Stories about Melissa E-Book

Bethany Lopez

• Herausgeber: Bethany Lopez
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

This omnibus includes books 1 - 4 in the Stories about Melissa series: Ta Ta for Now!, xoxoxo, Ciao, and TTYL.

Leseprobe

Stories about Melissa

Books 1 - 4

Bethany

Contents

Untitled

Ta Ta for Now!

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

xoxoxo

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Untitled

Entry 1

About the Author

Also by Bethany

Ciao

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Untitled

1. Entry 1

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by Bethany

TTYL

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Untitled

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by Bethany

About the Author

Also by Bethany

Stories about Melissa

Copyright 2014 Bethany Lopez

ISBN: 978-1502704559

Cover Photograph by K Keeton Designs

Cover Design by Makeready Designs

Edited by Kristina Circelli

Ebook Formatting by Bethany Lopez

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please don’t participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Created with Vellum

For my family and friends

who always believe in me.

I love you!

Chapter 1

First Journal Entry:

I always hear people say that they wish they had lots of brothers and sisters. I guess they’re lonely because they’re only children or their siblings are older, but they can’t possibly understand the magnitude of what they’re saying. If they knew what it was like to be the oldest of four kids, they’d thank their lucky stars, shut their mouths, and be grateful for the peace and quiet.

My name is Melissa (don’t call me Missy), and I’m fourteen years old. I live in Dearborn, Michigan, with my mother and father and my brother and sisters. Yes, my parents are still together and have been married for sixteen years. I know, it is weird, but they seem to be happy. Of course, they have me to help with all of the things that they don’t want to do (Did I mention that I’m the oldest?). Not to sound ungrateful, I love my parents (and occasionally my siblings), but sometimes I just want to go into my room and be left alone for twenty-four hours. Just one day, that’s all I’m asking; it doesn’t seem like an unreasonable request!

So, my sister Megan, who’s twelve, gave me this journal for my birthday. She said that maybe if I write down my thoughts, I won’t talk so much (She is the queen of the backhanded compliment). I never had a journal before, and I like the idea of having somewhere to express my thoughts and feelings. I don’t know how much I should say, though, because I would hate for someone in my family to find it and read it. Anyway, as I was saying, my birthday was yesterday and tomorrow is my first day of high school. I’m nervous, but so glad that it’s finally here; I feel like I 've been waiting to be out of middle school forever!

It’s been a fun summer, and I’ve enjoyed working on my tan, but my best friend went away to visit her dad for the summer, and I can’t wait to see her again. I’m ready to get back to school and show everyone how much I have grown over the summer! My hair is longer, I think I have grown at least an inch, and I (finally!!!) have started to develop in the way that only girls do. Did I mention I have a fantastic tan? It seems like it has taken forever, but I am finally starting to like the way I look! With a little makeup and the right outfit, I plan to knock Brian Jackson’s socks off. I vow to make him notice me this year!

I’m getting ahead of myself. I wanted to start off explaining how my crazy family functions, not jump right into my plan to make Brian Jackson mine!

So, I told you about my unconventionally normal parents, Craig and Linda. He works at Detroit Diesel, and she is a teacher at Dearborn High (Yes that is the school that I start tomorrow, the one dark spot on my sunny day!). They were high school sweethearts, went to Central Michigan University together, got married, and started having enough children to start a basketball team. Their proudest moment was, of course, the day I was born. I don’t know why they didn’t stop there and realize that I was all they would ever need, but they didn’t, and next came Megan.

Megan is alright. She will be in seventh grade this year and is a total tomboy. I mean, the girl does not know the meaning of good hygiene. She is always running around playing some sport, and doesn’t care if she leaves the house without brushing her hair, let alone taking a shower. She can be embarrassing sometimes, but for the most part she is tolerable.

So, they had two girls, you would think that would be enough... not for Craig and Linda; they had to keep having kids, and along came number three, Mikey, who is a nine-year-old pain in the neck. He always gets what he wants because he is the son, and gets away with murder! He is the only boy in the family and therefore runs around like he owns the place. He is always breaking stuff and blaming it on the rest of us. He makes faces behind our parents’ backs, and is just an all-around brat.

Finally, my parents had the accident that they call Monica (Yes, they have a weird obsession with the letter M). Don’t get me wrong, Monica is cute. She doesn’t get in my way, and she doesn’t break my stuff, which is pretty good for a five-year-old. I just don’t understand why my parents felt the need to keep having kids.

Was I not enough for them? I am cute, funny, and a lot of fun to be around. We could have had a great time together without all of the fighting and craziness that comes with having four kids! I can’t see the upside of that many kids in one house! Think of the amount of laundry (I know because I have to do it), and how much they could save on groceries if they had stopped after me! Oh well, there is nothing that can be done about it now; although, I often fantasize about them dropping Mikey off at a fire station. But it just doesn’t look like that is ever going to happen!

Okay, enough about them, I think you get the idea! Now, let’s get to the important stuff like what to wear on my first day of school!

