Author's note: Hello. If you have any comments, suggestions, or just want
to ask me a question you can e-mail me at AlysonGrant@yahoo.com and I will
get back to you as possible. You could also say what you feel about:
In My Face
by
Alyson Grant
Chapter One:
Sometimes I feel so conscious of who I am. And aware of who I want to be like. Someone who is cool and popular. Respected. I want to walk into a room and have everyone know me. Not just know me but actually like me. You think I have no self confidence? Believe me you are not the only one.
"Ms. Tskunio", Snapping to attention, I looked up. And a few moments later wished I could have avoided it.
" I wasn't aware that my classroom was for sleeping'' Raising a eyebrow she looked down at me.
" I was not sleeping!" I protested, " I was just thinking."
" Thinking!" Ms. Haruna said "I wouldn't mind if you thought about your schoolwork a bit more!"
With my cheeks burning , I looked up as my teacher who then promptly said, "Try thinking about detention."
"Ohh" I groaned inwardly.
"This room after school" And then she added almost as an afterthought, "And you can grace it with your presence today and tomorrow." She said crisply and walked away from my desk.
"Tough luck" Molly whispered sympathetically.
I only managed to nod ruefully before Ms. Haruna cast her sharp eyes at me and then quickly I leaned away from Molly.
Lucky for me, detention in my schools only forty minutes. But do you know how long forty minutes can really be? Detention , missed homework and other unflattering things make up me. I hate being me! I wish I had the status that could make people notice. The girl who when she enters a room everyone says "Hi!" or "Cool outfit" or just notices I am even there. I'm not. I'm the girl who is teased, dissed and unimportant.
"Hey Meatball Head!" Yeah teased, thinking glumly. I looked up.
"Did it ever occur to you that my name is Serena?", I asked turning around to face the guy who thinks... it's his goal in life to make my life hell. At least more than it already is, thinking as an afterthought.
"No?" Darien said smugly.
Reaction? I've had a bad day. I'm getting teased by some idiot. I don't think so! Unfortunately I don't have the time.
"Learn my name." I said witheringly and turned around muttering to myself, "I don't have the time for this"
Ever notice that on those days when life seems just so bad and your mood swings up and down it usually stays down? I was just so depressed. It was not just the detention or even Darien it was just... I can't explain. Maybe the best thing that happened today was at dinner.
"Chloe's coming here?" I shirked happily.
"Yes she is! And not just her ," Kenji turned to meet his wife. "You would think Chloe was the only one who mattered around here" in a stage whisper.
"Not true!" I said throwing up my arms "It's just that I'm sure you will have tons of fun with Uncle Loyld and Aunt Saundra."
"Sure , just what I need! Two girls in the house" Sammy muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" I said warningly.
"You heard me." Sammy said with a challenge.
"Why you little-"
"They will be staying in the two guest bedrooms." Irene said cutting them off.
"How long are they staying?" I said finally ignoring my annoying brother.
" Two weeks over your spring vacations." Irene said .
"Oh okay." I said.
"Oh brother!" Sammy said rolling his eyes.
A few months later...
"Hi Serena!" Chloe said cheerfully.
" Chloe!" I ran up to my cousin and hugged her.
"Serena. Where's my hug?" my aunt called out to me with a smile.
"So what's new Chloe?" I asked later that night.
" Oh nothing much... same old, same old. I can't believe you are going to high school next year!"
"Yeah this year has been kind of stressful" she said.
"Why? Oh, you mean because of the work?"
" Uh huh. Everything counts. At least in my school. You will see."
" Yeah I think I know what you mean." I said quietly, looking down.
"What's wrong?" Chloe said anxiously.
" Nothing" I replied " Nothing." With false gusto I said, "Do you want to see Runaway Bride? We have it on DVD."
"Um...okay" she said slowly while looking at me curiously.
I guess I'm a little in awe of my cousin. I mean I don't want her to know how terrible I am in school. I just don't get the work in class and it's just to overwhelming. I try to understand it even though my teacher probably thinks otherwise.
