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(Word count: 2333 words) 

Monday. Just like every other school day, I do my usual routine: get up; get dressed; eat breakfast; brush my teeth; comb my hair; wash my face; then leave for school. So, I ask myself: Why is today different?

Well, let me answer that: I actually spend my time picking out an outfit, and getting ready.

I think I have a shot at becoming closer or becoming more than friends with Logan. I eventually decide to wear white skinny jeans; a crew neck shirt, which is almost the same color as Logan's room, and black flats. I pull my hair into a loose side ponytail and decide to wear contacts to show the little mascara I applied earlier this morning.

Before I slip out the door, my mom calls after me. "Natalie, wait!" Mom comes rushing toward me. I raise my eyebrows. "Natalie, your cousin James is coming over tonight, so be sure to come home right away."

"Aunt Riley's son? Why?" I ask. James is my favorite cousin, probably because he actually hangs out with me. However, I question his abrupt reason for arrival.

She nods, "Yep, that one, the seventeen year old junior. He's visiting because his parents are on a trip." I give her my permission—although it is never needed in the first place—and tell her I'll be home as soon as I could.

When I arrive at school, I feel confident. It's been a while since I've felt so—what's the word?—free. Walking into my chemistry class, the sound boys' whistles fill the air. 

Are they doing that to me? Am I pretty? I wonder. 

Boys look at me, their gazes following me to my seat. Logan is in this class, but he isn't here yet. I position myself to where I'm visible from the door. When I'm satisfied, I busy myself by drawing hearts all over a sheet of lined paper.

A loud voice suddenly arises, it's Ryan's. "Logan!"

I want to look, but I don't. I will wait until he approaches me. I listen to the side conversation between Logan and Ryan as excitement boils my blood.

"Logan, your Creative Writing partner's looking pretty hot today."

He hesitates for a moment, probably to take a good look at me. "Dude. Cut it out, she doesn't," Logan replies.

Everything stops.

I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult. I did 'dress up' for him. I mean, I want him to think I look good, but sensible girls would rather be called pretty or beautiful instead of 'hot'—right?

The noise around me falls silent, so silent that I don't hear footsteps approaching me.

"Hey, Natalie," Logan greets. I look up and his arm is around Maria's waist and he's smiling. My eyes run all over to Maria—up, down, around. She looks down at me with a crooked smile and a smug look. Logan must have seen the sadness in my eyes because his smile fades dropping to a thin line.

As if like he read my mind, he speaks it, "You heard the conversation?"

"What do you think?" I spit back. Ryan interferes, "Oooohhhh!"

Logan and I both turn and shout in unison. "Shut up!"

"Just leave me alone, okay?" I wave him off, hurt and insulted.

"I'm sorry, I just—," he starts. But doesn't finish.

This time, instead of me walking away from him, he walks away from me.

***

During fifth period in Mr. Berk's room before lunch, an announcement made by Principal Morrison interrupts the class over the loudspeakers. "For all junior students, this Friday will be the tenth grade field trip to Miami, Florida. Please meet in Mrs. Driscoll's room after lunch for a meeting. Thank you."

Throughout the Creative Writing class, Logan tries to find a way to talk to me about what happened in first period (chemistry). I continue to ignore him unless it is related to the assignment given by Mr. Berk.

"Natalie?" I refuse to look. "Natalie, look at me." His hand grabs my shoulders and turns me to face him.

"What?"

"I'm sorry you heard the conversation earlier this morning," Logan replies.

"Are you sorry that you said it or are you sorry that I overheard it? Logan, those are two different things, so which is it because I actually thought I had a friend to talk to."

"Natalie, I am your friend," Logan assures.

I scoff. "I'm glad I'm your friend, but you're not mine because if I had friends, they wouldn't talk behind my back." I get up and walk over to Mr. Berk's desk. As I walk, I hear Falene say, "It's okay, Logan, I'm your friend."

"No, you're not, Falene, you're crazy."

"Yeah, for you," Falene flirtatiously says.

I lie to Mr. Berk and ask to be excused to take a walk due to family issues. He gives me a pass with the date and time. "No more than fifteen minutes please. You must work on your project."

"Oh, Mr. Berk, we already finished our project," I interject. Mr. Berk looks at me, stunned.

"Wow, good for you! Class?" He stands up behind his desk, "We have some overachievers here. Miss Natalie and Mister Logan have already finished the project. Please work with diligence because if they can get it done, so can you." Mr. Berk turns back to me and says, "You and your partner may have the rest of the class to do homework or whatever you want. Well, not—."

I cut him off and give a laugh. "Mr. Berk, I understand. Do what I want as long as it's reasonable. Yes, thank you."

I gather my things from Logan's desk and set them back on mine. When I organize my things, I finally head out the door to take that walk, taking a pen and notebook to write down my thoughts. I walk in silence to the courtyard. Sitting down on the stonewall, I open my notebook and list all the good things and bad things that happened to me in the past couple of months.

Monday, April 17th, 2017

Bad things-

1. Lost my best friend

2. Falene (as usual)

3. Overheard Logan talking bad about me with Ryan

Good Things-

1. Finished my report before anyone else

2. Meeting Lily, Logan's sister

3. Stopped wearing glasses      

"Natalie?" Logan is walks over towards me, sitting next to me on the stone wall. When he sits down, he sits a very close to me ... too close. "I am so, so sorry."

"Logan, it's okay. I get it. You have plenty of friends, why need more?" I take a deep breath. "If you were really sorry, and you cared about me, as a friend, you wouldn't have said anything. You didn't and that's okay. I get it." The bell rings and head back to the classroom to pick up my things before I go the assembly.

