A Not So Cinderella Story...

In the Beginning

Let's just start at the beginning. It was the ending of summer, we were packing up out bathing suits and my sister was going back to her glorious life in New York with her perfect fiance. Me and mom and Ruby, our German shepherd, were left to a quiet house and to look forward to the days of small talk TV dinners. The first day of school was exactly one week away, and I had a "new" hand-me-down/thrift-store wardrobe. Mom works as a secretary for the biggest business in Avon, Ohio. That's right we live in this tiny town in this mostly land locked state, I would kill for a beach house.

My name? Jacee Ruiz, and I am barely a sophomore, kill me now.

I am not popular, but not completely invisible, in my opinion it is the worst place to be when starting high school, I have mostly guy friends so I am known as the tramp of any grade I am. But it is mostly because of my totally popular and hot best friend. Yes I do have a little crush on him, but going there is a big no. His latest girlfriend is the girl who has tortured me since first grade, Farrah, all because every guy she has gone out with dumped her for me, maybe that is why she went with Jasper, because she knew we weren't like that. Oh well I mean it isn't like shes the one who gets to ride with him and his junior brother Toby to school.

Fast Forward through phone calls of Farrah's latest drama from Jasper, and through one late night walk through the park while he complained of all the crappy girls he has dated, and many nights wondering why he doesn't just open his eyes and see me. And then BAM! First day of school, mom is making pancakes downstairs, wait. What? Mom is making pancakes?! I better hurry downstairs before she burns the house down. While other girls are probably throwing on tons of makeup and deciding which mini skirt goes best with their halter tops, I throw on my jeans, an old tee, and my favorite vans. I slide down the banister. Ruby jumps up on me as soon as i stick my landing.

"Eh, 8.5," mom says from her flipping and stacking station. I grab a pancake from the stack and eat it standing up."Jay, at least get a plate, and why aren't you wearing the dress I picked out for you?" Mom nags me while I take the milk out and pour myself a glass.

"First of all, morning to you too, and another thing, I don't wear dresses." I wipe the milk from my lip with the back of my hand, this makes mom roll her eyes. "So why the pancakes anyways? Since when do you actually get up before me?"

"Rude, and it is your first day, I have to be a mother sometimes you know." she tosses Ruby half a pancake, and pushes her stick straight hair away from her eyes. I was "blessed" with curls which keep their curliness no matter how long my hair is.

*Beep Beep* I see the old 1980 Chevy Tahoe in my drive way and Toby waves to me from the drivers seat.

"I have to go mom, bye! Be good Ruby!" I yell while I grab my bag and run out the door while putting my hair up in a pony tail.

I hear mom run to the door behind me "Bye Jay!" then the door slams.I stick my head through the passenger window, "Hey Toby."

"You ready underclassman?" he smiles, he has the brightest smile ever, even brighter than Jasper's. "You can sit up here with me today since Jasper caught a ride with Farrah and her mom.

I open up the door, "What? Oh sorry Toby, you know you didn't have to come pick me up still I could have gotten a ride from my mom."

"Don't worry about it, I didn't want to ride to school alone." He laughs as I buckle up. Then we are off with the windows down and the last taste of summer on the wind.

"So he caught a ride with Farrah?"

"Yea sorry Jay, I told him to just bring her, but something about her distaste of old cars." His eyebrows furrowed, we both disliked Farrah.

"What? This car is far from old!" I said in an attempt to brighten his face again. It worked, he laughed and we listened to the radio while singing along to country hits.

When we got to school it was packed with people meeting up again, my annoyance must have been written on my face because Toby nudged me. "Oh c'mon, see some people look forward to school. If you dont find a billion new girlfriends to hang with at lunch, find me okay?" We walked into the building and I nodded silently and tried to smile at him.