Mom picked me up a couple of cute tops and jeans, but I don’t know if I want to wear jeans or a dress, or maybe a skirt. I want to look killer and make a good impression. To do that I need to wear something that makes me feel good. Maybe I will wear something blue. I have noticed that Brian wears blue a lot; maybe that is his favorite color. Let me tell you a little about Brian... he is tall, with dark hair and blue eyes. He is on the swim team and the football team. He is so totally dreamy and seems like a really nice guy. I had him in my P.E. class last year, but I didn’t get to talk to him much because he was always participating in sports and games, and I was always doing my best not to participate in sports and games. I watched him though, and he always seemed like someone that I would get along with really well. His eyes are so beautiful; it is like looking into crystal blue water! And his smile, Oh My God! His teeth are perfect and white (he must have had braces), and his smile just lights up the whole room. Did I mention he is totally hot? I cannot wait to see him tomorrow!

I think that is enough for my first entry. I need make sure I have everything in my book bag and get my clothes situation figured out for tomorrow! I will write tomorrow and let you know how my day goes!

Chapter 2

First Day of School:

WORST DAY EVER! First, my outfit did not turn out the way I wanted it to. I felt uncomfortable and awkward all day. Second, Brian wasn’t even at school. I looked for him everywhere and then Jimmy Rogers said that Brian has been sick for a week and didn’t come to school today. To make matters worse, my “best friend,” Jess, apparently became a super goth chick over the summer, and now I am not cool enough to be her friend. She spent all of lunch in the courtyard with her new friends, smoking and eating fries with ketchup. I tried talking with her on my way to English Lit, and she acted like I wasn’t even there. She said something to the chick with black-and-white makeup about me being an annoying “cheerleader type” that kept trying to talk to her.

Hello!!! I was there for her during her zit face phase, and when Jimmy Rogers told all of third grade that she smelled like pee, and now she is pretending that she doesn’t even know me? I am really upset about this. How does someone who played Barbie barber shop and ran through Mrs. Thomas’s sprinklers with me suddenly have a case of amnesia? I can’t believe that my best friend in the world would just turn on me like that! She did spend the summer at her dad’s house, but he lives in Nebraska for God’s sake! What is goth about that?

Then, just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I totally fell on the way to the bus, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE! I was walking out to the bus, and the heel of my shoe got caught in the crack of the sidewalk, and I totally fell forward and landed face first on my backpack. I got up as quickly as I could and tried to play it off, but that darn Jimmy Rogers was there, and he started laughing and pointing, and we all know how Jimmy Rogers loves to spread gossip. He can be really funny when you aren’t the target of his gossip, but today I just thought he was a big jerk.

To top it all off, when I got home Megan and Mikey were fighting over who gets to sit at the desk in the den to do their homework, and I had to break it up before they rolled right into the big screen. I just do not have time for their crap today! I had to run in here and get this all out before my head exploded! Now, I have to run and do my homework and start dinner before my mom gets home, or my day will get much, much worse!

Okay, I’m Back:

Okay, I am feeling a little better now. I finished my homework, which was mostly just filling out paperwork and signing the teachers’ rules for their classrooms. Although I did have to write a short paragraph for English Lit detailing what we would change about our lives if we could; of course, I wrote about how much happier I would be as an only child.

I felt a little guilty about that when mom came home with Monica, who was so happy to see me and tell me about her first day of kindergarten. She said that she sits next to a boy who smells, and she had her first taste of paste. She was really cute and excited, and I guess I did miss seeing her today. She was all decked out in her favorite purple and pink dress with her black patent-leather shoes on and her hair in pigtails. She is like me when it comes to looking cute and being put together. Then I looked over at Megan. Her hair looked like it had been in a wind tunnel, and she was wearing a shirt with ketchup and mustard stains on it. Does she not realize that I went to her school and that the teachers and some of the students there know that she is my sister? So embarrassing! She could at least put a little effort into the way she looks. I mean, even if she doesn’t care that she looks like a ferret that got into a fight with a hot dog, she could at least think about my reputation! Jeez!

Since mom was home, she and I made dinner together. I would never say it to her, but this is my favorite part of the day. Just her and I together... working in the kitchen and talking about whatever comes to mind. It was such a nice time that I didn’t want to ruin it by talking about my horrible day; however, she is a teacher at the same darn school, so of course she knows about some of it already!

It turns out that Jess is taking my mom’s Home Economics class, and of course Mom noticed the changes in her appearance. When she mentioned it, I just brushed it off and changed the subject. I didn’t really feel like putting a damper on the moment, so we talked about her first day as I cut vegetables for the fajitas and salsa.

The nicest part of cooking with my mom is that the rest of the kids avoid the kitchen like it is a toxic waste dump. They are so afraid of being put to work that whenever we are making dinner, they stay as far away as possible. It is the most peaceful part of my day. Of course, once we are done the chaos of dinner begins, and everyone fights for their portion of food and talks over each other.

