I'm so stupid. I might as well die if I'm ever going to do this. That day at the hospital, Alex gave the idea. I remember it well.

"This might sound weird, but what if you transferred to another school?"He asked.

"Okay…I don't get it." I really don't.

"You're going to be popular. You pretend to transfer schools, dress, walk and talk like them."

"That's going to be hard, don't you think. The school is still going to know I'm Jen."

"That's easy, if you know the right people." He smirked.

I studied my options carefully. What have I got to lose? I already lost everything I had. It's about time I get some revenge.

"Sure. Why not? But, I don't know how to act like them."

"I'll teach you. I'm a guy, and we guys observe girls, in case you didn't know."

I just laughed at that statement.

Now back to reality, I still can't believe I agreed to this. I went down and my mom greeted me with wide eyes, obviously surprised.

"What's with all this makeup?" She asked grabbing tissue to wipe me with. "If this is about a boy…."

"NO! Of course not. I'm not that desperate." I suddenly heard Alex's car, and rushed outside. Saved by Alex again.

I ran towards the car. He suddenly blocked the door.

"Haven't you learned anything? Or all my efforts just go to waste?"He was silent for a moment. "If you're not going to do this right, I might as well put my hopes on someone else."

"What did I do wrong?" I asked as I gestured my body with my hand. "I dressed up, talked the way they do, I even put my hands on my hips." I sounded bratty.

"Populars never run."

"What?" Running was a part of me. I loved going fast. I can't ever remove something that is part of me. "Are you crazy?"

"It's true. Now let's go or we'll be late."

We sat in the car, and I said, "Thanks."

"For what?"

"You came just in time a while ago. My mom was asking just too many questions."I paused. "And also for helping with this."

"No problem."

We drove in silence until we reached school.

"Now remember, we can't talk to each other. You're now Alicia May. Act classy, and don't run." He said. "Good luck."

This is the start of my new life. I entered the school, and I could already see that all eyes were on me. I went to the office; you know the usual stuff, if it's your first day. I went to my locker to get things settled in.

"Hey." Someone leaned on the other locker.

"Hey yourself." I smiled daintily. I'm trying so hard to flirt.

"I'm Matt."He smiled back. That's when I noticed Rachael and her posy came.

"I'm sorry, but I have no interest in guys who are bottom of the social class." I made my voice a little louder. I saw her steal a glance from me, obviously impressed.

I slammed my door in front of his face, and I can tell he was crushed. I went to my first class, and what luck Rachael was there. I took my sat beside her, and I felt her eyes checking me.

"Hi, I'm Rachael, but by now I 'm sure you know."

"Rachael!" I pretended to sound interested. "I've heard about you. You have such great fashion sense. You rule this school with your hand. I'm just so thrilled to meet you."

She was still smiling, and impressed.

"Why don't you hang out with us? Since you've got what it takes." She examined me again from head to toe. "I've seen you in action, and I know we're going to be the best of friends."

"Why wouldn't I want to be friends with Rachael?"

And poof we became friends, but I know this friendship won't last long.

At lunch I saw Alex, and his friends. I was about to go to him, but Rachael shot me a confused look. We sat down to eat.

"Hey guys." Rachael said to the guys on the table.

The guys were gawking at me. I just shot them a smile. They would be hyperventilating when I'm out of sight. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alex looking at me.

"I'm Alicia." I introduced myself. Each guy introduced themselves. One boy caught my attention, Jamie. He was a well toned boy. He had this dazzling smile, and when he shook my hand I felt something. No, I can't be in love. I'm on a mission, and remember it.

"Nice to meet you too." I said to him flashing my teeth as I smiled back to him.

Then Rachael started gossiping. Perfect. "Did you see how Mary Anne dressed a while ago? She was too disgusting for her own good."

I couldn't say anything, if this was the life of a popular. Then kill me now. I can't spend all day giggling, and gossiping. Oh well, if you can't beat them join them.