The students gather in Mrs. Driscoll's room and we're packed together like sardines in a can. I take a seat at the side of the room near the window. 

I pass Ryan and Logan and their friends. Passing Ryan first, he smiles and winks. I smile back, "Hey." Passing Logan next, I don't dare to make eye contact.

"Okay, settle down please!" Mrs. Driscoll shushes us. It takes about two minutes to get the girls to be quiet and another three for the guys.

"All right, I am here to talk to you about the upcoming trip this Friday. The purpose of the trip is to take three days off before the exams. We will be going to Miami, Florida— Friday to Monday. On Friday, you all need to be here by 5:30 A.M. for departure, which is at 5:40 A.M. In the morning we will tour the city or going into museums. The afternoon is for whatever you choose, except there will be boundaries you may not go.

"You will be placed in a group of our choosing for the morning. In the afternoon, we pair you up with another person from your morning group to have the afternoon off. The teachers and councilors will be spread throughout the designated areas.

"You will all be staying in the Bay Bridge Hotel. There will be four students per room. Breakfast is provided but lunch, dinner, or any other refreshments will not. Please bring comfortable shoes for the morning and flip flops or other preferred shoes for the afternoon. You all must check in at 12:00-1:00 P.M. with a teacher or councilor in person— locations of the supervisors will be given out each morning. At night, you must be in the hotel by 10:30 P.M. and in your hotel room by 11:00 P.M. that night. Please bring no more than 100 dollars for food and souvenirs. Your groups will now be passed out."

The teachers call up each student in the room to get their slip of paper. When my name is called I quickly get the slip and sit back down. I could feel Logan's eyes on me. I look down and read the paper.

Morning group- 

Natalie Reyes, Maria Port, Ryan McCole, Logan Hilks, Sasha Warner

Roommates- 

Natalie Reyes, Maria Port, Hannah Freeman, Isabelle Miller

Afternoon Partner- 

Logan Hilks 

I can't believe my eyes. Why was it that I was always paired with Logan? I look up to find him already staring at me. I look at the paper again and back at Logan. He gives me a crooked smile then breaks eye contact.

"So, why is it that I never get what I want?" Falene storms in my direction. I try to ignore her but she keeps blabbing. "Hello? I'm trying to talk to you! You have been jealous of me since fifth grade. Why are you so ... Ughh! Just tell me why you're jealous of me!" She isn't making any sense. She starts sentences but doesn't finish them.

"I want you to leave me alone, Falene, " I reply, moving away from her. She follows. I move faster around the room to try to lose her, but she fastens her pace to match mine. I look back at her and glare.

What does she want? I think. 

 I stop in front of Ryan and Logan who immediately stop talking. "Ryan or Logan, can I ask a question and be honest?" They nod their heads and shift their eyes to Falene. "Do you think I'm jealous of Falene? Because she thinks I am."

Ryan bursts out laughing. "What type of question is that?" More laughter. "To answer your question—no, I don't think you are."

Logan replies too, surprisingly. "Falene, I think you're jealous of Natalie. You always get jealous when we talk or at least when we used to."

I find myself smiling at that.

***

When I get home, a blue Mini Cooper sits in the driveway. I quickly get out of my car and head inside, eager to see James. I open the front door and rush to put my things in my room so I could hang with James. As I descend back down the stairs, a voice calls my name.

"Natalie?" James appears at the bottom of the steps. 
 "James!" When I get to the last step, I jump into his arms. He swings me around in a circle.

He puts me down. "How are you?"

"I'm great. You?"

"Great! You look good, Natalie," he says, studying me head to toe. "So, I was thinking we should go to a movie at six, then dinner. You know, to catch up?"

"Yeah, it's 4:50 right now. I have some homework to do, so I'll go get that done now, then get ready. Sound good?"

"Sounds wonderful," James says. He pulls me into another hug and gives me a small peck on the cheek.

I finished my homework and I decided to change my clothes and fix my hair. I change to short shorts; a pink, spaghetti-strap tank and white sandals.

I find James in the living room, also looking nice. He's wearing tan shorts, and a white, button-down, collared shirt. When he sees me, he stands up and holds out his arm. I smile and loop my arm through his and leave. "So, comedy or action and adventure?"

"Umm, what do you want to see?"

"How about I'll tell you when you tell me?" James compromises.

"Alright, I think we should see a comedy. Your turn."

"It's like you read my mind!" James exclaims.

When we get to the movie theater, we compromise a deal that I pay for the tickets and snacks and he pays for dinner. "Sour Patch Kids or popcorn?" James wonders, looking at all the options.

"Both, on me," I say.

"You're the best," James compliments and squeezes my shoulder.

As the next person leaves with their snack, we move up in line, a large group of people ahead of us, making us next in line.

James turns toward to me. "How's school for ya?"

I shrug. "It's alright, Falene does her normal thing—bullies me. Then, there's I guy I think I like but I totally got screwed. I overheard his friend say I looked hot and asked Logan if he agreed and Logan said 'no'. So ... I guess I could say school's alright."

"You poor thing," James replies, pulling me into a hug.

"Natalie?"

I look up and Logan stands behind us, his arm around Maria's shoulders. "Hey, Logan." James turns around studying him.

"Who's this?" Logan asks, also looking at James.

"So, you're the kid who hurt my girl? You little son of a—," James starts, but before he could finish, I step in front of him, blocking him from the view of Logan.

"James, calm down," I say. "Logan, this is—."

"Next!" the girl behind the cash register yells. I smile weakly, then pay and leave with James following behind. 

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!!!!!! 

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xoxo,

     kat_4evr