'Extraordinary Girl' as such, chapter 1

Well, another day of school finished. "Cara, you walking?" I asked Cara, my best friend, as I passed her in the corridor. "
No doll, sorry. I'm on duty, remember, Thursday I have homework club prefect duty." She said over a steady stream of little first years.
"Yeah, okay then, see you tomorrow." I said hugging her, and leaving. I pulled my schoolbag on properly and took my mp3 player out of my pocket. 'You guys will keep me company on the way down' I thought, talking to the imaginary green day trio in my head. I'll tell you now; I'm more than a little obsessed with them.

I buttoned the top two buttons on my blazer and began walking down the walks to the gates. I waved to a few juniors on the way down, but left the school grounds with green day blasting from my headphones. It was probably so loud other people could hear it, but oh well. It started to rain a little as I walked under the arch to the inner city, but as usual, I'm too lazy to get out my umbrella, so I was getting a little wet. I crossed the road over at the diamond and began walking down the steepest street in the town, singing along, in my mind, to the grouch, and wondering what homework I have, and hoping I won't fall asleep on the bus again. I smiled at a few people on the way down, a polite way to say hello, without actually saying it.

I was halfway down the street when I faintly heard someone shouting, but I often hear things, so I ignored it. Then someone put their hand on my shoulder. I jumped around and nearly hit some guy in the face, damn reflexes. I could see he was talking so I took the headphones out of my ears,
"Sorry, what?" I asked,
"I was just wondering, are you a Green Day fan?" he asked smiling,
"Yeah, why?" I answered looking up at the big clock,
"Well, I heard it, from your earphones," he smiled, "I'm Mark Kohr," he said reaching out his hand, I shook it, "yeah, I direct some of Green Day's music videos and I'm talent spotting for their next one. They decided to do one more from American Idiot before truly putting it to rest." He smiled but I just raised and eyebrow, as if to say 'and your point is' but he got the message, "I saw you walking down here and I think you'd be perfect for the video." I looked him up and down, nice suit, no tie, carrying a backpack. He handed me a business card, it looked real,
"Listen, I want to believe you, I recognise the name from some of their videos, but I'm seventeen, not stupid." He thought for a minute, then took out his phone, and showed me a picture, of him with Billie Joe, Mike and Tré. "Okay so I'm a little more likely to believe you now." I smiled,
"Okay, so you have my number on the card, and if I could just get yours, I'll be able to call you in a few days to confirm everything." I nodded and searched my blazer for a piece of paper that I didn't need. I found a piece, wrote down my number, and handed it to him.

"I'm Stephanie, by the way." He smiled and nodded, putting the number into his pocket.
"Well, I have to call the guy's and see if its okay, but I'll phone you in a few days. Bye." He extended his hand again,
"Yeah, okay, bye." I said shaking his hand again, and then I continued to walk down the street to the depot. I just about made my bus and sat down in an empty seat. I put my mp3 player on again, and got a disapproving look from a little old lady two seats down, so I turned it down a little and closed my eyes. Tina tapped my shoulder as she got off at her stop 'cause I had fallen asleep.

I walked into the house and straight up to my room, turned on the TV and began my homework. At nine o'clock I packed away my stuff and watched House, then Gray's Anatomy, and then switched everything off, and went to bed.

I got up at seven, got ready and went to school. Not talking much as I ate my breakfast.
"Banana darlin' put on your glasses," I said as my little sister walked in with her hair messy, her school dress not buttoned properly, and only one shoe on. I laughed,
"Come here hunny, let me fix you." I said as she stomped over and stood in front of me as I buttoned her dress up, tidied her hair and handed her, her glasses. "Now go get your other shoe," I said giving her a kiss. At eight o'clock I got into my dad's car and he took me to school.

I walked through the gates and up to the library. I walked down to the back and sat down. At 8:40 Cara walked in with Orla and Darren, and sat down beside me, and I filled them in about what happened the day before.
"That's bull shit." Cara said, I looked at her,
"Well I don't know, that's what I thought too, but he seemed authentic. He had a picture of himself and Green Day on his phone, and look at his card." I said handing Cara the card Mark had given me. She looked at it and passed it to Orla and Darren. Orla smiled as she took a look at the card,
"What did you do Orla?" I asked, she smiled again,
"Nothing, I'm just thinking how cool it is if he's actually being serious. I mean you could be in a Green Day music video." I smiled,
"I know, it's going to be so cool."
"Alright everyone out." Mr. Wilkins, the librarian, said walking down towards us, "Okay, be out by the bell, I have to go to a meeting." He said before turning and getting all the juniors out, and leaving. At the bell, we left to go to form class,
"I still can't believe we're the oldest in the school." Cara said again, for the millionth time since the upper sixths left for study leave last year, as they headed one way and I had to go the other.