"I heard there was a girl named Jen who transferred to another state because she was too embarrassed." I don't know where that came from.

"Wow news does travel fast." She's impressed again.

The day went on pretty normal after that until the afternoon bell rang. Then I faced a serious problem. How the heck am I going to go home? Alex never told me what to do.

I started walking a few blocks, and then a sound of a car horn surprised me. I thought it was Alex, but I was dead wrong. Jamie opened his car door for me.

"I think it's going to rain, you better go in." I walked to his car and went inside.

"You know most people let strangers pass by." I said.

"I'm not like most people. Besides, we're not strangers. We've met, in case you've forgotten."

"We only know each other's names."

"We can fix that can't we?"

I just smiled back. I've been smiling all day, and I can't wait to go home and relax my face.

We just talked about random things, and he was totally being honest about everything. I'm kind of sorry for not telling him the entire truth.

"So, we're do you live?"

"We've been driving around and you don't know where I live?"

"You never told me."

"Just drop me there; I can walk on my own."

"I won't spy on you. Tell me where you live."

"I'd rather not."

"Why?"

I have to tell him at least a little bit of truth. "If you knew, you would know much more about me, and you might get hurt."

"You're one mysterious girl. I'll give you that." with that we parted.

I felt so happy, not just because this day went according to plan, but I have a new friend, which I'm sure I'll lose when this stupid thing is done.

I was about to go inside when I saw Alex sited on his front door. He must have been waiting for me. He sprinted towards me.

"How was it?"He asked.

"It's great. It was so nice. I…"

"I meant how your long walk home was?"

"In fact, I didn't walk home. Jamie saw me and he drove me on the corner."

"Really? I'm sorry, I never thought how you were going to get home."

"It's no problem. I'm actually glad you didn't drive me home today. I got to spend time with Jamie. You know he's really alright for a popular."

"Oh okay." He went back to his house.

Here we go again. He's off without another word. I'm sure he's keeping secrets again. Maybe I'll just ask him tomorrow.

I got up and dressed. This is the first time I actually spend more than half an hour in the bathroom. I decide to wear something pink, since popular girls always wear pink. I waited for Alex outside.

"Good morning." I greeted him, when he came to pick me up.

"Hi, so what's your plan for today?"

"I'm not entirely sure." We drove to school until we reached the corner.

"Stop!" I suddenly called to him, and he immediately hit the brakes.

"What's wrong?" he asked with a worried expression on his face.

"You can't drive me all the way to school. What if someone sees me?"

"I guess you're right. By the way I'll be waiting for you near the gas station a few blocks down of the school. Then I could drive you home."

"You don't need to do that. Jamie would be driving me from now on."

His face was suddenly flushed.

"Get out!"

I couldn't understand what he was saying.

"What?"

"I said, get out!"

I felt like crying. I shouldn't cry. What else can I do but run?

This day felt like it happened before. Me sitting in the girl's bathroom, waiting for something to happen, but I know this time no one will save me. I wanted to die. I wanted to die and go to hell. But hell is already making me taste just a part of it.

I got up from the corner, and looked in the mirror. Oh my, I look like a mess! I need to fix this mess in the quickest time possible. When I was done, I went outside to continue what I started. Only now there is an added person to the list.

I was no longer sad, rather filled with rage. I thought of every possible reason why he got so mad. But there were just none.

I must be bad luck, when I went out; Jaime was leaning on the wall beside the door.

"You've been there an awfully long time."

"Well, a girl can never look too nice." I said jokingly.

Just then the school bell rang. He suddenly grabbed my hand, and rushed for the door.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Ditching school."

"And you're taking me with you?"

"Why not?"

"I'm kind of a girl who doesn't break the rules, in case you didn't know." Then he shot me a curious look.

"Whatever, in case you don't know we can and will get away with everything," he said as he held my hand and led the way to his car.

