Author's note

I've always wanted to do a Braceface fanfic and I've finally gotten around to doing it, excuse all the references to previous episodes if you aren't familiar with them. I want the consistency of the story from where it left off to be perfect, therefore please let me know if you like the direction this story is going and if not some suggestions and constructive criticism would be great.

Disclaimer

I do NOT own Braceface in any shape or form.

Chapter 1

Ever since that fateful day of Sharon letting out her frustrations over the Alden and Tess situation for the whole world to see, she has been careful to not post any more journal entries online. However, Sharon couldn't help but start to write in a journal diary with a pen and paper where surely her braces wouldn't get in the way of humiliating herself as a pathetic clingy girlfriend. She found solace and comfort in letting out her most inner deep feelings over situations and circumstances in her crazy 'Braceface' life. This time was no different as she reached under her bed mattress and fished out the journal, with her mind working overtime she began to write:

Dear anonymous,

It's been 2 weeks since we got back from Enviro-Camp and began dating officially. Alden's been putting a lot of effort into making sure things go right, though it's starting to get on my nerves. I mean it's not like I don't appreciate his efforts of holding doors open for me and pushing the chair back so I can sit, I can't help feeling tense inside. Is it so wrong to be the tiniest bit bitter that he couldn't have tried harder when we were ACTUALLY dating? I mean all my friends, especially BROCK, realise that Alden didn't treat me well unlike the loving way he treated Marlo his ex girlfriend while THEY were dating. It just makes me feel like I'm not worthy; these crazy thoughts are constantly at the back of my head every time I'm with Alden and it's eating me alive. Maria thinks I'm being overly dramatic as usual, but even she can't deny the difference in the way he treated me before and the way he treats me now. She suggested I talk to Alden about it, but I can't do that and she doesn't understand why. It's obviously going to prove the point of me not getting over my 'jealousy' tendencies which was clear for everyone to see during the Tess situation. Regardless I am going to have to think of a way to try and get my feelings out to Alden without openly telling him so I can move on.

'Ughh' Sharon sighed in exasperation as she put everything back where it was and laid her head back against the bed. She was just about to work up the energy to get up and go downstairs to eat something, it was getting late and she was starving. Before she could even get up her cellphone started ringing from its place on the bed. With a knowing feeling she glanced at the screen, saw Alden's name appear on the screen heaved an inside groan and pressed talk. 'Hey Alden, what's up?' she chewed on her lower lip as she anticipated what he wanted. 'Not much just wanted to ask if you wanted to grab a bite to eat? My shift at my parent's restaurant is up and I'm starved so why don't you come over and we can have some burritos', hearing Alden's voice despite her reservations about their relationship caused butterflies in the pit of her stomach that overtime became stronger and stronger. 'I'd love to, I'll be there in 15 mins don't start without me' Sharon joked, 'haha no worries I'll try and control myself' Alden teased back. Pressing the end button on her cellphone, Sharon glanced at her reflection in the vanity mirror and sighed. It was no use; her hair just wasn't cooperating today even if she wanted it to. Although her hair looked kinda sexy with its 'bed head' appearance she hoped Alden saw it that way too. Before she got carried out with her appearance, particularly her braces, she slipped on her dark blue jean jacket and slipped out her bedroom door. Downstairs she saw her mom sitting at the kitchen table with a pile of paperwork in front of her and told her she's going to dinner with Alden, 'don't be late Sharon, your curfew's at 10pm' her mother reminded her, like she needed it! At least her mom extended her curfew to 10pm after the disaster of the 'Home Alone' debacle.

Humming to herself softly in an attempt to forget her pent up thoughts about Alden going overboard, she walked along the sidewalk towards the stores, where Alden's restaurant was. Before she got to the door of the restaurant she glanced at the window to sneak a peak of Alden without him knowing she was there. Alden was behind the register cleaning up, his face a slight flushed red colour and his hair as usual beautifully sticking up in all the right places. Sharon quickly glanced down at her outfit, which was starting to become almost like an experiment since as she and her friends were getting older their fashion sense was changing. Despite wearing one of her statement pieces: her dark blue jean jacket, the rest of her clothes was different. She had on a loose fitted black shirt which hung down and covered her derriere where her black fitted leggings couldn't, which were tucked into brown ankle boots. Relieved to not see lint in sight, she pushed the door open and walked inside. Alden glanced up and gave her a heart melting smile. She smiled back, probably not as seductively as she could have but come on; she was Sharon after all with her nerdy looking braces. Alden didn't care about them, but Sharon always felt insecure about her braces which to her relief were going to come off at the end of the year, before she become a sophomore with the rest of her close friends the coming fall. 'shoot, forgot to tell you I've got a little bit of cleaning up to do but I won't be long' he promised.

