"Ok..." She grabbed her lunch box from the counter and grabbed her backpack.
"Ill see you later kay?" She smiled reassuringly.

He nodded solemnly.

Wonder where Robbie is? Hes usually here by now. Maybe he didnt feel like getting drenched and stayed home. Skipping class again, huh? Slacker. At least Robbie will remember her birthday. Which was more than she could say about Luke. Wonder what kooky thing he has planned for her birthday? Last year, he snuck her out of the house for a midnight picnic in the woods. It was weird; there was a little glen and the little pond with the fireflies drifting over it.

She smiled and patted his head and headed to the front door where the bus would be.
"Bye... I'm heading to school." She said before leaving the house and heading to the bus parked outside.

Something rustled in the bushes behind her. A possum or a deer, or even a fox, seeking shelter from the rain. The wildlife out here was stupidly bold and had little fear of humans. If it wasnt for Beau, Moms vegetable garden would be a buffet for rabbits and deer, and the local raccoon family would help themselves to everything in their cupboards.

A branch snapped in the trees, closer this time.

Amelia looked around, cautious of her surroundings, she was a little scared.
The bus was at the end of their driveway now and she sighed.
'Its nothing...' She said reassuringly to herself, she started to walk to the bus.

And then, something reached around the tree and grabbed her

She flinched a little, but she did not want to panic much. She didn't turn around to face whoever grabbed her.

Laughter exploded behind her.

Robbie Goodfell, her closest neighbor--meaning he lived nearly twelve miles away--slouched against the tree trunk, gasping with mirth. Lanky and tall, in tattered jeans and an old T-shirt, he paused to look at her face, before cracking up again. His spiky red hair lay plastered to his forehead and his clothes clung to his skin, emphasizing his lean, bony frame, as though his limbs didnt fit quite right. Being drenched and covered in twigs, leaves, and mud didnt seem to bother him. Few things did.

She faced Robbie.
"You scared the crap out of me!" She laughed a little.

"S-sorry, princess," Robbie gasped, clutching his heart as he sucked in air. "It was just too perfect." He gave a final chortle and straightened, holding his ribs. "Man, that was impressive. You mustve jumped three feet in the air. What, did you think I was, Leatherface or something?"