A sharp light tried to pry its way into my eyes. In protest, I dug my face deep into my pillow to block out the sun. As I was slowly drifting back off, an alarming ring began to bellow into my ears. Letting out a small grunt, I reached, without looking, for the snooze button to stop the obnoxious ringing. On the edge of my bed, not knowing that I was off from hitting the alarm clock, pushed down on thin air. Losing balance, I tumbled to the ground banging my head on the hard floor. With the now bump on my head and the annoying ringing piercing my ears, the universe decided start out my day with a blistering headache. I reached onto the night stand, and pressed the off button down hard.

Sleepily, I find a dark navy shirt and some black pants in my closet, and begin to get ready for school. After pulling back my brown hair with blonde highlights into a loose braid, I apply some mascara to the eyelashes around my hazel brown eyes. Finalizing my lip gloss, I looked into the mirror with a satisfied sigh. A small knock came to the door.

"Skyler?" A muffled voice came from behind the door.

"Come in." I replied. The white door cracked open. A tall man, with the same hazel eyes, stepped out of the door way.

"What's up, Dad?" I asked.

"I just wanted to give you a heads up that I will be gone this next week. There's a bit of an emergency at work. They need me to go to Phoenix to help out with one of the factories down there. A machine has malfunctioned."

"Oh, when you leaving?"

"Some time today. I'll be gone before you get home."

"Well, hope you have a good trip."

Dad gave me a worried smile, "Are you sure you'll be okay alone?"

I gave a small laugh. "I'm seventeen. I'm sure I'll be fine."

"Barley seventeen."

"Well, seventeen none the less."

"Uh, well, there is some eggs and toast if you want any." He said before heading back out the door. I gave him a small smile before sitting down to pull my sneakers on.

Grabbing my backpack from the side of my bed, I slipped out the door and down the stairs to help myself to a small breakfast. Finishing off my egg, I checked the time. 7:55. School starts in only five minutes! I was going to be late! I scrambled off the chair snatching a piece of toast from the table, and bolted out of the house, with my backpack hanging off one shoulder. After sprinting three blocks, I saw the Ironwoods Highschool. Just one more block. Racing over the last block, I glanced at my phone. It was only 7:57. It really was helpful that I was the fastest in the class, because I always had a tendency of being late.

I reached the school, and made my way to English. Glancing around the non decorative room, I spotted my best friend, Jennifer.

"Wow, you're here early." Said Jennifer jokingly as I took the empty seat next to her.

"Haha, very funny." I said unamused.

A loud bell went off, commencing the school day. A tall woman stood at the front of the class dressed in a knee length gray skirt with a white blouse. Her white blonde hair pulled into a tight bun. A small, silver name tag stand was sitting on a neat desk behind the woman saying Mrs. Harrison.

"All right class," said Mrs. Harrison. "Today, we will be taking a test, so put your books away." She walked around the class handing out tests. "If I find any of you cheating, I will give you and whoever you're cheating off of a zero. So I do suggest you don't try anything. Some of your grades can't take a blow like that." I watched as the test slid into place on my desk. Mrs. Harrison said, through her pale thin lips, "Begin." I looked down at the sheet to see a page long poem. Ahh, annotating, easy. I took about the first third of class doing thorough annotations to each stanza, then moved onto the questions on the other side. After answering the first question, the silence of the working class room was broke by the sound of a phone ringing. I looked up from my paper to see Mrs. Harrison pick up her classroom phone.

"Yes?" said Mrs. Harrison to the caller, "...okay, I'll be right there." She abruptly stood up to address the class, "I'll be right back, but in the meantime, no talking." She promptly left the room, igniting conversions with the closing of the door. I heard flakes of gossip through the whispers.

"So, you going to the party Friday? " I over heard Jane Colin say to her friend Rebecca.

"Of course! I hear it's going to be the biggest party of the year," replied Rebecca excitedly. What party? I haven't heard anything about this. Well that's probably because no one tells me anything. I turned to Jennifer, whose straight black bangs slightly hid her eyes as she looked down.

"Jennifer," I said to her. She looked up from her paper at me. Her black hair had a violet tint in the light. "Have you heard anything about a party?"

"Yeah, it's all anyone's been talking about for the past two weeks."

"Everyone except me. How have I heard nothing about it! How does this always seem to happen to me?"

"Well I've noticed your not very observant."

"I'm plenty observant." I scoffed

"Oh really?" Jennifer said with a raised eyebrow. "Close your eyes"

"No! Why would I close my eyes?"

"We're testing whose right, so close your eyes." I roll my eyes, but close them.

"Okay, now what?"

