Author's Note: I do not pretend to own the world of Harry Potter.

CHAPTER 1

My alarm went off at six A.M. Grumbling, I hurried into the bathroom. Splashing my face with cold wafter, I shook off a little of the sleep that surrounded me.

"Ella! You up?"

"Yes, Mum!" I shouted down the stairs.

"Well, hurry up and stop hogging the loo!" hollered Charlie, his normal early-morning charming self.

"Shut it, you git!" I yelled back, being my own charming early-morning self.

Day has begun in the Smith household, I thought to myself. Colin was running downstairs to be the first to kiss Mum good morning. We always let him win because he was ten and no one else particularly cared to compete in that competition anyway. Charlie continued to pace outside the bathroom. Dad was probably reading the newspaper while Mum made breakfast. Sophie was probably still taking her beauty sleep.

Downstairs, it was a chaotic school morning. Our secondary school had started a new 'summer term'. So, we were having a first-day-of-school in the middle of bloody July. Life can be hell.

I grabbed a bit of toast and jam and some orange juice and sat across from Dad. Charlie was wolfing down his breakfast while Colin poured his favorite cereal. Sophie appeared as I was leaving the table, still in her pajamas, and helped herself to some tea. I shook my head at her, envious. She managed to look smashing when she could barely stand straight. Me, my hair was probably in need of a serious brushing before I even thought about stepping outside.

I was finished dressing when I heard the horn outside. I groaned. I had yet to do anything with my hair. I grabbed a cap and pulled it over my head, grabbed my bag, and dashed out the door, calling hurried goodbyes.

Lara Jones greeted me with a hello as Justin Callaghan leaned over and blasted the horn. Kathleen Hullord, his girlfriend, leaned over and smacked him playfully. I shook my head at them as I jumped into the car. Lara saw the cap and groaned. Immediately she pulled it off and began to do something with my hair. I grinned. Only my friends were this nuts. Within minutes, my hair was under control and we were parking in the lot at Stonewall High.

Walking with Alison Walpole to my locker before lunch, discussing various interesting topics, like boys and why the hell Stonewall decided to implement a new and totally bizarre school schedule starting in July, I barely noticed Charlie and his friends gathered round his locker. However, I did notice Miranda Cavendish leaning against my locker.

Miranda, Charlie's girlfriend, was not a particular friend of mine. She wasn't someone I'd go for, if I were of the male species. She was just a tad...bitchy.

And at the moment, we were at a shaky impasse because I had seen her at a party with another guy. She had tried to play it off like nothing (but they had disappeared later). I would have paid anything to not have to talk to her, but she was at my locker.

"Ooh, hey Ella!" she laughed. I stifled the urge to roll my eyes at Allie.

"Hey, Miranda," I said, "Do you mind if I get by?"

"Hmmm?"

"My locker. You're leaning against it."

"Oh," laughed Miranda in her fake high laugh. Some of Charlie's friends from the soccer team turned to watch. Bloody hell, I thought.

"Oh, Ellie, I always forget that this is your locker! I mean I know you're Charlie's adopted sister, it's just I can't seem to remember it, even though you live in the same house and everything," Miranda laughed again, moving from my locker to lean against Charlie. My ears were turning pink, I could feel it. I forced myself to smile nicely.

"Well, Miranda, I find it hard to believe you're Charlie's girlfriend for all the snogging I remember you two doing," I said, imitating her tone and regretting it instantly. The guys chuckled and, after a moment, Miranda laughed, too. But her dark eyes told me to go jump off a cliff.

"Ellie, you're so funny."

"Thanks," I backed down immediately. In a way, I had forfeited this round to Miranda. Whatever. Why should I cause drama when it would only come back and bite me in the butt? Expert at avoiding confrontation, that's what I am.

"C'mon boys. Let's go to lunch."

Like a herd of sheep, the soccer team followed Miranda to the cafeteria, completely ignoring me. Except for Jeff. Jeff Conroy was Charlie's best friend and a star player on the team and was very, very good-looking. Every girl at Stonewall fancied him, including myself. I mean, the guy was gorgeous. And, besides his stud-jock status, he wasn't arrogant about it. He was always at our house, hanging out with Charlie, so he and I had become somewhat friends. He even called me "Smith Number Two." It wasn't anything like "Sweetie" or "Love of My Life" but it was a start.

"See you in Lit, Smith Number Two!" he called, winking at me.

I waved back, grinning from ear to ear, trying to ignore the heated blush creeping up my neck and the not-entirely-unpleasantly lurching of my heart. Jeff Conroy, he winked at me. Winked! Allie grabbed my arm as I felt all the air leave my lungs. I turned and looked at her.

"Did you see what I saw?" she whispered.

"I don't know. What did you see?" I whispered back.

"Jeff Conroy just winked at you! You! I hate you!"

I laughed outright.

Allie sighed. "It's so not fair that you're Charlie's sister. I mean, you get to see that gorgeous thing practically every day, up close and personal. Just because you're his best friend's sister."

Allie was another on in Jeff Conroy's fan club. We had made a pact once that if he showed an interest in the other, we'd back off. But it was more of a joke than anything else.

I laughed. "Oh yes, it's all a brilliant strategy. Because the guy always falls for the best friend's sister. Every day. Just like the movies."

Allie laughed too. "Just like one day, you'll snap at Randy and put her in her place."

After Miranda had started calling me "Ellie," Allie and I started calling her "Randy" when we talked about her. I hate the name Ellie for myself. Allie's younger sister was Ellie and it suited her because she was tiny and cute. Me? I'm tall and gangly. Not the 'Ellie' type.