"-complicated ! Like I have this research paper due in a few weeks."
"Oh" I said glancing down.
"Hmm yeah." Chloe said absentmindly.
We were talking as we made some snack food to watch during the movie. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Would I ever be like her? I've always thought Chloe was cool. For one thing she's older than I am , but only by two years. She's incredibly nice and friendly. She is always so calm and in control. I would love to be more like her...
Later that night:
"Yeah right!" I said giggling.
"It really wasn't my fault." She said with wide eyes.
"How?"
"Well all I did was walk over to him."
"And flirted your heart out!"
"Please my dear." Chloe said with an airy gesture. "Details, just minor details."
Our friendly banter was interrupted by my bratty brother Sammy. Why is he always so rude?
"Hey do you two mind?" he yelled through the door.
"Leave us alone Sammy." I said.
"Well I would, except I happen to enjoy this little thing called sleep and- "
"Oh please." Chloe interrupted him, "Fine we will be quieter."
"Thank you!" Sammy said in exaggerated relief.
"Bye bye!" she called after him.
Silence.
I looked at her .
She looked at me.
Then we burst out laughing.
Mmmm shifting slightly in my sleep.
"Serena."
"Huh? I snuggled more under my comforter.
"Serena!" louder now .
Why is someone calling my name?
"Serena!"
And so persistently... I could sleep forever...
............................................................................ ......................................................
Hmm. Talk about a heavy sleeper.
She walked closer toward her and grinned.
She put two fingers on her nose and pinched slightly holding the pressure.
............................................................................ ......................................................
I opened my eyes with a start. Confused.
"Oh hi, Serena." She said, "About time you woke up!"
"That's how you wake a person up?" I finally sputtered.
"You got a better way? She said slowly," You were dead to the world."
"Wouldn't I love to stay that way" I thought. Sinking back down into my pillow I closed my eyes.
"Oh no you don't." Chloe said playfully and then grabbed both my arms and pulled me upright.
"Okay, okay" I grumbled, "I'm up already."
" 'Bout time. So what do you want to do today?"
" Well the most important thing!" I said suddenly animated.
"Yeah?"
" Breakfast!"
She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.
After breakfast we just had fun at home. And after a while Chloe managed to convince me to do my homework.
"Oh come on!" I exclaimed jumping up from my seat. She had been following me around the house.
"Oh come on yourself! Will you please do one assignment?
"No! It's only the first day of vacation!"
"Your point is what exactly? That's all the more reason to do it! I mean if you don't do just one assignment." Turning swiftly. " I don't know I would have fun today."
As soon as my Mathematics homework and Language Arts essay was done we decided to walk around. It was noon by then. We walked up the sidewalk and then through those clear automatic doors. To my personal haven. The place where I forget my troubles for a short period of time.
"Hi Serena!"
"Hi Andrew!" I said cheerfully.
"Hi." Chloe said coolly.
" Oh right!" I said, "Andrew this is my cousin Chloe. Chloe this is my friend Andrew."
Eyes widening a little "Ah the infamous Andrew... Serena's told me so mu-"
"Uh I'll have a chocolate and strawberry swirl milkshake." I broke in nervously. Turning to Chloe I said "What do you want?"
"Um..." glancing back at Andrew and smiling flirtatiously "The same."
A few minutes later we sat down. "What were you going to say to him?" I demanded.
"Nothing. Nothing." Chloe said.
"Yeah right! I stopped liking him a long time ago." I said lying to her.
She stared at me. After a few seconds she said "Sure Serena." In a way that meant she didn't believe me. "I really belie-"
" Oh. My. God." She said breathlessly.
" What?"
"Look over there."
"Yeah?" Only seeing Andrew and my enemy Darien.
"Would you look at that guy? He's gorgeous!"
"Breathe girl. Breathe." I said while rolling my eyes.
"Hey Meatball Head."
"How many times do I have to tell you that my name is Serena!
S-E-R-E-N-A!"
"Glad you've finally learned how to spell."
"Well." Chloe said breaking in. " You must be um...help me out here."
