Chapter One

Gia Reynold

You know how you always think to yourself that starting senior year in a new school would give you the ability to start over, turn a new page and make new friends?

Would you believe me if I told you that it's nothing but a fantasy and dream sold to people that thinks running from their problems would solve everything, ironic I know right since am doing just that, over a 1 000 kids in Mildrid high and I'm stuck with Remmy Martin's as a friend. Who is Remmy Martin's you might ask? The one and only person that I tried making my life's mission to forget and leave behind where she deserved to be, which is in the past but of course the universe has a funny way of showing me that no matter how hard I try to outrun it, my past will always somehow manage to catch up to me.

It's just funny how life works though don't you think? One moment you think you have outrun your demons and then BAM! Smack dab in the face it taunts you with its unpredictable demeanor. For once I just wanted things to work out for me, where I could start over, turn a new page, make new friends, leave the past where it belonged, but I guess this is life's way of reminding me once again that I was dreaming beyond my wildest imagination.

Too distracted by my own string of thoughts to realize where I was going I nearly miss a step and faceplant right into a solid chest, without giving it much thought I take a peak at the first victim that has stumbled upon my clumsiness but it's in that exact moment of boldness that the oxygen just left every part of my lungs. Looking like a dear caught in headlights it takes me a moment to realize that standing right there in front of me in all his glorious splendor the most handsome and attractive boy I could possibly lay my eyes upon. 

I pinch myself several times thinking that it's nothing but a vivid dream that I am living, with a coy smirk plastered on his face he gives me a once over before the most angelic and husky sound leaves his mouth "thanks to me I just practically saved you from a serious injury" he says with a hint of playfulness in his tone. I think my body might have gone numb in that exact moment cause all I could do was stand there with a gaping mouth and eyes big as saucers with words stuck in my throat, not what I pictured my first encounter to be like with a boy, but here I am looking like a gaping fish fresh out of water. 

It's when I feel his soft fingers touch the bottom of my chin that my knees nearly buckle and give way from right under me "I think you should close your mouth before you swallow a bug cupcake and next time try to watch where you're going so that we can avoid any injuries from occurring again" amusement evident on his gorgeous face I rapidly nod my head in agreement to what he was saying "I'm sorry that won't happen again" I manage to whisper out, it's when he took a few steps back that I could only drink in his full image, skin gold and vibrant as honey with a perfectly shaped physique and eyes worth drowning in I couldn't help but get captivated and sucked in instantly. 

My world came to a standstill in those few minutes we shared in each others presence but as much as I thought this moment was a start to a beautiful beginning I had a cold chill running down my spine the exact moment I thought that sparks were flying telling me the complete opposite of what I was feeling "I'll see you around cupcake" with a dashing smile and swift wave of his hand he makes a beeline for what I assume to be his group of friends, leaving me yet again alone with my train of thoughts. Touching the spot where I felt his soft and warm fingertips not so long ago, heat starts creeping up from the back of my neck working its way up to my cheeks.

I'm interrupted from the images that are carved into my brain by an unexpected arrival "Uhhhh earth to Gia" Remmy starts waving her hand in front of my face profusely "I think you should wipe that drool off your mouth before you drown in it" she says in between snorts and just like that my dreaded reality sank in that I'm still somehow stuck with Remmy Martin's in yet another school for the next five years. I know what you must be thinking at this point, why don't I just get rid of her if she is such a nuisance in my life, in all honesty I wish it was that simple but as toxic and twisted as it might sound I feel like I have an obligation to uphold with Remmy.

We met in junior year and even though I think we have one of the most typical stories of how we became friends it also takes me back to the person I once was, but that is a story for a completely different day. Remmy often times thought that the world has set out a golden path for her wherever she goes, thus the undeniable and agonizing attitude that she has, but strangely enough that's what attracted people to her because of her unforgiving confidence and stealth. Glancing at this skinny and pale girl in front of me with long wavy brunette hair, piercing turquoise eyes, and a nose shaped like one of a rat with a million fine freckles dotted on her cheeks and nose I couldn't help but give her a dejected smile.  

