"How did you know I do the cartoons? No one else knows that..." I was pretty surprised. Only a few people on the newspaper and also Clarissa knew that. I used an anonymous name.

He smiled. A kind of secretive/embarrassed smile. It still gave my stomach knots though.

"We had science in sixth grade together. I remember you used to draw at the back of your little note book. I watched you when you weren't looking", he shrugged "I always kind of thought you were pretty cool"

I couldn't believe it. All the while I had been mooning over Damien Stevens and he thought I was cool!

"Is that why you agreed to go out with me?" I asked tentatively

"Yeah. I just needed a change from a scene that said it wasn't normal to hang out with people that weren't in your 'clique' even if you thought they were cool. I don't want to fit into that stereotype anymore, Aimee", he took both my hands in his and stared deep into my eyes. It was impossible not to drown in those eyes and the best part was, I was beginning to think he was thinking the same of me.

We stayed like that for a while and only broke apart when the waiter came to ask if we would like to see the dessert menu. Dinner passed by amazingly. We had banana cream pie for dessert and we talked... really talked. I felt myself falling for him more and more.

After dinner, he drove me home and walked me up to my front porch. The moment was so magical when he kissed me. It was deeper, more passionate and held more emotion than you could put in words. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back for all I was worth. Tonight we had connected in so many other levels and I could totally feel it in every fiber of my being. It seemed like an eternity when we finally pulled away. We were both breathless but his hands were still on my waist and I knew he didn't want to go. Hell, I didn't want him to go.

But we knew better so he bid me good night and left.

I fell into bed that night with an enormous smile on my face and had the most wonderful dreams ever.

.......................................................................................................................................................................

Things were going so great, I should have known it would just go downhill from there on. I walked into english class feeling as blissful as I had been last night.

I spotted Clarissa almost immediately. She looked at me frantically and I guessed she just wanted to hear the details of last night's date. I totally forgot to call her last night. My mind had been in a love bubble.

Miss Daniels had set up the projector at the back of the classroom. We were going to be watching the film adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' today. Halfway through the film, Lindsey Sherman from behind me passed me a note. It was from Clarissa.

"How was your date with Damien??? Details! Now!

-Clarissa"

I looked back at Clarissa and hoped she'd see me in the dim lighting.

"Later, I promise", I mouthed at her

She didn't looked too pleased by that but she nodded anyway.

Unfortunately, Miss Daniels asked her to help her pack up the projector to the storage room after class. I guess that's what she got for being the teacher's pet.

"I'll wait for you in the girls room", I told her as I left the class. She looked like she was about ready to kill me. It was funny that she was making this so incredibly important. I guessed she just wanted the best for me.

I headed to the girl's room to wait for her. Once there, I placed my rucksack against the sink and attempted to fix up my hair. I wanted to look my best incase I passed by Damien in the halls. I smiled at the thought of him. Was I totally gone or what?

Suddenly, I heard the click-click of stilletos approaching. I looked up just in tIme to see the door to the girl's room open and Laura step in. She was flocked by Terri and Amber as usual. I wondered if they also followed her when she needed to change her tampons too.

She gave me a twisted little smile and signalled to Terri and Amber.

"Clear this place out", she told them.

I watched in horror as Terri and Amber went from stall to stall and burst open the doors.

"Everyone out now!" Laura yelled in that horrible high-pitched bitchy voice

I grabbed my rucksack, intending to avoid a show down with Laura at all costs. Laura stopped me and gave me a sour look.

"Not you, sweet heart", she said in a sarcastic tone.

I was annoyed. What the hell did she want with me? I watched as a bunch of girls ran out of the room, embarrassed and frightened out of their minds. I wondered how just one person could command such fear.

Once everyone was out, Terri and Amber went over to the door, locked it and stood by it. Laura had a crazy mean look in her eyes. I knew at that moment that it was not going to be pretty.

"What do you want Laura?" I asked and crossed my arms. Maybe I'd get out of this with my dignity still intact. I seriously doubted that though.

Laura finished pretending that she was inspecting her blood-red fingernails. Or in my mind, talons.

She flipped her platinum blonde hair over one shoulder and scrunched up her nose at me as if she was smelling something really bad. "Oh, sweet little nerdy Aimee from the McLoser clan. Heard you're growing up"

I maintained my stance. I wouldn't let her intimidate me.

"I don't have time for games, Laura. Are you going to tell me what you want or not?" I was so pissed, my voice didn't even waiver.

She began to walk around me now. I felt like some sort of lab rat in a science project with the way she looked at me.

"I heard Lindsey tell some of her friends that you and your best friend, tweedle-dum, have been passing round notes claiming you're dating Damien", she spat out venomously.

I shrugged. What was there to say?

"Do you have a problem with that?" I asked her.

In the blink of an eye, she rushed towards me, grabbed a huge chunk of my hair and yanked at it, HARD.

"Liar!" She hissed "You're just a pathetic liar and a slut!"

OMG. I couldn't believe she was actually doing this. Maybe I should add psycho to her list of qualities. I cried out in pain and wrenched myself from her grip.

"Get off me you crazy bitch!" I saw the craziness intensify in her eyes as soon as I said those words... Oh, it was on.

