Chapter 1: Oh, It's You…Again

"Always forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." -John F. Kennedy

"It's not over…it's just the beginning of everything."

The crowd cheered as Derrick Harrington finished his valedictorian speech with a broad fake grin and the cheesiest line.

Or so Kristen Block thought.

She was standing up, smiling brightly at Derrick, clapping along her classmates and family. In her mind, though, she was insulting him with words she had never uttered before.

Thief, Kristen thought as she tried to keep a smile plastered on her pretty face. The valedictorian spot was supposed to be hers (and so was the scholarship to England that Derrick had snatched away, too)…she had been working on it for years. She studied and studied every single night just so she could be in the top of her class. No breaks, no fun…just study.

And it had all gone just as planned, until two years ago when Derrick decided to upgrade from a C student to an A+ student. Ever since then, they had kept insulting and trying to beat each other. Sadly for Kristen, Derrick always won. It didn't matter how much effort she put into her reports, how late she stayed up studying, he always won. Her family always talked about him in dinner time. He was the king of everything. Everybody loved him; teachers, parents, students…and everybody seemed to forget about Kristen, the girl who was part of every club just to earn credit for the scholarship, who always ran for vice-president and tried to make the fundraisers as amazing as possible, who always tried to be nice and helpful (except toward Derrick) -the girl who always tried her best but always ended up second, no matter how much she tried.

Derrick and Kristen had supposedly fixed their problems two days ago by being each other's date for prom. He had told her he wanted to put an end to any hard feelings in between them now that they were graduating. Kristen wouldn't have accepted if he hadn't asked her out in front of everybody at school.

But Kristen knew better. Derrick had always laughed at her when it was possible, hurt her emotionally every time he could…and let's not forget how he ruined her relationship with Dempsey Solomon, his best friend and her first and only boyfriend, by telling him who-knows-what about her. So why did he all of a sudden decide to be her friend? He was probably laughing at her mentally right in that instant.

It was her turn to hug Derrick. She gave him a bright (a.k.a. fake) smile before accepting his tight embrace. Her parents were watching, and she would never hear the end of it if she graduated insulting Derrick (who they simply loved).

"Good luck, Kristen," he told her with a half smile. "I'm sure that all your efforts will lead to success."

Because you won't be there, she thought. But out loud, she said, "Thanks. Good luck to you, too. Though, you won't need it. You're already amazing."

Derrick grinned and hugged her once again.

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"Kristen!"

"Ms. Gregory!"

"Kristen, over here!"

"Is Josh with you?"

"Is it true that you and Conner Foley broke up?"

"Was Josh the reason?"

"Josh, a picture!"

"Ms. Gregory!"

I woke up with a jump, which startled Josh Hotz (that's right, the Josh Hotz. The famous superstar actor). He was sitting across from me in his limousine, and his usual smug expression was replaced by one of confusion. I shrugged it off. After all, not even I knew why I had dreamed of my graduation day.

I turned to look at the window and did the usual when mobbed by the paparazzi: waved, smiled and kept quiet. How had they known I was back in Westchester? How did they find out Josh was here? Did Conner reveal in an interview that we had broken up after a year as boyfriend and girlfriend?

"Don't worry, Kris. I'm sure Isaac can loose them," Josh assured me with a proud smirk. He signaled at his chauffeur, who grinned at Josh from the rearview mirror.

All of a sudden, the car swerved to the right, pressing Josh against me. After a few seconds, I was impulsed forward by the car's sudden acceleration. After two more sharp swerves and speed ups, the car finally came to a screech and began driving peacefully.

"Told you so," Josh bragged, running a hand through his silky dark hair. "Isaac and I have to escape a couple of paparazzi mobs almost every day, too."

Out of breath, I handed him and Isaac a smile before leaning back against the limousine's comfy seat.

You're probably wondering why I, Kristen Block, or Kristen Gregory as I'm now known by the media, am sitting next to the hottest and most famous twenty-five-year-old actor in the world. Well, now that I'm an equally famous actress, he happens to be my best friend.