"Darien. Pleased to meet you." Saying it slowly drawing out each word. Slowly and seductively. Like silk.
"Chloe." Matching him exactly.
I watched Chloe. Dangerous when in full flirt mode. Not only does she flirt like what. She does it so it's like quicksand. You don't even realize until you are in deep.
"Chloe and I were having a private conversation. If you don't mind." I said pointedly.
"Sure. I can take a hint. Catch you later Chloe. Bye Meatball Head." Darien said teasingly. Anything to get a rise out if her...
............................................................................ ......................................................
"Meatball Head?" I heard a curious voice say as I walked away.
" Long story."
"Andrew." I said walking back toward him. "You know that girl? Chloe?"
"Yeah. Of course! She's only the famous Chloe! The one I've heard nonstop about for at least two weeks."
"And?"
"Serena's cousin."
"Oh. Never would have guessed" he said smiling
Never would have guessed. Chloe doesn't have Serena's great eyes or that small dimple in her left cheek...
............................................................................ ......................................................
"You like who? I fairly screeched.
"Well..."
"Are you mad? Crazy? Insane? Completely and totally out of your freaking mind?"
"Oh come on!" Chloe scoffed "I don't like him. I don't even know him! He's just a cute guy. Sheesh."
"Cute? Please. Give me a break!"
" You have to admit..." She trailed off sugessting something most sane people wouldn't consider.
"Never!"
" I would think it was not me but you who liked Darien."
"When hell freezes over!"
" I think it'll be freezing pretty soon" She calmly remarked.
That will never happen. I can't imagine ever going out with Darien. Or even liking him. Wait that's a lie. I do like him. Kind of. When he teases me I get mad because I hate it when I am teased and even more so when he teases me. Just because I say I don't like him doesn't mean I can't tell a cute guy when I see one. He is cute in a devastatingly killer kind of way. Wait! Being handsome is no excuse for being a rude, overbearing , mean and cruel jerk. No excuse at all. Still...I wonder what it would be like to kiss him. Not that it would ever happen. No way! I wouldn't even dare dream of that rude idiot! Never. Never in a million years...
In My Face
by
Alyson Grant
Chapter One:
Sometimes I feel so conscious of who I am. And aware of who I want to be like. Someone who is cool and popular. Respected. I want to walk into a room and have everyone know me. Not just know me but actually like me. You think I have no self confidence? Believe me you are not the only one.
"Ms. Tskunio", Snapping to attention, I looked up. And a few moments later wished I could have avoided it.
" I wasn't aware that my classroom was for sleeping'' Raising a eyebrow she looked down at me.
" I was not sleeping!" I protested, " I was just thinking."
" Thinking!" Ms. Haruna said "I wouldn't mind if you thought about your schoolwork a bit more!"
With my cheeks burning , I looked up as my teacher who then promptly said, "Try thinking about detention."
"Ohh" I groaned inwardly.
"This room after school" And then she added almost as an afterthought, "And you can grace it with your presence today and tomorrow." She said crisply and walked away from my desk.
"Tough luck" Molly whispered sympathetically.
I only managed to nod ruefully before Ms. Haruna cast her sharp eyes at me and then quickly I leaned away from Molly.
Lucky for me, detention in my schools only forty minutes. But do you know how long forty minutes can really be? Detention , missed homework and other unflattering things make up me. I hate being me! I wish I had the status that could make people notice. The girl who when she enters a room everyone says "Hi!" or "Cool outfit" or just notices I am even there. I'm not. I'm the girl who is teased, dissed and unimportant.
"Hey Meatball Head!" Yeah teased, thinking glumly. I looked up.
"Did it ever occur to you that my name is Serena?", I asked turning around to face the guy who thinks... it's his goal in life to make my life hell. At least more than it already is, thinking as an afterthought.
"No?" Darien said smugly.
Reaction? I've had a bad day. I'm getting teased by some idiot. I don't think so! Unfortunately I don't have the time.