I didn't tell anyone else except for Cara, Orla and Darren but secretly I was praying that it would actually be for real, but I knew not to get my hopes up too much.
"Alright everyone, do questions 5 and 6, page 235, for Monday please. Okay pack up and put up the stools please, you're the last people in here today." Dr. Joyce said, before the bell rang and we all left for the weekend. I met Orla, Cara, and Darren at the purple pillars and we left the school.
"So, where be we going?" Darren asked, I looked at the other two,
"Boston?" I asked and they nodded, so we headed to the café for tea and stuff.

"So, plans for the weekend?" Orla asked,
"Work." I said,
"Homework." Cara said,
"Nothing." Added Darren.

My phone began to ring so I went outside.
"Hello, Steph here."
"Ah, yes hello Stephanie. It's Mark Kohr, we spoke yesterday."
"Oh, hello."
"Yeah so I spoke to the guys and they said yeah, so I was wondering if I could arrange a meeting so we can sort out some of the final details, and I'm going to have to meet parents or something."
"Okay, yeah, sure. Give me a date time and place, and I'll see you then."
"How's seven thirty, tonight, O'Brien's?"
"Yeah sure. It shouldn't be a problem, I'll see you then Mark." I hung up and walked back into Boston.

"Well, what the fuck was that about?" Cara asked as I sat down,
"Well, that was Mark, I have to meet him tonight so we can smooth out the little details." Cara looked at me,
"Yeah, balls. He's not who he says he is, wait and see." Orla looked hurt,
"What's wrong with you?" I asked,
"Hey, I'm supposed to be the eternal sceptic." She huffed. We all laughed, and joked for the next hour and then I had to go home, to get changed and let the parents know.

"Mum, I'm home. Where are you?" I yelled as I walked through the door. "I'm in here, what is it?" she yelled from the bedroom. I walked into the bedroom, "Mum, what would you say if me, you and dad, go out for something to eat tonight? I'll ask Cathal if he'll watch the kids. I'll pay." I said, trying to seal the deal. She smiled, and nodded. "Well, how about we be there for half seven?" she nodded again and I left to have a shower.

After I got out of the shower, I filled dad in on what was happening, well, not everything, I didn't tell him about Mark or the Green Day thing. I dried and straightened my hair, put on my black pin-stripe dress and sandals, and make up. At seven I went downstairs and shouted for my parents to hurry up. "Do you want me to drive up?" I asked, "Yeah, sure, here." My dad said handing me the keys to the Golf. "So where we going, and why are you taking us for dinner?" mum asked as I drove up the road. "Oh, felt like going out and everyone's busy. Are you complaining?" I answered. She shook her head and nobody really said much on the way up.

I parked the car, and we all got out and walked into O'Brien's. "Table for three." Dad said to the waitress. I saw Mark waving and waved back,
"No it's okay, we're meeting someone." I said politely to the waitress, and led a pair of confused parents over to Mark, where he, and the man sitting with him stood up. He shook my hand and we all sat down.
"Mum, dad, this is Mark Kohr. Mark, these are my parents." He shook my parent's hands,
"And this is Jay Lynch, he's a lawyer, here for everyone's best interest." He said, as I shook Jay's hand.
"What does he mean 'for everyone's best interest' Stephanie?" mum asked.
"Well, there is something I didn't tell you. Mark Kohr is a director for some Green Day music video's and he would like me to be in the next one." My parents looked worried, confused and angry.
"Listen, this is completely serious, I think that Steph is perfect for the video. I just need to make sure that it's okay with you guys." Our food came and we all ate.
"So, what else is it that you do exactly?" my dad asked,
"I'm a director in America. I just do music videos and stuff, no films yet." Mark laughed.
"So have I seen any of your work?" dad asked.
"Well, since your daughter is a huge Green Day fan, have you ever seen any of their music videos?" Mark asked.
"Dad, remember that video I showed you. The Longview one, that's Mark's work." Dad had a blank face,
"Refresh my memory." He said,
"The one with the guy sitting watching the TV, and at the end he rips the sofa open." I said, "It was Mark directed that." Mark looked impressed.

After dinner we had desert, O'Brien's do the best double chocolate fudge cake ever, and began to talk business. "So, I think that Steph is perfect for the role, and the guy's agree, from what I've described to them, but it could all go pear shaped when you meet them." Mark said and smiled at us. "Just so I know what I'm getting myself into, can I ask which song you're making the video for?" I asked, "Well, I'm really not supposed to tell, but as long as nobody let's slip... " I shook my head, "Extraordinary girl." He said quietly. I smiled, I loved that song.