I know you're surprised. Who would've ever thought that Kristen Block would become a Golden Globe, Emmy and Academy Award-winning actress? Obviously, not me. But five years ago, when I was just nineteen and depressed by the fact that I wasn't attending an Ivy League college, a producer thought I had "the face" to star in his new movie. Which happened to be one of the most successful films of 2007. And that's when my career began, when I was twenty-years-old.

Afterwards, I starred in a couple of other successful films before meeting Josh, who introduced me to his best friend, Conner Foley…who decided to dump me for a Miu Miu model last week.

"Thinking about Conner?" Josh asked with a smirk, which was his only smile. Josh is a total snob. Luckily for his career, his fans only seem to care about his extremely good looks. And I know how they feel. I used to be in love with him back in ninth grade, when he was sixteen and the main character of one of the hottest TV shows from back then.

I rolled my green eyes at how easily he could read me. "No."

Josh snickered. "I know you too well. And I also know him well enough to be sure that soon, he'll be begging for you to take him back."

I bit my lip. "He's with an extremely beautiful model now."

Josh pinched my arm. "You're way more beautiful."

I turned to look at him with an amused smile. "Your 'charms' don't work with me. And, besides, I don't want him back. That model whose name I don't even know can have him."

Josh chuckled and leaned back in his seat. "I'm glad that you said that. Besides, I'm sure that there are a ton of guys out there wanting to date you."

I punched him playfully. "Would you stop with the compliments?"

Josh snapped his gum. "You should be thankful that I'm complimenting you, many girls would kill for a compliment from me. And besides, it's the truth. I'm all about honesty, you know?"

"That's why you end up insulting everyone you meet," I told him with a grin.

He grinned back and began to laugh as if remembering one of his "greatest" insults. Luckily, the media hasn't found out about them. Though I don't think his fans would care.

I looked down and began to play with the charm bracelet in my wrist, a gift from my big sister and my other best friend, Massie Block, who also happened to be the reason why I was here.

I still couldn't believe she was getting married.

She was just a year older than me, and she was already preparing to walk down the aisle with a white gown on. When I was younger, I always dreamed of this moment. And even though she's twenty-five already, it still feels way too soon. In Christmas Eve, which is in exactly twenty-two days, Massie won't be Ms. Block anymore, she will be a Mrs. Something -my family still hasn't told me who's going to be her brother-in-law. Which is killing me, since I hate surprises.

Last week, my dad called me out of the blue. I thought something bad had happened since my mom was crying like crazy in the background. Well, that was until my dad told me that I was going to be Massie's bridesmaid.

The car halted to a stop and all of a sudden, I felt nervous. Josh put on his sunglasses and zipped up his leather jacket, which won't protect him from Westchester's extremely cold weather in December. Isaac opened the door for us, and soon, we were making our way up to my family's doorstep.

"It's a nice house you grew up in," Josh told me, as he stared up at my two-storied (plus the attic) yellow Victorian-styled house.

I sighed as I examined it, too.

It had been years since I've paid a visit to my hometown. It was my family who usually came down to Los Angeles to visit me and my aunt/manager. I guess that's the reason why each step I took brought back so many memories -mainly about Massie. Like the time she taught me how to jump the rope, or how she always braided my hair before I went to sleep and called me Rapunzel. Or when Massie stayed up all night helping me with my costume for the seventh-grade's play.

Before the door opened to reveal my parents, I was already feeling nostalgic.

"Kristen!" my mother exclaimed, hugging me as tight as ever. She began to inspect me. "Oh my God…I can't believe how fast you and Massie grew up."

And just like that, my mom began to sob.

Dad gently pushed her away and embraced me. "Ever since Massie told us she was engaged, she's been crying like crazy."

But my mom's tears disappeared once she spotted Josh.

"Oh, my! I'm so glad to meet you, Josh. Is it okay if I call you that?" she asked him, shaking his hand.

Only Massie had met Josh, and my parents were more than excited when they found out Josh was invited to the wedding. Massie had taken a liking in his attitude. She considered him "witty". And the fact that Josh's mom, one of the most famous wedding planners around Hollywood, had volunteered to plan Massie's wedding for free got my parents even more excited to meet him.

