Chapter 1 You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me
What the problem with going to secondary school is, you have to join some sort of group. People like me are rare, those who belong to no group but go from one to the other. I’m seen as a sort of a chameleon, not belonging anywhere but fitting in everywhere.
Well, that what they’ve come up with. But that’s not really the case, to be honest. They all think they know me, that they have me all figured out. They wish. I just choose not to join one of them, I've been like this for awhile, ever since ...
I sighed as I walked down a corridor in Avery Secondary School.
“Alex!” someone called in an overly bright voice.
I groaned I really didn’t want to deal with Carla today. So, I kept walking down the corridor and ignored her.
“Alex! Wait up!” she yelled. I sighed; I couldn’t say that I didn’t hear her when she yells like that.
“Yes?” I ask turning around to face her.
She frowns for a few seconds “Really Alex, you should answer me when I call you,” she chastised me, hands on her hips. I stood quiet, waiting for her reason for even looking at me.
“Really, you act like you don’t belong, like you’re not related to me,” she went on, then she turned wide eyed to face me “Or like you’re adopted!” she exclaims.
I glared at her “I don’t try not to fit in, I’m not really related to you and I am adopted, Carla,” I tell her frostily.
She sighs and I wait, tense, my foster sister never spoke to me in school, unless she wanted something.
“Well?” I ask.
“Well what?” she answered looking confused.
I grit my teeth; I hate it when she plays dumb.
“What do you want?”
“What makes you think I want something,” she sounded too innocent.
“Because, you will barely glance at me unless you wanted something from me, darling sister,”
She glares at me “Fine, I need you to do my Biology homework tonight,” she pleaded.
“No.”
“But I have a date with Jonathan Myles, the Jonathan Myles and I really don’t need Miss Hathaway on my back!"
“I don’t care if you had a date with Taylor Lautner, I still wouldn’t do it,” She's going out with Jon! What the hell!
“Please!”
“No.”
“But, I thought you loved me!” she pouted.
“That works on Sam, not me, now go away, I have to get my books,” and with that, I walked away. I didn’t need her whining at me.
Why did all girls worship Jon like he’s a god? He is one of my best friends, my real friends, and I know he hates the attention.
I don’t have many best friends who know me like Jon, I can tell him anything and even though he’s a ‘popular’, he never squeals. For that I am grateful.
What had possessed him to ask Carla out is beyond me. I shake my head slightly; Carla gets excited over such small things.
I reach my locker to find the boy in question was leaning against it casually.
“What’s up Jon?” I ask him.
“Not much, so Carla got to you yet?” he asked teasingly.
I shot him a dark look, and he laughed. It was obvious why the girls of our school loved Jon. He was perfect, tall, slim but not scrawny, blond, slightly tanned and greened eyed. I on the hand see him as only a good friend maybe a brother sometimes.
“What do you have now?” he asked.
“Double history and Science,” I answered looking at my timetable. Jon already knew but he always asked anyway.
“Still can’t get over, it Junior Cert year,” he sighed as we headed for history. Several girls glared at me and smiled at Jon. I grinned at him as he grimaced.
“Avoiding the fan club?” I teased him.
He groaned and buried his head in his hands dramatically. I burst out laughing; only Jon could make me laugh nowadays. Many boys looked our way surprised to see me grinning and laughing. I’m known as doom and gloom girl by most of our year.
We arrived in history, as Jon and I sat down in our seats, beside each other; we discovered that Mr. Keane was out. I sighed and took out the assigned work, I enjoyed history but I preferred the way Mr. Keane did it.
Why’d you ask my sister out? I wrote on a note and I passed it to Jon.
She asked me out and I couldn’t say no, she had the puppy eyes look on. He wrote back.
I grimaced at that. Stupid, manipulative sister I thought.
Are you going to date her?
No, I’ll let her down gently, before I go home.
Good it would be soooo weird; she’d act like you’re going marry her!
Yuck, no offense to your foster sister, but I’d rather not marry her.
I thought so, we’d better go back to our work or Ms. May will find us passing notes and give us detention!
Ya! Ha ha my mom would have a field day!
And mine along with her. Oh crap Ms. May is staring at us act natural.
Did you know her first name’s Maura?
I stared at him and he grinned at me, how does he know this stuff?
“Would you like to share something with the class, Jonathan and Alex?” Miss May asked sweetly, leaning over our desk.
“Our work? I asked feigning confusion. Miss May frowned and stared at me hard. I had the note stuffed into my fist so she wouldn’t see. I kept my hands under the table. She looked at our work and sighed, she loved giving out to people. I smiled at her innocently.
“Continue working,” she sighed. I nodded and smiled at Jon when she wasn’t looking. I was what Jon would call a goody two shoes around the teachers. That made me less likely to get in trouble, that’s why Miss May didn’t ask me to show her my hands.
