Going to school today felt a lot easier. Tiffany even waved at me on the way in. I'm pretty sure I had just made my first friend. At least I think I've made a friend. I wouldn't really know unless she said so really.

I was kinda bummed out though because this school ran on a block schedule. Which meant that I wasn't going to see Tiff today unless I went to the practice after school. I still didn't know if I wanted to go. I even made a pros and cons list this morning. Although it didn't seem to help. I was still as lost now as I was before.

Do I go and possibly face the ridicule of twenty plus girls. Or do I opt out, and lose one of the last chances to play a sport that was integral in shaping who I am as a person. I could be missing out on lifelong friendships, and scholarships to good colleges. Was I really going to let my anxiety get in the way over a few worries that might not even be credible?

I walked into math and sat down at the back and waited for class to start. This class was a lot more interesting than what you would think for a math class. Ms. Troth was extremely eccentric, she talked about her six husbands a lot, even though she was like thirty-five. And she also had a brief stint as a police officer. She liked looking at the dead bodies and crime scenes. But the pay wasn't very good, so she came back to teaching.

After the bell rang she walked inside and began talking about today's lesson.

"All right guys, today we're going to go over some notes but first I'm going to have you take a pretest to see how familiar you are with statistics and then I'm going to do our first lesson on experimental design. Your first quiz will be next week" She passes out the quizzes," Please don't write on my paper."

The boy next to me turned, "Hey, you got any paper?"

I frowned. It was only the third day of school and this bitch didn't even have paper. I open my binder and get out two pieces of paper and hand him one.

He takes it, "Good looks."

I tilt my head, "Excuse me," Was he hitting on me or something?

"What?" He looks as confused as I feel.

"uh um, did you just hit on me?"

He laughs and looks at me incredulously, "Do you not know what good looks mean?"

"Unless the meanings changed," I laughed nervously," Yeah I do believe I know what that means."

"Its just another way to say thanks." He smiles reassuringly, "If someone does something nice for you, instead of saying thank you, you say good looks or good looking."

I nod my head, letting him know that I understood, "I'll try to remember that."

"My names Darrian by the way"

"Oh, I'm Amelia"

After exchanging names with Darrian I took the pre-test, which I'm pretty sure I did terrible on, but it didn't count for a grade so, I'm good.

We stopped our conversation when the teacher started the class. The rest of which was spent taking notes.

After we finished, we had ten minutes before the bell rang, so Darrian and I spent the rest of the class talking.

He seemed like a pretty cool guy. He was in jazz band, he played the drums, and he played football.

I think I just made my second friend. I'm really coming up in life.

"So, are you enjoying New York so far?" He said as we walked toward my next class.

I smiled sheepishly, "I haven't really done anything. My mom's just been really busy with work so we haven't really had the time."

"You beastin', how you been in one of the most exciting cities in America, and you haven't even been to Times Square?" He looked at me incredulously.

"I guess I just didn't want to do it alone. Doesn't really seem like it would be fun"

"That sucks," We turned around the hallway and made our way towards the same door. That's when I realized we had the same class, "Well if I ever have plans to do anything, I'll invite you."

I smiled, that was a really nice thing to say, especially to someone you've only known for only an hour. It could also be an unwise thing when you really think about it. But whatever.

"Thanks"

After that, we didn't talk at all. Mainly because we had assigned seats on opposite sides of the room.

Without any active interaction, all my previous energy seemed to leave in one breath. Everything my teacher said went in through one ear and out the other. It seemed pointless to stay awake when I wasn't even listening, so I spent the rest of the class with my head on my desk, trying to catch a little shuteye.

That didn't go over very well. Desk chairs are one of the most uncomfortable pieces of furniture. There isn't enough space between the seat and table-thingy so when I lean your head down, my back arches really uncomfortably. I can't imagine how taller people feel.

After the bell rang I went to my car to go home. But now that I don't have boring teachers and new people to occupy my thoughts, my mind did a complete one-eighty and went right back to the topic I was avoiding: The practice.

Now that I've waited to the last minute to make my decision-which is never a good idea-my thoughts and feelings on the subject have only gotten ten times worse than what it was before.

I don't think I've ever had to make a decision of this caliber. I realize this was probably an overstatement, but I'm only seventeen. How much life experience could I have? I mean, I've literally spent my high school career has been spent either on the field playing soccer or at home reading or sleeping. Which, now that I think about it, is kinda depressing.

My stomach grumbles. I go into the kitchen to get myself a snack. Hopefully, I can think better on a full stomach. I grab a bag of chips and soda and sit down at the kitchen island and start eating.

I don't know why this was so hard. It wasn't like it was an actual try out. There was no rejection involved. It would just be some warmups and drills.

This is too much. Maybe I should call someone for advice. Why do I say, someone, like there is anyone else to call other than my mom? As if on cue my phone buzzes, signaling a call. I pull it out and look, it was my mom.

I answer, "Hey"

"Hey, I'm on my way home. I'm gonna stop at food, do you want anything?"

"Oh," I look toward the chips, "No, its cool, I just ate."

"That's okay, I'll be home in a few minutes."

"Alright, I'll, uh, see you then." I cringed, walking over to the living room, and turned on the T.V. to pass the time before mom got home.

It wasn't long before I heard the door open and mom came in with food in hand. The smell from the bag was really making me regret saying no. I follow her into the kitchen.

"Um, can I ask you about a predicament that I have?"

She looked up from the food she was putting out for herself, "Yeah, of course. What's up?"

"So this girl I met a few days ago invited me to go to practice today, after school. But I don't know if I should go."

"Why not? It sounds like a great idea, you love soccer."

"Yeah, I know. But what if, you know, I go there and its all awkward."

"Well yeah, you don't know anyone there, of course, the first practice you go to will be awkward, but eventually that will pass."

I nodded along to what she was saying because I knew this already. I think I just needed someone else to tell me.

"Alright thanks for the advice," I say as she starts packing up to go back to work.

"So are you going to go?"

I contemplate for a few seconds more, before nodding my head."Yeah, I think I will."

"That's great, call me when its over, okay?

"Yeah, I will." She may have phrased like a question, but her tone said otherwise. I couldn't possibly say no. Imagine if I did-

Nope, definitely don't want to go down that road.

Well, now I've got some things to pack and only-I look down at my watch- three hours to do so. So I better get started.