“Look slut, this is just a warning”, Laura said “Next time, I won’t be so nice”

“You don’t scare me, Laura”, I told her hoping my voice was stable enough to make her actually believe me. We suddenly heard banging on the door. Someone was trying to get in.

“What’s going on in there?” asked a muffled voice. It was Clarisse. “Aimee, you in there? Open up”.

The banging got more intensified. I looked back to Laura, she didn’t appear concerned.

“I hope you’ve got enough sense to back off Damien from now on”, her voice was filled with pure hatred “Or things are going to get really bad for you, Aimee. And you know I don’t make idle threats”

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to be scared of her… but dammit, it was hard not to be. Laura was mean. Laura was evil. Laura had once sent out nude pictures of the whole girls’ basketball team because they refused to let the cheerleaders take up their gym time to practice.

Laura smirked and turned away. “I didn’t think so…” she gestured towards Terri and Amber “Let’s go girls. I heard loser might be contagious”.

Amber unlocked the door and they all laughed as they left. I sank down to the floor and buried my face in my hands. I heard Clarisse come in. “Aimee?”

I looked up and she rushed towards me once she saw the redness of my eyes.

She enveloped me in her comforting arms and I just lost it. I burst into tears. It was weak of me, I know. But I just couldn’t help it. The first time that I had actually gotten something that I really wanted and Laura came along and ruined it all. It seemed so pathetic. The popular ones always won.

I told Clarissa what happened in racking sobs. Her arms never left me. She cooed and comforted and didn’t even leave when the final bell for the next period went. She made me feel a whole lot better and I guess that’s why she was my best friend. Once I had calmed down, she escorted me to class and told my teacher I wasn’t feeling too great.

After school, I drove home sullenly in my Dad’s old Camry, another pathetic aspect of my life. I was sixteen and I didn’t even have my own car. I got home and immediately rushed up to my room and locked myself in. No one was at home. My dad and mom were both at work. My dad was a small scale lawyer and my mom was into interior decoration. My sister, Gabby was away at college and at that moment, I really wished she was around for me to talk to. I missed having a big sister to confide in.

I holed up in my room all day, balled up on my bed, clutching my big stuffed teddy bear and listening to music as tears slipped silently from my eyes onto the pillow. I really liked Damien, I really did. I couldn’t just give him up! It had taken me four years to get up the nerve to ask him out. Why was this happening to me when things were looking so good? It was just unfair. I knew Laura wasn’t joking. She could make my life a living hell, and she would, if I crossed her.

I heard my cell phone vibrate. I swiped tears from my eyes and grabbed it. The caller ID said Damien. I didn’t want to talk to him. My mind in so much turmoil and talking to him would just make my decision even harder. I pressed ignore, tossed my phone under the bed and started sobbing again. I heard my phone ring seven more times before it finally stopped. Then my desk phone rang. When I didn’t answer, it picked up a message.

“Hey, Aimee. I tried calling on your cell but you’re not picking. I just... I want to talk to you. I really hope everything’s all right, Aimee. I can’t stop thinking about you… Call me”

That made me cry even harder. I heard when my mom and my dad got back but I didn’t go downstairs. I didn’t do anything. I just stared into space. Clarissa also called and left a message saying she was here if I needed to talk. I appreciated it, but I just didn’t want to talk.

My mom came and knocked on my door when it was time for dinner. I considered not going but I didn’t want them to stress and bug me about what was going on. I took ten minutes trying to conceal the redness and puffiness of my eyes. When I was sure I looked a bit better, I headed downstairs and sat down to dinner silently.

We were having chicken, potato salad and stir-fried veggies. When I didn’t light up at the sight of one of my favorite meals, my parents exchanged a look.

“Everything all right at school, Aimee?” asked my dad. He looked concerned. I didn’t want to worry him. He also looked tired.

“Hmm… yeah… sure”, I murmured using my fork to toss my potato salad around my plate.

“You don’t usually play with your food unless you’re thinking of something”, my mom supplied. She had that you-know-you-can-tell-us-anything look on her face.

“I’m fine, really”, I half-snapped at them.

More grim looks were exchanged across the table. Dinner passed by silently after that. I felt bad for making dinner awkward. After dinner, when I was helping my mom clear plates and load them into the dishwasher, I said: “Dinner was really good, Mom”, in an effort to lighten the mood

She looked pleased at the sudden compliment. She stopped what she was doing and looked at me seriously. Here comes the talk, I thought and resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“Tell me what’s going on, Aimee”, she looked anxious. I let out a sigh. My mom and dad weren’t always around but they hoped that I would always know that they were always there for me. They loved me that way. I guess I owed her a little explanation.

“Mom, have you ever wanted something really really bad and then when you finally get it, you can’t have it anymore?” I knew I was probably saying a whole lot of nonsense but I hoped she’d understand.

Her brow rose an inch. She probably guessed I was talking about a boy. She didn’t say so, though.

“Well, dear. If you really want it, then you should fight for it. You hold your own happiness in the palm of your hands and nothing should come in the way of that’, she told me.

I smiled. My mom was really smart. I don’t know why I didn’t come to her more often. Well, other than the fact that she was my mom.

I hugged her. “Thanks, mom. You’re the best”

Once I was done washing up, I went upstairs, got myself together, did my homework and fell into a deep sleep in a happier mood. I knew what I was going to do.

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