We went to watch a movie and went to the arcade.

"I really had so much fun." I said when he dropped me to the usual place I ask him to.

"Well, see you" he said.

Without thinking I gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. I thought it was something a girl like me would do.

"That's how I say thanks." I smiled shyly feeling the blush in my cheeks.

After the little rendezvous we had, I realized something. I could always forget about Alex. You know what, I will. I will forget I ever met him. I was happy before I met him, and I can be happier without him.

School was such a bore, until we reached gym. It was almost time to go when, Mr. Job, our gym instructor, was handing out assignments for next week.

"Gentlemen!" He said in his deep, low voice. I'm guessing he was once from the navy. "Choose you're partners for the dance test next week! Be sure to choose the right one. Class dismissed."

Dancing?! Out of all the sports he could choose, he had to choose dance. I guess it really isn't my forte.

I could see Jamie push his way through the crowd. He reached me catching his breath.

"Do you have a partner for the assignment next week?" He managed to ask.

Using my peripheral vision, I caught a glimpse of Alex looking at me.

"Of course, nobody would ask me anyway," I said with a little too much emphasis. I saw he looked at me, confused.

At lunch, I sat at our usual table.

"How 'bout you come to my house tonight?" Jamie asked.

"Why?"

"I don't know maybe we could practice dancing, or maybe just hang out?"

"Sure, but I should warn you I'm not that much of a dancer." I managed to say with a laugh.

"It's okay. I'll teach you."

We went to his place after school. When we reached his house my only response? Wow. The house had a wide front yard. There were a few trees in the front yard, which were obviously taken care of. You can see it by the luscious green leaves. There were two tall pillars at the front of the door where vines crawl up. What truly caught my eye were the two balconies on the second floor. The first one had vines encircling the rails, and the wind blew the curtains. The other one was very dirty. Dried up leaves were scattered all over, and there was a broken window. There was a vase on the porch of both balconies, each containing a flower. The dead flower was on the porch of the really nice balcony. The blooming flower was on the other.

I felt a sudden strange aura with this house, like something is about to happen in a blink of an eye. He led me inside the house. It was less pleasing when you got to go inside. There was a blanket of dust covering almost everything.

"I'm sorry. I haven't really been cleaning lately." He said as he led me upstairs.

We reached the end of a hallway, and he opened the door.

"This is my room."

His room is neat for a guy. All of his clothes were neatly piled, and there were no books scattered at all, but I noticed that it was his room which has the dirty balcony.

"Do you want me to help you clean?" I asked.

"NO!" He screamed with full power. I could hear his voice echoing the whole house. He must have seen me full of fear because he suddenly released my hand.

"I'm really, truly sorry. I didn't mean it. It's just that nobody really lives here but me." He directed me to the bed. I instantly knew that he was about to tell me a story.

"When I was 5, my mom died when she gave birth to my sister. My dad got so angry, and treated my sister so bad. She did not last long. She died out of hunger when she was 2. My father never thought of me. He once came home smelling like alcohol, and at the middle of the night I heard a gunshot .I ran to my father and saw him dead. After the funeral, a lady approached me and told me she would like to adopt me. We moved into this house. She told me I could make rooms for my family. So I designed the house like this. My adoptive mother died too. She left her money, house and everything else with me. I made the balcony in the other room perfect like my little sister. I never cleaned this house because I feel home when everything seems to be dark. I don't know I really like it when it's dark. I placed the dead flower there to remember that they're dead, but I'm still alive. I never really got to thank my adoptive mom before she died. She gave me everything I could have asked for and more."

"I'm sorry. It must be really hard for you to remember all of that, and still smile." I tried to say it in the most comforting way as possible.

" Thanks. You are the first person I trusted like this."

His hand was on mine. My hand trembled against his.

"I guess we should start."

"On what?"

"The assignment. It's what you came here for, remember?"

"Oh yeah." I laughed.