Behind the Glasses || a.i.

Chapter 1

 I smile down at the book placed in my hands. I grin as I turn it over to look at the girl on the cover again. It wasn’t like I hadn’t read it. I had before, maybe two-hundred times. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t read it again. It is one of my favorites, as well as many other book enthusiasts across the globe. It isn’t an undiscovered book. It is extremely popular, number one on the charts for the longest time. It’s Harper Lee’s, To Kill a Mockingbird.

 “I knew you’d like it, even if you have read it, like, a thousand times,” Diana jokes. I grin at her as a thank you.

 “Alright, it’s my turn,” Sierra states, planting a small wrapped box on my lap, placing another bigger one beside me on the sofa. I smile at her in appreciation. “Go on. Open it.”

 I roll my eyes, reaching for the ribbon and tugging it off of the little box. I carefully tear the paper off, tossing it to my feet. It is a simple, brown box. I furrow my brows together, opening the cardboard cube in wonder of what could be inside. I smile as a necklace falls onto my lap. I hold it up to the light, admiring the two silver charms that hang from it. The small one on top is a picture of books, and the bottom one says Book Nerd.  “Thank you,” I whisper, pulling my hair off my neck and clasping it, so it falls just below my collar bones.

 “You’re welcome, now the next one,” she says giddily. I chuckle, reaching for the last box.

I un-wrap it, tossing the pink paper on the ground, as I did the last time. This time, I find a book, but it isn’t one I recognize. I flip it over to see the cover, when my eyes widen. I look up at Sierra. “You-”

 “We did,” she interrupts, pointing between her and Diana.

 My hands shake in shock, nerves, and excitement. “It-”

 “It hits the stores next Monday,” she explains further. “We didn’t read it yet.”

 I nod. I had told them not to. Now, I suppose the public would be reading it, so they might as well. I look at the book in disbelief. The cover holds a photo of me, looking down at the floor, my hair covering most of my face. It reads, My Life as a Foster Nerd. It holds the story of my life. Writing it, the book was like my diary. I take a deep breath in, closing my eyes. Tears of pure joys leak through my lashes, and two pairs of arms wrap around me. “Thank you so, so, so, so much,” I tell them. I clutch my book to my chest, unable to comprehend it’s my biography.

 “You deserve it, Trin,” Diana whispers. “Happy Birthday.”

 “Only the best for you on your nineteenth,” Sierra giggles, releasing me from the huddle, Diana following in the action.

 “You guys are the best,” I say with a smile. I wipe the tears off my cheeks with the back of my hand, my cheeks warm and flushed from being in the spot-light so long, even if it was only with the girls. They may be my best friends, but I’m still not very accustomed to the attention.

 “Now, we brought a few movies, so you can choose which one we watch,” Sierra speaks up. She puts three cases containing disks in my hands. I look at my options and shrug. I have never been one for movies. “Okay,” she sighs, taking them from me. “How about we read that book of yours?”

 My eyes get bigger, and I shake my head vigorously. I don’t want them to read it at all, never mind with me in the room. They will find out my deepest secrets, knowing I am the main character.

 “Why not?” Diana pouts.

 “Please, don’t,” I whisper.

 “You think we aren’t going out and buying your book? I mean, we all know I don’t read, but that doesn’t make a difference. It’s your book. Of course I’m gonna read it,” Sierra rants.