The first day of school was definitely something to laugh at. I mentioned earlier, I think, how unpopular I was in 10th grade. Well, I came back to school so different, no one even recognized me.

I got on the bus with John and Mark, as the middle school and high school were in the same building, and the total number of students in all seven grades was a whopping seven hundred. Anyway, Steph and Jen got on at my stop, and when we got off the bus we met up with Lex, Bex, Suz, Kim, Max and Sam. Tony was older and drove to school. That he didn't drive Jen, his girlfriend, shocked me, but Jen didn't seem to mind. To each his own, I suppose.

I walked into the building confidently, and the first thing I heard was a whispered, "Amanda Millner wasn't on the bus today." It was Heather Ryssa, a short pretty cheerleader, known by those not in "her circle" as a loud-mouthed, suck-up bitch—to which I agreed wholeheartedly. Her best friend Lily nodded in agreement. The two of them with their heads together almost conspiratorially made me want to laugh. Another walked over to them; her name was Jessica and she at least tried to be nice, though she didn't succeed. I watched her complain to them in pantomime, her long pony tail whipping back and forth each time she turned her head. She gestured in my direction, her hair flipping around and slamming against the lockers as she did so. Lily nodded, and in a voice so low I couldn't hear, said something and walked my way. From past experiences, I knew better than to stand in her way. Dragging Mark in the direction of his first class, I was stopped short when Jessica stepped in front of me.

"Hello there, I'm Jessica Balon. I'd be glad to help you find your way around the school today." She held out a hand.

What? I looked over my shoulder. Who was she talking to? My expression must have shown my confusion, because she laughed, though it came out as what a cat would be screaming if tortured, and shrilly exclaimed in a voice the whole school could hear, "No, stupid, I'm talking about you." (There she goes again, trying to make someone lighten up when instead she's insulting them in a voice you could hear from Texas.)

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!?!?

I knew from the day I was born that Jessica Balon hated me. She couldn't stand my sight or to be in my presence. The feeling was mutual.

Then I understood. God, I'm slow! Jessica Balon didn't recognize me, not as Amanda Millner. She thought I was a new student, and she must have thought I had the potential to be popular otherwise she wouldn't have even bothered to acknowledge me. how could I throw this in her face? Hmmm...

"Mark! John!" They came to my side and I said, "How kind of you, Jessie. Have you met my brothers, Mark and John Millner?" There, I thought with satisfaction.

Her brow creased but then smoothed out again. "You're adopted? That is so cool!"

What and idiot.

Loosing my temper, I confirmed her theory through gritted teeth. "That's right. I'm adopted. My name is Amanda. Nice to meet you." The sarcasm coating my words was almost palpable.

She raised one eyebrow, baffled. "Wow. That was stupid. Why would the Millners adopt a girl the same age with the same name as their daughter? No offense, but they're idiots."

Time to turn the sarcasm meter up to high. "None taken. MY PARENTS can be idiotic at times.

She giggled, and opened her mouth to say more, when a call from Heather interrupted us. "Nice talking to you. I'll see you at lunch." It was a confirmed statement, not even a question.

She skipped off, her hair swinging to and fro, and one boy ducked as though it were a sword.

Was there ever a stupider girl?

Still, I couldn't help but think that if all this happened in the first five minutes of school what the rest of the day would look like.