Behind Her Hair

Emma

 "Get off the floor! Unless you want someone stepping on you!"

A million snarky responses go through my head, but I just pick up my books and walk away.

This isn't the first time I've been tripped in the hall, in fact, it's a regular thing by now. I'm not popular. I don't even have any friends. It's just me, hiding under my bangs.

The thing is, I don't even care if I am popular. The only advantage would be that Ashley wouldn't bully me. I hate that I care about her but I do. I've liked her since 6th grade, but she's always bullied me. I mean, she is really hot, but she has a boyfriend. I know my life is like a movie where the nerd falls for the queen bee, but Ashley isn't the queen, she's more like the princess. Also, there is no happy ending.

No one at school knows my secret. Not only the fact that I like Ashley, but no one knows that I like girls. Not even my brother Josh knows.

Ashley and her crew walked away afterwards, and I just hopped on my bike and rode home.

I have to take the detour again. The road work on the main way to my house isn't done yet. On my detour, I go by the mall. Some kids go there after school with their friends. Not me though. Like I said before, I don't have friends.

I see some kids outside, sitting at one of the tables, eating ice cream and drinking soda. Ashley is one of them.

What I wouldn't give . . .

It's stupid. Without social status our school would dissolve into chaos. And Ashley would never date a girl. No matter what.

I get home and put my bike in the shed. As I walk in I hear Tiffany yelling at me to take out the trash. She has been dating Josh since he got custody of me, and moved in last year.

Tiffany takes advantage of me to do all the house stuff she hates, like dishes and crap. It's not much, but it's all I have.

I've lived with Josh and Tiffany for 2 years now. I'm a sophomore in high school, and Josh is 24. Our parents died in a car crash, and because Josh was legally an adult, he took me in. Also he has a house. It's small, but it is cozy.

Josh treats me well. He isn't like a parent, he's just like an older brother (cause he is). Tiffany is a different story. She thinks I just live with them to do chores. Josh doesn't know, of course. He is happy with her and I don't wanna get in the middle of that. And if Josh is happy, he's really nice, and that makes me feel a little better about my life.

Anyway, I take out the trash and go to my room. Tiffany may not care about me, but at least she gives me a place to live, and I have to be grateful for that.

I end up eating alone, Tiffany and Josh are on date night. I heat up some lasagna and call it a night. I end up watching a few hours of TV. As I'm going to bed that night, I end up wondering why I like Ashley.

I mean, everybody at school knows how hot she is, but why do I like the person who is making my life miserable?

I guess I . . .

I don't know. All I do know is that it is hopeless.

Word count: 609.

A/N: Sorry it's so short! They'll get longer!