Part 1

When she told me she could change the world I believed her. All I wanted was to be popular, part of the in crowd instead of a boring loser. Nothing new, or so I thought, anyway.

Then Diamond Abforth came into my life. It was nothing icky, if that's what it sounds like. Oh no, she was some cousin I'd never heard of before. My life was boring before she came along. I was just your typical ordinary person.

No life, few friends, I wanted to be part of the fast crowd, the important people who mattered. I often had crazy little thoughts of running away, maybe faking my death, just to see how people would react, *if* they would.

Then Diamond came and changed that forever. The crowd I so desperately wanted to be a part of were nothing like I had very imagined. Technically, I'm not supposed to tell anyone. But I can't just keep this all to myself.

Someone has to know. Maybe sometime in the future someone will find this and understand what happened to me.

* * *

"Oh, by the way, your cousin will be coming to stay for a few days next week," my mother mentioned casually, before she hurried out the door to work.

"Huh, what cousin?" I looked up from up my cereal bowl, confused. I hadn't even been aware I had a cousin.

"Someone from your Dad's side, she's your age, I think." And she was leaving and I couldn't ask anymore questions.

Great. Some unknown stranger was going to be intruding in my life. Just what I wanted. With a sigh I finished breakfast and grabbed my books, leaving for school.

I watched the other ids walking by in groups, light footed and happy. No one said a word to me as I passed. I smiled hopefully, but to no avail.

"Hey, Carolyn, did you do the reading for English?"

Football hunt Parker Stillman was trailing along in his flashy red sports car when I arrived at the high school, walking through the parking lot to the building entrance.

"Uh huh," I nodded.

"So what was it all about?"

I had to force myself to sigh with irritation. As far as he was concerned, I was just some nerd, he could grab easy answers off with a smile. I had thought once this could be my chance into their crowd. I could help them with their school work, they could get good grades and appreciate it, and I'd be thanked.

How naive was I? "Basically its about these two families who hate each other, but the son from one falls in love with the daughter from the other. They try to be together, but things go wrong and they end up killing each other so their souls can be together in heaven." It was about as simple as I could make the plot of *Romeo* *and* *Juliet*.

"That kind of sucks," Parker snorted, parking his car.

"It's Shakespeare, it's a classic tragedy." I was appalled. Gorgeous as he may be, this guy probably couldn't add two and two together without some girl to do it for him.

"That guy must have been seriously fucked," Parker said, tossing his letterman jacket over his shoulder and walking off.

"What was he talking to you about?"

I cringed, hearing the cold voice of Ruby Harman, best friend of Parker's girlfriend Branwen Redfern. Ruby was irritatingly gorgeous, with elfin features, crystal like eyes, perfect blonde hair. Now she was glaring at me as if I had told her she was wearing an outfit from last season. (How dramatic!)

"The reading for English."

I didn't know why Ruby did this. Every time she saw Parker or someone from her crowd talking to someone who wasn't, it was such a big deal. She must find out before Branwen did. Or if something was hideously wrong. Or whatever.

"That's all?"

"That's all."

"Good. Just remember your place." And Ruby sauntered off.

A large silver-grey limo was pulling up outside the gates of the high school. Branwen Redfern stepped out, turning gracefully to wave at someone inside. Her crowd of admirers were waiting. Head held high and regal, Branwen walked through them, acknowledging those she liked, discarding the nobodies.

Rich and gorgeous as a movie star, Branwen Redfern seemed to have it all. God, what I wouldn't give to be like her. Unfortunately, as I was about to learn, having your dreams come true could turn out to be your worst nightmare.

* * *