"Elizabeth!" my mother calls out from downstairs. Rubbing the sleep out from my eyes, I remove the bed sheets off of my body and take a quick glance at the clock on my beside table. I make my bed quickly and begin to walk toward my bathroom.

"Elizabeth!" she yells again.

"I'm up!" I yell back to assure her. She doesn't yell my name again so I assume she heard.

Due to the fact that my alarm clock is not working, my mother has had to wake me for the past 3 days. It's not like Maria, my childhood Nanny, couldn't do so, but father has let her come in later than she is suppose to lately because of the cold she caught, and that is okay by everyone. We all love Maria and she is older now, 50's I believe, and needs more rest to fight off this cold. We all insisted that she take a couple days off but she, being stubborn, refuses.

I splash cold water on my face to wake me up a bit and add my face wash afterwards, rubbing my face with the lavender feely soap . I showered last night to avoid having to wake up earlier to shower and then blow dry hair which I now pat myself on the back for. Thankfully, my hair did not get frizzy during my slumber.

I brush my teeth and head out of my bathroom, going into my closet to dress in the outfit I laid out for myself to wear yesterday. People could say I am very organized, and I wouldn't disagree. Being organized has always been me and is a very helpful thing to be to a busy person like myself. If I wasn't organized..... well, I don't even want to think about that.

I pull my sleeping shirt over my head and toss it into the hamper. I have worn that shirt to sleep in for over 2 weeks now. Which is not dirty or discussing. I put it on after showering so I have been squeaky clean everytime I've worn it, thank you very much.

I put on a plain white bra and then my large round pale pink shirt over my head, sliding on my white cardigan afterwards. I slip on my skinny blue denim jeans before putting on my brown flats and look at myself in the full length mirror afterwards. My outfit isn't too dramatically fancy, but it isn't too slackerish. It's simple, yet cute. I give myself one last glance, telling myself mother will let it pass, and then head out of there.

I grab my bag from my desk chair and glance at myself in the mirror one last time before going downstairs, feeling insecure. My warm golden brown hair is straight, hardly any hair out of place and my clothes are neatly ironed, so I have no idea why I am feeling insecure. Maybe it's my face? I have no makeup on, but that is because mother has told me repeatedly I don't need any. I have never worn make up for a long period of time before, but I was tempted to once.

I would see how the girls around me in the 8th grade started wearing it and how it made them get attention from boys. I had wanted that as well, so I took the makeup from my mothers makeup dresser and attempted to apply some myself. I had seen my mother apply makeup before so I knew the basics, what to put on and where, how carefully to apply things. When I was finished I didn't look like those girls at school did, but I didn't look terrible. I was kinda've pleased with how I looked, but then wasn't sure.

While I was looking at myself in the mirror, Maria walked in. She had question what I was doing and how my mother would be furious. She started to take the gunk off of my face in an attempt to keep my mother from ever finding out what I'd done, but mother walked in before she could finish and asked what was going on. Neither Maria or I spoke up so mother asked again, starting to grow angry. Finally, Maria spoke up and I got in trouble. I was embarrassed. Mother made me feel like a fool for even considering putting make up on and kept saying how ridiculous I looked. Finally I couldn't take anymore and I ran out crying, feeling stupid and just embarrassed for trying to do what I did. Maria later comforted me and apologized on my mothers behalf but I was never quite sure if my mother actually apologized or Maria just said she did to make me feel better, I still aren't sure.

I shake the memory from my head realizing I am taking up too much time and exit my bedroom to go downstairs before mother has to come up here herself.

My bedroom is on the 3rd floor of our house, so it takes a while to get to the kitchen. The only person in the kitchen when I arrive is my father.

"Morning Daddy." I kiss his cheek and he lifts his eyes from the newspaper to greet me.

"Morning sweetie, sleep well?" I sit down at my usual seat and grab a muffin from the center of the table.

"Yes, you?" he says the same thing I did and goes back to reading the newspaper. That about ends that conversation. I pour myself some orange juice into the glass next to my plate and take a sip afterwards. Joe, our cook, walks in with a bowl of fruit and plate full of waffles as I put down my juice, setting down the food in the center of the table.