Jon was staring at me mouth open, I grinned at him. If it had been him, Miss May would have asked him to show her his hands and we’d have gotten detention. Ah, the joys of being a teacher’s pet.
‘Cod fish’ I mouthed at him. He closed his mouth quickly and I smirked at him. I returned to my work still smirking, while ignoring the stares and glares I was getting. I finished my work quickly and started to draw on my notebook.
I felt someone tap my shoulder behind me and I turned around. Stacie Myles stared at me and handed me a note. I glanced down. Give to Jon was written on it. I turned around and rolled my eyes. Miss May had gone out to get a cup of tea, so I didn't have to worry about getting caught. I put the not on Jon's copy and he glanced at me. I glanced behind me at Stacie and Jon sighed. I watched as opened the note, read it then stuffed it in his pocket. Not the first time I've seen him do that.
Jon and I normally don't sit beside each other, a few times maybe but not all the time. I don't like the popular crowd so I tend to stay away from their crew, which includes Jon.
The rest of the day passed quickly, I sighed when the final bell rang. I jumped up and stuffed my books into my bag and raced for the door.
“Someone’s in a hurry,” Jon said beside me. I yelled and jumped.
“For heaven’s sake Jon you nearly scared me to death,” I yelled at him. His eyes flashed.
“Not funny Grace,” he said quietly.
“What?”
“You dying.”
I looked at him, he was deadly serious. I stared at him for another few minutes.
“I was just kidding, no need to go all serious on me,” I told him crossing my arms. I realised we’d stopped walking.
“But I am serious, you dying is not a cool thought for me,” he replied stiffly. He looked angry and pissed, I was just messing.
"Jon, what's your deal, seriously?"
"I just ... don't like the thought of you - "
"Then don't think about it!"
"Well maybe I won't if you don't mention it!"
“Look, can we just drop it, I’m sorry I spoke,” I told him, defeated. I didn’t mean to insult him or anything. I started to walk away when he caught my wrist.
“No, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have over reacted, that was stupid, and you would never seriously mean that.” He apologized; he gave me a pleading look.
“Fine, you’re forgiven,” I huffed crossing my arms, pretending to be bothered, it’s funny how we make up so fast.
Jon started laughing but he stopped suddenly.
“People are staring” he murmured to me. I looked around, he was right; we were getting a lot of stares. I stared back and they all looked hastily away. I snorted, idiots.
“Come on, you have something to say to my sister,” I grinned at him and I pulled on his arm. He blanched and I laughed. “You aren’t afraid, are you Jon?” I asked him innocently.
He just glared at the wall behind behind me and muttered “Let’s just get this over with,” under his breath. I laughed out loud and grinned at him. He sighed and I dragged him over to our lockers. Carla and some of her friends were gossiping close by. Carla looked over at me and smiled, and then she spotted Jon and blushed.
I frowned, how much did Carla actually like Jon? I was worried that their break up (even though they weren’t even going out but to Carla it would seem like that) would really hurt her. Jon must have noticed too because he looked guilty.
“Are you sure I should do this?” Jon whispered in my ear. I looked at Carla out of the corner of my eye; she looked shocked, her friends were whispering furiously, ah crap. I gave him a sad look.
“What do you want Jon?” I asked him. He sighed and looked away. As much as Carla annoys me, I do really love her and I don’t want to see her get hurt. But, I didn’t want Jon to do something he didn’t want to out of guilt.
“I don’t want to hurt her” he whispered. I nodded in understanding.
“But would it be better to lead her on and not enjoy being her boyfriend?” I asked him softly, I knew that Jon wouldn’t enjoy being Carla’s boyfriend; he doesn’t see her that way. He gave me a pained look and started towards Carla. I dreaded her reaction.
Carla smiled brightly at Jon and caught my eye; she glared at me and looked a little smug. Her expression was like a slap in the face as I realised, she thought I was going to steal him away from her. I had no doubt that she would blame me for what was coming. I turned around and opened my locker. I was putting away my English homework when I heard Carla’s cry of despair, I flinched at the sound. I hate seeing or hearing others hurt.
“But why?!” she exclaimed.
“I’m sorry, Carla, but I really don’t think that a relationship between us would work out,” I sighed, Jon was always a gentleman in situations like this.
I turned around and stood up, leaving my books and bag where they were. I could see that the situation was going to get out of hand soon and people were starting to stare. I knew I had to act quickly, or something bad was going to happen.
“Hey, Jon,” I called as I walked over. Carla and her friends (if you would call them that, they remind me more of sheep; they all must be identical) either frowned or glared at me. “Are you still going to my house?” I continued.
Jon gave me a look of thanks and said “Of course,” even though we hadn’t actually planned it. There was a large chance that Carla would go to her friend’s house, so Jon could relax. Carla gave me a glare. I mentally slapped myself; she thought I was stealing him from her.
