but all that changes when I remember that i

If I blow it today, I will blow it

op top. My black backpack, which I grudging

and to knock. I stop. I better find some

if someone has been waiting f

I am so shocked by who I meet in the front po

The one who teases me all the time. The one who walked on me naked

run upstairs and barge into my dad's

the room. Where h

Keith, I will ask him

tairs to see my d

and Keith is there too. They are ta

one man to

ad

oney?"

t in your room." T

o run by the o

e still doing in my hous

much I look at h

t?" He was trying to

e, alright."

oon give him somet

ng to get him to feel unwelcome. I want

on. He instead walks to the refriger

aking you to

? This clown ta

ay, Keith" Dad

sir". Ke

was supposed to take me to school on my first day,

uma and here he is pres

do this to me

e he knows exactly wh

a stranger to t

is Ben's best friend. I wouldn't give you to

ranger. I don't kn

s trying to figure out wh

ve to head back to the office." He doesn't see things the

t going

s nonchalant, I will sho

Now he gives me h

not going." I fold my hands

m sure he is deciding how

n gets to where they are through hard work. You

ant to hear. Why can't he get into

I ask

ves me a light

chool, Annabelle

e has left me alone with a stranger and he has

eet back to

lding an apple which, I'm sure, he to

me. *scoffs* okay, I admit. He

e set?"

e that stupid sm

guess,"

e points at the box of cerea

stranger's hand all over wh

"We should go, don't want

and st

be in college or something?" I

gives me a

t dropping m

there too." He sm

but I follo

cused on the road and it's a good thin

me, I begin to int

u are in college. How come you a

ed and he doesn't give me an answer. I'm beginning to think

out the basketball coach. Had an injury that is going to kee

he was a dummy who is still stuck in hi

Won't you miss lec

but will catch

ow

ways." He w

soar. He notic

ng to school with a staff," I

I'm a staf

for the basketball coach, doesn

cticing with the basketball

the talking. Can't forg

ks after some minute

dly. Of course, h

n

nough." I shrug

east tell a half-bad joke. Maybe with

pulls up in a s

han I pictured and it

legs won't move

coming ou

stare at me. It was so intense that I didn'

r and leads me to t

**

before the princ

people with zero social life were principals. Here bef

as he brushes through do's and do

he said, I ca

in. But the next thing I remember is standing be

's your name?" Mrs. Fred

teenagers staring back at me. I open my mout

elle Hopkins." The

would have stayed here

come to Annabelle.

The class says wi

school isn't the bes

The teacher says. None

eat, Annabelle

to trip, I walk to

A group of girls at my left. They are talking loudly. Loud enough to

(is that even allowed in high scho

ts my eye and I turn my gaze away. My instincts t

me. And I look away and i

ours. Luncht

e class, but still, none of

stand awkwardly, w

Ben who died in an accident

l girl. She is in a white sho

poken to me. I will ma

'm his junior siste

how good my brother was. How they miss him here altho

h her friend who looks similar

face can't be de

she is walking past me? Can

murs from her

the one." Her frien

ting you." She says. "Sh

t, they

happening in just my first day in school. Thi

na," I assure myself

gods I knew, to guide me and

ry inch of every space i

tight. I use my eyes to scan aroun

. At the far end of the hall. I walk

ss are sitting around the ta

six people but here two are sitting at

. And that's when the girls who I thought neve

ompassion or friendli

The one with th

. Annabelle Ho

you to think that you ca

ion has just

ught the seat was

ely it's no

arrassed is an

he ground to open

ing to each other. Is this going to be my life?

nd hide in the toilet. Their ey

run. And that wa

p. From the mean and gi

at I am in big trouble. I can hea

So that's her name, Taylor. The pink freak that I took m

dding me?"

I try to clean off the pi

hands off me." Sh

my mouth. I'm about to cry. I do

st been embarrassed by this gir

shoulder. I turn to see

He asks. With genuin

turn to look at Taylor

aning Taylor's body wit

ew I have gotten myself i

like bathing someone with your lun

o that?" H

't be standing here at the very c

is psycho, Keit

psycho? Can this girl

or. Annabelle made a mist

I've been nothing but rude to

. She looks from me to

w her?" She se

"she is Ben's

omes to a

d," Taylo

round seems to be surprised

s around here but I'm g

get you another

your blouse."

s with a smile. "it wa

Keith lead

th us. If you want."

with her? After all, that ju

een saying yes, I wanted to say yes and

o sit with me and the boys." Keith

dn't even give me a chan

l the way to t

able. It's like being handsome is one of th

ve at me. As Keith waits for me to

ou're Ben's sister

gh. "Why is being Ben's sis

other is a legend aroun

One of the finest

and with a smile. Of

vin." H

is hand

reply. Return

ing at us. Something tells me not eve

thoughts. He pushes his snac

e smiles. "I hav

laugh and