1 CHAPTER 1

I stashed my huge Chemistry textbook into my locker. It's the last week of school before summer vacation starts. I was glad I would be a senior soon. Just couldn't wait to get out of here. Then, I looked furtively around me. Okay, coast is clear. I quickly hoisted my backpack and walked quickly to class. It was Monday and I was crazy late. I hauled ass just as the second bell rang. Crap, crap!

I shoved myself into History just in time. Mrs Benning looked up and frowned. She looked at clock and just sighed.

"You're late Miss Morgan. Please have a seat. We have a pop quiz today! To prepare you for next year" She announced the quiz rather gleefully, quite in contrast to her usual dour expression. What?! A pop quiz?!

I slid into my seat and groaned. I ignored the snickers behind me. I put my pencil on my desk and crossed my fingers. Another fail would totally get me kicked off the soccer team. And I need to get a scholarship if I want to go to college. I have a feeling all of dad's money's with Shelby. And he's too absent to notice anything.

When Mrs Benning gave us the pop quiz, I groaned inwardly. She's really killing me. I gulped as I answered all the questions in the booklet. When the bell rang, I said a quick prayer and handed the quiz booklet to the smirking Mrs Benning. I flashed her what I hoped was a confident smile and slunk out of the class.

At the cafeteria, I saw Layne sitting at the popular's table, manning the stations, like the Queen Bee she was. I ignored her and she hardly glanced at me. Looking at us ignoring each other, nobody would've guessed that she's my step-sister. And I never told anybody about our relationship and Layne would rather lose her weave than admit I was her step-sister.

I sat at my usual table. Frankie, my best friend was already there. He was staring at Wes Grayson, as usual. I rolled my eyes. He really has questionable taste in men. I sighed as I took out an apple and my water from my backpack.

"Wes, again? Really, Frankie? I fear for you sometimes, you know. I really do." I said and took a bite out of my apple.

Frankie's hazel ayes flickered towards me. He pulled his gaze away from Wes and gave me his full attention. He looked at me from the top of my head to the top of my sneakers.

"Addy, dear, haven't you heard? Flannel is deadly. You'll get swallowed by all that fleece and never be heard from again." Frankie said snidely. I ignored him and munched on my apple as loudly as I could. Frankie just sighed and ran his hand through his glossy brown hair. I heard a giggle. Tamara Lee was giggling and staring at Frankie with stars in her eyes. Oh the poor, poor hot girl. Little did she know, Frankie's not interested in her melons. He's more into phallic objects..And the fact that Frankie is out and proud did nothing to throw her off.

"Tamara is so into you. Didn't you tell her you like boys?" I said as I opened my water.

"Like, all the effing time. Whatever, she's hot and wouldn't mind being a fag hag. Plus, she has better taste in clothes than you. You look like the salvation army took a dump on you while you're sleeping." Frankie said in mock disgust. Or at least I thought it's a mock disgust. You can never tell with Frankie.

"Come on, Frankie. I don't look that bad." I said, clearly in denial. I know I look a mess. But how could I tell him I couldn't afford clothes? That all the money Dad gave to Shelby to give to me is usually spent on Layne, instead of me.

"Addy, honey. I love you to pieces. But really, you should, like, make an effort. You're pretty-ish, curvy as eff and you're tall. Clothes that fit right will look heavenly on you. Look, let me hook you up. I know some designers giving away their samples. I'll snatch the size 12-ish ones for you and alter them. Ok?" Frankie said sweetly. I looked at him. Maybe he knew my predicament but never talked to me about it. I looked at him and shrugged.

Just then I heard a screech. It came from the populars' table. Layne was on her feet, screaming her head off at Wes, who looked bored. The cafeteria suddenly became silent as everyone watched in horror as Layne threw her salad at Wes' face. He didn't even flinch. He just picked at the leaves from his black shirt and threw them on the table nonchalantly as Layne stormed out of there with her skeletal minions in tow.

"Phew...what was that?! What's up with Queen Bee? Did you put something in her drink this morning.. Oh wait, she's always been like that." Frankie said as he rolled his eyes. Frankie is the only person outside our family who knows about my relationship with Layne.

I caught sight of Wes joking around with his friends, totally unfazed by Layne's outburst. Grudgingly, I have to admit that Wes is outrageously gorgeous. I mean, he does have that silky shiny dark brown hair, the dreamiest brown eyes on a human being and that crazy handsome face..stupid dimples. And those broad shoulders and stupid, silly strong-looking arms..hate them. He probably even has that idiotic and insufferable washboard abs. Yeck.

Suddenly those chocolate eyes fell on my muddy green ones. He kinda looked through me and glanced away. Like he saw how insignificant I was, how unattractive and unimportant, that he would rather look away than waste his time. I sneered and glared at him. Discreetly, I flipped him off.

"Hey Addy. What's with that look? You constipated?" Frankie asked loudly. I knew it was on purpose judging by the way he was grinning evilly. I threw him a glare.

Just then, I got up to throw away my empty bottle and apple core. As I was walking, I quickly rummage into my bag for my phone. So, I wasn't looking at where I was going. As I was walking and absentmindedly looking for my phone, I crashed into somebody. I looked up and stared in horror as I saw a girl holding a cup of coke lost her hold on it and the coke splashed all over the ever-so-disgustingly-gorgeous Wes.

"Hey, what the hell?!" Wes cried out in shock as he jumped from his chair. The girl stared at him in horror. She was half-sprawled on his table.

"Oh my God! Wes, so sorry! It's that bitch! She crashed into me!" The girl whined loudly and pointed at me, as I was already wishing I could disappear. Wes was soaked. His perfect hair and face were sticky and dripping with coke while his black shirt clung to his chest. He turned to look at me with venom in his eyes.

"You!" Wes said threateningly as he stood up to charge at me.

Without thinking, I flipped him off and ran out of there. Damnit! What the heck did I just do?! I am so dead!