My dad usually gets home right as we are setting the food on the table. He walks in and says, “Where is my beautiful family?” and we all say, “Here we are.” I know, it is corny, but it is a family tradition now, and I guess it is a nice way to greet my dad when he gets home. He has been working at Detroit Diesel for sixteen years now. He leaves for work really early in the morning, so that he can come home for dinner at night and spend time with the family. My dad is a good guy; he just gets a little crazy when it comes to boys and getting good grades. I guess most dads are like that though. It was easier to talk to him when I was younger. I still love him and everything; he just never seems to get what I am going through.

After dinner, we all pitch in and help clean up the dining room and kitchen (my mom goes crazy over a dirty house), and then we usually watch TV in the den or go to our rooms or something. Tonight, Mikey and Dad went outside to shoot hoops in the driveway, Mom and Monica went to the den to watch TV, Megan ran across the street to play with Scott, her best friend, and I came in here to be alone and make this journal entry. Pretty soon it will be time for showers and to get everything ready for tomorrow. I will go in to read a story to Monica before she goes to bed and try to convince Megan to let me help her pick out some decent clothes to wear to school tomorrow. Then I will try to figure out what to do about Jess.

The one bright part of my day was seeing my friend, Layla. I have not known her as long as Jess, and we haven’t hung out that much, but we are always good for a laugh and usually hang out with the same people. She was in a couple of my classes before and is in my English Lit class this semester. She is shorter than me with blonde hair and green eyes. She’s totally cute and always has the best clothes. She can be a little too intense sometimes and guys are always looking at her, but she is nice and fun to hang with. We had lunch together and sat next to each other in Lit. She rides the same bus as me too, and made me feel a little better after I totally embarrassed myself after school.

I have to try and think positively, or I will just be totally depressed about this day, so I will focus on tomorrow. Hopefully, Brian is feeling better and comes to school. Hopefully, Jess was having a fashion nightmare and shows up tomorrow her normal, happy, bright-clothes-wearing self. Hopefully, tomorrow I am more graceful and do not trip over my own shoes. Hopefully, tomorrow Jimmy Rogers walks around all day with a big green booger sticking out of his nose and doesn’t realize it until he gets home from school!

Chapter 3

Brian’s First Day of School:

What a difference a day makes! I am going to pretend that today was the first day of school and yesterday was a just a bad dream! This is how my high school career really begins! My teachers still haven’t assigned real work, since it is only the second (first) day. So, we pretty much get to socialize in class, which is my favorite subject anyway! So, I was catching up with my friends and acquaintances in class, when who should happen to walk into my, oh so not my subject, Algebra class? BRIAN JACKSON!!! He looked fantastic! He walked in wearing T-shirt and cargo shorts (did I mention the shirt was blue? Am I good or what?) and had that cute smile of his flashing for all of the class to see. He looked like he grew taller over the summer and his skin was perfectly bronzed. He looked really fantastic, not like he had been sick at all! He walked in and spoke with the teacher and then walked to an empty seat toward the back.

On his way he passed me and said, “Hey, Missy!” (Maybe Missy isn’t sooo bad after all!)

I said hey back and flashed him my “Brian” smile, the one I have been practicing in the mirror, and then tried to pretend that I was not that interested and turned back to my conversation.

In reality, I was smiling like a crazy person and glowing from the inside out! Not only did he talk to me, but he initiated the conversation. Okay, maybe you can’t call it a conversation, but he did speak to me first! The rest of the class was pretty uneventful, but it was still a great way to start my second (first) day of high school!

The rest of the day was pretty boring. I went to class, ate lunch with Layla, and had to spend five minutes hiding in the bathroom when I saw my mom walking down the hall. I love my mom, but does she really have to teach at the school that I attend? How am I supposed to have a social life with my mom around? Plus, she teaches my friends. What if she listens in on their conversations and hears things that I don’t want her to know? It’s hard to make yourself socially acceptable, and I don’t need my mom screwing up my status. Anyway, after I got out of the bathroom and the coast was clear, I was heading to Lit when I saw Jess. This time she was walking alone and had her head down, so I hurried to catch up with her.

I said, “Jess, what is going on? Why are you not talking to me? What happened?”

She looked up at me and her eyes looked really sad for a minute. Then she got this mean look on her face and told me to leave her alone. She said, “I outgrew you over the summer. I am interested in things that are beyond your little imagination. Just go away and find someone who thinks fashion and boys are the most important things in the world.”

Then she turned and walked in the other direction. What is going on? I don’t understand why she changed so much and why she seems to hate me all of a sudden. We have been friends for like our whole lives and have helped each other through everything.

When I got to Lit, Layla asked me what was wrong. I told her what had happened with Jess and she said, “Don’t worry about what that freak says! She is going to have a lonely and miserable year, and we are going to be totally popular and hang with everyone who matters. This is going to be an epic year, and she is not going to fit in with us now anyway. Just focus on getting to know Brian! Hey, I am going to get a big group together to go to the football game on Friday night, do you want to go?”

I said I would talk to my parents to see if I could go. Of course I want to, but I didn’t like the way she talked about Jess. I didn’t say that last part out loud, but I thought it. I still love Jess. She has always been my best friend, and I am not just going to forget that and give up on her. I guess I just need to give her some time, and try to figure out what happened!

