Midlife Crisis

Chapter 3
The Dream and the Cheerleader

Chapter Description: Susan's first day of highschool introduces her to some new people.

The first time I went through high school I spent the majority of time studying, preparing for one test or another so I could make sure I would get into a good college. While my GPA was over 4.0, my social life waned in comparison. But now having aced all the classes once before, I might be able to have a little more fun this time around. I excitedly got up out of my bed at the first beep of the alarm clock, and started getting ready for school. I was glad to see that Megan was still asleep for the time being. We would have to go to the same high school, but thankfully I would be two grades lower then her. I decided to grab some clothes from the dresser and decided to get ready. It then occurred to me that I had no idea what clothes would consider ?cool’ to wear. I had a good amount of clothes to choose from but I had no idea what I should wear. I decided to just grab a few outfits and see how they looked.

I walked into the bathroom and tried on my first outfit. The top was a white knit top with flowers and butterflies on it. I made a cute pose in the mirror and giggled at how silly I looked. The next top I tried on was a ?High School Musical’ t-shirt. I never really understood what my daughter saw in this stuff back then and I really didn’t understand it now either. Still, if it’s what kids are in to I should probably consider it. The last top I grabbed was a blue tank top and while I did like it, I didn’t know if it was too plain.

“Mommy?” A voiced called out. I turned around to find Samantha.

“Oh, good morning Samantha.” I greeted her. “Samantha, I told you that you need to start calling me Susie now.”

“Oh, sorry Mom... I mean Susie,” she quickly corrected herself. “What are you up to?”

“Well, I’m trying to decide what to wear to school today and I can’t make a decision.”

“Oh! You should go with the High School Musical shirt!” she shouted with glee.

“Really? You think so?”

“Yeah, I mean I love High School Musical, and since you are going to High School, I’m sure they love it too!” Yeah, that did make some sense.

“Alright Samantha, thanks for your help”

“No problem Susie. Uh, you better hurry up in here though. Megan’s really grouchy if she doesn’t get the bathroom when she wants it.”

“Thanks for the heads up.” Last thing I needed was to deal with Megan if I didn’t need to. I quickly put the shirt on and also put on a nice pair of jeans. “Do you wanna have breakfast with me before I go?”

“Sure Susie,” she smiled at me as we then proceeded to go into the kitchen. I instinctively reached to the cabinet where we kept the bowls, only to find that I had to get up on my tiptoes to open the cabinet. After eating a bowl of cereal with my new sister I grabbed my backpack and headed to the bus stop. Megan drives to school so I really wouldn’t have to worry about her. There was only one other person at the bus stop, a boy about my current age. He was very handsome, somewhat muscular; he even had a bit of facial hair. He looked my way and I couldn’t help but get lost in his dreamy eyes. Wait! What am I doing? After all, I’m still technically married, not to mention the fact that the other day I was a forty four year old woman. Isn’t it wrong of me to be attracted to this boy, younger then Megan? No, maybe it isn’t. I’m not 44 anymore, I’m fourteen, and I’m now just an average fourteen year old. But, still...my husband is still my husband after all and it wouldn’t feel right to think like that. On the other hand...

“Nice day today isn’t it,” the boy said to me while I was lost in thought. I looked back over to him and I couldn’t help but blush.

“Uh...yeah... I guess it is,” I replied, finding myself at a loss for words.

“Haven’t seen you around here before, First day?” he asked.

“Yeah... it is...” We had spent some time last night thinking up a good cover story for me. I was Megan’s cousin who came to live with Megan after my parents had died. As for my old identity, well we convinced my bosses that I wanted to quit my job, which was amazingly easier then I thought it should be. To anyone who would ask where I was, I was spending time overseas. Effective enough to convince anyone who might be looking for me. “I’m staying at my uncles house, so I’m starting school in this town.”

“Thought so,” he replied. “I thought I’d remember seeing a cutie like you before.”

I could feel my heart stop. Was he serious, that he thought I was cute?

“Uh, listen...it’s nice of you to say so, but I’m already in a relationship with someone.”

“Oh, yeah. Serious?”

“Very serious.”

“Oh, well too bad. Anyway, the name is Kyle.”

“Susan.”

“Well you should let me know should things become unserious.” We stood there in silence for a few moments, which were broken up by the approach of the school bus. I walked on to the bus, which was already filled for the most part. As I walked down the aisle, I could feel everyone’s eyes upon me, looking at me, judging me. I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous as I looked for someone willing to share a seat with me.

“You can sit with me if you want,” a voice called out. It was a blonde-haired girl dressed in cheerleaders uniform.

“Thank you,” I replied taking a seat next to the girl.

“Its nice to meet you. My name is Carrie. What’s yours?” she asked me smiling.

“My name is Susan. Nice to meet you too.”

“A new transfer student?”

“Yeah, I’m staying with my uncle.”

“So, you wouldn’t happen to be some sort of alien right?”

“Uh...what did you say?” I asked dumbfounded.

“Well, usually in the movies and stuff there is usually something unique about a transfer student who comes in during the middle of a semester,” she looked down, kind of embarrassed.

“Can’t say there is too much unique about me,” I replied. Well, other then the fact that yesterday I was about thirty years older. “So you’re a cheerleader?” I asked quickly changing the subject.

“Kind of...” Carrie replied. “I’m kind of on the reserve squad.”

“I didn’t realize that cheerleading teams had reserve squads.” Is it something new since the first time I was in high school?

“Well, I made the cheerleading squad, but well, the other girls don’t really like me, so I was moved onto the reserve squad, which mostly means that if someone can’t perform, then I get to take their place, if they can’t find someone else instead of me.” Kids can be so cruel sometimes, to force a girl not to cheer just because they don’t like her.

“Why not just quit the team?”

“I would, but if I do, then all of those girls win.”

“I see...”

“So who do you have for homeroom?”

“Uh, I have Mr. Matters.”

“Oh really? Me too!” she smiled again.

“Yeah, that is really cool!” I smiled back.

“Cool, well Susie I hope we can be best friends.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.” Huh. My first day and guys are already hitting on me and I’m already making friends. Maybe high school will be better this time around after all. As the bus approached the school, Carrie and I walked off the bus and headed into the classroom. Today was going to be a good day.

To be continued....