Sharon nodded to say she'd wait and sat in a booth where she pulled out her cellphone from her pocket and ringed Maria's number. 'Hey Maria, its Sharon' she said as soon as she heard Maria pick up, 'do I need a reminder?' Maria chuckled, 'I have caller id, we both do, earth to Sharon are you okay?' she half joked and half said seriously. 'I'm wondering that myself' Sharon replied, hating the way her voice was starting to take on a hopeless and dramatic tone. 'What's wrong?' Maria asked in a concerned best friend way, 'just the usual Alden stuff' Sharon replied quietly so Alden doesn't hear her, expecting Maria to start scolding her for not telling him the truth about her frustrated feelings. Instead it was just a reality check Maria is known for giving Sharon. 'Look Sharon, I don't mean to come off really hard on you but if you don't tell Alden it's just going to build up more inside and truthfully, you know you've been the happiest when your with Alden, don't you WANT to be with him?' she said this with some frustration as they've been having the same conversation for almost a week now after Sharon's elevated feelings of being with Alden again have died down a little and her mind started working long enough to conjure up thoughts of doubt. 'Of course I do! I just need a little more confirmation that I'm special to him and I don't want-'she was cut off by the approach of Alden to the booth she chose to sit in, 'I'll speak to you tomorrow at school Maria, bye' she hung up her phone and raised her eyes to meet Alden's across the small table they shared.

'So anything important I should know about?' Alden raised his right eyebrow in a cute contemplating way. 'Nope, just girl stuff' she replied a little nervously and took a small sip of water she filled from the pitcher sitting on the table. 'Alright, so what kind of burrito do you want?' Alden asked her tapping the menu on the table. 'A vegetarian one, not spicy' Sharon joked remembering her last experience with a spicy burrito on their first date together when they first went out at the end of grade 8, the time when she embarrassingly got her period on the same day. 'Haha of course' Alden replied the red flushed colour from before creeping up again at the tops of his cheeks. He squeezed her hand and got up to get their food before returning 7 minutes later. 'Sorry to keep you waiting' he kissed the top of her head as he set the food down on the table, her vegetarian burrito and his spicy one. 'No problem' she said and they both dug in, their conversation a little slow in between chewing, and as they started making conversation Alden's right foot touched her own, making it harder for Sharon to eat as her heart and breath sped up a little as the air between them electrified slightly.

They finished up their food, cleaned up and left the store hand in hand. Sharon's mind that earlier in the evening was filled with mixed thoughts slowly eased as they walked on, hands still laced together. 'So what time do you have to go home again?' Alden squeezed her hand as he said this, 'at 10 you know that' she jokingly bumped her hip against his as she sensed mischief in his voice. 'Do you realise it's only 9:30pm? We could go someplace and hang out...' his voice trailed off at the end of his suggestion, Sharon's nerves were jangled and she had to push down thoughts of what they could do in that time to a level of innocence. 'Hmm we could go to lifecycles and order mango smoothies?' She suggested trying to keep the conversation light, 'your cute, do you know that?' Before she could answer he claimed her lips in a heated kiss as he nudged her behind a store to make out. Sharon surrendered to the make out, no longer trying to resist his affectionate actions. I mean she always wanted to make out with Alden but never had a chance to when they were going out, sure they lunged at each other once in her house when they were trying to watch Adam's wrestling match but clearly Alden was only interested in her and not the game. Since then there were just kisses and then obviously nothing after the break up, until Alden forgot his memories in an ice hockey accident involving her braces and Brock's flying puck and thought she was still his girlfriend due to short term memory loss. Even then she couldn't accept his advances without guilt because of Marlo who was his REAL girlfriend at the time and suppressed her desires. However now he was HERS and she could be with him however she wanted, and at that moment she forgot all her worries and enjoyed the bliss she felt.