Josh took off his sunglasses and grinned. "Josh's fine. And it's a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs. Block."

"Oh, please call me Marsha."

As Josh was introduced to my dad, my mom went on to tell a lively story of how in love Massie and I were with Josh back in our freshmen and sophomore years.

Josh's eyes were sparkling with held back laughter as he looked at me. "Oh really? I didn't know you were a fan of mine, Kris."

"I was just a kid. And, besides, I didn't know what a fool you were," I defended myself. Josh smirked.

"Come in," my dad told us with a huge smile.

Before my mom could close the door behind us, I heard my sister's shouts of glee.

"KRISTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN! OH MY GOD! KRISTEEEN!"

A squealing Massie came running down the stairs. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement and her toned arms were wide open. Once she was in front of me, she jumped into a bear hug.

"I'm so happy you're here!"

I hugged her back with a smile.

A stranger would never guess we were sisters. We are absolutely different -Massie has shoulder-length brown hair, and I have golden-blonde hair that reaches the middle of my back. Massie's eyes are amber and mine are emerald green. Massie is dimple-free, and my dimples appear even when I sleep. The only thing we have in common is our freckled nose and bow-shaped lips. However, my mom insists that we are exactly the same.

She pulled away and gave the same greeting to Josh.

Since I was across from Massie, I wasn't aware of the reason why her eyes went wide and a broad grin appeared in her face. Until I turned around.

In front of me, a handsome man was smiling at us. He seemed familiar, but I didn't know from where. Maybe it was the fact that he sorta looked like my ex. With his hazel eyes, golden blonde hair and crooked grin, he was really similar to Conner.

Massie walked toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Kristen, Josh…this is my future husband."

I smiled and waved at him. "Hi."

My mom placed her arm around my shoulder. "Kris…remember Derrick?"

Derrick.

My eyes widened and I resisted the urge to open my mouth in shock.

Derrick. Derrick.

His name repeated in my mind. And even though a smile was still plastered in my face, I was as stunned as it could get.

Derrick Harrington.

All of a sudden, I remembered my shock back in eleventh grade when I found out my grades weren't the highest ones in class. The time when we first insulted each other. The night when I stayed up late writing my report on Marie Antoinette's life just to be once again beaten out by Derrick. All of my moments with him flashed in my mind; when Dempsey broke up with me just after I've heard them talk about me, when my parents first met Derrick and ever since compared me to him, when he taunted me because I didn't win the valedictorian spot, when he came to pick me up for prom…

And even though my hatred for him began to bubble inside me, I just grinned as if I was extremely happy.

"Of course I do!" I exclaimed. "How could I forget my competition back from high school!" I giggled.

"And your prom date," Massie added with a smile.

"Of course," I replied. I turned to look at him. "How did England treat you?"

Don't get me wrong: I'm extremely happy with my acting career. But every time someone mentions England, I always remember the fact that I studied for four years just because of that one scholarship…that Derrick just snagged away from me. And even though I should be thanking him for my acting career (if it wasn't for him, the director would've never found me), I'm not. I even studied all of the English slangs and learned how to speak in every different accent just to be a good English citizen!

"Oh, he's an earth scientist now," my mom told me.

I wanted to be an earth scientist before finding out that the scholarship wasn't mine.

"Mom, let him talk!" Massie exclaimed.

Derrick's grin widened. "Beautifully. I could finally tour all around Europe like I had always wanted. And I really enjoyed getting to walk around London. It all seemed like a scene from a book."

I nodded. "I know what you mean. I thought the exact same thing when I first arrived there."

"Oh, come on guys, you haven't seen each other in years! HUG!" Massie ordered us.

He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around me. This was just like graduation day.

When he pulled away, my parents began to introduce him to Josh.

But all I could think about was the fact that the guy I hated was about to become my brother-in-law.

A/N: Hoped you liked the first chapter! I'm a new writer, by the way, so please understand why this story might have mistakes. However, they do say practice makes perfect -and constructive criticism helps even more ;) I also wanted to say that this is loosely inspired by the awesome movie "You Again" and the title is the same as one of Beverly Cleary's books.

Thanks for reading!