"Good morning Joe." I greet. His tan face lights up with a bright white smile and he stops in his tracks.

"Why good morning Lizzy, how are you doing this morning?" I tell him I am doing alright and then ask him the same question.

"Pretty good, are you excited? It's your first day." I shrug and shove a spoonful of strawberries and blue berries in my mouth.

"Oh c'mon, it's your senior year! I remember when you were this small asking me to not forget your peanut butter and banana sandwich for your first day of pre-school!" he says, gesturing his hand to his waist. "Eating paste, shoving crayons up your nose and painting with your pigtails."

I laugh and shake my head.

"I did not do that!" we all laugh, even dad, and I blush in embarrassment.

"Oh those pictures and videos we have beg to differ!" we laugh and I shake my head.

"Whatever Joe." he laughs one more time and pats my head before going back into the kitchen. Joe has been our cook since as long as I remember. About as long as Maria has been working for us, and she has been working for us since I was born. Which is 17 years. Wow.

I pour syrup on top of my waffles just as my little sister Chuck walks in, scratching the top of her head and yawning. She takes her seat to my right and starts to lazily fill her plate with every kind of food we have to offer.

"Morning Chuckie." she gestures her head upwards and continues to gather food onto her plate. She isn't a morning person.

"Caroline your sister spoke to you." daddy tells her. She gives him a blank look.

"Dad. I nodded. It's too early. Stop." my father shakes his head in a smile and goes back to his newspaper. "Oh Chuck."

It's only 6:20. But when I come to think of it, Chuck wakes up around 7:50. Mother must have woken her up at 5:30 today because her hair looks damp, like she has taken a shower a while ago.

"Why are you up so early?" I ask. She huffs and starts to talk at the same time mother walks in. "Because somebody who's name rhymes with Tom made me. They changed the time we go into school, so now we go in at the same time as you."

At Murphy High, school officially starts at 7:30. At Murphy Middle School they would officially start school at 9:00, that is a sucky time change.

"If I didn't wake you Caroline, you would have never gotten up. Now stop complaining." Mother calls out from the other side of the kitchen. Chuck rolls her eyes and goes back to picking at her fruit.

I finish up my breakfast and walk to the sink to wash my plate and cup. As I finish washing up and start to dry my plate, my younger brother Charlie walks in.

"Elizabeth I need you to drop off Caroline and Charlie this morning, your father and I have an errand to run." Mother says, wrapping a scarf around her neck. She is dressed in a tight black dress and heals so I assume this errand is important.

"Okay." it wasn't much of a question so I don't respond like it was. She pulls on her long tight tan pea coat and takes her perfectly curled hair from under her scarf before walking toward me.

"Today's a big day, do you have everything? Your schedule? Supplies?" I dry my hands up and hang the rag on the hanger under the sink.

"Yes. I have all my supplies, and I am going to pick up my schedule when I get to school." she gives me a disapproving look.

"That will take too long Elizabeth there will be a lot of other students picking up their schedules as well." I nod at this. I was ready for this comment. "That is why am going early, before most students do. Plus, Jane will have mine ready."

Jane is the head worker in the main office, and my friend. She knows I will be going to pick up my schedule. My mothers face shifts at this but not completely.

"Very well then." she turns away from me and I let out the breath of air I was holding. Phew. "Charlie, Caroline?"

My little brother and sister look up, nervous but mostly too sleepy to care.

"Do you two have everything ready?" they give each other a look and then look back up at mother.

They nod and mother gives them a skeptical look, not fully believing them. She is about to say something when daddy interrupts.

"Pat, we gotta get going if we want to be on time." he places a hand on her waist and starts escorting her out of the kitchen, giving Charlie and Chuck a thumbs up and wink. I giggle and walk back over to the table.

"Alright then, have a great first day kids. I love you." she tries to escape dads grasp but he won't budge, so instead she blows kisses. If he had let her go she would keep on rambling during her goodbyes, fixing our hair and adjusting our clothes. "Goodbye kids, love you." dad says. We all say goodbye and I start to hurry up Chuck and Charlie.

