Change

Chapter 1

I'm Nicki Grant. For the past 17 years of my life, I have gone to 9 different schools. In all different states. It all started when my mom died and my dad's boss took that as now he could travel with his job. It's finally my senior year and I get to escape all the bullcrap and pressures of high-school. You see, I learned that in every school, there is some sort of food chain. Depending mostly on how you look. I'm far from cocky, but I've been called pretty. I'm a dancer so I have a great body. I don't really think I am that pretty. But all that shit doesn't matter to me.

I have a routine on the first day of school. At least for me. I'm starting school a month into it. I know what you're thinking, I'm setting myself up for failure. Well maybe, but what's the fun in everything coming to you and not having to work? My dad worked his way up to the top of his company and now he has one of the top positions. I don't know what it is. I kinda tune him out. I only know that because this is the last time we are moving for a while. Unless I go to college or move away. Which will probably happen.

Now I'll get to the good part. Every first day I put on the baggiest sweatpants I have and a really old ratty t-shirt or sweatshirt. I put on no makeup whatsoever and put my hair in a messy bun. I'm really shy and quiet. Then I see who would be friends with the social outcast and loner.

Then on the second day, I wear my real wardrobe and see who talks to me. And see if they actually recognize me the first time. And normally they don't. Then normally I'm friends with that person or group of people. I have a feeling that in this extremely shallow place, only one or two people will talk to me today.

Once I'm all ready I say bye to my brother who by now is used to my routine and doesn't say anything. I have a good relationship with Nick. I know what you're thinking. 'Her parents named their children almost the same thing?!' Well my parents had that kind of weird humor. Nick is only a year older than me and hasn't decided to go to college yet. Don't get me wrong, he's really smart and got accepted into like 6 colleges. He just wants to wait so we both go at the same time. He's really protective of me like that.

I walk into school and I'm not surprised. I try asking one of the girls that looks popular to yet it out and she just ignores me. Figures. I ask two more people and they both have the same reaction. I was right. This place is shallow. I'm walking down the crowded halls trying to find the front office when I hear someone arguing. I walk over to the class door and eavesdrop. Because I'm REALLYYYYYYYYYY nosy. "Sir I really need that extra credit!!" "Matt, you have a A-. You don't need any extra credit! Now go away and head to your next class before the bell!"

I dart around by the lockers and put on my best lost face. Which wasn't hard, since this school was like a giant maze! "Hey, um could you show me the way to the front office or something? I'm new." He smiles. "You're new? Ya know school started over a month ago?" He says as he starts walking back the way I came. "Yeah well my dads job moves around constantly so..."

In like thirty seconds, he stopped at a beige door that almost blends in with the wall. "Here we are. I'm Matt by the way." He says holding out his hand. I take his hand. "Nicki. Thanks for taking me. Sorry for bothering you." "Nah it's okay. I was heading here anyway. I have to discuss something with the principal as well so I'll just go in with you and show you around. We still have 17 minutes until the first bell." He says, walking into the room.

"-asked three people for directions before finding you! This school is full of  jerks. Except you. You're one of the sweet ones." I say laughing as we walk out the door heading to our next class. I had almost every class with him. "Actually. I am the only sweetest one. This school is pure torture for me. You are the only one in three years who has talked to me other than beating me up or asking me to do their homework for them. You have no idea how happy I am to have someone like me that takes AP classes voluntary and wasn't threatened by their parents to cut them off." "Wow I didn't know it was that bad here. Hey listen I'll catch up to you in class. I gotta put some stuff in my locker. Which way is 007?" He points me into the right direction after saying, "wow that's a nice locker. Hope he doesn't give you trouble." He mutters the last sentence and took off before I could question who "he" was and why he's give me trouble.