Chapter One: A Girlish Tomboy?
"Ms. Diamond!" A loud slam was heard in the small classroom. I raised my head and looked at .
"Alexandria! This is the fourth time this week you've slacked off! Detention!"
"Hey, it's not her fault your lecture was boring," Kendall Knight said. The class laughed and I was a little relieved that the attention was taken off of me.
"Mr. Knight this is not comedy hour. Detention. I hope you and have a splendid time there," smirked.
"Jerk," Kendall and I whispered together.
Kendall and I sat together in detention playing cards in the back. My twin brother James was going to be pissed off. This was the second time I got detention this week. The first time was yesterday when I punched a girl in gym class for tripping me while I was running. Every Friday we played a hockey game at the local rink with the guys, and just my luck, its Friday. My group of friends were Logan Mitchell, the genius of the group, Kendall Knight, the one who always acts like the leader, my twin brother James Diamond, the conceited one, my cousin Victor Diamond, the one who doesn't care what people think, and Carlos Garcia, the one who always pulls pranks and loves helmets.
The bell rang, to my joy. Kendall put the cards away and I grabbed his hand and ran down the hallway.
"Run faster Kenny!" I said while pulling him down the hallway to my locker.
"Where were you two?" I heard James' voice ask, "Let me guess.."
I opened my locker and pulled out a handheld mirror and held it up to James' face. He was quiet now as he fixed his hair while looking in the mirror.
"That never gets old," I heard my best friend Paige's voice. Paige didn't like hockey like the rest of us did. She only came to see James play. She has been crushing on my brother since we were old enough to talk. She mostly said "James" or "Jamie" when we were kids. I hate the name "Jamie" because it was almost my name. Well I don't really hate the name. I just hate when all twins have matching names. I'm glad my brother and I don't. Instead I got the name you would hear in a fairy tale.
"Let's go get the others. Wait for us here," Kendall patted James on the arm and they left.
"So," I tried to sound normal, "how was last period?"
"Oh stop beating around the bush Alex, just ask about him," Paige laughed.
She knows I don't like being direct about questions. I always got nervous.
"Fine," Paige sighed, "Don't ask, I wont tell you then."
"Okay, okay! I give up! Did Carlos stare at her again?" I asked, feeling myself blush just from saying his name.
"Yeah, he stared at Maya Sanders for while today. Sorry Alex. But that girl has nothing on you! She's a Barbie and you're-"
"A tomboy?"
"I was going to say a babe. You dress like a boy sometimes but if you get some better clothes I'm sure Carlos will notice!" Paige smiled.
"That's the point Paige, I shouldn't have to change to get him to notice. He should have noticed me already." I shrugged and opened my locker. I began placing books inside.
"Sometimes he stares at you with longing eyes," I couldn't tell if she was trying to make me feel better or if she were lying. "It's true! Honest!" She put a hand to her heart, something she only did when she was being honest. I was going to respond but I saw Paige's face light up. Then I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. I turned around slowly. My dark brown eyes lit up.
"Hey Carlos," my stomach did a flip. Every time I saw him my thoughts screamed in joy.
"Hey," he smiled at me, "Where is everyone?"
"They went looking for you, Victor and Logan," I said.
"I'll go get them!" Paige said after messing with her phone. She sped walked down the hallway.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Carlos looked confused. Before I even opened the text message, I knew it was from Paige.
"U better thank me for alone time with ur cute little hockey player! I got everyone, meet u at the rink"
I replied with, "You better thank ME for not freaking out over your little crush on my brother!"
I smiled, feeling victorious as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. Then I felt nervous. Alone..with Carlos.
"I..umm..That was Paige," I said pointing to my phone and nodding, "Umm, they're at the rink waiting for us, so lets go," I started walking ahead.
"Lexie wait up!" Carlos jogged up to me. He slid his arm around mine and smiled down at me. He then looked away but then looked back at me. "This way you cant run off anymore."
"And if I do," I took his helmet off his head and put it on myself, "I'll try to avoid collisions."
We both began to laugh as we walked down the hallway, arm in arm.
Walking with Carlos like that felt so right. I'm not sure if he felt it to. He walked like this with Paige before, which made me jealous. Soon we reached the rink and Paige gave me an obvious thumbs up when she saw me walking arm in arm with Carlos.
"What was that about?" Carlos asked.
"Ohh, nothing she just likes the helmet," I patted the helmet with my free hand, feeling nervous.
Soon we were making teams for our hockey game. Carlos, Logan and I against James, Victor and Kendall.