"Hurry up guys I need to get there early and you guys still don't have your things ready."

"Yeah yeah," Charlie responds. I walk away and into one of the downstairs restrooms to re brush my teeth, giving them time to finish up. Once I am done, I walk back into the kitchen and Chuck and Charlie are doing the same thing they where doing when I left. Nothing.

"Guys! Hurry up!" after 5 more minutes, they semi finish with their breakfast and I am left to wash their plates and cups while they go upstairs to get their things. Jesus. A monkey would be ready before them.

Minutes later, I am holding the front door open with all of our lunches in hand.

"Charlie! Chuck! Get your butts down here!" It is 6:55 and by the time I drop both of them off at their different schools it will be past 7:10.

They both walk down the stairs in a purposely slow pace and I shove their lunches in their chest once they get to the door. I slam the door shut once we are all out of the house and start storming towards my car. I quickly start the engine and don't even ask those little tics if they have their seat belts on.

I drop off Charlie first, then Chuck. And despite me being mad at them for purposely taking long I tell them to have a good day and that I love them. Annoying little tics.

To make matters worse, when I pull up into the student parking, the lot is full and my usual parking spot is taken by a white 1969 Sportsroof ford mustang. I know it is a 1969 Sportsroof ford mustang because that was one of my first choices for a car. I huff in annoyance and go around the lot to take one of the empty spaces.

Once I park the car, I grab my bag and head straight into the school. I go into the main office immediately and wait a good 5 minutes for my schedule before Jane sees me, once she sees me she gives me it right away.

Along with my schedule came my new locker and combination, so I head there first to put in my lunch. Once that is done I head to my first period, Spanish. It isn't too bad, I have most of the people I did last year so it wasn't too awkward. Ms. Lopez is as tuff and annoying as last year and since we all had spanish last year, we all get homework on the first day. Second period on the other hand wasn't so bad, I have music for the second year and the new music teacher is nice enough.

For third I have service in the main office, so I get time to chat and catch up with Jane and tell her how this year should be pretty easy overall, I took care of all the requirements along with a few extras to look good on applications over the past years so senior year should be a breeze. I have a good time with Jane but I am starving by the time lunch comes around, so I bolt out of the main office once the bell rings. I get my lunch from my locker and head to the umbrella covered table where my friends and I have been sitting at for the past 3 years.

"Hey guys," I greet as I sit down. Bella has a mouthful of a chocolate chip cookie when she greets me back. I chuckle and take my seat next to her. Jaime and Angelina greet me second and I start to take out my lunch.

"Where are the guys?" I say looking around. Jaime swallows before answering me.

"Snack Shack, they'll be back soon." I nod in understanding. Chris, Nolan and Liam always have to buy something from the Snack Shack, it doesn't matter what it is, at least one thing.

"So, Liz. How's Nolan been?" I blush and shove Jaime's shoulder. Nolan has had a crush on me for, I don't know how long, but I barely found out about his feelings toward me last year. And this summer I decided to give him a chance. We are not officially dating, but we are not just friends. This entire summer we would text and hang out, go out together but with our group of friends. He would hold my hand once in a while and even kiss me, and now they won't stop teasing me about it.

"He's fine." I mutter.

"Who's fine?" I look up and see Nolan smiling down at me. I blush harder and find myself not knowing what to say.

"Charlie, he had a cold last week." Angelina saves me. I give her a look of relief and she smiles.

"Oh, well I hope he's feeling better." he says.

"Thanks, he is." I unwrap my peanut butter and banana sandwich just as Nolan speaks up again.

"Scoot over yeah Jaime?" she scoots over without a hesitation and I feel myself growing hot as he takes his seat next to me. I pick at my fruit and avoid eye contact with him.

Soon we all start a conversation on our classes, new teachers and things we did during vacation that didn't include any of us. Everything is quite entertaining, and Nolan starts to hold my hand about halfway through lunch. I almost pull away at first, but then realize that that would be rather mean and I don't really want to.