“Are you two going out?” asked one of Carla’s friends; Sarah’s her name if my memory served me correctly. I laughed at her as did Jon.
“No, we’re just good friends,” I replied. They all narrowed their eyes, like I said they all have to be the same.
“But, you guys don’t hang out much and Jon never comes to our house,” accused Carla, tears were streaking her face.
“Yes, he has, you just haven’t been home, ask mom and dad or even Sam if you don’t believe me,” I argued. I regretted it instantly, she looked murderous.
“Come on, Lex.” Jon pulled on my arm. I kept staring at Carla, there was going to be war when we got home. I let him pull me away never taking my eyes off Carla and her ‘friends’.
I finally turned around and walked towards my locker, Jon went to his which was five away from mine. Carla walked over and opened hers, which was the one right beside Jon’s. Carla’s last name is Michaels but I said I wanted to keep my own name.
I saw Carla wipe her face with a tissue out of the corner of my eye. I sighed and closed my bag. I mentally checked if I had all the homework, when I was sure I walked over to Jon.
“You ready?” I asked him, he nodded and gave me a sad look.
“I’m sorry,” he said sadly. Someone stopped behind us; I glanced over my shoulder, Carla and Sarah. Carla suddenly looked smug. I ignored them and faced Jon.
“Sorry for what?” I asked him, I started to walk again and he followed me, unfortunately so did Carla and Sarah.
Jon looked pained.
“For getting you and Carla into a fight,” he whispered, he looked afraid I would yell at him or something. I rolled my eyes at him. He's always been like this, afraid about upsetting me.
"Seriously Jon, you don’t have to be sorry, it won’t kill me or her,” I smiled at him, he looked relieved. “Worry wart,” I teased him, he pressed his hand to his heart.
“You wound me,” he said dramatically. He clasped his hand over his heart like I'd shot him. “Thou shall pay for thy insult,” he threatened I could see the amusement in his eyes.
“Me thinks that doth not have the courage,” I quipped. He looked outraged. He lunged for me playfully and I dodged his attack laughing.
“Thou must catch me first, my Lord,” I called as I ran away. I passed my English teacher who stopped me.
She looked really amused “I never thought I’d see the day when two of my students would be racing down the halls yelling at each other in old English, carry on,”
“Many gracious thanks Ms. Crowe,” I bowed slightly then scampered off. I looked over my shoulder to see Jon speeding towards me. I spotted my father outside standing by the car, I ran towards him laughing. I passed many dumbstruck students who stared at me.
I skidded to a stop near my dad. “Help,” I said to him laughing, bent over and slightly out of breath. He raised an eyebrow at me when someone crashed into me from behind. A pair of arms wrapped around me and started tickling my sides, I shrieked with laughter.
“Do you give,” Jon said in my ear.
“I give, I give!” I yelled and he let me go.
I glared at him “You don’t play fair,” I accused.
“Never said I did,” Jon replied grinning. I noticed my dad laughing.
“Damn Jon you got her good,” he laughed.
“All in a day’s work Mr Grace,”
“How many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Chris,”
“Alright then Chris,” he replied still grinning.
“What on earth was that!?” someone said from behind me. It was Carla.
“We were just messing,” I told her.
Carla’s face was slowly going a weird shade of red, she had her hand balled up into fists at her sides. She looked somewhere between a tomato and a beetroot. It was funny.
“Just messing around? Do you have any idea how your little stunt affects my image?” she literally yelled back. I was tempted to tell her that people were staring, but seeing the look on her face I kept my mouth shut.
“Now Carla your sister is entitled to have some fun with one of her friends.” Dad chastised her.
I swear Carla’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. Crap, I forgot about her obsession with her ‘image’. This was not going to be pretty.
“How about we get in the car, hmm,” I suggested weakly looking at Jon for help.
“Sure, ya, let’s go,” he immediately said.
“Yes, let’s,” Carla agreed slyly. Oh no, this was NOT happening. Carla coming home after
1. Jon breaking up with her (which I’m guessing she blames me for),
2. Me inviting Jon home,
3. Me embarrassing her in front of the sheep,
4. And finally, me embarrassing her in front of the school.
And having me and Jon in plain sight is really going to go well. Not.
She looked right now from the backseat like she was going to have a seizure.Her eyes were bugging slightly and her face was still that shade of tomato/beetroot.
I know what happened doesn’t seem like much, it’s not like I am stealing Jon from her (that would have made matters very hellish indeed) but to her, it’s awful. She’s one of those people who have to have the perfect boyfriend, the perfect friends, the perfect hairstyle, the perfect sibling (which is why she pretends not to know me, get it?) et cetera, et cetera. Basically she and her life must be perfect, she must have never been told that NOBODY’S perfect. Pity, I might have actually liked her.
Continued in Chapter 2 ...
Currently, it sounds more like a teaser than a prologue, but that may just be me. 