"Well, we aren't happy about the fact that Stephanie will miss school, but if it's what she really wants, I'm sure we'll be fine with it." Dad sighed. "Okay, that's great. We start the process next Wednesday in California, so we'll need you there then." I nodded, but dad and mum didn't look too happy. "I'll let the school know on Monday, and see if I can get flights on Tuesday." I said, this would be the best thing that will possibly ever happen to me. "Well, actually," Mark said, as Jay handed him an envelope, which he passed to me, "I hope you don't mind, but we have taken the liberty of booking you and a parent or guardian, flights for Monday night." Mark said smiling as my face lit up. I looked at my parents. The expression on their faces weren't good.

I turned to face them, "What?" I asked. "Well," my dad started, "We're not happy, but okay, with you going for a month to America but us. That's a different matter. We both have work, and the kids to think of. Neither of us can afford to take that amount of time off." Dad finished. I frowned a little, "well, you do need someone that you know, to go with you, for legal reasons, and stuff. Do you think you'd be able to find someone in this short notice? They have to be over twenty-one." Jay said. I thought for a minute. "Yeah, I'll find someone no problem." "Great, well I'll need to meet with you and this person, just to sign a few papers and stuff. How's tomorrow evening, eight o'clock, in that restaurant over there?" He said pointing to the Chinese place across the road. I smiled, "yeah sure." I answered. The bill came soon after and Mark paid it, and we bid adieu and left the restaurant.

I woke up happy on Saturday morning, and left for work. I arrived five minutes late, but hell, Carl doesn't mind. I parked the car, stocked the trailer, cut the onions and hooked on the jeep. "Carl, I'm ready when you are." I shouted into the office. "Yeah, I'll be up in a fuckin' minute." He replied, so I went back out to the store and tidied up. A minute with Carl is about fifteen minutes with everyone else. "Right, come on now Steph." Carl said walking out of the house towards the stores. I finished cleaning, lifted my bag and got into the jeep.

"Carl, I need a month off work." I said,
"What! When?"
"I leave on Monday night"
"Fuck, a bit short notice, where you going?"
"America. But I have to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Do you like Green Day?"
"Those American tossers who are completely full of themselves and write great music?"
"That's them."
"Yeah, why?"
"Do you want to come with me to America for a month?"
"What the fuck are you talking about Steph?"
"Do you want to come with me to America as my guardian person, for a month?" I said slowly.
"I'll have to clear it with Jo and Mark, but why not. By the way, what's this got to do with Green Day?"
"Well, I'm going to meet them, and I figure, the person I take should like them too."
"Fair enough. When do we leave?"
"We have to meet a few people tonight, at eight o'clock, at that new Chinese place beside the cinema, and we leave Monday night."
"Okay, well, we'll clock off early to get ready. I'll be back down for you at four."
"See you then Carl."
"Bye." Great, I had a 'guardian' and he'll get on perfectly with Green Day, immature, same age, stoned all the time. Yep, all the criteria is filled.

'He's fucking late again, useless fucking idiot.' I thought to myself as I closed the hatch, and sorted the money into the correct bags.
Beep
"About fucking time Carl." I shouted as I helped him hook on the trailer again. We left the trailer to the yard and Carl went to sort out some stuff in the office, I looked at my watch, and walked into the house, and down to the office, "Carl, we have to meet Mark at eight so go home, get changed and I'll pick you up in an hour." He looked up at me, "Should it not be that I pick you up?" he asked, "Carl, my car is nicer than yours and you'll probably be drinking, so I think it's for the best if I pick you up." I smiled. "Yeah, sure, see you then." He said and I left.

We walked into the restaurant, saw Mark waving to me and I walked over to him, followed by Carl. "Mark and Jay, this is Carl. Carl, this is Mark Kohr and Jay Lynch." I said introducing everyone, and we sat down.
"So, Carl, are you willing to take guardian responsibilities of Steph?" Mark said, "you what?" Carl answered, confused,
"Well, you going to America are to look out for Steph. To make sure she aren't screwed over by anyone. You ready to do that?" Carl took another drag of his cigarette,
"Yeah, sure, why not." He answered,
"Okay then, I just need to know a few things." Jay started, "how do you know Steph, and how long, just so I know she hasn't lifted a random person off the street." Carl looked over a Jay,
"I've been her boss for about three years, and her cousin is married to my brother. So I've known her quite a while." Jay nodded,
"Okay, if you both can just sign these few papers," he said handing them to Carl, "then we will all be covered." We both signed what needed signed and we made plans to meet at the airport on Monday night at six o'clock. Then Carl and me left, and I took him home.