Liam's Little Sister

Chapter 1: First Day

"Okay, but Liam? He got TALL!"

"Omigod, did you see his muscles?"

"Drop. Dead. Gorgeous."

"This year is my year, I swear. I'm gonna get him."

"Shut up, Jessica. I called him."

The voices followed us all the way through the hallway of Bane Memorial High School. 'And to think I though this year would be different!' I scoffed. Of course, Liam wasn't the only one getting attention. People stared at me as I walked down the hall, accompanying my older brother.

"Who's that girl?"

"Did he get a girlfriend?"

"I swear, if he got a girlfriend-"

"Shut up, Jessica, he's mine."

Liam, my hunk of an older brother. Only a junior, but by far the most popular guy in school. The girls were one thing. They were obsessed. There was always a group of girls trailing him across the school campus, begging him to ask them out. The guys were a different story. If you weren't on good terms with Liam Parker, you were a loser. No exceptions. For the girls, this year was prime. Liam had just broken up with his girlfriend of two years, Tanya Woodrow. I swear, I thought they were going to get married, they seemed so happy. Anyways, for the girls, Liam was fresh meat. But I knew Liam wasn't interested in the least. Ever since Tanya broke it off, he had been miserable. He could get away with being miserable, though- everyone just acted like being miserable was a new trend. Liam's goal this year was to win her back. I knew he could do it. Even if at times I hated him, deep down I still loved him- he was my only brother, after all. 

"She's not even pretty."

"Definity a rebound."

The not-whispers brought me back to the present. The girls were now giving me deadly glares- obviously they thought that I had stolen their "man." This was high school, I suppose.

As I pushed open the door to chemistry, I was hit with the loud voices and putrid fumes that came with it. I ducked my head and sped to the nearest seat to avoid attention. Once I was seated, I scouted the room for familiar faces. By the window sat Miller Hendrix, the class clown. Miller seemed to have an interesting life- full of the unexpected. Mine was the opposite. I always knew what to expect- teenage girl's dirty glances and jealous gazes, everywhere I went. The grocery store, the shoe store, the ice cream parlor, the bakery. Everywhere. 

"Welcome, folks, to 9th grade chemistry! I'm Mr. Gregory, and I'll be your teacher this year. How about we go around and introduce ourselves." 

'No." I pleaded silently. 'Not the introduction.' Every time people heard the last name Parker, they associated it with Liam. And then the cycle would start. Girls begging to be invited over. Girls trying to be friends. And then, when they realized they had no chance, leaving me in the dust. 

"Okay, miss, how about we start with you." Oh god. He was pointing at me. Why had I chosen a seat in the front? Terror overcame me. 

"Miss?"

"Oh- uhm- sorry. I'm- uhh- Layla Parker." I choked over my words, and they all came spilling out at once. Perfect. 

"What was that? Speak up!" No. Not again.

"Layla Parker. I'm Layla Parker." I shrank down in my chair, my face burning like hot coal. 

"Parker? Don't tell me, you're Liam's little sister. Oh, he was a delight to have in class!" I felt like crying. There was a sudden bubble of talk at the mention of Liam's name, the girls starting whispering and giggling amongst themselves.