"I'm not going easy on you sis!" James called out to me from the ice.
"I wouldn't expect you to!" I called back after I slid out onto the ice.
"Of course we would win!" Logan laughed. Logan, Carlos and I gave each other a high five.
"Okay, okay, enjoy your victory while you can. Next Friday we'll win," Victor crossed his arms with a smirk on his face.
"We'll see," Carlos and I said in unison.
Paige and I sat down while the boys left to return the gear and get some lunch.
"So what was that all about?" Paige asked. I knew she was referring to how Carlos and I entered the rink.
"It was nothing, he walks like that with you sometimes too," I starred at the table.
"Yeah but Carlos and I are just friends, you're hoping for something more. Alex just let me-" she paused mid-sentence.
"Just let you what?…Paige?" I looked towards the direction she was starring at. Maya Sanders had just walked in and she was making her way to Carlos. Paige firmly grasped my arm and yanked me up.
"Go!" she pushed me gently, "Don't let her win!"
"Forget it, if he likes me he'll do something about it," I sat back down.
Paige rolled her eyes, "Stop waiting for him to make the first move Alex!"
"Take your own advice. You've been waiting for my brother to ask you out for months." I shook my head holding back a laugh. She always gave me advice and never took her own.
"I have a great idea!" Paige sat down with a huge grin on her face. Her ideas were never 'great'. They were more along the lines of her dressing me up like a Barbie doll. I never went through with these plans. Paige has wanted to make me her life size Barbie doll for as long as I can remember. She would always say, "Alex you have so much potential to be a babe. C'mon, just try on one dress?" Of course I would always say no.
The boys returned with food and we sat in silence until they brought up the game.
"You have good control on the ice Alex," Carlos said while stuffing French fries into his mouth. Every time one of them gave me this compliment I always felt like 'one of the guys'. I like it because then I feel like I'm one of them. I do want to be treated like a girl sometimes but not all the time. Sometimes at school the boys would play around and shove each other. Soon it came my turn and one of them would shove me. I would laugh and shove them back.
"Thanks," I said while playing with my food. I wanted him to see me in a different light. I pulled out my phone and sent Paige a text. I couldn't say this in front of the guys. "Make me girly. Just not TOO girly."
Paige pulled out her phone and smiled at the text. She slid her phone back into her pocket. The boys were too focused on their food and hockey conversation to notice Paige had reached over and touched my hair.
"What're you doing? I didn't mean now Paige!" I whispered. She rolled her eyes and let my hair loose. I had it in a pony tail every day, but now Paige let it out. I felt my hair fall out on my shoulders.
"Shake your head," Paige said. I let out an annoyed sigh and did as told.
"Perfect," Paige crossed her arms and smiled at me. Then it got quiet. I turned my head slowly and I saw all eyes on me.
"What?" I smiled slightly as I asked in a normal tone.
"You are Alex right?" Kendall asked.
"Who else would I be?" I crossed my arms and made a face.
Carlos laughed, "Princess Alexandria!"
"I told you not to call me that!" I attempted to get up to shove him but Paige grabbed my arm and pulled me.
"Ok Lexie," Carlos smiled at his victory.
"So why the sudden change in hairstyle?" Logan asked. I didn't know how to respond.
"She is my personal Barbie doll from now on!" Paige said happily.
"What?" James and Victor said in unison.
"She actually gave in?" James asked. They were acting like I wasn't even there.
"She needs a favor and in return she has to be my life size Barbie." Paige's dream had come true. I, her best friend, was now her Barbie doll. Might as well start dyeing my brown hair blond and give me some blue contacts. I made a face at the thought. On second thought, I'd rather be those cheep brunette Barbie dolls that no one wants. I cant picture myself blond.
"So, I saw Maya come in," Paige said, changing the conversation.
"Yeah, she asked Carlos to see a movie with her," Logan said after taking a sip of soda. I felt the green monster of jealousy inside my heart.
Paige must had noticed because she spoke up. "How about we all go to the Homecoming dance tomorrow at school? Student government decided it's going to be a dressy event. You know, dresses and tuxedos" Something told me this was her 'great idea'. Like I said, it's not great.
"Good luck with getting Alex into a dress," Victor said.
The Next Day
"For the last time, NO!" I shook my head and walked away from Paige. She was trying to get me to wear a dress. It was black and fancy looking. The straps for the shoulders were thick and the dress was V-cut.
"It would stop right after your knees!" Paige threw her hands up in the air.
"I'd rather wear a skirt," I sat on my bed.
"Really?" Paige had a big grin.
