Just warning u, I'm going to avoid the romance as much as possible till part two.

Part 1: The Ugly Duckling

Once upon a time there lived an ugly duckling. But this time, this duckling wasn't just ugly; this duckling was also friendless and ugly, dorky and fat. This duckling had medium-black lank hair that was supposed to be layered, but instead looked like it had been attacked by scissors. This duckling only had baggy hand-me-downs to wear. This duckling was a thirteen year old, and like many had a crush.

Who was this poor duckling? None other than the, helplessly unnoticed, Emily Brown. Yes, yes, I know my life is horrible. But it doesn't stop there, and I'm not trying to get pity or anything, just letting you know. My dad and my mom got separated long before I can remember. My mom, well, is too busy with work to show she cares about me, leaving me ultimately in the care of ruthless and evil Elizabeth, the housekeeper/babysitter. No one really cares about me, other than the sister of the well-dressed, beautiful, popular, and thin Stephanie Brown.

Today, I'm sitting at the dinner table with her, Elizabeth, I mean. My wonderful sister is on a date. "Eat up. I know my cooking is much better than your mom's" Elizabeth claimed. I just want to yell and sneer at her. Just because my mom isn't always home, doesn't mean Elizabeth is better than her. I looked down at the disgusting pot roast she made and took a mouthful, successfully preventing my reply.

Once I finished dinner, I head upstairs, but froze, hearing Elizabeth's words as she greeted my mom. "She told me she hates you cooking"

Slowly, I turn around. My mom is staring at me in horror. "Mom I— "

"That's enough. Go upstairs to your room now." My mom says face hardening.

"But I—"

"Please, you've done enough, listen to your mom, it's the least you can do" Elizabeth says.

I head up to my room furious. This is just like evil Elizabeth. I wanted to yell at her "least I can do! The least you can do is tell the truth! I ate your disgusting pot roast, without so much as a hint of how disgusted I was with it. Yet you have the nerve to lie to my mom like that, making me look like the bad one here!" but all I did was helplessly let the tears roll down my face, burning in shame and anger.

-0-

I woke up the next morning with Elizabeth towering over me. I do nothing to hide the distaste on my face.

"That right, I lied to your mom last night. And I will keep doing it, and soon enough your mom will hate you. You can't do nothing about it, want to know why?" she spat at me.

The next thing I now, I feel the wind getting knocked out of me. Then I see Elizabeth drawing her hand away. I can feel the pain registering around my stomach, and through the morning grogginess, I realized what she had done. She had punched me. I felt my eyes fill with tears but I blinked them back. Instead I grit my teeth and stood up, not ready to give her the satisfaction.

She punches my cheek, causing my head to whip to the side. Then, too fast for my liking, I take another blow to my gut, so hard I can't help it when I doubled over. By the time I recover, all I see is Elizabeth leaving, quickly replaced by Stephanie at the doorway.

"Elizabeth told me you're still falling out of the bed." She said snickering. I stood up fully, ready for another fight, but she left.

Yet again, my eyes filled with tears again, but again I blinked them back. No more tears for me. I had to grit my teeth and not bother with things I can't change.

And that's what I did for the rest of the day. I grit my teeth when I hear everyone's snickers when I came last in track during gym. I grit teeth when I knew everyone was calling me a nerd behind my back, when the teacher announced my 100% to the class. I grit my teeth when I saw my crush was always one of them.