"Now tell me. What color is the floor?"

"That a stupid question. I've been going to this school for almost three years now, I know what color the floor is. Its navy."

"Nope."

"What?

"It's dark green." I opened my eyes and looked down at the floor. It was green. "Three years, huh?" Jennifer said with a smirk.

"Shut up." I replied annoyed.

"You are seriously the least observant person I know."

Looking annoyed, and frustrated that she was right, I decided to change the subject back to the party.

"So who's throwing this party?"

"Oh, Jessica. " Jennifer replied looking disgusted. "That's why I never talked about it, because I don't plan on going." I was right about to speak, when a snarky voice interrupted, "Good." Jessica Martin flipped her head around back at us. Her straight, fiery hair fell at her shoulders. "I don't want anyone as lame as you at my party. And that goes for your friend too."

"It's not us that's lame. We don't need to have a party to feel wanted," Jenifer replied calmly. 

"At least I am wanted," Jessica says with a smirk. "I can't say the same for you. Your presence simply hacks at a party's liveliness."

"I'm afraid you've got it backwards. Skyler and I bring the life! We'll prove it. Your party. Friday night. By the end, there will be a vote. Who's the best partier." Jenifer replied, matching Jessica's smirk. "Do we have a deal?"

Jessica looked as if deeply considering the possibility. Then she decided. "Okay, we have a deal, but a deals worth is nothing without a reward."

"Okay, fifty bucks."

"No not money. Something a bit more pricey."

Footprints began to come closer to the door. Jessica hastily said, "I'll let you know the reward at the end of the day." They both gave each other one last scowl before turning back to their tests. Mrs. Harrison then walked into the room, causing the whispering to die out.

I finished the remainder of the test with the previous argument still lingering in my mind. What did Jessica have in mind for the reward of the bet? I hope it's not too pricey. I really don't think we have much of a chance with this one. Correction, I don't have much of chance, but this should be easy for Jennifer. I hope it's not too bad.

Mrs Harrison's class ended, and I waited for the opportunity to speak to Jennifer. My chance came later at lunch.

"Over here!" I heard Jennifer call to me across the cafeteria. I hurried over to the empty seat in front of her. But something stopped me. Something gorgeous. I accidentally walked straight into Mark Quinn, the hottest guy in school and my crush since 8th grade, spilling my chicken soup all over him.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I quickly apologized. He looked down at his shirt with disgust and a hint of pain.

"It's okay." He replied, still looking down at his wet clothes. I really wasn't very observant. Feeling flushed and lost for words, I quickly walked away. Taking my seat, I quickly dropped my head down on the table.

"Well that was embarrassing." I heard Jennifer's voice say.

"I know, I'm such an idiot!" My muffled voice replied. "Why, why did it have to be him that I bashed into. I really need to start watching were I'm going."

"Don't worry, that soup won't affect his rock hard abs." I gave out a small laugh to her comment.

I looked over at him cleaning the soup from his blue T-shirt that matched his ocean blue eyes. His shaggy dark hair fell over his eyes, I only wish he was smiling, showing his perfect teeth and adorable dimples.

"Skyler?" Jennifer asked, interrupting me from admiring Mark's gorgeous face. Distracted I replied, "hmm?"

"Let me guess, you were thinking of him?"

I gave a small sigh and focused my attention back on Jennifer. She was about to speak but for some reason stopped. Jennifer's face, lost in thought, instantly perked into a smile.

"I have an idea" she finally said.

"About what?"

"One second" Jennifer stood from her seat and quickly walked over to Jessica's table. I followed after wondering what she was about to do. "Jessica, I have our prize, do you have yours?"

"Alright," She replied flipping her head around at us. "If I win," she thought for a moment, "I want your necklace." She pointed to the chain around Jennifer's neck. This took Jennifer and I aback.

The necklace was cute, of simple design, but wasn't of great value.

"Okay..." Jennifer responded.

I don't know why, but Jessica seemed to regret her words, and hurried the conversation. "Alright, just tell me yours."

A sly smile made its way on to Jennifer's lips. "Mark, Mark Quinn." My face went white. Was she really going to do this? Was I going to let her do this? Jessica also seemed a little stunned. This seemed to bring Jennifer a little pleasure.

"You want Mark?" Jessica repeated back. "Why do you want my boyfriend?" Jennifer snuck a small glance at me, but Jessica seemed to catch it. "Oh, I see. Little Miss Clumsy here wants him." I felt heat rise to my cheeks. Jessica continued, "Well since it's obvious I'm going to win... it's a deal."

A/N: Please remember to vote, and thanks for reading!