Chapter 2!!

Just like many other days in the past I tried to think today as a brand new day. As I walked to my bathroom I convinced myself that I wasn't going to be the sad girl in school. I was going to put everything behind me and not dwell in the past. I was not going to think of anything but change my attitude and my whole life style.

I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and examined myself. I was going to have to wear long sleeves to cover up the scars…I was going to use cover-up to cover disappearing pimples…I needed a lot of change I realized. I could feel my self-esteem go down. I could feel the blackness of depression trying to take over. I could feel guilt in my heart of trying to forget my father's death. I could feel it all engulfing me, burying me in my own little bubble of destruction.

NO. No more I thought. I looked up at the mirror and examined myself again. I will do this. I will change. Not for my father, not for Lorraine, but for me. I smiled at the girl in the mirror. That girl will change. I laughed at my stupidity, talking to my own reflection. I shook my head slowly and convinced myself it was half normal. It was a motivational speech, right?

Showered and changed I headed down to the kitchen for a quick breakfast. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Lorraine on the floor, sleeping I assumed. I tip-toed to the fridge and got a juice box. I looked back at Lorraine on the floor with her short dress all wrinkly and smelly. I tried not to think back of the time when she would be ashamed to death if anyone found her like this, if they ever found her like this. I smiled at the hint of shame she might feel now. No, I didn't exactly hate her. She was my own mother, she gave birth to me, and I'm her blood. Even though I didn't want to accept it, it was true. I got the last pop-tart of the box, realizing it was Friday.

I got to the bus stop and saw Brandon there. He looked my way and I saw a smile creeping up on his face. He walked towards me with an amused expression playing over his face.

"Hey", he said. Brandon was 16. He was 5'9"; he had hazel eyes that didn't decide if they wanted to be brown or green. His dark hair covered his forehead. He was Dominican and Argentinean. He had a brilliant smile that could light up my darkest days. We were friends or so I would say. We met last year in December, a football game Darcy dragged me to.

I smiled, confused. "Hi."

"So what's with the change?" he asked.

I looked up at him confused.

"Well you're wearing new clothes." He smiled.

I could feel a blush creeping up. "Yeah, well change is good."

"Yeah it is. And you look good by the way"

I laughed. "Well thanks."

"You really do though." He smiled and his eyes sparkled, they were green today.

"Your eyes are green today".

He laughed a very musical laugh that could be contagious. "Well you're very observant today. And yeah they are green,"

"I like them when they are light brown. But green is acceptable too." I smiled up at him and saw the bus coming.

He looked at me curiously, probably wondering if I've been observing him. "I like your eyes though."

"What's so special about my eyes? They are brown and plain." I said as I climbed the stairs of the bus.

"I beg to differ."

"Ok. Please differ" I found a seat in the back and sat down. He sat next to me and looked at me.

"Well when the sun hits them they turn a lighter shade of brown. Right now, they are chocolate brown and it is a beautiful color. Your eyes are deep, like chocolate pools." His fingers caressed my face. "And your skin is like porcelain, it's transparent, and soft. It's like a milky white. But your eyes are hypnotizing and beautiful"

My breath was caught. I couldn't breath. He was so close to me. His description of my eyes was amazing. His face was inches away from mine. His lips were so close to mine. I could tell he was leaning in to kiss me. I saw his eyes closing, his indecisive eyes.

"Hey guys!" Darcy said. I looked up at her and she realized what was about to happen. Her eyes opened wide. "Ohmygosh! I'm sorry! I'll go away." She turned and walked away, but Brandon caught her arm.

"Darcy, its ok. Nothing was going to happen, right?" He looked at me with a message in his eyes.

"Yeah Dars. C'mon, sit!" I patted the seat next to us.

"But-but I saw..."

"Saw nothing. Darcy, you need your eyes checked." I said and laughed a bit nervously.

"Oh I know! I have an appointment this weekend." She changed the subject on her own.

We spent the whole ride to school talking about what color contacts Darcy should get. After Darcy sat next to us Brandon left to sit with his friend. I could sense him looking at me and when I turned to look at him, he looked away and I smiled.

I was in first period when it happened. The fire alarms went off and the whole school was evacuated in less than 2 minutes. All the teachers were taking attendance, making sure all their students were outside. I looked around for Darcy but I didn't find her. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around quickly, thinking it was my teacher.

"It's cold out." Brandon said.

I looked up at him and laughed. "Well, it is November."

"Are you cold? Cuz I am."

"Yeah I am."

"Ok, then." His arms opened and he hugged me. Since he's really tall I leaned my head on his chest and sighed.

"You know, if a teacher sees us we might get in trouble." I tried to look around but he held me tightly.

"So? We are trying to survive in this cold November day. I think it's passable" We laughed together. In the distance I heard the noise of a fire truck. As it got near, people started murmuring.

"Wow, this looks serious. Do you think it's a real fire?" I asked curious.

"Hopefully. I'm just kidding. Nah, I don't think it is. They always make big deals out of kitchen fires." I cracked a smile.

"STUDENTS!" Principal DiMarco tried to get our attention. "The West Wing had a fire which the firemen are trying to contain. Please remain calm and call your parents to see if they could pick you up" At this, the students and faculty started to talk loudly and with fear.

"My purse is in there" I heard a girl say.

"Well, NO SCHOOL!" A senior said and with that everyone erupted with cheer.

"Hey! Katy!" I heard Darcy call for me. I untangled my arms from Brandon and looked around for her.

"Katy! Over here!" I saw her jumping up and down like a lunatic. I waved my arm for her to come. She wiggled around the crowd and finally got to us.

"Heeeyyy" She said wiggling her eyebrows at us.

"What?" I asked.

"I saw you two all cuddly and warm from over there" she wiggled her eyebrows some more.

I looked up at Brandon who was smiling. "When's your appointment again?"

She rolled her eyes. "I know what I saw" Her cell phone rang. "It's my mom; do you guys want a ride?"

"My parents aren't home," Brandon said.

"Mine either." I said quickly as I thought of Lorraine on the floor.

"Well my mom goes to work in an hour. She could pick us up and drop us off at my house." She offered.

"Yeah, sounds good." I said. Brandon nodded in response.

Darcy picked up her phone. "Hey mom."

"So what do you wanna do?" I asked Brandon.

"Get some pizza. I'm hungry."

I smiled. "Don't you eat breakfast?"

He shrugged. "Sometimes"

"Ok," Darcy closed her phone with a snap. "She's gonna be here in a few. She said to wait at the corner of Maple and Palisade."

"Why? She has to go work early?"

"Yeah, emergency at the company." She said with a shrug.

"Ok well let's get walking, it's cold." Brandon said with a shiver.

Kay...another chapter up! Hope you likes it!

Sorry it took so long...i was swamped with homework XP.