*8 years ago*
Walking into the newly built school building on the first day back, is as nerve racking as it is if you were a new student starting. Which was me a year ago today. Weaving through the hall of students, I walked to the back of the hall, to see Sarah standing there with her ear phones in staring at her phone screen. I smile to see that she had finally decided to be at school on time, for once. As I stood in front of her, I pulled out one of her ear phones and placed it into my ear.

‘Blink. Nice choice.’ I said nodding as she smiled to me.

‘Yes, it’s amazing.’ She said as she paused the music and pulled the ear phones away from us. She wrapped them around her phone then placed it in her pocket.

‘So, new year, new times, new everything right?’ I said as I looked over to her and she nodded at me.

‘Yeah, new classes, new relationships, new friendships.’ She said with a smile.

‘How are you and Zack anyway?’ I asked seeing as my best friend and my other best friend were dating for like 2 years now.

‘Better, having the holidays away from each other were hard but we are so happy to see each other, now that we are at school.’ She said as she smiled to me.

‘Good.’ I said as I nodded my head. I envied their relationship. Yes I may only be young and yes I may only be in grade nine, but where does it say, that I can’t be in a relationship, love someone. Nowhere. Absolutely nowhere.

‘And you Stella? How is your relationship with Jaime?’ She said winking.

‘Sarah. You know he doesn’t know who I am. Why do you always do that? I don’t even exist in his world. His friends and thatgirlfriendof his is all he cares about. I mean he probably cares about his family too but like in the world of school, we sit at the bottom, well, I sit at the bottom. You and Zack are the cutest couple in school and everyone knows that. I am seen as a third wheel, a loner. And that’s all down to him, he says who’s popular and who isn’t. And I can’t seem to shake this crush away. I just can’t. As much as I have tried, I have never been able to get rid of it.’ I say to her, as she stares at me with disbelief in her eyes.

‘Where did that come from? You’ve never exploded about that question. I won’t ask you again, I mean like wow Stella. You really see yourself like that? Because you aren’t. You aren’t a loner, I mean, when are we apart? Apart from, well actually I don’t know what classes yet, we are joined at the hip, with Zack tagging along. It’s always been like that. You know it has. Ever since day one, in pre-school. But then your parents sent you to a totally different school, which sucked for a year but hey, we are together again. And Stel, your crush over him will soon fade. The time I crushed over Zack was massive until we finally started dating. And with saying that, you and Jaime may get together.’ She said resting her hands on my shoulders. I nodded at her and smiled.

‘Thank you, that helps. I think I’m going to get over my crush for Jaime Preciado, today and forever more. No more crushing. Oh, on the note of crushing, Zack is coming over, probably to crush you in a massive behind hug. Prepare.’ I said with a smile. Sarah nodded her head and stared at me until she felt two arms wrap around her body.

‘Hi there missy.’ Zack said as he kissed her cheek.

‘Hey baby.’ She said back.

‘Hi Stella, how are you? Oh hi, I’m good how are you? Oh I’m good.’ I said as Zack and Sarah began to laugh at me.

‘Hey Stel.’ Zack said letting go of Sarah and coming over to me to give me a hug.

‘How’ve you been, you hefilump?’ I said as I hugged him back.

‘I’ve been good, missed seeing you both on the holidays.’ Zack said stepping back and standing back next to Sarah.

‘Yes, you left us because you went where?’ I questioned.

‘He went to some camp. I think.’ Sarah said as she looked to him. He nodded his head and smiled.

‘Band camp. Meet some cool guys there. Funny how I meet three guys who come here. Jack Barakat, Alex Gaskarth and Rian Dawson. We were all put into the group and well we became pretty good friends.’ He said with a proud smile.

‘And they are in the popular group.’ He said in a whisper. I nodded to him and Sarah smiled to him. ‘They asked if I wanted to sit with them at break on the first day and I said yes.’ He said smiling widely. I again nodded and Sarah did this time too.

As I was about to say something, I was interrupted by someone pushing me out the way and standing where I was.

‘Merrick. How have you been?’ The rude boy had asked. I sent Sarah a glare who sent me back apologetic eyes back.

‘I’ve been good, how about yourself, Jack?’ Zack questioned back.

‘Good, good. So who is this then?’ Jack said pointing to Sarah.

‘This here, is my girlfriend Sarah.’ Zack said taking Sarah’s hand in his own.

