Beautiful

I stare at myself in the mirror, disappointed with I see. Messy brown hair with natural blonde streaks. Almond shaped, plain brown eyes that look green in the light. Fat lips like Angelina Jolie. A normal nose. Nothing special.

Finally, I grab my back-pack and call, "I'm goin' to the bus stop, Mom!" There's a pause and then, "Okay! Love you! Have a good day at school!" "I will!" I scream back before closing the front door.

The bus stop is about a three minute walk from my house if I don't speed-walk. Because I got out of the house a little late, I walk faster than I usually do.

I'm wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Nothing special. I seem to think that a lot about myself. 'Nothing special'. It's like my motto.

The only people at my bus stop are Milo and Katie. Katie is a pretty blonde girl but she's kind of weird and quiet. Milo is a slightly chubby football player with a loud sense of humor. I speed-walk the rest of the distance between us closed and give Milo a small smile.

And then, I see him. Dylan Ladoo. I've known him since third grade. Not that well though, and I doubt he even knew I existed before we started riding the same bus. He's tall. Like five nine. He has dark blonde hair that falls slightly in front if his eyes. Big dreamy brown eyes. Strong jaw line. Nice wide lips. Strait white teeth. In a word, beautiful.

As he walks up he gives Milo a high five. Oh, did I mention that he's also the star quarter-back of our schools football team? Yeah, well, he is.

Milo says something that I drown out but it must have been funny because Dylan grins. Oh god. I totally forgot about his dimples. His knee jellying dimples. I bite my cheek so I won't gasp. But obviously I still breathed in too sharply because he glances over at me. Our eyes meet for a second and my breath catches.

Then his eyes dart away. He replies to Milo's joke just as the bus pulls up. We all climb up the steps, Dylan right in front of me. We all walk down the isle to our seats but Dylan is stopped by, "Dylaannnn." Tracey Kane says in a sing-song voice. Dylan smiles and leans over. Their lips smash together. Dylan starts to pull away but Tracey places her hand on the back of his neck and roughly keeps him on place.

"Get to your seats love-birds." the bus driver interrupts. Dylan and Tracey unglue themselves from each other. Tracey bites her perfect bottom lip at him. Dylan sits down in his seats a few rows behind her. His face is flushed as he runs a hand through his hair.

I sit in my seat. It's near the rear of the bus. The girl who sits with me is a chunky red-headed girl. I don't remember her name, I think it starts with an M.

The bus ride is quiet. I stare put the window and listen to my music.

Tracey is the head cheerleader. So of coarse she and Dylan got together, they're the star couple. The couple everyone saw coming.

Whenever I get to school, I climb off the bus with everyone else. There are murmurs of conversation but I can't pick out any of it.

Then I see the 'ABC's'. The ABC's are Amanda Marcus, Brenda Crown, and Candy Long. Their probably the most popular girls in school. Their all tall, perfect, thick hair headed, mean, and gorgeous.

Also, they all hate me. I have no idea why. I've never done anything wrong to them. And yet, they seem to be drawn to me like a bee to honey.

"Hey Gaylord." Amanda sneers. That's what they call me instead of Taylor. Gaylord. I give her a bright smile "Hi fatpanda." I say back in greeting.

She looks shocked. "I am NOT a fat panda." "Really? Doesn't look that way to me." I say smoothly, shifting my backpack strap on my shoulder with a shrug. Amanda has long, beach wavy blonde hair and icy blue eyes and eyelashes covered in heavy mascara.

Candy jumps in with, "If Amanda's considered fat then you must be like, HUGE." I think about how much of a lame come-back that is as they all snicker.

Candy has thick, short, glossy black hair, porcelain skin, Asian eyes, and big pouty lips.

Brenda stays quiet except for an occasional, "Yeah." and, "Uh-huh." and a very seldom, "Haha, what she said."

It seems that they all share a brain.

I push past them, making sure to hit Amanda's shoulder on my way past.

Tracey is very poplar too. Everyone loves her because she's pretty, the head cheerleader, blonde, sexy, and has a cute laugh. I hate to be critical but her teeth are not perfect. They're slightly crooked and tinted a little yellow. You can barely tell but, it's definitely there.

I think the reason that I pay so much attention to her teeth, that little imperfection, is because my teeth are the one thing that I'm proud of.

I think all about this during the last period of the day which is math.

When the bell rings, I skitter to gather up my stuff. I have chorus after school. I speed walk to the band room. Mr. Soldono (my music teacher) smiles and waves at me. I wave back before slipping into the doorway of the band room.

After chorus, I'm the last one there, my mom forgetting to pick me up again. I take a deep breath, repositioning my back-pack on my shoulder.

Then there, on the other side of the campus, is Dylan and Tracey. Their standing about a feet across from each other. Dylan waves his hands in the air, his words drifting over to me.

"What the hell, Tracey? Why are you so mean to people? Everyone who is even the slightest bit different or unattractive, you act like their a germ!"

Tracey huffs and puts her hands on her hips. "But Dylaannnn." She whines, putting a hand on his arm and rubbing herself onto him.

I'm just listening, minding my own business, just listening. Okay, I admit it, I am a bit curious. I slow down my steps, craning my neck to listen better.

Dylan's expression of anger falters for a moment. Then it returns. "Tracey, no!" He takes a deep breath. "Listen, you're pretty, and and I love the way you laugh. But, you're mean. You're mean to everyone unless they look like a model and everyone loves them."

"You're a bully. I'm sorry, Tracey. I think you should make a few life changes before we continue in our relationship."

I cover my mouth with my hand, stopped in my tracks.

"What?" Tracey shrieks. "Are you... breaking up with me?" Dylan pauses, takes a breath and then says, "Yes, Tracey, I'm sorry, I've wanted to tell you this for a while."

Dylan looks off the other way, his gaze catching my gaze. I widen my eyes for a millisecond before looking away and ducking my head. I don't hear anything else they say but I'm pretty sure I get the gist.

Chapter 2

As I wait in front if the school, I think about Dylan. About the breakup. I laugh out loud. "Why?" I ask the air. "Why am I thinking about THIER breakup? It's not even mine! Haha, I've never even kissed a boy before!"

And then I break down. I start to cry because, because, my life is so pathetic.

"Uh, are you okay?" Dylan's voice said. I jump, then stiffen. "Um, yeah, thanks." I say, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. and feeling my cheeks heat.

"So... you... heard us?" He asks. I cough. He heard me! He heard me talking to myself!

"Oh um um, yes...?" I stutter out. He laughs and his smile makes me a little dizzy.

"I'm sorry. I usually don't talk that much." I add. There's a pause, and then, "Really?" Dylan scrunches up his nose and tilts his head to one side.

A laugh rips past my lips. "Yeah." I sputter. "Why? Do I seem like the type who talks a lot?"

He shrugs. "You just seem like the type who's real quiet and polite around people you don't know. But when you're around your friends or family, your a whole other person. Funny, sweet, mean, talkative, grouchy, clever, air-headed, or maybe... a trouble maker?"

My knees go weak and I have to sit on the pavement.