"So are you going to tell me who Mr. Panty dropper was or should I figure that one out by myself" she amusedly asks with an arched eyebrow waiting expectantly for answers, not that I could give her any "he's a nobody Rem just like how I'm a nobody to him" I say defeatedly in the hopes of convincing her to drop the topic at hand, but Remmy being Remmy she has a tendency to poke the bear at the wrong times and I couldn't help but feel annoyance creeping its way up in a vicious way. 

She looked at me incredulously like what I just said seemed to be a load of garbage to her ears "Gia for heaven's sake when are you going to let go of this innocent schoolgirl act and grow a pair" she whisper yells loud enough for me to hear only "you haven't even kissed a guy let alone had a relationship with anyone where you could speak more than two words to them, Mr. Panty dropper was a prime example of just that" she condescendingly spits her words bit by bit and when I thought her series of onslaughts came to an end she started right back up again "wake up Gia this isn't junior year anymore, you can't sit back and allow life to pass you by without taking any risks" in a way with some of the things she was ranting about I knew was the truth.

I let out a defeated sigh "I guess you're right Rem" what I couldn't place though is why I felt this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach as if things were going to take a turn for the worst. "Common let's get to class before we're late on our first day" she interlinks her arm with mine while taking fast and calculated steps towards our homeroom class. Seeing so many unfamiliar faces got my heart beat racing erratically fast and had me drowning in a sea of thoughts "what if I can't make new friends? What if I'm too different for them? O gosh! Oh gosh! I can't do this! I'm not ready for this!" I hopelessly think to myself.

Everyone's goal after all is being able to feel wanted and accepted, but how is it that I feel so far from being that in these group of people? Like what I have to offer as Gia Reynold's isn't enough, like what I know is seen as inexperienced and unpalatable? How do I get to the place where I feel like I belong? Where people can look at me and see a beautiful and talented young lady?

Throughout junior year I was like a shadow living amongst the bright shining beams of light, where I only got noticed by being and acting like a different version of myself. As if the darker parts of me is worthy of this world's attention more than the uniquely created parts of me. Why do people always find the good in the bad, and the bad in the good? Why does it take so much from you to fit into the world of society and feel like you belong?

So many unanswered questions, but yet here I am chasing the exact same thing that I'm dreading will be the end of uniquely created Gia Reynold's "Gia! Gia! Earth to freaken Gia!" Remmy repetitively shouts like a  broken record. I immediately snapped out of my reverie, looking up at Remmy with a clouded and confusing look "what" I annoyedly snap, my face immediately distorts into one of regret by my outburst.

Remmy looked at me stunned and taken aback by my sudden change in attitude "Rem I'm sorry- I didn't mean- it wasn't meant to- what I'm trying to say is, that I didn't mean to yell at you like that I'm sorry" I softly whisper in hopes of washing the guilt away "it's okay" she says with understanding laced in her voice "but I was trying to tell you was that we're busy moving into class a-and- well getting good seats now seems impossible" she slightly stuttered out in a defeated tone.

I skim through the classroom and spot two open seats allocated right next to each other closest to the door, and make a dash for it by grabbing her by the hand before anyone could snatch it from right under us. As we sat down, our homeroom teacher which we now know as Mr. Frank Cluster went down a classroom list handing out each and every one of our schedules "this will be your daily planner from Monday to Friday, lose this and you lose your life" he grimly says "now I would like to welcome each and everyone of you to your first year at Mildrid High, let's hope all of you will make it out alive in one piece" he says with more humour laced in his tone.

A range of chuckles sounded off in Mr. Cluster's class and quickly died down when he continued speaking "now as you all know I'm Mr. Frank Cluster and would like to take this opportunity to get to know each and every one of you by name" as he finished with row after row my anticipation started growing more and more as he drew closer to my table.

Mr. Cluster reached my table as fast as a thief in the night, before I knew it he was looking down at me with expectant eyes "and who might you be young lady?" he asked with curiosity "Oh no! This is it!" I could feel my throat clogging up by the millions of piercing eyes staring at me, it was when Remmy kicked my chair that I snapped out of my hysterics "H-hi, my name is uhhh G-Gia Reynolds" I stuttered but the whole class already erupted into a chorus of laughter when some idiot boy made fun of the way I sound when I speak.

Dread washed over me, cause in that tiny moment is where everything changed for me by a snap of a finger, in that tiny dreadful moment is how everyone will remember me for the rest of my school years, and that's when I felt it happen all over again Gia Reynold's seen as the outcast.