The incoming sunlight woke me the next morning, tha alarm clock had broken again. I was supposed to wake up at 6:45, I glanced at the clock that read 8:00. I was going to be late for school. I groaned as I rolled out of my bed.

I walked to the dresser and hurriedly exchanged my white floor length nightgown for jeans and a wrinkled tee-shirt. Today I really didn’t care how I looked. I picked up a brush, and ran it through my shoulder length hair wincing every time I hit a knot. I pulled it up into a quick ponytail, grabbed my bag and shoes, and ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Aralee was already sitting at the table eating her breakfast. She looked at me, smiled, and pointed to an already made breakfast. She was so thoughtful and caring. Raising me as a single parent can’t be easy.

I mumbled a “Thanks” and scarfed down breakfast. Grabbing my car keys and my bag,I hopped towards the door attempting to pull on my shoes. With a bye to Aralee, I was out the door.

I jogged towards the new blue Toyota that had been given to me by Aralee for my sixteenth birthday. I threw my books into the passenger seat and cranked the car; I backed out of the driveway with a squeal and was off.

I glanced at my watch, the time a reminder of how late I was. I should be arriving at school already. I drove along the old, back roads I knew so well. It was so much quicker than going through town getting stopped by every single red light.

Finally I pulled into school fifteen minutes late. Ms. Newton was not going to be happy. I walked into the classroom quietly hoping she wouldn’t notice. That hope was quickly dashed to bits.

“Alyss, you’re late again, for the third time this week. If you walk into my room tardy one more time, it’s the principle’s office for you.”

I blushed as I heard the snickers of fellow classmates behind me. I slid into my desk next to my best friend, Karisa. She looked at me and shook her head. She was never late for anything.

I pretended to be interested in Ms. Newton’s lecture as I thought about what I was going to do about homecoming dance. I still needed to get a dress, and schedule an appointment for my hair dresser, along with another million things...

My thoughts were interrupted by Karisa. She had thrown a note across the aisle, and it had hit my arm. I unfolded the paper, careful not to make a crinkling noise. She wanted to know what I was going to do about homecoming. I looked at her and shrugged my shoulders as the bell rang.

“You need to figure out what you are doing for the homecoming dance.” she said. “It’s not like you haven’t been asked, there are two other guys out there waiting for your answer.

As if to prove her point Derrick, from Ms. Newton's class walks up to me and asks "So do you have a date for the homecoming dance, I would really like it if you came with me?"

"Umm... I'll get back to you on that, I am not really sure what I am going to do about Homecoming."

"Okay then I will just give you my number, if you decide you want to go with me just call." Derrick said as he scribbled down a number and handed it to me.

"So what do you think about him? He looks kinda cute and I heard he is pretty sweet." Karisa asked as he walked away.

“I don’t know who I am going with, okay? I have to think about it.” I was suddenly annoyed; she didn’t have to bring the subject up so much. I was excited about the Homecoming Dance but she was constantly pestering me about it.

"Sorry, I won't ask anymore." she looked so full of remorse about it I laughed, I had been a little harsh.

"Don't mind me, you know I get cranky every once in a while."

She made a funny face and acted out a guy dribbling over me and asking me to the homecoming dance, she looked so dorky.

We both broke out in laughter, my mood light. We came to the hallway and parted our different ways, me going to history, and Karisa to art.