Chapter One

Of

Loving You

-LY-

I hate you, mom!! was the thought that was running through Elizabeth Walker's mind. Her mom had recently been offered a job by a fashion company. She had to move to Alberquerque to get the job. Of all places, it had to be Alberquerque!

Don't get her wrong, Elizabeth didn't hate Alberquerque or anything, but it was miles, miles, MILES away from her friends back in New York. She was planning a visit there this summer.

Now, not only did she have to go to a new school, but she had to make new friends. Thanks a lot, mom! She really, really, really didn't like the way things turned out. First of all, she was waiting in the cold for her bus to arrive. Where is that flippin' bus?!

Then she saw a flash of yellow turning the corner. "Finally!" cried Elizabeth.

The bus pulled over and stopped. "Get on, chickie," grumbled the buslady. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She scanned the rows of seats that were almost full except for a one next to this... boy. He had dirty brown hair and was wearing an open shirt over a basketball uniform. He was talking on the phone.

Elizabeth made her way towards him. He looked just like all the boys back at her school. Boys. Elizabeth had a flashback to her boyfriend's teary face. He was the one that was crying the most when she left. Tears started to well up in her eyes but she forced them not to fall.

"Hey. Can I sit here?" she asked the boy on the phone. He didn't seem to be listening to her. She cleared her throat.

"Wha-" was all James Tyler said before realizing he was talking to the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. More beautiful than his girlfriend, Belle. More beautiful than Kate Moss. He smiled. "Sure. Sit."

The girl smiled back and took the seat. He thought that she would maybe stare at him or start a conversation, because most of the girls did that. They were attracted to him. He was voted most popular and most hottest boy last year. But she didn't. The girl didn't stare or start a conversation. She was listening to her iPod. James found himself staring at her and trying to start a conversation, instead of vise versa. But the girl couldn't hear him talking to her.

-LY-

Elizabeth walked through the halls of East High, not knowing where the heck English class was. She looked at the map the principal had given her again. Then she looked up. Oh.

She walked into the room and set her books down on a free table. The teacher hadn't come yet, thank goodness. She looked at the scene of the class. There were paper airplanes flying through the air and cliques chatting away. Elizabeth took a look at the girl next to her. She had black, wavy hair and her eyes were sparkling. She looked like a Latino girl.

"Hey, I'm Elizabeth Walker. I'm new," Elizabeth smiled. The Latino smiled back. She had a sweet and innocent face. Like she could say and do no wrong. Elizabeth stuck out her hand.

"Belle Jones," said the girl and shook Elizabeth's hand. Something diverted her attention to the door. Someone, actually. It was the boy that Elizabeth had sat next to in the bus! What was his name?? Jack? John?

Whoever it was slid into the seat next to Belle and kissed her. The kiss lasted for a while, until the boy realized that Elizabeth was staring at them. His eyes widened and Elizabeth thought he was mad at her. But then he hugged Belle and actually, actually gave Elizabeth a piece of paper with what she assumed was his number. Elizabeth tore it into pieces and threw it in the bin.

She saw the boy's eyes widen again and she doubted that he was mad at her.