So, it was a great start to the day, with the bad part in the middle, but ended up being a good day overall and I didn’t trip and fall on my face! No, Jimmy Rogers didn’t walk around with a booger on his face all day, which would have been such a highlight to my day, but he didn’t say anything about my embarrassing incident either.

When I was headed to the bus, I saw Brian getting on to one of the other buses, and I caught his eye. I tried my best to be flirty from a distance, and he gave me that head nod that boys do, where they look at you and thrust their head up. I don’t get why they do it, I mean why not just wave or smile, but I have to admit it made him look even sexier - if that is even possible!.

When I got home, Mikey had obviously won today’s episode of “Who Gets to Sit at the Desk” because he was there doing his homework and Megan was at the kitchen table doing hers.

I went over to ask Mikey about his day, and he said something about soccer at recess and basketball during P.E... He is such a typical boy! Megan looked disheveled as usual. I mean, who wears green and yellow plaid shorts with a pink shirt? Is she color blind? Plus, it looks like she slept in the clothes last night and then wore them to school today. Megan could be a really pretty girl if she just put forth a little effort! Her hair is as long as mine (to the middle of my back), and is dark brown; whereas, mine is sandier. I keep mine soft and wavy and take a lot of pride in it. Megan’s looks like a rat holed up in it and made a nest for its litter (Do you call a rat’s babies a litter? Who cares!).

I just don’t know how she can walk around looking like that. I asked her that same question, and she replied, “Get over yourself, Missy! You think you are so hot, when really you look like every other brainless preppy fashionbot. Maybe if you spent more time studying and less time brushing your hair, you would actually get grades that will get you into college and not cosmetology school!” I just walked away... My day was too good to get into a verbal war with the Pig Pen look-alike! The rest of the night went just like every other: made dinner, Mom and Monica came home, Dad said, “Where is my beautiful family?” and we said, “Here we are!”... Blah, blah, blah. I went to my room after dinner and picked out what to wear tomorrow. I am thinking of wearing my gray and pink tank top with this cute white skirt I have and white sandals. I will curl my hair tonight, and then tomorrow it will be wavy, so I can throw it back into a loose pony-tail. With my silver hoop earrings and just light pretty makeup, I think it will look totally fantastic and maybe will turn the head of a certain football player. I need to talk to Layla about going to the football game on Thursday too! I know everyone will go to Friday’s game, but I really want to go to the JV game on Thursday to see Brian play.

Hopefully, he will see me there, and it will show him what a sweet and supportive girl I am. I mean, is there any better trait in a girlfriend than one who is supportive of the things that her boyfriend likes to do? This is all a part of my master plan to make Brian see how great we would be together as a couple!

I shot Layla a text asking if she would be able to go to both games, but she hasn’t gotten back to me yet. Her parents are like mine when it comes to cell phones. We cannot use them during dinner or homework and only until 9 o’clock on school nights. It almost seems like our parents got together and dreamed up ways that they could make us miserable! I mean, who goes to bed at 9 o’clock? It just seems a little extreme to me!

Anyway, it was a good day, and I am excited to go back to school tomorrow and see what happens! I plan to look totally hot and lure Brian into an actual conversation. I need to make plans with Layla to get our social season started and cement my reputation as a person that everyone should know! I plan to own my freshman year and have the best time!

Chapter 4

After the JV Football Game:

I know, I know, I did not write yesterday, but I actually did have homework. By the time we finished dinner, cleaned up, and I finished all of my homework, I had to shower and get everything ready for school today. Then I ended up talking with Megan for a while, and I was exhausted, so I just went to sleep.

Yesterday was pretty uneventful. I went to school and we actually started doing work, and not as much socializing. BORING! I did get to see Brian in Algebra, and he looked as cute as ever! Had lunch with Layla, where we finalized our plans to go to the JV and Varsity Football games. Took the bus home, yada, yada, yada…

So, like I said, last night I ended up hanging with Megan and talking a bit. I think she is starting to see her best friend Scott as more than just a friend. But, since she is obviously awkward and oblivious when it comes to boys, I thought I would help her out a bit. I told her that the first step would be to get him to stop looking at her like one of the boys. Not to stop playing sports or hanging out with him because that would just make him think there was something wrong, but to start making him see her as a girl. She didn’t want to listen at first, but I am the expert when it comes to boys, so she finally came around and saw it my way.

I helped her pick out what to wear to school today (We had to go into my closet, because she had nothing suitable), and we worked on her hair and makeup. I told her that she needs to still act like herself because he already likes her, but she needs to focus on looking more like a girl, so Scott will start to notice that she is one.

It was actually a nice talk, and I went to bed feeling like I really helped Megan do something to improve herself. Of course, when I came home from school today, Megan was sitting at the table looking like a family of birds had built their home in her hair. AAAHHHH! At least she didn’t ruin my clothes, although I did have her take them off right away, just in case!