"Learn my name." I said witheringly and turned around muttering to myself, "I don't have the time for this"
Ever notice that on those days when life seems just so bad and your mood swings up and down it usually stays down? I was just so depressed. It was not just the detention or even Darien it was just... I can't explain. Maybe the best thing that happened today was at dinner.
"Chloe's coming here?" I shirked happily.
"Yes she is! And not just her ," Kenji turned to meet his wife. "You would think Chloe was the only one who mattered around here" in a stage whisper.
"Not true!" I said throwing up my arms "It's just that I'm sure you will have tons of fun with Uncle Loyld and Aunt Saundra."
"Sure , just what I need! Two girls in the house" Sammy muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" I said warningly.
"You heard me." Sammy said with a challenge.
"Why you little-"
"They will be staying in the two guest bedrooms." Irene said cutting them off.
"How long are they staying?" I said finally ignoring my annoying brother.
" Two weeks over your spring vacations." Irene said .
"Oh okay." I said.
"Oh brother!" Sammy said rolling his eyes.
A few months later...
"Hi Serena!" Chloe said cheerfully.
" Chloe!" I ran up to my cousin and hugged her.
"Serena. Where's my hug?" my aunt called out to me with a smile.
"So what's new Chloe?" I asked later that night.
" Oh nothing much... same old, same old. I can't believe you are going to high school next year!"
"Yeah this year has been kind of stressful" she said.
"Why? Oh, you mean because of the work?"
" Uh huh. Everything counts. At least in my school. You will see."
" Yeah I think I know what you mean." I said quietly, looking down.
"What's wrong?" Chloe said anxiously.
" Nothing" I replied " Nothing." With false gusto I said, "Do you want to see Runaway Bride? We have it on DVD."
"Um...okay" she said slowly while looking at me curiously.
I guess I'm a little in awe of my cousin. I mean I don't want her to know how terrible I am in school. I just don't get the work in class and it's just to overwhelming. I try to understand it even though my teacher probably thinks otherwise.
"-complicated ! Like I have this research paper due in a few weeks."
"Oh" I said glancing down.
"Hmm yeah." Chloe said absentmindly.
We were talking as we made some snack food to watch during the movie. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Would I ever be like her? I've always thought Chloe was cool. For one thing she's older than I am , but only by two years. She's incredibly nice and friendly. She is always so calm and in control. I would love to be more like her...
Later that night:
"Yeah right!" I said giggling.
"It really wasn't my fault." She said with wide eyes.
"How?"
"Well all I did was walk over to him."
"And flirted your heart out!"
"Please my dear." Chloe said with an airy gesture. "Details, just minor details."
Our friendly banter was interrupted by my bratty brother Sammy. Why is he always so rude?
"Hey do you two mind?" he yelled through the door.
"Leave us alone Sammy." I said.
"Well I would, except I happen to enjoy this little thing called sleep and- "
"Oh please." Chloe interrupted him, "Fine we will be quieter."
"Thank you!" Sammy said in exaggerated relief.
"Bye bye!" she called after him.
Silence.
I looked at her .
She looked at me.
Then we burst out laughing.
Mmmm shifting slightly in my sleep.
"Serena."
"Huh? I snuggled more under my comforter.
"Serena!" louder now .
Why is someone calling my name?
"Serena!"
And so persistently... I could sleep forever...
............................................................................ ......................................................
Hmm. Talk about a heavy sleeper.
She walked closer toward her and grinned.
She put two fingers on her nose and pinched slightly holding the pressure.
............................................................................ ......................................................
I opened my eyes with a start. Confused.
"Oh hi, Serena." She said, "About time you woke up!"
"That's how you wake a person up?" I finally sputtered.
"You got a better way? She said slowly," You were dead to the world."
"Wouldn't I love to stay that way" I thought. Sinking back down into my pillow I closed my eyes.
"Oh no you don't." Chloe said playfully and then grabbed both my arms and pulled me upright.
"Okay, okay" I grumbled, "I'm up already."
" 'Bout time. So what do you want to do today?"
" Well the most important thing!" I said suddenly animated.
"Yeah?"
