Free Learning to Fly by Misha Elliott Page A

your mom, what’s she like?  Your dad?  What it’s like to be an awesome big brother?” 
    Alex opens up and talks about everyone in the family.  I soon know about funny family moments, birthdays, and holiday traditions.  I can hear how happy he is when he shares all of those memories. As he tells the stories, I try to imagine what it would be like to have memories like that with my mother.  It does strike me odd that he talks about everything except one thing that should matter most, football.
    I don’t know how it happened, but we spent all night on the phone.  My alarm sounds at 5:00 and our call is still connected.  “Alex, you there?” He doesn’t answer so I decide hanging up is OK.  My battery is low and he will be here in two hours to pick me up.
    Last night, we became a couple. He made it official by updating his relationship status online.  I officially have a boyfriend; that fact alone makes me feel like a completely different person.
     
    All eyes are on us as we walk into school together.
    “’Sup Alex?” Jake and Alex high five each other in the hallway. I step back and watch as he interacts with his male friends.  The bell rings, signaling the start of the day. 
     
    ~~*~~*~~
     
    During homeroom, Stacey comes over and leans her hip on the edge of my desk. “Sophie, so I hear congratulations are in order?”  She says in her fake, high-pitched voice.  I hate the way she looks down at me.
    “Yes, Stacey; Alex and I were able to finish our history project in one night.”  I say, playing coy. 
    Seeing Stacey, Jake comes over to rescue me, “Morning, Stacey. Since you can’t seem to get any offers from the football team, I hear the guys on the chess team are all single.” We all laugh as Stacey walks off huffing, flipping her hair behind her. Stacey’s personality may have rubbed Alex the wrong way, but something about her had to attract him in the first place.  I would love to know what it was. 
    Seeing her and remembering her comment about me being plain makes me feel like I need to fix myself up.  I duck into the girls’ room and take my brush out of my bag.  I pull the sloppy ponytail loose and shake my head.  I bend over and brush my hair out while I am upside down.  There, that looks a little better.  I have blue eyes, not as piercing as my mothers, but still crystal blue.  I knew I needed to find the right clothes to wear to the pep rally.  I take advantage of free time during study hall to look up places for shopping. 
    “That’s a killer dress.”  A girl takes the screen and turns it so she can get a better look.  “The color is all wrong for you, though; it would make you look washed out.”  That’s interesting; I never knew that colors could do that.  “With your blonde hair and skin tone, you would look so much better in a purple.”  I take a moment to consider the color, and all I can think of is the color of that kid’s dinosaur on television.  “I’m sorry for being so rude, I’m Melissa Jean, but everyone calls me MJ.” 
    We exchange phone numbers and spend the rest of study hall talking about shoes, nails, and hair.
     

 
     
    Chapter Seven
      I was still preoccupied with my appearance on the ride home.  “Alex, can I ask you something?”  I have my head down and I am wringing my hands on my lap.
    “Sure, babe, anything you want.”  He takes turns glancing from the road over to me. 
    “Do you think I’m pretty?” He reaches over and places his hand on top of mine. 
    “Sophie, I think you are beautiful. You have eyes the color of the ocean and I get lost in them every time I look at you.” I feel like I am the main character of a book. 
    “You say the sweetest things I have ever heard,” I admit. “No one has ever told me I was beautiful before.”  I feel stupid admitting that to him. How can he understand what my life with Angie has been like? 
    “You’re kidding, right?”
    “I wouldn’t make up something