Close by the end of lunch Jaime, the most.... spontaneous of our group, is finishing up telling us details on the summer fling she had with her summer job manager.

"Long story short, I was on the table and-" she doesn't get to finish, thank god. Loud booms are heard from over the bleachers and everyone's heads turn in their direction.

From here, as I am sure everyone else can, I can make out what caused those noises. There are several trash cans splattered everywhere, the dark substance they were carrying inside spilled everywhere. From the smell of it, I think it is the manure the school uses for the football field.

Everyone bursts into laughter and sounds of disgust, but there is a group that stands out more than everyone else. They are on the left side of where I am sitting, laughing harder than anyone else is. There is about 6 of them, and I recognize most of them.

The girl with the jet black hair wearing black cut shorts and a dingy old white shirt with some type of band on it, I recognize. The blonde with denim jeans and a white see through v-neck shirt, the red head wearing the too revealing outfit, the boy with jet black hair wearing black jeans and a blue tee, and the boy with blonde hair wearing a band shirt and cut jeans I have all seen before, but one I have not. And that is the curly black haired boy wearing boots, blue jeans, a white shirt, and a black leather jacket. Even from this distance I can make out his sparkling blue eyes.

"What are you looking at Liz?" I turn my attention away from the group of hooligans and towards the person who is calling me. Everyone is looking at me so it is hard to tell who it was.

"What?" I look around dumbly and wait for someone to repeat the question.

"What were you looking at?" Nolan repeats. I rub my hands on my pants and realize that he is probably asking because I took my hand away from his grasp.

"Oh, just that group over there. I think it was them behind the trash cans filled with manure on the bleachers." my group laughs then, and I am lost.

"Well obviously Lizzy." Bella says."Look at them, they might as well hold up a sign saying they did it."

They all laugh, but I find nothing funny in it.

"Why? Are they..... bad?" I ask, almost as if it is a bad thing to say.

"Bad?" They laugh again. "That word doesn't do them justice!"

"Who..." I continue.

"No one really has a name for them, but I like to call them idiots." Liam says. I awkwardly chuckle and look back at the group who seems to be having a good time.

"I haven't seen him here before." I say, gesturing at the blue jean white shirt wearing boy.

"Oh, that's Henry Dean." Angelina answers. "He came here for most of freshman year, but got sent away for the rest of it. Sophomore and Junior year too."

"Why?" I ask confused, and slightly intrigued.

"Bad behavior." Jaime says air quoting, a wicked grin on her face. "Word is he went to boarding school in England, what got him over there was sleeping with a teacher."

"What?!" I ask shocked. Sleeping with a teacher!? That is...

"Remember Ms. Mills?" Jaime wiggles her eyebrows.

"I thought she moved schools!" I say.

"So they say." Bella puts in. This is all thrilling and shocking. Sleeping with a teacher?

"Why'd they let him back in here?" I ask.

"Who knows." Jaime lays back. "But my eyes sure are glad they did."

The way she is looking at him is the way Charlie looks at cake.

"Please, the guy is a total tool!" Nolan exclaims.

"I don't care what he is, he is hot." Jaime says. Angelina and Bella agree with her and I stay quiet. He isn't all that attractive.

"Liz, don't you think?" Angelina asks. "Think what?" I ask.

"Henry Dean, hot, hello?" I look down at my food and bring my sandwich back to my lips.

"I don't know, he's okay." I bite my sandwich and they gasp.

"Okay? I don't like the guy but he is better than okay!" Angelina exclaims.

"Same here! He's a total prick who sleeps with any girl who throws herself at him, but he is not just 'okay' Lizzy." Bella agrees.

"Lizzy," Jaime takes my hand in hers, staring into my eyes intently. "Are you lesbian?"

I break my hands away from hers and ignore my friends laughter.

"No! But he just isn't that big of a deal." I explain. Jaime rolls her eyes and steals a strawberry from me.

"Whatever Lizzy," she bites the berry. "He's hot."