‘Well, she must sit with us too.’ Jack stated before he began to pull Zack away with him, which meant Sarah was going to be pulled away too.

‘Have fun.’ I shot to them before they eventually were far away from me. I heard ‘sorry’ being said from both of them.

Eventually, we received our time tables, lockers and our form rooms. I attended my locker first, chucking my bag in and grabbing out a couple books. I walked to my form room, to find that both Sarah and Zack where in there too, with Jack and two other boys.

When I entered the room, I made my way over to the spare seat next to Sarah. I placed my books on the desk, pulled out my chair and sat down. I looked over to see Sarah, Zack, and Jack and the two other guys looking at I as if I did something wrong.

‘Uh, why are you sitting here?’ The one with ginger hair said.

‘Yeah, why are you sitting there?’ Jack said towards me.

‘Uh, because I’m friends with Sarah and Zack?’ I stated but it came out as more of a question.

‘But you are a loser? A loner. I am pretty sure that they don’t want you here. I know I don’t neither does Alan or Alex. Oh look, there’s a seat next to glasses over there. And the emo kid.’ Jack said pretty much pushing my books to my chest.

I looked over to Sarah and Zack who now were looking at the table in front of them not uttering a word. I couldn’t believe this. My own best friends, choosing popularity over there best friend.

I stood up and pushed my chair in, I walked over to the spare seat in the middle between the slightly chubby kid with glasses and the slouched over, emo looking kid.

‘Uh, do you mind if I sit here?’ I questioned as both of them shot their heads up to me. The one with the glasses smiled and the one with the hair, nodded. Sitting down, I smiled to the glasses kid.

Might as well make some new friends, might need them.

‘Hi, I’m Stella.’ I said to the guy with the glasses.

‘Patrick.’ He said with a smile.

‘What about you?’ I said looking over to the guy with the black hair.

‘Uh, Pete.’ He said looking at me as he flicked his hair out his eyes. I smiled to him.

I talked to these guys till we had break. Turns out we all get along very well. We’ve all planned to sit together at break and lunch. I was quite excited. We all walked to each other’s lockers together, in case we bump into Jaime, Jack and the gang. Turns out, we were all victims of the ‘popular’ gang.

As we were walking along the courtyard, I heard my name being called. I turned around to see Sarah running towards me.

‘Hey, can I sit with you guys?’ She asked reaching us. I nodded my head and smiled to the guys who seemed to get a little uneasy.

‘Guys, this is Sarah. She’s my best friend. Sarah, this is Patrick and Pete.’ I said as I introduced them all.

‘Stella, I’m sorry about form. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything.’ She said.

‘Stop Sarah. I don’t mind. Well I do but I’ll get over it. Why aren’t you sitting with them?’ I questioned as we all sat in a sort of circle in the back of the courtyard.

‘Because, I don’t fit in with them. I can’t stand the way the girls who hang out with them talk. It’s all like high pitched, over quoted shit. The guys are all too loud so I don’t even see how Zack fits in with them.’ She said.

‘They just haven’t got tolerance for people who have talent. Or who are unique and are willing to be themselves.’ Patrick said.

‘Yeah, no offence to your boyfriend or anything but once he starts to hang out with them more, he will become rather bossy, needy, and stubborn. The list goes on my friend.’ Pete stated. Sarah sighed and nodded her head as if she knew that already.

‘So, what does everyone have next?’ I questioned, hoping that I would have at least one friend in my next two classes.

‘Double math.’ Patrick stated.

‘I have that too.’ Pete said with a smile.

‘Same here.’ Sarah said sharing her excitement.

‘Are you serious? I have double English!’ I slightly yelled. They all chuckled at my frustration.

‘Well, we better get going then.’ Sarah said standing up.

We all followed until we got to the buildings. I, turning left, the others turning right. Meeting the room of my English class, I saw Jack, Zack and Jaime all standing talking to each other. I sighed quietly as I walked passed them to the front near the door. I was hoping to get passed without them noticing but I was wrong.

‘Hey Stella.’ Zack said as I walked passed. I smiled to him and replied.

‘Hi Zack.’ Stopping to look at him.

‘Did you see Sarah at break?’ Zack questioned.

‘Uh yeah, she was sitting with me.’ I said.

‘Your girlfriend was sitting with that loner?’ Jaime spoke.

‘They happen to be best friends.’ Zack said looking to Jaime. Jaime shook his head in disbelief.