"Right. For sure." I shook my head. I was passive and thought it very unlikely that I'd ever stand up to Miranda.

"Well, you've got more of a chance than me with him," she mock-pouted.

"Don't get any ideas, Allie Walpole. Andrea swears she's got him wrapped around her little finger. Besides, Jeff Conroy wouldn't be interested in me. Charlie might threaten to beat him up."

Allie agreed. "Charlie beating someone up for his sister? That'll be the day broomsticks fly."

"That will be the same day Jeff Conroy asks me out."

"I would pay to see that."

"What are you paying for?" cut in Susan Watson, who was dragging Connor, her boyfriend, along by the hand.

"To see Jeff Conroy ask Ella out."

"Or Allie," I add, not wanting to be the only unwanted one in the group.

Susie rolled her eyes. "Get over yourself. It's just a guy."

"You can say that because you have one," Allie dug in pointedly.

"I know," Susan sighed dramatically. "And he's more trouble than he's worth."

"Well, I am paying for lunch, so let's go. I'm hungry," Connor grumbled.

"I like you a lot too, Connor," Susan told him, rolling her eyes.

We found Justin and Kathleen, Rupert, Lara, and Nick at our table in the back of the cafeteria.

"So, anyone want to go to the soccer game tonight?" Lara asked.

"What's today, Monday?"

"Yeah. Monday, July twenty-eighth, 1997."

"Thanks, smarty-pants. I only wanted the day of the week," Allie said.

Lara stuck out her tongue.

"Well, I don't know if I can. Brant's got the car. I'll try to talk him into coming."

Rupert turned pink. "I know I can't."

Allie grinned. "Rupe here and my baby sister have an anniversary to celebrate."

Rupert blushed harder.

"Who are we playing?" inquired Connor.

"Not sure."

"I think we're playing Sylvan. I'd like to see that game. Last year they whomped us. This year we've got a decent team."

"But, Connor!" whined Susan.

"Susan, the double date can wait. Besides, it's Monday. Dates on Monday are ridiculous. Your mum wants you home before eleven. She still believes in curfew."

Justin smiled. "I'm with Connor."

Kathleen smacked her boyfriend. "Justin!"

"Ouch! Hey, I wanted to see the game, but you all came up with this plan before consulting me. Give me some credit, I didn't whine before!"

Kath shoot her head at him, but turned to Susan. "The guys are right though, Suze. Everyone's going to see that movie premiere tonight. We can get it at a cheaper price and be guaranteed a seat if we wait a few days."

Susan paused, but conceded.

"I'm up for whatever. As long as I have plans, I don't have to babysit Maggie again," Nick declared.

"And you?" Lara asked me.

"I don't know. I've been to most of the games already."

Mum and Dad had had this spell of family unity and had made everyone go to Charlie's games. Thank God that was over.

"Please, Ella! You're going to leave me stuck with all these couples!" Lara whined.

"Jeff will be there," Suze put in.

"Ha. Ha." I rolled my eyes. Just because I fancied him, doesn't mean that I'm going to drop everything to watch him play.

"Hey, Smith Two! Let's go! You're gonna make me late for Lit!" I heard a familiar voice call.

Kath winked at me as I grabbed my books.

"Go get 'em, girl!"

My friends are losers.

"Your assignment, due tomorrow, is an analysis of your social life: your friends, family, and neighbors. Describe them and others you associate with…even if I happen to know them."

I groaned along with the class. Mrs. Burbage continued, talking about our assignment, while passing out her rubric. Literature was usually an interesting class, but writing wasn't easy for me. I couldn't string sentences together like Susan, nor could I deliver them with a flourish the way Kathleen could. The bell rang and I hurried down the corridors to my locker, glad the day was over, but wishing Mrs. Burbage so very far away. I was so preoccupied I didn't notice someone fall in line with me.

"Ella?"

Startled, I looked up into the blue eyes of Jeff Conroy. "Err…hey."

For all that my friends thought that I'm such great friends with him, I still was so tongue-tied around this kid.

"You okay? I was calling you."

"Yeah, sorry, there. Just frustrated with this Burbage crap."

And now distracted by your gorgeousness.

"Oh," he grinned, looking extremely gorgeous, "I hate that sort of thing. So. Err…Ella, are you going to see the game tonight?"

"Game?"

My brain scrambled frantically for the context of the word "game".

"Oh, right, soccer. I wasn't planning on it. See, Mum and Dad aren't going so I haven't got a ride—I know Charlie and Miranda are going somewhere afterwards. I suppose Justin could give me a ride but he's also driving Nick and Kathleen and Lara. And maybe Allie, but I'm not sure. It all has to do with whether or not her twin has the car…"

Stop babbling, stupid git!

"I'll give you a ride home."

I had to remind myself not to gape. My ears turned red, annoying habit that I have, as I struggled for something to say. Speak, stupid git, I yelled at myself.

"Sure. That'd be great. Thanks."

"Well, catch you up," he said, grinning.

Somehow I got to my locker. Susan and Kathleen and Lara and Justin and Nick and Ellie and Rupert and Allie and Brant and Connor were all there. I barely noticed them as I opened my locker and collected my books.

"Hello? Hell-LO!" called Susan waving her hand in my face, "Earth to Ella! In case you've forgotten, Ella Smith, I was talking to you! You need to come back. Are you going to the game or not?"

I grinned and laughed, probably longer than necessary.