just the way i am

just the way i am

Just the way I am

   
     “Chloe! Time to get up! You've got school today!!” Mrs. McLay called up the stairs at  her 14 – year -old daughter. Chloe grumbled in reply.  She was not ready to start a new school.  She wanted to go back to her old school in L.A., not this new one in Phoenix, Arizona.  She sighed, and got dressed in her favorite outfit: a white tank-top, with a short, light pink jacket, that tied up front, light blue jeans, and  gray, white, and pink tennis shoes, and went downstairs to breakfast. After breakfast, she finished getting ready for school, and said good-bye to her 12 year old sister, Taylor.
     At the bus stop Chloe saw a girl that lived across the street from her.  Chloe sat down on the bench about an arm's length away from her.  The girl looked up from the book she was reading to smile at Chloe.  “Hi! I'm Sam Michel.” said the girl. Though both girls were pretty, their looks were a total contrast of each other. Sam had long, dark, brown, curly hair, deep, blue eyes, and very light skin. Chloe, on the other hand, had light, blond hair that was below her cheek bone, bright green eyes, and well-tanned skin. Chloe reciprocated a “hi” and her name, then smiled.  Chloe was a very nice girl, but despite her forward, bubbly, personality, she was too busy being nervous about starting school and getting good grades to really worry about making friends right now.  Just then the school bus pulled up in front of the bench, and the two girls climbed on.
     At school Chloe headed straight for her homeroom.   She barely remembered the way the school principal, Mrs. Cocks showed her, but she finally got there.  She went in and took a seat next to a girl  with medium colored skin, black hair, and brown eyes.  Chloe glanced at her name tag, Alley is what it read. Chloe smiled. She always liked that name. As school started her homeroom teacher, Miss Malik, gave a start of school speech, encouraging the students to do well, and to reassure them that they could do well if they tried hard enough.
     Later in the hall Chloe was walking to her locker.  Sam came up to her and said in an upbeat voice, “Hi, Chloe! How are you, are you enjoying classes?” Chloe said that she was fine and the same with her classes.  As far as Chloe knew things were fine, little did she know things wouldn't be fine for long. She flashed a smile at Sam and quickly walked the rest of the way to her locker. She was almost there when the next thing she knew pain shot across her face, and everyone was dying of laughter.  She looked up, to see her locker..  She turned her head to see a husky, boy with brown spiked hair, and proud-of-himself, merciless, brown eyes to mach. He too was laughing only with an immoral grin. “Walk much?” he tittered. Turning on his heels he walked away from her with an appeased grin .  Just then Chloe realized what happened.  He tripped her!
     Throughout the rest of the day Chloe dealt with the meanness of her fellow students.  From unsympathetic jokes to being called ugly, because of her massive bruise. She was even called a raccoons, and actually Chloe kind of felt like a raccoon. The dark bruise covered the whole upper part of her face, and hurt like crazy too!
It took everything Chloe had to hold back the tears. By the end of the day Chloe couldn't take it anymore.  As soon as the bell rang Chloe ran out of the building as rapidly as she could.  When she got outside she flung herself onto a school bench, buried her face in her hand, and sobbed.  A minute or two later, Chloe felt a circular motion on her back, followed by a familiar voice. “ Chloe, are you OK?” The hopeful, synthetic-sounding voice belonged to none other than Sam Michel.  Chloe looked up, at the girl. She was standing and rubbing Chloe's back.  She had a look that shared the same mood as her voice.
“ Why do you care?” Chloe said.
“  Because Chloe, I want to be your friend, and even if I didn't it is the right thing to do.” Sam continued to rub Chloe's back. “Now,” Sam went on, “ Are you going to tell me what happened or not?”
“Oh, Sam...” Chloe took a deep breath.  She couldn't believe how nice Sam was  being. She went on and told Sam what had happened.
     “Oh Chloe!” Sam pulled Chloe into a loving hug. “That James Tinner! He is always causing trouble!” They sat in silence for what seemed forever, still clinging to each other.  Slowly Chloe released her grip and Sam pulled Chloe's head and rested it on her chest.   Chloe's breathing was heavy, as she continued to battle tears. All of a sudden the sweetest sound Chloe had ever heard, sweeter than honey, more soothing than a hot mug of peppermint tea.  It was Sam, singing.  The words made Chloe silently cry.  “And when I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change. 'cause girl you’re amazing just the way you are. And every time you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while 'cause girl you are amazing just the way you are.”  “Just the way you are” Chloe liked that song.  She didn't remember the artist's first name but she knew his last name, Mars.  Chloe sighed. She finally pulled away and looked deep into Sam's eyes. “Well, I guess I would change that bruise on you face.  It looks painful!” Sam teased.  The girls laughed and hugged each other.  
     On the bus ride home they sat side by side and talked the whole way. Though at first the day  was rough and at the beginning she wanted to go back to L.A.. Chloe changed her mind, thanks to Sam's act of kindness.  From that day on they were as close as sisters, and when you saw one the other was right beside them, or not far off.  When one was sad the other comforted them, and always sang “Just the way you are”.  It was “their song” as they called it. Both girls learned that no matter what others thought of them in their own special way they were amazing, just the way they were.