Author's Note: Hi guys! Sorry for the looong wait but I've been so busy lately. [ I probably won't be updating for a while cuz I have lots of stuff to do the next few weeks.. But I will try!! PLEASE read and review!! Well anyway, hope you like chapter 2

Chapter 2

I sat downstairs in the kitchen tapping my fingers on the hard wooden table, covered by the blue and white checkered tablecloth. Of course, now is the time when my nerves get to me and the clock decides to go slower than usual, and waiting for the bus is like waiting on death row. Only for me, I was waiting for Ashtonville Hills High School, which isn't much better, and suddenly, death row sounded pretty enticing.

"Lizzy, sweetheart, it's okay, high school isn't that bad, your going to love it.," explained my over-optimistic mother trying to comfort me.

But nothing was going to slow down my thoughts and anticipations now. No matter what, they didn't seem like they were coming to a pit stop anytime soon. I looked out the window, and there it was- the school bus that was going to take me to the place of total insanity.

"Ally, let's go before we miss the bus!"

"Relax you little freshman, you're such a dork Liz!"

"Shut up Al!" I snapped back at my know-it-all sister as I slammed the door shut in her face.

Hey, a little revenge never hurt anyone right? Just that would tick her off for the next few hours. There's nothing like good old fashioned sibling rivalry. Me and Ally are constantly at each other's throats. But suddenly I was happy. Happy because, for once, I had beat out Allyson at something. It's a constant competition between her and I, and this time I did it first, I won. I must have been too happy though, because the next thing I knew, my face was planted in the cold, wet grass, and I had tripped. So much for the usual calm, cool, and collective first impression I was hoping to give. Now, I could possibly be known as "the clumsy little freshman" for the rest of high school. That is, unless nobody saw it.

I walked slowly across the grass making it a point not to fall again. The doors on the bus flung open in front of my face, and I felt my stomach drop. My feet were no longer controllable, and it was like my body was being taken over by a robot. But otherwise, it seemed like things were going smoothly until I looked up. To my right there was an older-looking bus driver with shaggy hair and a flannel checkered shirt, but when I turned my head to the front, I saw nothing but what looked like a million eyes, and the rest disappeared into a black abyss. There was complete and utter silence. Every single person on the bus was staring at me.

"Nice trip freshman!" shouted a random voice from the back. A few giggles came along with the comment, but that was all.

"Liz! Back here!" yelled Amber as she waved me over to the seat she was in. Sudden relief swept over me, I was no longer alone.

"Heyy, did you see me fall?"

"No, but you seriously fell?" Amber questioned.

"Yeah, face down in the grass!"

"Oh my god, you are so lucky that no one was really paying attention to your 'smooth' moves!" giggled Amber praising my unfortunate clumsiness.

"I'm so nervous," we both replied simultaneously, and laughed.

"Don't make it too obvious Liz," Amber said sounding like the new Dr. Phil.

"I can only try."

The bus pulled up into the circle and it came to a stop in front of a gigantic building. This was Ashtonville Hills High. This was the place where my mind was going to fade into insanity. This was the place where I met my defeat, against myself. This was the place where I secretly wished I could pinch myself and wake up from this nightmare.

With each footstep I felt my heart skip a beat. How and why is this happening to me? As I walked up the gray stone stairs, I looked around me and saw that I was walking along with what looked like a stampede. Was this high school or a roller coaster? I really couldn't tell because they both felt the same- or at least my stomach did.

The steps seemed miles long, but when I finally reached the top, I went through the doors into the hallway. So this was high school. I couldn't believe my eyes. This huge jumble of kids pushing through the doors and hallways would be what I would be facing
for the next four years of my life. I searched frantically through my purse trying to find my schedule without being sucked into the sea of other freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and the ever so obnoxious seniors. After being pushed into about twenty lockers, I finally found my schedule. I glanced at the bold black letters and it read homeroom with Mrs. Landon in room 226. Now for the second challenge- trying to find it. I felt like a needle in a haystack without any of my friends with me. Then suddenly, I heard a familiar high-pitched voice.