" Breakfast!"
She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.
After breakfast we just had fun at home. And after a while Chloe managed to convince me to do my homework.
"Oh come on!" I exclaimed jumping up from my seat. She had been following me around the house.
"Oh come on yourself! Will you please do one assignment?
"No! It's only the first day of vacation!"
"Your point is what exactly? That's all the more reason to do it! I mean if you don't do just one assignment." Turning swiftly. " I don't know I would have fun today."
As soon as my Mathematics homework and Language Arts essay was done we decided to walk around. It was noon by then. We walked up the sidewalk and then through those clear automatic doors. To my personal haven. The place where I forget my troubles for a short period of time.
"Hi Serena!"
"Hi Andrew!" I said cheerfully.
"Hi." Chloe said coolly.
" Oh right!" I said, "Andrew this is my cousin Chloe. Chloe this is my friend Andrew."
Eyes widening a little "Ah the infamous Andrew... Serena's told me so mu-"
"Uh I'll have a chocolate and strawberry swirl milkshake." I broke in nervously. Turning to Chloe I said "What do you want?"
"Um..." glancing back at Andrew and smiling flirtatiously "The same."
A few minutes later we sat down. "What were you going to say to him?" I demanded.
"Nothing. Nothing." Chloe said.
"Yeah right! I stopped liking him a long time ago." I said lying to her.
She stared at me. After a few seconds she said "Sure Serena." In a way that meant she didn't believe me. "I really belie-"
" Oh. My. God." She said breathlessly.
" What?"
"Look over there."
"Yeah?" Only seeing Andrew and my enemy Darien.
"Would you look at that guy? He's gorgeous!"
"Breathe girl. Breathe." I said while rolling my eyes.
"Hey Meatball Head."
"How many times do I have to tell you that my name is Serena!
S-E-R-E-N-A!"
"Glad you've finally learned how to spell."
"Well." Chloe said breaking in. " You must be um...help me out here."
"Darien. Pleased to meet you." Saying it slowly drawing out each word. Slowly and seductively. Like silk.
"Chloe." Matching him exactly.
I watched Chloe. Dangerous when in full flirt mode. Not only does she flirt like what. She does it so it's like quicksand. You don't even realize until you are in deep.
"Chloe and I were having a private conversation. If you don't mind." I said pointedly.
"Sure. I can take a hint. Catch you later Chloe. Bye Meatball Head." Darien said teasingly. Anything to get a rise out if her...
............................................................................ ......................................................
"Meatball Head?" I heard a curious voice say as I walked away.
" Long story."
"Andrew." I said walking back toward him. "You know that girl? Chloe?"
"Yeah. Of course! She's only the famous Chloe! The one I've heard nonstop about for at least two weeks."
"And?"
"Serena's cousin."
"Oh. Never would have guessed" he said smiling
Never would have guessed. Chloe doesn't have Serena's great eyes or that small dimple in her left cheek...
............................................................................ ......................................................
"You like who? I fairly screeched.
"Well..."
"Are you mad? Crazy? Insane? Completely and totally out of your freaking mind?"
"Oh come on!" Chloe scoffed "I don't like him. I don't even know him! He's just a cute guy. Sheesh."
"Cute? Please. Give me a break!"
" You have to admit..." She trailed off sugessting something most sane people wouldn't consider.
"Never!"
" I would think it was not me but you who liked Darien."
"When hell freezes over!"
" I think it'll be freezing pretty soon" She calmly remarked.
That will never happen. I can't imagine ever going out with Darien. Or even liking him. Wait that's a lie. I do like him. Kind of. When he teases me I get mad because I hate it when I am teased and even more so when he teases me. Just because I say I don't like him doesn't mean I can't tell a cute guy when I see one. He is cute in a devastatingly killer kind of way. Wait! Being handsome is no excuse for being a rude, overbearing , mean and cruel jerk. No excuse at all. Still...I wonder what it would be like to kiss him. Not that it would ever happen. No way! I wouldn't even dare dream of that rude idiot! Never. Never in a million years...