Eres Tu Mi Sol
By: Nicole Lopez

~Hazel~

Jimmy Brooks has recently become one of my best friends. I feel like I can tell him anything and I think the feeling's mutual. It wasn't always like that. There was a time when I barely talked to Jimmy. Back then I was convinced that the best way to deal with boys was to stay away from them. But I got sick of missing out, and when Ash dumped Jimmy, for the final time, he confided in me. And for once, I realized that Paige wasn't the world's best friend.

"Hazel? Hello." Paige waved her hand in front of my face even though I had heard every word that she said. I just didn't really like the top she picked out for herself. It made her look . pudgy.

"I'm listening." I sighed, knowing that Paige was going to continue until she was sure that she had my full attention.

"Well, what do you think? Spinner will love this." Paige smiled, waiting for my answer.

"Yeah. It's so cute." I had to stop myself from flinching as I said those words. 'So cute?' How many times had I said that in the past year?

"I know!" Paige squealed. "Now something for you." She started to pick up this really short dress that I knew my parents would never go for.

"It's good . but I was thinking more on the lines of this." I picked up a cute pair of capris with embroidery that had a matching pink top.

"Pant suits went out in the '90s Haze."

"It's not a pant suit. Don't you think it's a little cute?" I urged, trying to sway her mind.

"No. I don't know what's gotten into you lately. You've been picking out all this . tomboyish stuff. It's totally hideous Haze. You should really get this." Paige picked up the dress and handed it to me.

"But." I stopped myself and sighed. "Yeah, you're right. What was I thinking?" I forced a grin, feeling completely insulted. Paige didn't know a thing about fashion, which was the reason we were shopping together. I waited until Paige went to ring up her things before I put the dress back, but it didn't matter much anyway. She had picked out all the things in my basket. I thrust the dress back onto the rack. Yuck. It was so 'Clueless.' Wasn't that 'so '90s' too?

"I can't believe you're bringing me here this early in the morning. What's wrong with you?" Jimmy asked as I rushed to make it in and out of Wet Seal before I saw Paige. She went shopping like everyday.

"Look. I can't really explain this to you because you wouldn't understand." I whispered, making it into the store, ready to return everything.

"Why did you buy all this stuff if you weren't going to wear it?"

"I guess some of Paige's stuff got mixed up with mine." I lied. "Anyway, I shouldn't be spending up all my money on clothes. I don't need this stuff anyway." I added, trying to cover up the fact that I implied that I didn't have enough money to pay for this stuff, which I didn't.

"If money's a problem. I'll buy it for you. Whatever you want." Jimmy offered, pulling out his credit card, which he had gotten for his sixteenth birthday.

"Tempting, but . I really need to get rid of these clothes." I admitted, thrusting them onto the counter. I heard the store bell ring and turned around to see Paige. "This is not happening."

"Hazel! What are you doing here?" Paige asked, confused.

"I should ask you the same thing. Weren't you two here yesterday?" Jimmy butted in.

"Yeah but . this dress was way too . big." Paige responded.

"I know what you mean. My clothes were way tight. My parents saw them and made me take them back." I lied. She nodded, seeming to believe it. Good.

~Liberty~

"Mom, Dad I'm home!" I yelled, happy that orchestra practice was over. My cello had been impossible today and I'd completely bombed my solo. "Mom?" I whispered, realizing that the house was deadly silent. No cries of a spoiled younger brother, no praise to a perfect older sister. Just silence. "Alison, where is everyone?" I asked as our housemaid walked into the living room.

"Didn't they tell you?" I shook my head. "Justice had a dance recital tonight. They took the whole family."

"What time will they be back?" I wondered, my anger rising just a little bit.

"Not until late. They're going out to dinner afterwards. I could give you the address if you want to go." Alison suggested.

"No, that's all right." I left my cello where it was and ran up their stairs. This was all too much. Mom had promised me once Tyler had gotten older, they wouldn't forget as much, but they always did. It was almost as if I wasn't even apart of the family anymore.

~Terri~

"Would you like to try that on?" A salesperson asked as I put down the dress. I knew it was too small. He had to have known it too. "Ma'am?" I turned around to find myself face to face with Mohammed.

"No. That's okay." I whispered, waiting for him to make some immature remark about me being too big to ever wear something like that, even if it came in my size.

"Are you sure?" He walked over to me, being strangely civil.

"If you want to make some stupid fat joke just say it now. What are you waiting for?" I wondered, raising my voice a little.

"I thought we were behind that eh? Besides, this is a real job here. I can't just insult customers and not get penalized." Mohammed admitted.

"SO otherwise." My voice trailed off.

"My world doesn't revolve around you.. You're the one who seems to be obsessed about your weight, not me." He walked away, making sure to be as polite as he could about it. But he was wrong. I wasn't obsessed about my weight. There was nothing wrong with my weight. And just to prove it, I picked up that dress, as large as it came in regular sizes. I was going to be able to wear that dress one day soon . I knew it.

~Hazel~

"Would you hurry up Jimmy?" I asked, plopping down onto the couch. Everyone else had already started going to the party and I didn't even get to start on my make-up yet.

"I'm almost done." He replied with the same words he'd been using nearly and hour ago.

"You know what? I'll just go use the other bathroom." I told him. Immediately he popped out of the bathroom,

"I'm done." He gasped, out a breath. For some reason, he never wanted anyone to go into the other bathroom . better yet the other side of the house. It was just too weird for me.

"Finally." I responded, laughing at how easy it was to get him out of the bathroom. The only question I had was why didn't I think of it earlier?

~Jimmy~

"I can't believe you actually wanted to come to this party." Hazel whispered, disgusted.

"It's a college party and I thought you wanted to come." I responded.

"Yeah, well if all college parties are this lame, count me out."

"You're missing the whole point of the party. People don't come here to dance and hang out, they come here to drink and have sex." I explained.

"Is that why you brought me here, to get me drunk and what-not?" Hazel wondered, as I took a sip of the beer that was in my hand. "I thought you weren't drinking anymore. We talked about it and I thought you were leaving that life behind."

"No, you talked. I listened. There's a big difference." I admitted.

"Fine. Do ahead and drink your life away. See if I care . Just don't expect me to ride home with you since you're drinking." Hazel stocked off into the crowd. When she was passionately against something she got angry when I didn't listen to her or do what she said. Whatever. I'd been good for these past couple of months and I needed a drink. Or two.

(A/N: After part two, things will start to heat up. Who would you like to hear about and what would you like to see happen? Let me know!! ~~NL)