped mine in along with hers.

We talked about my brother for a few minutes and went to look at DVD's. We're standing in the aisle just looking, when I peek out to the row in front of me. Who did my wandering eyes see? The guy in the red hoodie! I groaned. Not again! Who was this guy and why did I keep seeing him? He looked at me for a moment, before grabbing his brother by the ear and yanking him forward.

Well that was harsh.

Mom and I checked out and met my dad in the car. We went to the mall and started to finish up our shopping. I found a few more presents. It was getting to be a long day. We walked along the strip in the mall and I could have died.

Ten feet in front of me was the kid in the red hoodie, his family in tow. Who WAS this guy and why in God's name did I keep running into him? Couldn't I get rid of him?

We left the mall that day, presents in our hands and I couldn't help wonder if I'd ever see him again. Was it fate? Was it meant to be a signal, or was it just another day?

Author's Note: I know, I know. It's short. However, it's just something to get the 'mood' started. My other chapters are 3-5 pages long so far. So they'll get longer. Also, if you think you've read this before, you may have. I wrote it as a short story in December-January. I went Christmas shopping and all of this happened. When Kendra (UnperfectWolf) approached me with a plot line that's from HER life, I instantly fell in love with it. I saw it as a chance to build a romance for someone since mine is down the shitter. Don't ask. It's a LONG story. So…here's my version of this story for Kendra. The characters will be based off people from her life as well as mine. I'm going to follow a basic guideline she gave me and we'll see where it goes. Just warning you ahead of time…I wrote this story while listening to way too much Mest, Good Charlotte, and Goldfinger. So if they all keep popping up, you know why. Oh and so far…I've been swearing quite a bit in it. So you've been warned. Hehe…HAVE FUN! Oh and enjoy it. I am curious as to what you think of it. Thanks.

This one's for you Kendra!

Disclaimer: Stealing this story would be stealing events from our life. That's just meaner than hell, so fuck you if you steal it!

Chapter 1 (At Last…We Meet Again) Spoiler:

He was by far one of the hottest guys I'd ever seen. He had black hair and green eyes and…I just…WAIT A GOD DAMN MINUTE HERE. I knew him from somewhere! I squinted at him. "Do I know you?" I asked.

"Nope."

"Did we have a class together this year?"

"Nope."

"Detention?"

"No."

"Were we in the office together sometime when I was getting yelled at for fighting in the hallways?"

"No."

"Then how the hell do I know you?!" I exclaimed, exasperated.

"You don't," he said simply.

I looked at him. I began at his feet, where a simple skateboard was stilled beneath a foot, to his Dickies pants. I looked at his face once more…then my eyes finally caught what had attracted my eyes in the first place.

He was wearing a red hoodie…