Off the Charts

Chapter 1

Chapter 1
The story of my life? Drama. Not that I like or ever wanted to be part of it, but I am. Since freshman year until now, the first day of junior year.
A few years ago is when it started. I didn't exactly know what started, but people turned on me, no one wanted to be seen with me, even my friends left my side.
I was confused. I didn't know why they'd act that way but they did.
Didn't take long for me to find that my best friend since Pre-K, Celia Rosenbloom, had dug too deep. I told her the last secret that I never told anyone. The secret that I hadn't shared with even her. She blabbed it to the school.
I'll never forget coming home that day from school, my freshmen year and finding my phone ringing.
I answered it immediately when I saw that the caller ID had her name. I just needed to trust someone. She gave me the opposite.
"I'm so sorry," she said. "It was an accident," she said. "Well, I'm popular now. I finally fit in and you're not even the least bit happy for me!" She said.
How could I be happy for her when the reason she is popular is because she told the secret? She betrayed me for to get it.
It's funny how we used to rant about the 'cool kids'. Saying how we never, ever wanted to be like them.
But now it's worse. Now, I'm a junior in high school and Celes has been dragged in with the seniors since freshman year. Every new group wants Celia as their friend. She is popular. And I am not.
I'm just 'Pathetic Paisley'. 'Pick-on Paisley'. 'What's-with-that-girl Paisley'. 'Paisley-why-were-you-born Paisley'.
Honestly, the best I've been was 'Who-is Paisley'. But I don't even get that anymore! Everyone within a 1,000,000 foot radius of me at any time, knows who I am, and why I'm down at the bottom. The bottom of the charts. The bottom of every chart. Smart Chart, Beauty Chart, Funny Chart, Attitude Chart, and overall Human-being Chart.
Celes-- that nickname, I need to stop calling her that-- is the center of all my problems. The part that I have to go through if I ever want to be 'Just Paisley' again. But she's stronger than me in everything but actual muscular-strength. And I think being popular pushed her B's to C's, and her C's to D's when it comes to school work.
I'd like to say that the friendly, outgoing, genuine Celia is still in there but she's the one who makes my life miserable. Every chance she gets, she's calling me names and bringing up my old secret as blackmail. Oh look! Here she comes now. Yay.
She intentionally, shoves right into my shoulder and I don't acknowledge it. I know that the truth behind it is the fact that she's too scared to pick a real fight with me. Celia can only win with words and popularity but when it comes to physical fighting. Well, she quit our karate dojo when she became 'cool'.
"Eeeewww! I almost just squashed the bug!" She screeches and everyone in the hallway cracks up, even the ones who didn't hear what she said.
Yay another name to add. 'Paisley the Bug'.
"Ehem..." Celia clears her throat. "Ya gonna apologize for bumping into me?" She raises an eyebrow and smirks that smirk. That smirk that used to mean 'Friends-5-Eva', but now means 'You know you can't win Pey' and I can imagine her using just that nickname for me, like we're still friends, to soften me up.
I hate that smirk.
I roll my eyes and walk past her, steering clear of her shoulder. I can't bother with her. I continue walking when suddenly, she's right at my side.
"Pey," she and gives a fake smile. "I didn't hear an 'I'm sorry'." Then, she whispers in my ear,"I don't wanna do this, we can still be friends but I do still have that info."
There she goes holding it above my head again.
"Yeah." I snap. "Uh huh! I'm sure we can still be friends! But I'm sorry, that 'info' is invalid now! It's not even true!" I've never stood up like this, but I've just about had it with her perfect little blonde curls and striking blue eyes. Of course I did lie. That 'info' will always be true.
Now, I realize that, the beautiful, spiky-haired, blonde, Ronan Callaway is walking right next to Celia. He blushes the slightest bit at my comment.
"Oh Rowey! My baby! She says that old secret, about her liking you, isn't true! Which means you don't have to be worried about dating me," she emphasizes and I start to blush.
"And you also don't have to worry about me being mean to her!" My nervousness flushes away and confusion takes its place. He was concerned about me? That's kinda sweet. I peek at him and his blush had deepened.
He stands up straight and we stop walking and look at him. Ronan stares Celia right in her eyes, then, turns and walks the other direction.
While Celia is distracted I walk away as well, just down the other hall. After that I make it to my class safely, just so that I can step into my ELA class, my favorite class, and I get up the courage to actually take the last empty seat. Of course, it has to be the one right beside Ronan.
I drop my stuff and remind myself not to make eye contact.
Right now Mr. Richardson, or he also allows Mr. Rick, is babbling about today's homework and classwork assignment and it's partner work.
"Now, everyone turn to the person beside you and brainstorm ideas for your debate."
I quickly turn to Paula Louis, who happens to be almost as low on 'The Charts' as me but even she has already partnered with Jackson Stanford. Which only leaves...
When I twist my head around I am fully expecting him to be bashing his head against the wall but instead, he's already looking my way. Right into my eyes. Ronan Callaway, my crush since freshman year.