She said at first Scott just looked at her like she was crazy, but when he realized that her personality hadn’t changed, just the way she looked, he acted just like he always did. I think if she keeps it up, Scott will fall in love with her before he realizes what hit him!

Enough about Megan, let’s talk about my wonderful evening!!! BRIAN ASKED ME OUT!!! I should have probably started from the beginning, but I am too excited not to shout it to the world!!! So, Layla and I got dropped off at the JV Football game by my wonderful mother... We met up with some people from school: Kasey, Joshua, Ellie, Judi, Kristi, and Joe. We all grabbed the top row of the bleachers and sat down to gossip and occasionally watch the game (just being honest).

We cheered for the Pioneers (Brian even started) and made fun of the cheerleaders. Don’t get me wrong, some of them are my friends, and the outfits are cute, but I can’t see getting out there in front of everyone and being so loud and spirited! Plus, that is just too much commitment! I mean all of the time they have to spend training and practicing, then traveling to competitions and attending every game. That is just too much time that I could be spending making myself as fabulous as possible and hanging with my friends. So, while we were chatting and watching Brian catch passes and run with the ball, Jimmy Rogers came over to share the latest gossip. I try not to listen to a lot of what Jimmy says because he can be pretty mean, but my ears perked up when he looked right at me and said that he heard Brian liked me. What?! Can you say that again, Jimmy?

He said that he heard from Brian’s friend, Mo, that Brian thinks I am pretty, and he would like to get to know me better. My face almost cracked, I was smiling so wide! So, needless to say, I was pretty excited for the rest of the game and hearing this bit of news from Jimmy gave me the courage I needed to talk to Brian after the game. Luckily, Layla’s mom was picking us up and said she was running late, so I had time to put my plan into action.

When the game ended and the football players finished doing whatever it is they were doing on the field, I made my way down the bleachers and tried to put myself in Brian’s eyesight. Brian was walking toward the fence with Mo, talking and laughing about their win, when he looked up and noticed me standing there. He smiled, gave me the head nod, and said something to Mo as he walked toward me.

“Hey, Missy,” he said as he got closer. “I didn’t know you were coming to the game, did you have fun?”

I smiled up at him and spoke as breathlessly as possible, “Yes, Brian, you guys were great! I cheered so loud when you scored that touchdown!”

“Yeah,” he grinned, “I was pretty stoked that our first game went so well!”

Just at that moment I looked over and saw Layla trying to get my attention. Her mom’s car was pulling up, so I looked at Brian and told him I had to go. We smiled at each other, and I started walking toward the car. When I got a few feet away, Brian ran up to me and tapped my shoulder.

“Missy,” he gasped, “how would you like to go to the movies tomorrow night?”

“I would love to!” I exclaimed, and I gave him my best “Brian” smile, then I ran to the car and hopped into the backseat.

The night went better than I had ever dreamed, and I am so excited about tomorrow. I spent the car ride home gushing with Layla about what to wear, and when I got home I ran in to ask my parents about going out with Brian. Being the fantastic parents that they are, they said YES! Of course the stipulation is that they actually have to meet Brian and his mom (who will be driving), but they said yes! I cannot wait! I don’t know how I will ever get to sleep... I am so excited!

Chapter 5

My Date with Brian:

I feel like I am floating on a cloud... I could not have imagined a better first date. Brian and his mom came by and met my parents. It was short and sweet and not too terribly embarrassing. Then we were on our way. Brian had me sit up front with his mom while she drove us to the theater on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Telegraph Road. We made small talk, and she was actually really nice. She doesn’t look like Brian at all; she is small and blonde. I guess he takes after his dad. Anyway, she dropped us off at the movie and told Brian to give her a call when it was over.

We went in to look and see what was playing and what the show times were. I didn’t want to look like a total girl and pick a romantic comedy, so I picked the new zombie movie that just came out. I thought it was sweet that he insisted that I choose the movie; I am sure he was worried about what I might pick.

The movie didn’t start for another forty-five minutes, so we walked over to the Rally’s down the street. Luckily it was a nice night since they only have seating outside, and there were only a couple of other people there. I just got some fries, and he got a combo meal. We sat there and talked about our families and got to know each other. It was really great.

He is one of those only children who talks about how great it would be to live in a family like mine with lots of kids. I told him that he is welcome to come over and see what it is really like anytime!

When we were done, we walked back over to the movie theater to find seats before it got too crowded, but we still ended up in the front row. When the theater got dark and the previews started, Brian reached for my hand and held it THE ENTIRE TIME!!! Normally if you hold hands for too long, you get all sweaty and gross, but because the theater was so cold, we never had that problem. When he laughed at the movie, he had this wonderful deep laugh that made me want to laugh with him. I covered my eyes with my free hand during the particularly gruesome parts, and he laughed at me. When he did, I totally felt like we had this wonderful bond, and we had been together for ages!

He really was just the sweetest guy the whole night, and I was totally bummed when the movie ended. We just sat there through the credits while everyone walked out. I asked him if he was ready to go, and he said that he always watches the credits to see the name of the Best Boy Grip. He said that that guy probably worked really hard and never got any recognition, so he always made sure to watch to see the guy’s name in the credits. Totally sweet, right?