I nod my head in disapproval and go back to eating my sandwich. I look back over at this Henry Dean boy and his friends, confused. The way my friends are describing him makes him sound like a rude arrogant want be.. bad boy. I don't know him, but I am sure he isn't that horrible. Maybe he is just misunderstood.

The bell ending lunch rings a few minutes after my introduction to Henry Dean and I begin to gather my trash and bag to make my way over to A.P English, my last class of the day. If I was a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior behind on my credits I would have to stay for 2 more periods, but since I am actually ahead of my credits I get to leave early along with other seniors.

"Lizzy, wait up." I dump my trash into the trash can and make my way back over to my lunch table.

"Yes?" I ask Nolan. He tightens his grasp on his backpack strap and moves his eyes to make contact with me.

"Who do you have next?" He asks nervously but still sweetly.

"Mr. Prior, building C. A.P English." I answer blushing. I think I know what is going to happen.

"Let me walk you to class?" I slowly nod my head and he smiles his lovely bright smile.

"Awesome." I look away from Nolan momentarily and at our friends who I now realize have been looking at us the whole time.

"Bye guys, see you after school." We all say our goodbyes and Nolan and I start to make our way over to building C. The silence begins to grow awkward, so I speak up first.

"Who do you have next?" I ask him, out of curiosity but mostly to break the silence.

"Mrs. Carter, math." I stop in my tracks and look directly at Nolan.

"Nolan!" He looks at me confused. "She is all the way in building A! You'll be late and she is a tuff teacher!"

He laughs lightly and starts pulling me toward the stairs.

"Who cares." I dig my feet into the ground even more.

"I do! And you should! Go get out of here before you're late." he looks at me momentarily, eyeing me. Seeing if I'll change my mind. Once he realizes I won't, he picks me up and starts walking up the stairs, causing me to squeal.

"Nolan put me down!" I try to escape his grasp but he is too strong, I don't stand a chance.

"Only if you'll let me walk you." there is no point in arguing anymore, we are at the top of the stairs for the first floor already. But I still won't let him walk me.

"No you'll be late." He laughs to himself again and my stomach turns.

"Then I am just going to have to keep on carrying you then." I try to wiggle myself out but once again, I am too weak.

"Fine." I give in. "I'll let you walk me," he sets me down and I adjust my shirt.

"Shall we?" He asks. We are in the middle of the hallway now, and Mr. Prior's room is at the end of it.

I huff but take his arm anyway. If he is late I will never let him walk me again. I feel his arm slide down and his hand take mine in his, making me feel warm all over. We reach the end of the hallway and I see Mr. Prior greeting students at the door. He knows me already, I have had him for all the years I have attended Murphy High. I don't even need this class, but I love English so much I decided to take it again.

"I'll see you." Nolan says. He leans in and places a soft kiss on my lips, catching me by surprise, but feeling glad he did.

"Getta room!" someone yells. I pull away immediately, feeling embarrassed. I hide my face in Nolan's shoulder. He is laughs into my hair and pulls me in closer.

"I'll pick you up after class okay?" He is blushing as well. I nod and he places a kiss on the top of my head before leaving. I miss him already.

I greet Mr. Prior at the door and take a seat in the middle of the class. The desks are set up as partners this year and I sit in a desk that is empty, I like it better that way.

Soon enough the tardy bell rings and Mr. Prior is making his way up to the front of the class. I hope Nolan got to class on time.

"Good Morning class, my name is Mr. Prior and you'll be stuck with me for the rest of the year." this causes everyone one to laugh. "As you all know, this is A.P English and-"

Before Mr. Prior has a chance to finish, two students enter his room, laughing. The moment they enter, I recognize them immediately. It is the jet black haired girl from lunchtime and Henry Dean. He is far more attractive up close, I notice, His curls are slick and his eyes more bluer than they were in lunch. His attire is simple, yet so appealing.

"Mister Dean and Miss Morgan, how wonderful of you to join us." Mr. Prior says sarcastically rolling his eyes, once again, everyone laughs.

