Dedicated to SheWhoWearsAMask

   It was just a dream.

   It wasn't just a dream!

   IT WAS JUST A DREAM!

   Her mind had been battling with itself all morning. Debates on whether or not the silhouetted intruder had been a dream chorused through her head so loudly, she almost missed what her parents were talking about.

   "A welcoming barbecue?" her father asked her mother, giving Jamie a sideways glance.

   "Yes. It's arranged by the neighbourhood's council. They do it for every new family moving into the community. Very nice of them, isn't it?"

   Jamie's mental arguments fell dead silent.

   "What do you mean?" Jamie asked.

   "You understand perfectly well what I mean," her mother replied, growing indignant.

   "Do I have to go?" Jamie's mind raced through dozens of scenarios, most ending with her covered in grass stains, and kids laughing at her.

   "Of course you do! This will be a chance for you to make friends! I'm sure there's another kid out there who wants a friend. Win-win. Now come on. Help me clean up the kitchen. We also need to head to the store. I'm going the bring some cherry-cheesecake-cupcakes."

   "Um, Mom?" Jamie asked timidly.

   "What?"

   "What if no one wants to be friends with me?"

   "Of course someone's going to want to be your friend! Now please help me—"

   "But Mom—"

   "Jamie, I'm serious. Just be friendly, and you'll have some best buddies in no time."

   Abby Foster couldn't have more wrong. And Jamie knew that.

   Four hours later, when Jamie's mother had put the cupcakes in the fridge, Jamie couldn't take it any longer. She ran up to her room and flopped down on her bed. She thought over all the things she could do to get out of going. She could pretend to be sick. But would her mother see right through it? She could hit her head, and pretend to have a terrible headache. But her mother was smart, and knew her really well, like all mothers know their daughters. She would surely notice she didn't have the symptoms she usually had with a headache. She could...

   "Jam-Jam!" Her father had started calling her the babyish nickname she had accidentally given herself as a baby, for a few days now, and it was driving her crazy. "Time to go!"

   There was no way to avoid it. She climbed down the stairs, dragging her feet so much that she almost tripped. Though, at this point, tripping didn't sound like a terrible idea.

   "Jamie, can you grab me that bag?" Her mother's head was in the fridge, and she was reaching out for the bag. Forgetting about her frustrations, Jamie rushed to help her.

   "Thanks."

   They walked outside and crossed the street to the boulevard separating each side of the street. Tents, picnic tables, and barbecues had been moved onto the grassy space, and Jamie could barely hear her own thoughts over the hubbub of laughter and conversation. The awkward trio reached the long table where all of the desserts were stacked. After placing the cupcakes down, Jamie's parent's disappeared into the crowd, and Jamie found herself alone in all of the chaos.

   She figured it was now or never to see if she would be accepted into the community of kids here. She wandered for a bit, then seeing a group of children up ahead, she walked over shyly. Her approach went unnoticed. She caught only snippets of conversations. As she pushed her way to the edge of the mob, a particularly mean looking girl turned to look at her. The girl grinned wickedly. Jamie turned to go...

   "Not so fast, missy." The sneering girl nudged her shoulder. Jamie turned around to face her. The girl had blackish brown hair, and her features were twisted with a wicked look, and permanent scowl. Her mouth opened slightly to reveal her dirty teeth, most of them plated with cavity fillings. "I haven't even introduced myself." She raised an eyebrow, and her grin became even more malevolent. "I'm Coco. What's your name."

   Coco nudged Jamie again. "Ouch!" Jamie squeaked.

   "So your name's 'Ouch!'?" Coco drawled, clearly enjoying the look of embarrassment on Jamie's face. "Did you hear that!" Coco nudged another kid, and they nodded and laughed, but it sounded forced. Maybe she wasn't the only one afraid if Coco. Other kids around her laughed half heartedly, looking a little sorry for Jamie. Coco didn't seem to notice.

"Where are your parents?" Coco asked, turning back to Jamie, "I'd like to meet the people who would name their daughter after the noise of pain, Ouch." Coco cocked her head mockingly."I've never seen you around here before."

   The bully stepped away from Jamie, and started off to find Jamie's parents.

   A sensible part of her brain reminded her that Coco had no idea who her parents were. And even if she did find her parents, how would she talk to them about their daughter. She didn't even know her name. She could threaten all she wanted. But Jamie wasn't going to let this bully keep bugging her.

   "No!" Jamie didn't want Coco to go look for her parents. Plus, if she did find them, Jamie would look like an idiot.

   "Huh?" Coco spun around, and stared at Jamie with a cold glare.

Kids shifted away. A small clearing opened up, like a battle arena.

   "No, they didn't name me Ouch. I mean..." Jamie stumbled over her words, realizing that Coco might not have any friends to back her up, but she could still bully her on her own. And the other retreating kids didn't seem to want to help her.

   "Oh, I see. You're an adopted child. A mess put into innocent hands. Your poor, poor parents," Coco mocked. She seemed to enjoy Jamie's confused face.

   "Yes, but my name's not..."

   "Oh, so you were adopted." Coco was practically bubbling with aggressively menacing giddiness. "What happened to your parents? Did they die from disappointment? Did you kill them with that little annoying voice of yours? Or did they die in a tragic car crash? Ooh, I bet you have magically powers like Harry Potter," she sneered. "Must feel awful..."

   "Miss Mozale, please leave Miss Foster alone. It is extremely unkind to tease people about people they have lost in their lives. If I am not mistaken, your grandmother died only a few weeks ago, and you were devastated. How would you feel if such a thing happened to your parents?"

   Jamie spun to see her neighbour, the unkind man, shooting Coco with a hard stare.

   Coco blanched.

   "Sorry, sir, I—"

   "—will leave her alone at once? Wonderful." The man looked up at the sky, nearly hidden by trees. "Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to have a private word with Miss Foster."

   Coco nodded meekly, and stumbled away, muttering to herself.    

"Thank The Sources she went away," he mumbled, then drew himself up to his full height, which made him quite an intimidating figure. He put out his hand formally and said to Jamie, "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Errol Loki Forkle, but you'll probably wish to call me Mr. Forkle."

1192 words!