We waited for the credits to finish rolling, so we were the only ones left in the theater. In those ten seconds before the ushers came in to start cleaning up, while we were still the only ones there, Brian leaned over and kissed me, oh so softly, on the lips. I melted into the seat and slid to the ground.

No, seriously, I fell right out of my seat when he leaned back from the kiss, it was that amazing!

He laughed his beautiful laugh and pulled me up with the hand that was still grasping mine. He texted his mom to let her know the movie was over, and she texted back that she was already outside. So, we walked out to the car (actually I floated out to the car), and he let me sit in the front with his mom again.

It was a quiet ride home, and when we got back to my house, I said thank you and goodnight, and I walked up to the house. I waited for the car to pull away before I started jumping up and down and squealing! I mean, it would have been totally embarrassing if he had seen that, but it just had to be done before I went inside and was confronted by my family. BEST DATE EVER!!!!

Chapter 6

Saturday Afternoon Regrets:

So, apparently Mikey was watching for me from his window and saw me get out of the car and do my little jumping/screaming dance on the front porch. Being the little creep that he is, he ran downstairs and told everyone.

When I got up this morning everyone was making comments about me: “Missy looks like someone who has been kissed,” “Missy and Brian 4 Eva,” and my personal favorite, “Missy, Missy, likes to kissy.” That last one was being shouted through the house by little-miss “plaid-goes-with -everything” Megan.

I mean, seriously, did a nest of hornets do her hair this morning, or what? Where does she get off making fun of me? She is just jealous that guys think of me as kissable and think of her as someone to shoot hoops with. Whatever!

My parents got into making fun of me too and made little comments all day about how I was glowing and smiling and seemed to be nicer than I normally am on a Saturday morning. I actually got up at 9 on my own because I just couldn’t be still any longer. I want to dance and sing and talk to Brian again! Okay, that is corny...but I really want to talk to him.

Then I got this mega evil text from Layla, who is apparently pissed because I did not go with her to the Varsity Football game as planned.

She texted, “Thanks for showing up like you said you would. Apparently sucking face with Brian is more important than sticking to the plan you made with me.”

I texted back, “I don’t know why you are upset. You were there with me when he asked me out, so you knew I wouldn’t be at the game. WTH?”

She replied, “I guess... I just think it is lame that you would pick a guy over your friends.”

I texted back, “Yeah, I see your point I’m sorry if you felt that I ditched you, but I was so totally excited that he asked me out! How was the game?”

Layla said, “I get it! I was just mad, but I will get over it. It was alright. How was the date? As epic as you imagined?”

I told her that it was great, and I would see her at school Monday. I guess I understand why she was mad, but she was there when he asked me out, so it shouldn’t have been a shocker when I didn’t show up at the game. Oh well, I am sure we will work it out on Monday.

I really wanted to look at my phone all day and will it to ring or signal a text. In order not to be a crazy person, I just put it in my room and went out to see what the family was up to.

We ended up all going to walk around at the Henry Ford Mansion. I love going there and taking pictures and sitting by the little waterfall. Mikey loves to just run and run and be the wild animal that he is. Megan will often grab a football and play catch with Dad and Mikey (once Mikey stops running). Mom and Monica walk around and usually end up by the gazebo, dancing around or just lying on the bench. We all kind of intertwine and do different things there together, but it is something that we all really enjoy.

I took some great pictures, and I am thinking of signing up for the photography club at school. I got a perfect one of Mom and Dad swinging Monica with the mansion in the background. Then I got a great action shot of Mikey jumping up to catch the football and one of Megan laughing with Dad. She let me put her hair up in a ponytail before we left, so she looked really cute! It was a really nice day, and when I get home, I had a text from Brian.

It simply said, “I had a nice time last night.”

I texted him back, “Me too!”

Then I went out in the backyard because Dad was barbecuing, and everyone was hanging out on the deck.

We have this great deck that Mom and Dad built. It wraps around the whole back of the house. We have a table and chairs and a hammock, which I called dibs on. We often like to eat outside on the weekends.

Now, I am full and happy and ready to just hang out in my PJs and enjoy family movie night in the den. We have popcorn, gummy bears, and red vines - all the makings for a great night of entertainment! I thought I would come in and write really quick before the movie started. We are watching Toy Story, a classic family favorite!

Chapter 7

A New Week Begins:

Since it is only the second week of school, I was able to switch my music class (I totally outgrew the clarinet like three years ago) to a photography class. I am so totally psyched! I have it right after lunch, and when I walked in - you will never guess who there - that’s right, Brian was sitting at the table by the door! You will never guess who was sitting next to him at that table... Layla and Jess.

What the heck? How did I not know that these three had photography together and sat at the same table?

I only got to give Brian a smile and a quick “Hello” this morning in Algebra. I came in a little late since I was in the office changing my class, and then when the bell rang, the teacher kept Brian after to go over a problem with him, and I had to get to my next class. So, I was totally excited to see him in photography, but when the teacher told me to sit at the table with Brian, Layla and Jess, I didn’t know if it was a dream or a nightmare!