‘And are you her friend Zack?’ Jack said in a sour tone.

‘Uhh… ye... No. I am not her friend.’ He said looking at me.

‘You are a dick you know that Zack. A downright dick.’ I said turning around and walking to the now open door, the door that led us into the two hours of learning how to write essays and poems.

Walking in, we all had to stand at the front of the room. Seating plans, great.
‘Okay class, my class room, and my rules. So I am going to put you in alphabetical from last names. Starting with…’ he said calling names out.

Finally he called my name out and I was placed on a two seat desk. I began to take my notebook out when I noticed the name that was called out.Preciado. Jaime Preciado.I looked up to see a rather annoyed looking Jaime, who was looking down at me. Those brown eyes, even though they looked angry and annoyed, looked so beautiful. His styled up skunk hair, which suited him, looked perfect today. Black skinny jeans. He couldn’t get any more perfect.

Shit, this crush is going to be harder to get rid of then I thought.

Jamie groaned as he sat himself down, staring at me with hate.

‘What the fuck is your problem?’ I said as I stared back to him.

‘You are my problem.’ He said back bitterly.

‘I haven’t done anything wrong, so suck it up princess. Not everything goes the way you want.’ I said as I began to take notes that the teacher was writing on the board. He just groaned again and began to follow my actions.

English took forever to come to an end, but when it did, I didn’t stick around. I rushed out the room and went to find Sarah. When walking to my locker, I bumped into her, funny enough.

‘Omg, your boyfriend is being a fucktard.’ I said looking her. Her eyes shot open as they looked behind me.

‘What did you say about me Stella?’ He said, voice low and it sounded rather scary. I looked up to him and gulped.

‘I said you are being a fucktard. A dick. A douchebag. A…a many fucking things.’ I said as he stared down to me.

‘Yeah well I’m going to be popular so I need to do what I need to do in order for that to happen.’ He said back to me.

‘And that is to pick on your best friend because she’s never been popular or never will be? Very fucking shit of you Zack.’ I shot back.

‘Stella, you are a loser. A loner. And in all honesty, I was never really your friend. I was nice to you because Sarah is my girlfriend.’ He replied.

‘Was you girlfriend. Was. You have no right to talk to anyone that way. No right. I hope one day you realise that you’ll never be as happy as you were when you were friends with me and Stella! So fuck you Zack, fuck you!’ Sarah shot to Zack before pulling me away with her.

We walked to the grass area and sat down. I looked to Sarah who looked like she was angry, not sad.

‘Why did you just end the perfect relationship?’ I said to her.

‘Haven’t you noticed? Being popular is more important to him then his best friends. He won’t ever have time for me when he gets there. I can’t stand it. He’s being a real dick ever since they invited us to sit with them.’ She explained. I nodded my head and smiled.

‘Like we said, new year, new times, new everything.’ I said waiting for to continue.

‘New classes, new relationships, new friendships.’ She said which made me smile.

‘Well, see, look. We have some awesome new friends, we don’t have to worry about relationships and the classes we have are all together apart for Math and English.’ I said pulling her into a hug. She hugged me back and laughed.

‘You know we have just become the most hated people in the world.’ Sarah said with a smile.

‘Yeah, I’m quite aware. And I don’t care. Haha that rhymed.’ I said and laughed. Sarah laughed and shook her head. We were joined by Pete, Patrick and two other kids we didn’t know.

‘Hi guys, who do we have here?’ I said looking at the two new looking faces.

‘Well, assuming you guys were okay with it, I saw these guys sitting alone so I invited them to sit with us.’ Patrick said sitting down next to Pete. The other two awkwardly sat down and looked at us through there fringes.

‘Hi, I am Stella.’ I said waving slightly to them.

‘I’m Sarah.’ She said waving as well.

‘I’m Victor, but call me Vic.’ Vic said. He had long hair and when he flicked his hair out the way, his face was beautiful. Not my type of guy but he was handsome.

‘My name is Tony.’ The shyest guy of them all talked. Tony seemed sweet and nice but his shyness was just too much of an issue for him.

We all talked till we all had to go to class. Turns out that Vic has a younger brother named Mike who hangs out with the gang.

Tony used to be very good friends with Jaime before he got a change of heart and started to pick on him. A little like Zack with Sarah and I.

Turns out the rest of the classes were spent together, and Tony was in my English class, who sits next to Zack on the table next to me.

Notes