Chapter 1

Alexis Jacklin and her mother were standing in the airport terminal waiting for the flight from Houston to arrive. Alexis didn't want her mom to come with her to the airport, but she couldn't drive herself.

"Alexis, you should really go sit down. You heard the doctor. You should stay off your feet as much as possible after major knee surgery."

Alexis sighed and went and sat down in the nearest chair with her mother close behind. It had been 5 months since the surgery, but she still had problems.

"Alexis, how many times must I tell you to sit up straight?" Her mother yelled.

Alexis straightened up. She didn't want her mom to embarrass her anymore. She hated the way her parents were in so much control of her life. She was 21 years old, but as much as she wanted to, she couldn't afford to move out of her parents' home. She didn't want people thinking she hated her family, but she knew she didn't belong. She had never really fit in with her family. While the rest of her family was a little taller and all of them were stick thin, she was 5'7" and about 175 pounds. She didn't like shopping and she hated going to the 'functions' her family always went to. Instead of being concerned with 'functions' and appearances, Alexis had always been interested in music, sports, and school. She hated when her parents made her go to the 'functions', but they said they had to keep up their appearance. She would always give in because she hated disappointing people, especially ones she loved. The Jacklin family was very well known in North Carolina. Her father, Brian Jacklin, was a very prominent lawyer all over North and South Carolina. And her mother, Susan Louis Jacklin, came from a very wealthy tobacco farming family. Alexis and her younger siblings, twins Casey and Bethany, had grown up very well off. By the time Alexis started school, all the kids knew who she was and most didn't like her. It wasn't because she was mean, but most of them didn't like her because her parents were always buying her new things. Everyone thought she had the perfect life, but it was far from.

"ALEXIS!" Alexis jumped when her mother's voice echoed in her ears.

"What mom? Ya don't have to yell!" Alexis stated with annoyance.

"First, speak properly and second if you would have answered me the first couple of times I wouldn't have had to yell. I have told you before that it is not ladylike to stare off into space." By this time Alexis was really annoyed.

"Well, you didn't yell at me for that reason."

"No, they just said that the flight just landed."

Flashback (15 years)

"Now Miss Jacklin, your mother told me to remind you to have a good day at school and make good choices. She doesn't want you hanging out with anyone who can get you in trouble." 6-year old Alexis looked at the lady in front of her.

"Where is momma?"

"She had a very important meeting to go to this morning."

"But it's my first day of 1st grade. I don't know anyone. She promised she would take me." Alexis began.
"No whining, you know that isn't going to get you anywhere. She wishes she could be there, but this meeting is very important. Now you better hurry up or you are going to miss the bus."

"I'm sorry Ms. Hannah. Good-bye." Alexis said with tears starting to form in her big brown eyes. She wiped away the tears as she headed down the driveway to the bus stop. After about 10 minutes the bus pulled up and opened the doors. Alexis climbed on and took a seat right in the front. A couple minutes later the bus pulled to a stop in front of a large group of kids. As the kids piled on Alexis hoped and feared that some kid would ask to sit next to her. As the kids walked by her, she heard some of them whisper things about her. Her chances seemed to be getting smaller as the kids stopped coming. She turned her head and looked out the window as tears started to fall.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Alexis turned around to see two little boys looking at her. She started to say something, but she got scared so she just shook her head no.

"Do you mind if we sit with you?" The other boy asked. Again she was afraid to talk, so she shook her head and slid over. The two little boys piled into the seat. The bus finally started moving and the three kids remained quiet.

"Are you new here?" The first boy (and the one closest to Alexis) asked.

"Yes" came the soft reply from Alexis. Satisfied with the answer the boy nodded and continued.

"My name's Jeff Hardy. And this is my best friend, Shannon Moore. What's your name?"

"My name is Alexis Marie Jacklin."

"What grade are you in?" Shannon asked.

"1st grade"

"So are we." The next couple minutes were quiet until Jeff spoke up.

"Why are you crying?" He asked bluntly.

Alexis remembered that day so well. It had changed her life. Sometimes she could still hear Jeff asking that question.

"Why are you crying?" She heard it again, but this time she knew it wasn't her imagination. She turned around and flew into the arms of her best friend.

"Jeff! I'm so excited you're home! I've missed ya'll so much!"

"I'm happy to be home too. It feels like forever since the last time I was home."

"Well, I'm glad you're home." She said smiling.

"Oh, before I forget…not that I could. There is someone I want you to meet." Jeff stepped back. "Alexis, this is Courtney. Courtney, this is my best friend Alexis." Alexis was shocked. Jeff had never mentioned a Courtney, or any other girl for that matter, in any conversation.

"It's nice to meet you Courtney." Alexis said sticking out her hand.

"Yea, same to you" was the only reply. Alexis dropped her hand. Why hadn't Jeff said anything?

"Well, we should get you two back to your dad's. He is probably wondering where we are."

"Leave it up to mom to always change the subject." Alexis thought to herself. As they were loading the car, Courtney bumped into Alexis' knee, which made her let out a slight scream.

"Alexis? Are you okay?" Jeff asked.

"Yea, it was just my sore knee."

"Oh well, I don't think Courtney did it on purpose."

"But I didn't say…"

"Let's go kids. Stop arguing." Susan Jacklin said. Everyone hopped in the car for the drive back to Cameron. The car ride was pretty quiet except for the occasional question and answer. Alexis was sitting next to her mom in the front seat trying to figure out why Jeff had never mentioned Courtney. She thought that there was something between them before he left at the end of August. She thought he had felt the same way she did, but apparently she had read him wrong.

"Well, here we are." Susan said as she pulled into Gilbert Hardy's driveway. "Jeff it is so good to have you home. Everyone is so proud of you, Matt, Shannon, Amy, and Shane."

"Thank you Mrs. Jacklin. We appreciate the ride also."

"You are very welcome. Courtney it is a pleasure to meet you. Jeff is a lucky guy. You two need to come over on Sunday for supper."

"We would love to Mrs. Jacklin. Thank you so much." Courtney said with the fakest sincerity Alexis had ever heard. Courtney was the type of person that Jeff and Alexis had hated in high school.

"Well, we will see you on Sunday. Supper is at 6:00."

"All right, see you Sunday. Bye Alexis." She turned to her mom's window.

"Why has Jeff been calling me Alexis? He never calls me Alexis." She thought to herself.

"Bye"

"All right Alexis let's get you home so you can rest your knee. Buh-bye" she said as she backed out of the Hardy's driveway. As soon as the car was parked Brianna jumped out and walked to her room. She couldn't believe everything that had happened. The day had not gone as she had imagined it.