"Yeah, if the skirt includes a giant T-shirt I can use to hide it." I hated showing my legs and everyone knew it.
"If you want to be more girly then you have to wear a dress to fancy places," she shoved the dress into my arms, "Now go try this on! The boys will be here any minute."
I gave her a glare as I walked into the bathroom with the dress. After some time I managed to get the dress on. It was a perfect fit.
"The boys better be wearing tuxedos since I'm wearing this," I looked up while I walked out and found Paige and the guys in my room in their tuxedos. My brown eyes widened and my mouth opened slightly.
"Alex, you look great," my brother said nodding in approval. He hated when I dressed like a boy and has always tried to get my mom or Paige to play 'dress up' with me. He took out his hand held mirror and handed it to me. My reflection seemed like it was another person. My long dark hair was flowing past my shoulders in slight curls. I actually liked the way my red highlights looked. Paige walked up to me and applied some make-up. She then pulled out a black pencil, also known as my enemy, eyeliner. My mom had tried to put some on me when I was fifteen and it stung my eyes.
"No thanks," I grabbed the pencil and tossed it on my bed.
"C'mon Lexie, you know you're never going to dress like this again," Carlos said, "I left my helmet at home, so put on some pencil thingy. Its only fair."
We stared at one another for a few moments until I felt the stares of everyone else on me. "Fine," I said.
Paige led everyone downstairs. I was stuck inside with my brother and my parents who were taking pictures of me.
"This day will never come again! I'm taking advantage now!" My mom said before pressing the shutter button on the camera. James and I both smiled at the camera.
"I'll meet you downstairs," James said after lightly patting my back. I smiled and nodded. After a few more pictures, I was no longer my parents prisoner. I walked out the house and into the cold weather. Like an idiot, I had forgotten a jacket. Whatever, everyone is waiting. I'll make it to the car on time..I hope. I walked down the street, trying to remember where James' car was.
"You didn't bring a jacket?" a familiar voice asked, "Here."
I felt a warm jacket slide onto my shoulders. I turned around and saw Carlos smiling at me.
"Yeah, you know how I get sometimes," I tried to laugh it off, "Where is everyone?"
"James' car could only seat five. I said I would stay behind to give you a ride," he smiled.
"So, where's the car?" I asked.
"You see," he began, "It wasn't until after they left that I had remembered that my car is at home."
I couldn't help but laugh.
"So let's walk," I said softly. He nodded and offered me his hand. I stared at him for a moment before I grabbed his hand. It was warm and welcoming. I felt my face get warm and I then looked down to hide my blush. I liked Carlos for a long time. I never showed it because I feared rejection. I didn't want to say 'Hey Carlos, yeah I've liked you since we were babies.' That would just be awkward. And he would probably see me as 'one of the guys' instead of as a girl who has been crushing on him for a really long time.
We walked in silence until we reached the school. "I hope its fun," he starred at the entrance.
"It'll be fun since you're here," I whispered. I don't think he heard me since he led me into the school. My eyes started to search for Paige, but instead she found me. She was wearing a strapless red dress and her straight dark brown hair looked great. She continuously commented me on how I looked. I got comments from guys who never noticed me before and from some of my friends. I felt awkward, but I still had fun dancing with my friends. A slow song began to play and Paige made a face.
"I don't think we should dance together to this song," she said.
"Duh!" I made a face back at her.
"Ew, Maya found Carlos," Paige made a disgusted face.
"He can dance with her if he wants to," I turned around, "Look there's my brother. Go ask him to dance Paige."
"Not until you ask Carlos to dance," she smirked. Not wanting to let her win, I walked towards Carlos. I saw Paige's shocked reaction. She obviously thought I was going to chicken out.
I tapped Carlos on the shoulder. "Wanna dance?"
He looked from Maya then to me, "Sure."
I thought he was going to saw 'no'. When he said 'sure' I had realized that I don't know how to slow dance.
He put his hands on my waist and I looked around the dance floor. I saw the girls had their arms around the guys necks so I did the same. I stepped on his feet a few times but he just laughed gently. After dancing in an awkward silence, Carlos pulled me closer to whisper in my ear.
"Paige spoke to me today."
"What did she say?" I tried to make my voice sound like I didn't care. Why would she talk to him and then not tell me about it?
"She told me to stop waiting," he said softly.
"Waiting for what?" I was confused.
"For this.." he leaned in closer to me and soon his lips touched mine.
I really hope you guys are enjoying this story so far. I just got the idea and started typing. I feel like it's missing something but I don't know what. I'll try to think of something for the next chapter. :)