"Hey Mr. P! How's it goin?" he does a handshake with Mr. Prior and acts as if though he is not interrupting a class.

"It would be going better if you both took your seats, now please." Mr. Prior gestures for them to take a seat and they both surprisingly obey.

"Hey Mr. " the jet black haired girl greets our teacher before walking toward a desk. Unfortunatley for me, the only empty desk is behind mine. Great. As they make their way toward their seats, I feel both of their eyes on me. I try not to look back at them but my eyes betray me and I steal a glance. They are looking at me. I look away immediately and straighten my notebook on my desk, tightening my grip on my pencil.

"Now these are the things you will need for tomorrow and the remainder of the year, please purchase them by this Friday. When you all finish writing the supplies down, write a one page essay of the things you did this summer. It could be one event, or many, it doesn't matter. But, it must be a page. Get started." most of us groan, I on the other hand open my notebook a few seconds after he finishes talking. The sooner it's done the better.

I finish writing the supplies down and begin with my essay. I actually like to write essays', they are fairly easy to me and I am good at writing them. Mr. Prior has told me repeatedly and always asks to keep them.

I decide write about the time my friends and I all went to an amusement park a few days after school let out but I can't seem to concentrate. Henry and Morgan are talking and laughing loudly, making it hard for me to finish the task at hand. I almost turn around and ask them to be quiet, but Mr. Prior beets me to it.

"Mister Dean and Miss Morgan, would you both so kindly be quite and get started on these fairly easy assignments?" a few chuckles are heard, and I think I even hear the two behind me laugh.

"Sure no problem Mr." I hear Henry say. I flip my hair over my shoulder too keep it from falling into my face again and go back to writing my essay, but am interrupted yet again.

"Hey," I ignore the talking once again. "Red hair, hey."

Is he talking to me? I turn around and see Henry and jet black hair looking directly at me.

"Who, me?" I ask. I'm sure I'm mistaking.

"Yeah. Do you have any extra pencils and papers?" I almost say no, just because he has managed to get on my nerves, but I can't. That would be mean. I turn around and open my bag, taking out two pencils and two papers and handing them over to them.

"Thanks, we'll give them back after class." Morgan speaks up.

"Oh no it's fine," I brush it off. "You can keep them."

I smile and turn back over to finish my assignment. Hopefully that will shut them up. Immediately after thinking that, I hear the talking start again. I spoke too soon. This is going to be a long period.

After finishing up my assignment, I can't find anything to do. I left my book at home and the only thing I can think of doing is picking at my fingernails. Mother has told me repeatedly not to do so but I am bored and there really is nothing else to do. I hear a loud drop from behind me and I jump. I look behind me quickly and see one of my fellow classmates is on the floor, water spilled all over his shirt.

"Watch yourself Logan." I hear Henry say. He is laughing hysterically along with Morgan and the rest of our classmates. I, on the other hand I am immediately worried for this Logan and rush over to him, helping him up and picking up his water bottle. There is barely any water left in it.

"Are you okay?" I ask. He is quite shaken and red from embarrassment.

"Yes I-" he looks up at me monetarily and turns a deeper shade of red. "I fell."

I pick up his chair and walk over to my chair to get him some wipes. He takes them from me with a sly smile and I turn over to Henry.

"What is your problem?" I ask harshly. He is taken aback by this, but recovers quickly. Giving me a smirk.

"Nothing. You're the one that seems to have a problem."

"Why would you do that? Kick his chair and make him spill his water all over himself?" I may not have seen when Logan fell but I know this was Henry's doing.

"I didn't do that." he says cooly.

"Oh please, you obviously did. Leave him alone." I defend. Henry raises his hands in defense.

"Okay Red, okay." I almost say that my name is not Red, that its Elizabeth but I don't want to deal with him any further. I turn around heated and look over at Logan.

I offer him a smile and he only nods and smiles back at me. I return to my seat and Mr. Prior chooses that exact moment to walk back into the classroom from his restroom break.

"Alright-" he claps his hands together and looks at the class. It is silent and some are trying to hide their smiles. "Did I miss something?