"Heyy Liz, wait up!"

There was Amber. She must have gotten lost in the crowd too. But only she was with a gorgeous, bleached blonde girl with aqua eyes who I would never think less of than a model just off the runway. How on Earth could Amber have already made a friend, and especially one who looked like she owned Buckingham Palace, for that matter? A lump of fear began to form in my throat. Fear that this girl could take my place in Amber's life, and sooner than I thought.

"Liz this is Brooke Riley, she went to the other middle school," said Amber with a bubbly attitude.

"Uhmm...hi Brooke, I'm Liz Winchester" I stuttered.

"Hi," Brooke replied putting on a suspicious "seemingly-nice" act.

Brooke stood there inspecting her perfectly manicured fingernails for any imperfections (not like she would find any), but was disrupted by a tap on the shoulder from a dark haired girl with a high ponytail and a few other girls that followed her. To be honest, they both worried me. I could never be friends with these girls. These girls were the kind of girls who were "friends" with you one minute just because they wanted something from you, and the next minute spread nasty rumors about you faster than the plague. How hard could it be though? They are just girls. All I have to do is talk, but I'm not ready to change yet. As I thought about it more I felt that feeling again, only this time I felt my breakfast working its way up my esophagus.

Brooke whipped her head around like an owl and diverted her attention to the dark-haired girl and her friends.

"Brooke who are they?" questioned the girl in a quiet tone.

"Oh uhmm… guys this is Amber Bailey and Liz Winchester," Brooke announced like a game show host.

"And Amber and Liz, here is Rachel Hallaway, Kylie Greendale, Crystal Ferilla, and Melanie Verona."

I opened my purse and glanced at my cell phone. The time on the small glowing screen said that I had to leave for homeroom or I'd risk making a bad impression by being late on the first day. Besides, I couldn't stand here with these "princesses" any longer. They were just too intimidating for me.

"Sorry guys but I gotta go."

"Really, where?" questioned Amber.

"Homeroom, I'm gonna be late if I don't leave now."

"Alright, bye Liz," Amber hugged me. "Good luck!" she whispered in my ear.

I genuinely smiled back at her and walked the other way. But my smile was immediately wiped off my face when I heard the other popular girls snicker at my efforts to be a "good student". I also had a weird feeling that this wouldn't be the last time I'd be hurt in this school.

I felt myself blushing as my cheeks got warm and the lump in my throat got bigger. I walked at a quicker pace as my embarrassment took over. All of my fears were beginning to come true. My head was down looking at my feet and I was really paying no attention to where I was going.

All of a sudden, I felt my books go flying in every direction across the hallway. My mouth flew open and I dropped to the floor to pick up my scattered books. As I was picking them up, I saw a mysterious hand grab the same book I was grabbing, and I looked up. What I saw was what shocked me most.

I was staring into gorgeous cobalt blue eyes, and at the most adorable smile I had ever seen. To my surprise, I was face-to-face with a really hot guy. Why would he help me? And in front of the whole school? This guy was on his hands and knees for me!

"I think you dropped this," the mysterious guy said smiling at me.

"Oh my gawd! I'm so sorry!" I handed him his books that bumping into each other had caused to fall.

"It's fine. I'm Bryan by the way, Bryan Hill," he replied.

"I…I…I'm Liz," I managed to just barely get out of my mouth.

"Well isn't this a great place to meet," Bryan chuckled.

"Yeah… I gotta go! Uhh… thanks for helping me!" I turned around in shock and darted off into the other direction. If it weren't for my embarrassment though, I wouldn't have wanted to run away. Part of me wished I hadn't. That was probably the best thing that ever happened to me! Bryan Hill picked up my books and I was staring at his dark-brown hair, cobalt blue eyes, and his adorable pearly white smile. A smile beamed across my face from ear-to-ear, and my cheeks began to blush again. Only this time, I was happy.