Corinne You In?

An Introduction To Corinne...

CHAPTER ONE

The name is Corinne Elise Villena.

You could say I don't have much to offer. Im a small town girl from a chicago suburb on the outskirts. I attend a public school full of snotty high middle class students. And me? Well i'm one of the outsiders. Besides a few friends and acquaintances which in all add up to ... 5 people.

My life has always been very dull and simple. Well 18 years later here I am waiting in line to receive my high school diploma. THANK GOD. I knew the moment I had entered middle school that I never wanted to see any of these people ever again. I know its super cliché to say that I'm looking forward to college mostly because I wanna get a taste of what real life is but the truth... that is why.

I was never actually comfortable with the way I lived. Emotionally. I was raised a pretty well rounded kid. Everything I needed plus a few wants here and there. I was never really concerned with money I sorta just lived. Unlike the other kids who worried on how to spend daddy's credit card or whether or not they get the color of the Lexus they asked for on their 16th birthday.

After graduation I was dragged to the party my parents had set up for me. I insisted that I didn't want a party. Besides my two "best" friends who else was I supposed to invite? Veronica one of my friends was driving Amanda and I there.

Oh how I craved my bed right now. Being dragged out at 7:00am for rehearsal, 11:00am ceremony, and now a party till 2 in the morning the next day? You can tell I don't get out much. Come to think of it I didn't go out all besides the occasional panera trip with Veronica and Amanda.

We slowly pulled into a small house like structure called The Brookside Club House. We had all our family parties here. But this particular party had all the attention focused on me. Ick! Time to do some serious sucking up.

"Corinne!" Veronica screeched.

"Come on Corinne, lighten up!" Amanda said.

I don't know why I'm even friends with them. Not to be rude but they are so totally different than me. They never understood why I liked solitude so much. All they thought about was guys and losing their virginity. Me on the other hand, I talked about video games and childish things. With the way my parents raised me its safe to say I am an eighteen year old stuck in my 12 year old self. It isn't as bad as it sounds though.

Halfway through the night everyone wanted me to make an announcement for my post high school plans. And by everyone I mean my parents. I stepped on up to the microphone to make my announcement. I began making my speech (in spanish of course, because I'm hispanic).

Blah Blah 30 seconds later I tell everyone my plan is to move to Chicago. I was accepted to the University of Illinois at Chicago and plan to major in physical Sociology. I wanted to live a completely different life while doing what I truly enjoyed. I could hear a few cheers among the crowd.

Like any other late night party I ended up falling asleep across three chairs. I felt someone tugging on my shoulder. "Lis! Lis! Levantate!" (Lis is short for Elise. Levantate: Get Up.)

"Maaa!!! Deja me dormir!" I told her groggily. (Mom let me sleep!) I guess I should get up.

I Unlocked my iPhone and noticed it was 12:07 am and one text message. I opened it and saw it was from Aaron.

Aaron: Hey let's hang out tomorrow! :D

Ugh you again... Aaron and I had a secret crush on each other Freshman and Sophomore year. Until I finally grew some courage to say hi.

He was a year older than me so we didn't have many chances to talk. When we saw each other in the hall he would always greet me or walk with me. I knew his intention was to be in a relationship. I was a little uneasy as this was the first guy to ever notice me. At first I thought he was joking.

A couple months later I grew sick of him. Yeah sure he was sweet but with all do respect the skater kids at MY school made me feel out of place, I was not like them. They were nice but still... It was pretty stupid of me to even be attracted to him in the first place.

All he did was smoke and talk nonsense. I didn't want to be rude and cut off all communication so I kept on talking to him even after he graduated but I always kept it in the friendzone.

I texted him back: Sure. Where?

I put my phone down and made my way to the dance floor. I put a smile on my face and danced to the beat of some song that I have heard on the radio but whose name I don't know and don't care.

*

I woke up feeling vile. I must have crashed as soon as I got home because I woke up with my long time friend, MY BED. It was only 8:00 am when I woke no one was up yet.

Making my way into the kitchen I heated up some water on the kettle. Once I wake up I can't go back to sleep. Might as well make myself some coffee.

I decided to lay on the couch to kill some time. I got my phone to check my messages. Three text messages. Two were from a group message between Veronica, Amanda, and I.

Amanda: KILLER PARTY COR!

Veronica: SO FUCKIN HUNGOVER. BUT WHTEVR FUCK ITT! Anywaysss i gotta go to work :(

Where was the alcohol even? and they were hungover?! I decided not to reply as I didn't have anything else to say. I don't hate them or think anything less of these girls but it was just hard for me to relate or compare myself. On to the next message.

Aaron: Pick you up at 8:30 tomorrow morning be ready!:)

Oh shoot he didn't know I had a party last night (I mean it was a family party.) I glanced at the clock. Oh no 8:13!

I ran to wash my face then brushed some powder and mascara on my face. I found a pair of jean shorts and threw a on a purple tank top. To top it off I found my favorite black cardigan that I have been using all week. I was done in exactly 10 minutes.

I shot him a quick text: Ok. Ready.

I did care about my appearance but only to the point where I felt comfortable with myself. Which thankfully didn't require much to get there.

With my fingers crossed I ran into my mom's room and told her Veronica was taking me out for breakfast.

Obviously, I wasn't going to tell her I was hanging out with a boy. She would never let me see daylight again. I rarely lied to my mom to be honest. 

She reluctantly said yes since it was such a short notice and I told her "Veronica" was already on her way. I quickly left her room before she could change her mind. I then prepared myself a cup of coffee.

Aaron: I'm outside

I honestly don't know why I agreed to this. I let out a huge sigh and hurried to his car.

"CORRIE! Hey sweets! How have you been?" He looked at me with the cheesy-ness practically oozing out of his mouth. I've told him countless of times I hate being called Corrie. It's Corinne. Or if your family it's Lis.

"Hey Aaron. I've been good. By the way... Its Corinne, Remember?" I snapped at him with a "friendly" glare.

"Right Sorry Corinne. I guess I was a little too excited. I haven't seen you in months. I heard graduation was yesterday so I wanted to take you out to celebrate! You cool with that?" He gave me those puppy dog eyes.

Damn was I a sucker for his gorgeous gray eyes. Wait, what? My thoughts were taking over.