I sat down and said” Hi” to everyone. Brian said it back, Jess ignored me, and Layla just smiled. Awkward much?

The teacher had each table take turns going back into the dark room so he could go over the equipment and explain how to use it. While we were waiting for our turn, I leaned over to Layla and asked why she never told me that she had this class. She just shrugged and started leafing through her photography book. What I was really asking was why she never told me she had this class with Brian and Jess! Hello! She knows how I feel about both of them; it seems strange that she didn’t mention it!

I looked over at Jess, but she was still ignoring me, so I turned to look at Brian.

He gave me the sweetest smile and said, “Hey, Missy, I didn’t know you liked photography!”

I told him about my family’s trip to the mansion and how I love to take pictures there. I explained that I decided to try to switch to this class from music. He said that he was happy that I did because now we would get to spend more time together.

I was smiling so much that it barely fazed me when I saw Jess roll her eyes, except that I saw her roll her eyes and then look at Layla, who smiled. What was that all about? Are they secretly friends behind my back? Are they making fun of me? When did this happen?

I decided that I would worry about it later and focus on Brian, who was the only one at the table actually being nice to me. We talked about photography; he said that his mom gave him a camera a few years ago, and it became one of his favorite things to do when it isn’t football or swim season. We took our turn in the dark room, and Brian held my hand again (YEAH!). Have I mentioned that he is just the sweetest??? The bell rang, and the rest of the day was uneventful.

When I got on the bus, I turned to Layla and asked what was going on. She asked what I was talking about.

I said I understood why she was mad about me missing the game on Friday, but I thought we had already talked about it. I didn’t understand why she gave me attitude in photography class and why she and Jess were acting like they were friends and I was the odd man out.

She said that she didn’t mean anything by it, but that she and Brian and Jess had been in the class together for a week, and then I walked in today and threw off the dynamic. She said it was just unexpected and no one really knew how to act. I said that that didn’t make sense to me. I told her that I thought she said Jess was a freak who would have a lonely year and that I should just forget about her. Then I mentioned that it seemed like they were still friends and that they were making fun of me.

She said I was making too much out of it and that everything would probably be better in class tomorrow. Then she said that I should really leave Jess alone, because she really doesn’t like me, and really doesn’t want me to try and talk to her. What the heck? Are they talking about me now? I am so confused. I hate it when you think something is one way and then you find out that it is totally a different way. Do you know what I am saying? I don’t either.

When I got home, I was putting my stuff away and Mikey came up and asked me why Jess didn’t come to the house with me anymore. Last year Jess and I would often take turns going to each other’s houses after school.

I actually started to cry, which was totally mortifying, and Mikey put his arms around me (When the heck did he get so tall? He is almost up to my shoulders). I cried for a minute, and I told him that I didn’t know why she hasn’t come over, just that she had changed over the summer. He told me he was sorry and patted my shoulder and then walked away.

What the heck brought that on and since when is Mikey nice to me? Weird... Afterwards I went into the den where Megan was at the desk doing her homework. Everything was right with the universe again because she looked like she had danced with the devil and lost. She was sitting there wearing a red shirt with blue shorts with a green headband holding down her hair, which was in three braids (I cannot make this stuff up!) - Who puts their hair in three braids? Is it tacky day at school or what?

I went to my room to do my homework (Does Algebra make sense to anyone?) and begin reading The Odyssey for Lit.

When Mom got home, I was in the kitchen cutting up the ingredients, so we could make lettuce wraps and yaki mon du.

A few years ago, my parents travelled to South Korea, and they fell in love with the food. We didn’t get to go, but we get to experience the food now that my mom bought a Korean cookbook. I like making this meal because I like chopping vegetables and making the dumplings. It is something that is good to eat, but still feels like you are eating kind of healthy.

This past year has been weird on my body, and I finally feel like I am getting my body back to the way I want it to be, so eating healthy is very important to me. I know, I ate fries the other night, but you have to splurge sometimes or you will end up binging. I read that online!

Anyway, dinner was delicious, and everyone went on to do whatever it is we all do on weeknights when we have to go to bed at a decent hour and get ready for school the next day. I am beat, so I am going to hit the hay!

Chapter 8

Layla is Acting Like a Jerk:

I don’t know what Layla’s problem is, but she is acting like a total douche. First, she didn’t show up at our table for lunch, and as I was leaving, I saw her sitting with the cheerleaders. Then, when I got to photography class, she had switched seats with Jimmy Rogers.

I tried to get her attention, but she would not look my way. Even though I was totally happy to see Brian, and I enjoyed talking with him during class, I could not keep from wondering what the heck was going on with Layla. I was planning to ask her as soon as I could, and then Brian asked to talk to me for a minute after class.

He looked so cute as he pulled me aside, and I noticed Jess look over at us uncertainly as she walked out of the room. Brian took me to a quiet spot in the hallway. He looked a little nervous and started talking really fast.

