STRANGE.

    Usually when someone says, 'yippee! It's the beginning of a new semester,' I'm like yeah! This is going to be so boring!!! Same old bullies, miss popularity and Mr. charming walking around causing trouble and breaking hearts...

    But this year, things are going to be a lot different. See it's my last chance to make a name for myself, leave my legacy behind and all that crap. Well at least that's what my guidance counselor suggested. In the past I've been known as the weird, quiet type voted most likely to be forgotten after graduation.

     My parents are from a wealthy society where it's considered normal to have your kid called into detention three times a week for either skipping class or pulling some lame-ass prank. So, to have a little anti-social nerd with outdated baggy jeans and big-eyed rimmed glasses, a part of their family was quite worrisome. To put it nicely, they thought I was suffering from insecurities and needed a bit of self-confidence.

     Imagine spending the entire summer listening to your mom lecturing you on the essence of being a young woman… that no doubt was the complete opposite of what my appearance was currently aimed at. I preferred comfy and durable, whereas apparently the latest fashion involved everything way tighter, less material and more cash.

     Anyhow, the point is I was basically forced to open up, come out of my shell… show the world the true Erika Stevens and of course stop ‘embarrassing’ my socialite parents. With my stubborn personality I would have probably continued to ignore my mother’s plea to do something spontaneously for once in my life, but I soon found out life has a way of dragging you out of your safe zone, forcing one into the bitterness of reality to welcome the light of wisdom through experience.

     My story started here, ignorant teenager bullied by an up and coming Casanova and a jealous freak cheerleader. But the journey brought me to the right path of finding the ‘one’ I was destined to be with… young and naïve love blooms into an eternity of loyalty and trust. I crashed into him and he embraced the sweet reality of unexpected love….

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      “Sweety are you really going to class dressed like that? You know we could always go shopping…”

      “No mom, I’m fine.” Erika interrupted her mother not wanting to start another argument as to how old and creepy her outfit made her look. Sadly, it could not be avoided.

      “Oh honey, can’t you at least try a little? maybe do a simple messy bun, wear a bright color shirt that’s more your size, get a push-up bra…”

       “Mom!”   

      “What? You have a decent size rack… it’s just not presented the right way…”

      “Auggh! It’s way too early for this, I’m late for science class… got to run.”

      “what about breakfast? Well at least have an apple.” Laura Stevens sighed helplessly as her daughter’s figure quickly disappeared behind the closed doors of their villa. While her husband who had been silently observing the familiar scene for what seemed like the 100^th time, could only comfort his wife and himself with distant hopes.

    "Give her some time, maybe she hasn’t figured out what she wants from life as yet.”

    “Erika is eighteen Richard, soon she’ll be graduating and heading into the working world as a woman, what am I suppose to do? Just shelter her for the rest of her life? What will people think of us? Look at the way she dresses.”

     “Come on now it’s not that bad.” He replied unconvincingly.

      “Not that bad! Are you kidding me? the girl is a size six and she dresses like a twelve”

      “Don’t worry too much, who knows maybe once she finds a guy she likes, our little turtle will throw away its shell and run like a hare.”

       “Yeah! You’re right maybe that will help!” Laura sounded a bit too excited, but seeing her mood finally cheering up, Richard didn’t bother asking too much question as he soon ate up the crisp bacon and eggs before heading to work.

        On the other side, after rushing out of her home as if being chased by the grim reaper, Erika quickly walked around the corner intending on taking the bus once she made her way out of the luxurious gated community, trying her best not to be spotted by her driver. The usual cat and mouse game with the poor old man frantically searching for the young miss he was suppose to drop off at the school’s entrance. Well at least she found it entertaining to pull such childish tricks.

        However, today something unexpected happened. Uncle Sam, the chauffeur, didn’t take his regular route of pursuit so just as the cunning teen was about to follow the narrow-clayed path leading to the freedom of the iron gates and into the open world of normalcy, an anxious yelled echoed from behind…

       “Miss Stevens! Please wait! can’t you listen this once?” the old man came running panting heavily, dumfounded as to why the well-off young woman would often choose to abandon a fancy Audi only to be taken by a smelly noisy public transport bus? ‘teenagers these days were simply rebellious,’ he concluded.

       Surprised, Erika tightened the grip on her stacks of books in her arm and rushed forward even faster trying to change direction in hopes of outsmarting poor uncle Sam. Well she did manage to escape his line of sight for a moment, but in the process accidentally bumped into someone unexpected, lightly brushing pass his muscular shoulders.

       “Hey! Watch where you’re going!”

     “Sorry, sorry… my bad.” She apologized without hesitation, quickly glancing at the handsome young man before her as she immediately gathered the pieces of papers that slipped from the corners of her books before hastily racing away in one swoop.

       The teenager stood confusedly, wondering what the heck just happened… only to notice some distance ahead the cheeky brunet running crazily as a fairly expensive black Audi trailing behind with an anxious driver shouting. “Miss Stevens… Miss Stevens, please...”

       What a strange scene to witness in such a respectable community and that girl… why did she look so familiar? Jeremy frowned as curiosity got the best of him.   

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