Harper Andra Russell (Chapter 1, Part 1)

The Russell Sisters

chapter 1

Harper

I sat up on my pillow and looked at Jaycee laying on her bed across the room from mine. Her red curls were mussed and she was out cold.

I slipped on my houseshoes and robe and tiptoed across the hall to Teagan and Alyssa's room. Alyssa was laying in her bed, reading a book, but Teagan was nowhere to be found.
“Alyssa,” I said.

“Teagan's downstairs. Mama left the spa unlocked and she snuck down there. She's probably in the hot water.” Alyssa ponytailed her long red hair.

“Okay, thanks. I'm going to go grab her.”

I walked down the hallway, past Mama's room, and down the stairs that led to our bathhouse. We lived in a small apartment above it, on Bathhouse Row.

Bathhouse Row was known for its hot water baths. Lots of tourists came to town to come relax in them and do some sightseeing. Some came to fish in Lake Hamilton. Either way, we usually stayed busy.

“Teagan!” I called.

I heard nothing in return except some bubbles that sounded like they were coming from the big tub, which Teagan had figured out how to run lukewarm water in instead of hot. I ran towards it to find Teagan in her swimsuit relaxing.

“Teagan!” I scolded. “Mama said don't come down here again!”

“I know,” she smiled with a mischevious grin on her face. “I just wanted to because it's the last time I'll ever do it as a 4^th grader.”

“It's no excuse. 5^th graders are supposed to know better. In fact, if I tell Mrs. Lamont, she might kick you off the quiz bowl team and then everybody will call you 'the stupid little girl who got kicked off the team because she snuck around.' You wouldn't want that, would you?”

At this point, Teagan was already toweling herself down. I knew I had struck a nerve.

“No, I'm good. I'm going to go get dressed.” Teagan ran out of the room and upstairs.

Score.

Me-1, Teagan-0.

Mama waved to us as we boarded the bus that would take Teagan, Alyssa and I to Hot Springs Intermediate and Jaycee to Hot Springs Middle.

We seemed a bit out of place as we walked down the aisle to our seats. I, of course, sat by my best friend, Katie Peters. Jaycee sat in front of us, by herself. Teagan and Alyssa sat together.

I adjusted my navy athletic shorts that I had worn especially for soccer tryouts, which were after school. I had already signed up for 6^th grade quiz bowl and mathletes also.

“Hi, Harper,” Katie said as I took my seat.

“Hey, Katester,” I replied, using my special nickname for her.

“Did you hear that Coach McIntosh left and now they have a new soccer coach named Coach Brayden or something like that?” Katie flicked her bangs out of her face.

“Oh my gosh, really? I can't believe Coach M would leave us!”

“I know, right!”

We continued our conversation until the bus stopped and we exited. I grabbed my backpack and walked to Science, my first class of the day.

In Science, I sat in the front. I didn't want to miss anything and experiments usually look more detailed in the front row.

I adjusted my ponytail and aligned my pencils on the desk as the teacher walked in. She was a young lady, with short blonde hair, light blue eyes, and freckles.

“I'm Ms. Drew and I will be your Science teacher this year. I have always loved Science, and I hope that my class will make you love it too!”

I knew that this would be a great year.

After school, I went to soccer tryouts with Katie. We were both dressed in mesh shorts and t-shirts, with our hair pulled into ponytails and wearing our cleats.

The new coach, Coach Brayden, was a woman with long, strawberry blonde hair down to her waist and pulled into a braid. Her rosy, heart-shaped face was covered in gingery freckles. She reminded me of a strawberry in a way.

She blew her whistle to call us over.

“Girls, I'm your new soccer coach, Coach Brayden, but you can call me Coach B, whichever you prefer. I used to coach at Springdale, but my parents live here and so I decided to come here and do a teacher-swap type of thing with Coach McIntosh. This year, we will be taking 20 girls for the team. Now, I want you to do 50 sit ups and then run 5 laps. After that, come and sit down. Go!”

I ran over to the grass and started the sit ups. I tried to hurry, because it helped to be fast and efficent at your warm ups. When I had completed them, I started running. The only other girl running was Piper Adams, a shy girl with dark hair and brown eyes.

More girls started their laps, with Katie behind Piper and I. I ran a little faster, struggling to stay in front. Piper was fast, and she was closing in on me.