“I really like you, Missy, and I had a great time on our date,” he started. I smiled encouragingly at him and he went on, “So, I really want to be open and honest with you because I want to keep seeing you and I don’t want you to think that I am interested in anyone else.”

“Okay,” I said quietly. I was starting to get an uneasy feeling in my stomach, like I had eaten something bad at lunch. He kind of puffed up his cheeks and then blew his breath out loudly.

“Layla came up to me after Algebra this morning and said she had to talk to me. She said that she really likes me and asked me if I want to go out this weekend. I told her that I liked you and that I thought you guys were friends, but she just shook her head and said that you were all wrong for me. She said that you are fake and can’t be trusted and that she was the one who really liked me and that you were only interested in me to hurt her.”

I think my eyeballs must have been popping out of my head because they sure felt like they were!

“What?” I asked. I just could not believe what I was hearing. Layla was not only turning on me, but she was making a play for Brian? She knew how I felt about him and was even helping me plan how I was going to make my first move. I just couldn’t understand why she would be acting this way, but first I wanted to make sure Brian knew how I really felt about him and to reassure him that I was legit!

“Brian, that is totally not true! I really like you, and I had a great time the other night. I was really hoping that we would get to go on another date. Layla knows how I feel about you, and she has never said anything about feeling the same way. I thought she was my friend, and I don’t know why she is acting this way. I hope that you believe me!”

I felt myself getting choked up and was praying that I would not start crying in front of him when he smiled and said, “I am happy to hear that, Missy! I really didn’t believe what she was saying, I thought we got along great on Friday night and it didn’t seem fake to me. I am sorry to be the one to tell you about this, but I thought you should know what Layla was doing behind your back. I really have to get to my next class, but I will give you a call later!”

He ran his hand down my arm in an affectionate gesture that I have to admit felt really good. He turned and hurried off to class, and I turned the other way in hopes of getting to Lit before the bell rang.

When I got to Lit we had a sub who looked really lost and confused. She said she had to run to the office and that we should continue reading The Odyssey.

When she walked out, I took that opportunity to turn to Layla and say, “What the hell, Layla? Brian told me what you were saying behind my back. Why are you all of a sudden interested in him and asking him out? Are you just so totally jealous that I went out with him that you have to make up random crap to try and ruin it? What did I ever do to you? Why are you suddenly such a mega bitch?”

Layla stood up in the middle of the class and started yelling, “You are so fake ME-LIS-SA... You act like you are so hot, but the truth is that you don’t even have any friends. Brian only went out with you because he thought you were easy! Why don’t you go hang out in the courtyard with your freak of a best friend and then go home and cry to your loser family. I have better things to do than worry about your opinion of me. Get. A. Life!”

Then she picked up all of her things and moved to an empty seat in the back of the class. I just sat there for a couple seconds, in shock, with the whole class staring at me.

Then I calmly stood up, gathered my things, and walked out of the class. I walked down the hall to the Home Economics room, opened the door, and walked through the classroom to the kitchen area, which is around a corner and hidden. I sat down in the corner of the kitchen, pulled my knees up, and put my head down. I felt sick to my stomach and my heart was aching.

My freshman year was not turning out the way I thought it would at all. It was like I was in an alternate universe and was being treated like I was Megan or something! I am normally the one that everyone loves.

I have never gotten in a fight with anyone.

I have never argued or lost friends.

Yet suddenly, in the span of a week, I had alienated two people that I thought were my friends for life.

I was totally bummed.

I sat there for the whole hour, while my mom taught her class as if I wasn’t hiding in the back of the room. I don’t know if anyone in the class had noticed me walk in or not, but no one mentioned my being there or made a motion to see what I was doing. I was really grateful for that.

I knew I would get in trouble for skipping class, and my mom was going to be totally peeved that I used her class as a hide out, but I felt so much better when that hour was over. When the bell rang and I heard the students starting to leave, I got up, and prepared to face my mother’s wrath. As I heard the footsteps rounding the corner, I looked up, ready to explain, but didn’t say anything when I saw it was Jess walking toward me, not my mom.

Jess walked up and stopped about a foot away from me. “Mis, I think I know what is going on. I overheard Layla talking to Brian this morning. She was really talking badly about you. I don’t think that you should trust her.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, are you talking to me now, because I thought you said you outgrew me over the summer!” I know I sounded childish, but my feelings were raw, and I was too scared to hope that Jess was going to start being my friend again.

“You have every right to be mad at me,” she said with sad eyes. “I have been terrible to you, and I feel so bad since you seem to be having such a hard time this year, but I can’t get into all of that now. Maybe I can come over on Saturday, and we can talk. I have a lot of explaining to do, but I have to catch my bus. I just wanted to tell you I am sorry about what happened with Layla, and I hope it doesn’t affect your chances with Brian.”

And with that said, she turned and walked away. I stood there for a minute, just breathing. Then I picked up my stuff and went to go beg my mom for a ride home.

When I got home, I was too depressed to even pick on Megan’s horribly embarrassing outfit or fight with Mikey about taking out the trash. I just went through the motions, and now I am going to lie in bed…