Leaving Me Behind

Chapter One

Chapter One

"Dylan Tanner's in town for the premiere of his new hit movie, Hunter. The teenage heartthrob, believe it or not, was actually born and raised here in No-" I cut off the man on the radio by turning it off. I huffed in annoyance. Great. Just Great. He's back.

I pulled up to the parking lot of my school and searched for my phone, checking if I had any missed messages. Nope. I put my phone back in my bag and stepped out of my car. Looking around the parking lot, I don't see a single soul in sight. I walk towards the school's main entrance, passing by a bunch of jocks and cheerleaders on the way. Like I said, not a single soul in sight.

I was instantly bombarded by my friends once I reached my locker. "Oh. Em. Gee! Did you hear!? Dylan Tanner is coming to North Carolina!" Val gushes.

I roll my eyes. "I just don't understand why he can't have this premiere in L.A., like everyone else does."

"Ooh! I actually read an article on that! So, I think it was because the Theater owner, the one down the street, well, he's really rich and coincidentally was the one who paid for the movie. I think it's called a producer or something. Anyways, he insisted it be there."

"That's stupid." I grumble. She pokes my rib cage.

"Oh, come on grouchy pants," she pokes me again, smirking, "We all know how secretly excited you are."

I turn to her with a straight face and say "I'd be more excited watching paint dry." And turned to leave.

By the time lunch rolled around, all I heard was crap about Dylan. Pardon my language. I'm first to sit at our usual table, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. The cliché popular table's already here. Their table sits next to our table. I secretly listen in on their conversation. I believe they call it eavesdropping.

"Did you know he's from our town?" some cheerleader caked in so much make up that I can't recognize her face says.

"Yes. Of course I know," some girl says, again unidentifiable. "We used to be best friend." Lies.

"Do you think he'll remember you?!" Clown number one gushes.

"Of course he'll remember me. We used to be so close." Lies. Even if she did know him, he wouldn't remember her. I should know. He forgot me in a matter of days.

"Jessica!" my group strolls in, Nancy calling my name. "You will not believe what just happened!" she laughs. She and the rest of the table are grinning like mad men.

"What?" I say, curiosity perking me up. She puts a bunch of tickets in the middle of the table.

"Mooovie Tickets!" she says in a sing-song voice. Val cuts in, already starting the story even though Nancy obviously wanted to be the one to tell me.

"So we went down to the movie theater, right!? And what we did was..." she goes on and on into detail about how she bugged the owner after getting into his office, and the journey it took them to get there.

"And he just gave you those tickets?" I ask, slightly impressed they managed to do it, even though they've done some pretty crazy things before. "So, what are these for?" I ask, reaching for the top ticket in the pile.

Before I have the chance to even glance at it, she answers "The premiere."

No. God no. They are too obsessed. "Sorry guys," I say faking sadness, "I don't think I can make it that day." I don't bother checking the date on the ticket and excuse myself from the event anyway. I hand Val my ticket, but she pushes it back to me. I don't want it so I throw it back on the pile.

"No." Val says in a stern tone, waving her finger at me like a mother does to a child. "You are going. And that's final."

I sigh. Why don't they let me get out of this? "I'm sorry. I swear. I wish I could make it, but I can't."

"Oh, yeah? Why not?" she puts her hands on her hips and waits for an answer.

Rrringgg!!! Saved by the bell! Walking through the hall, I answer her question in my head. I can't go to the premiere, because I can't see Dylan.

I scurry off to my next class.