We had done four laps and were three quarters of the way through the fifth. Piper and I were neck and neck, with 50 feet to go. I slowly pulled ahead, but Piper was right behind me. 25 feet to go. Piper gained a slight lead and I willed myself to go faster. We were still next to each other. 10 feet to go. We kept an even pace as we ran across the line where Coach Brayden was.

She beamed. “Great job, girls! You should be on the track team!”

Piper smiled a little.

“Thanks, Coach,” I said.

A few others came sprinting across the finish line, Katie amongst them. She ran over to me and gave me a high five.

“Good one, Harper.”

“Thanks, Katester.” I smiled.

Avery Anne Everard (Part 1, Chapter 1)

Inserted is a picture of the My American Girl doll Avery is, in case you would like to buy one.
 The character is an original one, made by me, Breck, and is owned by me and only me. If you would like to buy that doll and name her Avery and use this as her backstory, please ask permission first. I don't own the name, just the character.

Avery Anne Everard

Chapter 1

“Avery!” Mum's housekeeper, Anna Rodrick, yelled.

“Yes, Anna?”

“Miss Everard says you're to come downstairs at once.”

I finished french braiding my hair and ran downstairs to Mum's sitting room, where she was lounging on a burgundy chaise lounge.

“Yes, Mum?”

“Avery, darling, I just got off the phone with Mr. Simpson from Landring Academy. He said that due to your special abilities, you should transfer to the advanced classes at once. And he did not by any means suggest that you skip a grade. We're just starting with the advanced classes for now.”

I adjusted my chocolate color glasses. “Really? Thanks bunches, Mum. It's jolly good news.”

Mum smiled a slight smile. “You're welcome, of course. Now go finish getting ready.”

I ran joyfully back upstairs, smiling the whole time. I would get to take advanced classes!

My cell phone rang as soon as I got upstairs. “Hello?” I answered it.

“Avery, how are you?”

“Catherine!” I yelled. Catherine was my best friend who had moved to America three months ago.

“Yep, it's me.” I could almost see Catherine's little smile she had when she said that.

“Guess what? I just got into the advanced classes!”

“That's great! Speaking of advanced classes, how are things going at school?”

“Good, it's just so lonely without you.”

“I know, it's lonely here. Quinn does keep me entertained, though. She's not you, though. You're so much more entertaining, especially with your hilarious Southern accent.”

I giggled a little at the thought.

“Okay, my mom says I have to go get ready for school. See ya!” Catherine said.

“Bye.”

I sat the phone down on my nightstand and started getting ready.

As Mum's chauffeur dropped me off, I walked into the school building and straight to my first class of the day, Maths. I was best at it, and I needed to tell Mrs. Henderson that I was moving to Advanced Maths.

She walked in the door, carrying an overstuffed tote bag filled with piles of papers.

“Mrs. Henderson,” I said, “I'm transferring to Advanced Maths.”

She looked up at me.

“Ah, what a pity. You and Catherine were always my best two students. Now I've lost both of you.”

“Well, I can come see you sometimes. It's not like Catherine, she moved across an ocean.”

“That's right, Miss Avery. Now, you might want to go to the office and get your new schedule so you aren't late to any of your classes this morning.”

“Bye, Mrs. Henderson,” I said.

“Goodbye and good luck in your new classes,” she said as I went to the office.

After my long day at school, I walked home (it was nice outside) and walked up to my room, to call Catherine.

I dialed her number and crossed my fingers in hopes that she would pick up.

“Hey, it's Catherine. I'm probably off doing something crazy and random with my BFF Avery, so leave a message and I'll call you back!” The beep that signaled for me to leave a message went off.

“It's Avery, um, and just call me back whenever you can. Bye.”

Listening to her recording made me sad. There was no way she was off doing things with me now that she was in Chicago and I was in England.

I felt like a fish out of water.

Since it was a long weekend, I slept a lot. In fact, I only got up to eat and use the restroom. The rest of the time, I was either asleep or in my room.

Catherine had left a message telling me all about her new email address and telling me to get one, so I did. In fact, I sent her an email.

To: Catherine Cahill <kittycatherine9@chicagomail.com>

From: Avery Everard <veeakaavery17@uk.com>

Sub: HEY!

Hey, Catherine, it's me, Avery as you can probably tell. I just got an email account last night and decided to email you since I'm really bored.

How are things in Chicago? Have you gone anywhere fun yet?

Send me some pictures if you can!

~Hugs and Kisses, Vee

Hope you enjoyed! Please leave a comment giving me some constructive criticism, if you would like!