Andy Ford:

"Isabel?" I said, shocked to see my cousin, or at least someone I thought was my cousin.

"Yup!" She said. Oh yeah, that was my cousin. "Hey Andy!"

"Hey" I leaned in and hugged her lightly. "Long time no see"

"Ha-ha, your right. So…what have you been up to?"

"Umm, Dad died?"

"Uncle George?!"

"Yeah, so I'm here with my mom"

"Oh yeah, Aunt Karen….you met Mau yet?"

"Oh... Yeah" I said, remembering when we introduced ourselves on my first day.

"Ha-ha. Well, I have to head home. Here is my number" She said handing me a piece of paper with two numbers on it. "Home and cell. So, um, yeah! Give me a call. Oh, and by the way…call me Izzy" Then she gave me a hug, turned, and jogged off.

-

Two hours later, I was in my mom's living room, stuffing my face with popcorn and watching lame, gory cartoons, when Mau walked past and headed into the kitchen. A few seconds later, he came out and plopped himself right next to me on the couch.

"Um," I said. Not quite getting why he decided to come over and sit there. "Hey?"

"Hey" He said, looking me up and down. He took in my cropped black hair, green eyes, AC/DC Angus Young tee, dark skinny jeans and plaid black and red high top converse. He looked at the three red bracelets that clanged when I moved my right arm. The words AC/DC, Fall out Boy and Theory of a Dead Man engraved on each one. And to top it all off, the blood red streaks died into my hair. He was pretty much checking me out.

Weird, I thought. Most guys like him went for pretty blond, pink loving cheerleaders. Then the total suicidal Goths look for girls like me. Shit, I thought. I can't wait for school.

"Hey, so school tomorrow" I said. "What time?"

"No worries dear," My mom said, coming into the room "I will give you a ride. Be ready and out of bed at six. Mau, go on, Rita is waiting." She gestured to the door. Mau got up and walked over to the front foyer, slipped on his shoes and walked out the door.

"Rita?" I asked my mom.

"Yes. She is Mau's girlfriend. A lovely girl."

"Oh, cool" I said, forcing myself to smile slightly. Wait, Rita? I thought. Oh my god. "Wait, Rita Hart?!"

"Yes… that is her." She nodded. "You know her?"

"Umm, yeah, she is my cousin"