Page 1 of Make It Without You

Emily

2007

The First Meeting

“Emily, sweetie! You’re going to be late for your first day!” My mom’s muffled calls out from downstairs and travels through my closed bedroom door.

I blow out a nervous breath as I stand in front of my floor-length mirror Mia Thermopolis style. My chameleon persona has me dressed in simple clothing. A dark navy cotton dress that hits right below my knees with cap sleeves and white Keds. My thick hair falls down my back and is pushed back with a navy-striped headband.

It’s my first day of high school with a new backpack, a fresh packet of ink pens, and never-used erasers on mechanical pencils. Really. It should be what dreams are made of.

Not my dreams.

I’ve been a loner in school for as long as I can remember. Add being in a new environment and my nerves shoot through the roof.

When I was in middle school I could handle it. Only three grades were in that school and I excelled amazingly well. I hadthe same kids in each of my classes, so I was able to get used to the familiarity of seeing them every day. But, high school? Where everyone has known each other since grade school? And I have to warm up to different kids in each of my classes. The thought that I’ll be alone until graduation has me considering begging my mom to have me home-schooled.

It’s not easy being a little fish in a big pond. But my parents always told me that people can smell fear. Like sharks in the ocean when they can smell blood.

Here goes nothing.

I grab my backpack from the back of my desk chair and pick up my violin case that’s right next to it. See, loner. Nerd. Music geek. But as long as I have a book or my violin with me, I don’t consider myself to ever be alone.

With one last longing glance at my room, which provided me with solitude for the majority of the summer, I heave an exaggerated sigh as I walk downstairs into the kitchen where my parents await. Should I join the drama department?

“Oh, honey. I can’t believe we have a high schooler among us. Can you believe that Mark?” My mom gushes when she sees me.

My Dad looks up from his newspaper and gives me a wink. “It was bound to happen sometime, Christie. Next thing you know, she’ll be off to college and married with kids.”

“Mark!?” My mom says with mock shock. “None of that. I just want her to stay my baby forever. Can you do that sweetie?” She asks with a little smile on her face.

“Does that mean I get to stay in my room forever?” I counter-offer.

She shakes her head and her smile vanishes. “No. Now eat some breakfast, you don’t want to be late for the bus.”

Gloria, our housekeeper, places some toast and bacon in front of me.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sweet girl.”

Gloria has been with my family since before I was born. While my parents were getting their careers started in New York, she was with them. When I was born and got older, my parents decided they wanted to raise me in a more home-like environment and Gloria came with them. She taught me a lot when Mom and Dad were too busy building up their portfolios to get ahead in their jobs. They work as lawyers with the public relations teams for celebrities in New York. I don’t begrudge them for it because I was able to build a pretty solid relationship with her.

Once I finish breakfast, with my stomach in knots, my family walks me to the front door to see me off. Mom was way more emotional than I expected her to be. And I understand as I’m an only child about to start high school as the new kid. But I know Dad and Gloria will reassure her that I’ll be fine at school.

I’m walking towards the bus stop when I see a lone figure there. My nerves come alive again.

My hands start to sweat.

It’s too early to talk to new people.

Is he a freshman? Does he even go to school? Maybe I should keep a safe distance from him just in case.

“Hi,” the lone figure says to me when I come to a stop a foot away from him.

I give him a half-wave. “Hi.”

“I’m James,” he volunteers when I say nothing else. “What’s your name?”

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