She is Loved.

"Nope... Nope... Nope," I said as I flipped through the radio stations. There's never anything good on. I was cruising down our favorite backroad and I pulled over at Jesse's house for a quick pop.

"How come all these songs are about sex and partying?" I mumbled to Rean.

"Maybe because all the classy people in the world have croaked and rolled over," she replied and we both gave a little giggle.

"Just hook your iPod up," I said but she was already two steps ahead of me, scrolling through her song list . I grabbed her iPod from her and put on some decent music - Coldplay - that should do it. I cranked the speakers up and hopped out of the Big Black Boy Bag. That's what we call the fat rundown black truck my daddy bought me last year because that's what we usually used to scare boys away instead of pick them up.

I looked over at Rean and motioned for her to hop out of the hunk of junk. She just sat on her phone and I walked over behind her to investigate. It was Johnathan, of course. Johnan had long blonde hair that he always gelled up like a beach wave and sky blue eyes that said he came from the ocean, which fit him well because he had always been a great swimmer and had never even had a swimming lesson. He had soft pink lips and nice abs. Everyone knew his body was excellent because if he didn't have to wear a shirt, he didn't. It could be the middle of January and he'd strut in his boxers if his mom wouldn't kill him. I don't know how Rean dealt with him because I would just about shoot him on a daily basis just for his lack of common sense.

But we're completely different people, Rean and I. We looked different and we act different, but if we didn't we wouldn't be best friends. Rean had long, pin-straight, red hair and the same gorgeous blue eyes as Johnathan, and I had short, brown curly hair with bright green eyes that kind of looked like a lime on one of those fancy drinks you get at an expensive restaurant. My nose perked up like Stacy Sullivan's and hers was burnt on one side by a lighter from the time she tried to 'smell a flame' when she was little. Her older brother told her it would smell like cherries, and of course curiosity burnt the cat. We are both Skinny Minnies and eat like fat pigs. We are also considered the "two prettiest girls in school and possibly the entire world" but I couldn't give a crisp if we were considered the "two ugliest girls in school and possibly the entire world". We were both varsity cheerleaders and made straight A's. People always look at us and swear we're perfect and never have any problems just because we're popular and work hard, but let me tell you, we have plenty problems of our own.

Rean's drunk "dad" walked out on her when she was five and never came back. She would always have nightmares about her darkest secret that she'd never tell anyone - not me, not her own mother. She lived in an average sized house in an average neighborhood and she was never allowed to do anything or go anywhere ten feet outside her house.

As for me, I lived about fifty feet from her in an average sized house in an average neighborhood. My parents fight all the time, and I work a part time job that no one knows about just to help pay the bills. I always argue with my parents and I just ignore my little sister, who by the way is one year exactly apart from me. I swear if I get to talking with her, it'll just end up in a rumble.

"Hazel! Are you coming?" Rean called out and I realized that she'd already left and gone inside and I was still perched over her chair, staring at a squirrel gathering nuts.

"Yeah, sorry, I was day dreaming," I called as I grabbed my bag and jogged inside, out of the Texas heat. Jesse's house was a run down old trailer house, but it was always packed with food and video games. I grabbed two Cokes and tossed one to Rean, who was making grilled cheeses. Jesse was sitting on the counter, eating scramble eggs.

"Jess, what the heck? Who eats scrambled eggs at four in the afternoon?" I asked with a gross look on my face. She just gave me a look and shoved a big forkful of eggs in her face. Typical.

"Hey are you going to the football game Friday?" I asked both of them.

Jess swallowed a huge gulp of sweet tea and said, "Only if I can hitch a ride with you."

"Sure why not. Not like I have anyone else to ride with," I joked, considering I'd been single since only the beginning of time.

"I'll take that as a yes," she grinned and started chugging the rest of her drink.

"Kk. What about you, Rean?"

"Nah, I was going to, but my mom found out that boys actually go to football games and strictly prohibits any more Friday night football games that our school isn't playing at," she said as she rolled her eyes.

"Sucks for you!" I shouted as I walked to Jesse's room to grab a tank top. It's even hot inside.

I walked back into the kitchen and took a sip of Coke and grabbed my phone. Ooh I got a text!! Maybe it'll be a hot boy confessing his undying love for me... Or my mom. Yeah, it's my mom. She asked where I was and when I was coming home an told me that if I stayed out too late, I was goin to be grounded again. Oh, calm down, mother. I've only been gone for twenty minutes. I just texted back, "At Jesse's, coming home soon."

"We'll I guess I should go now, since the old lady is barking up my tree again," I said as I rolled my eyes and hugging Rean an then Jess.

"Love you!" They called out

"Love you too!" I said and clicked the heavy white door shut behind me. I opened the door on the truck and hopped in, cranking Rean's iPod up again while driving off down the old dirt road. It only takes about ten minutes to get back to my house and by the time I got there, I had already decided what I was doing tomorrow.

Friday nights are always jumping at Stacy Sullivan's house, so I figured I might as well go to her usual Friday party, since my mom could care less what I did on the weekends, as long as I didn't have sex and I still made good grades. I wish she cared more...