Real Life

Chapter 1

"Wake up Izzy!" I hear my mom telling me it's time to get up in my sleep induced haze. Izzy is short for Isabella but everyone calls me Izzy I prefer it and it's one of my favorite things about the name. I hate mornings I think to myself as I drag myself out of bed to figure out what to wear to school today. It's the middle of my 8th grade year and it's nothing exciting, if I had to describe myself when it comes to school I would have to say I have probably the dorky friend of a popular girl. My best friend Adrian is super popular but now she is in high school she's also super pretty and into fashion and make-up which makes sense considering her mom used to be a make-up artist. I do have friends I am just not one of the popular kids I get made fun of a lot I am short around 4'9 and I wear glasses so you see how I would be considered the dorky friend I mean I ain't mad at it at this point I am just used to it and I don't see it changing when I hit highschool either honestly.

"You better be up and getting around." I hear my mom snap out as she is leaving.

"I am up jeese louis!" I snap back at her. She knows I have a hard time in the mornings jeese give me a freaking break lady. I go to the kitchen and get some poptarts going in the toaster then back to my room I go to get dressed for the day, I have a couple hours until I have to leave for school but if I get ready now I figure I can lay back down on the couch for a bit before I have to leave to walk to school. It's pretty chilly these days so jeans and a long sleeve seem like a good choice for the day then off to the bathroom to do my hair up in a bun tight with a nice side bang is my usual. Once my hair is up and hairsprayed to stay in place I am off to the kitchen for breakfast and then a nap before I gotta walk to school, I don't worry about waking up on time because although my mom is working my step dad is here and hell make sure I am up in time even if he doesn't do it in the nicest ways. Lord it feels good to lay on this couch with my blanket nice and warm I think as I drift back to sleep.

"Come on you know the drill get up or I am getting the water bottle out and your getting wet!!" my step dad spat out. Like I said he doesn't exactly wake me up nicely.

"Okay okay cool your jets dude." I groan as I get up off the couch trying to wake myself up ugh I hate mornings I think to myself.

"See you after school!" I call out as I slip my favorite puffy Hollister jacket on with the fury hood I love this jacket. I grab my backpack and head out the door to the front gate. It's not a long walk to school Just on the other side of my old elementary school sometimes I will meet a friend in front of the elementary school sometimes I just end up walking alone depends on the day. Since it's getting pretty cold in the mornings most of my friends like to get rides I personally love to walk if it's not raining I am walking it gives me time to clear my head before I get to school and the chaotic day ensues. As I pass by the elementary school I can't see any of my friends so I keep walking, the brisk air making my nose numb and giving me the shivers maybe if I speed up a bit I will warm up I think to myself.

"Izzy!!" I hear a voice call out from behind me as I am passing the bus entrance of the elementary school turning around I see that Kacee is jogging to catch up so I stop to wait. She is always so put together make up done in awesome bright colors hair done up neatly I have always been pretty jealous of her and how good she is at make up.

"Hey! What's up?" I ask with a smile.

"Not much dreading school today I just do not want to learn today." She said with a giggle.

"I am feeling the same way who needs learning any ways?" I ask as we continue the rest of the walk to the middle school. Little did I know today was going to be the day I meet the guy that makes me want to be at school and be early just to see him. As we finish the walk we discussed our outfits, the classes we have together, and the school gossip you know who's dating who and all that. I have a small circle of friends Adrian is my best friend she's a freshman now but in my grade with me I have Kacee, Carey, Alley, and Xander. We've all known eachother since kindergarten, actually most of the middle school has been going to school together since then this is a small town and not too small but not really to big our biggest claim to fame is George Lucas and American Graffiti.

"Are you ever going to have a boyfriend?" Kacee says with a smirk.

"It's not like I haven't had one last year there was that Raymond kid he was so cute and sweet I liked him it's too bad he moved away." I say with a sigh. I do see these other girls with their boyfriends and daydream what it would be like to have some one like me like that. Yes I had a boyfriend last year but he was my first and I was his first and I am pretty sure neither one of us knew what we were doing my best friend was here at school with me and she basically forced us to kiss for the first time which was totally awkward.

"What about you Kacee crushing on anyone knew these days?" I smiled at her knowingly. I haven't really seen her crush on anyone these days she's way more mature for these guys in my opinion. Just as she opened her mouth to respond we hear the bell to go to the first class of the day.

"Saved by the bell hu?!" I said with a full on laugh of course she wouldn't get the chance to answer me.

"See you at lunch!" She called out. I waved and walked to english. Another typical day in middle school I think to myself as I walked to class most of my daydreaming consists of exciting love or being an adult which I am pretty sure is typical for my age group. When I reach my class the door is open so I walk in and grab my seat in the back, I like the back of the classroom so I don't get called on as much I have a serious fear of public speaking I have to do it at some point this year in spanish class and I dread it I will probably be sick those days to be honest. I am very good at avoiding activities that make me feel uncomfortable which the list is pretty numerous I can't do public speaking, I hate talking to people I don't know I am ridiculously shy the anxiety of it is crippling, also oddly enough I have serious phobia of public bathrooms don't ask me why I guess I am just weird. Getting my book out and my notebook to take notes I figure it's going to be a typical day in english class boy was I wrong, the teacher walks in and another guy walks in right behind him and I am just in awe this guy is gorgeous closely shaved head, earrings and he was wearing this Phat farm hoodie with a pair of baggy pants and some boots on. I couldn't even take my eyes off of him I had never thought of a guy in this way before but also haven't ever really seen a guy that looks this good before.

"Okay everyone quiet down we have a new student who just transferred in I would like you to treat him with respect while he introduces himself." Mrs. Saltwood said and the class hushed.

"Hey my names Alex and I just moved to Modesto from Merced." He said in a bored tone.

"Okay Alex go ahead and find a seat and we'll get started with the day." said Mrs. Saltwood. I watched as he walked towards the back of the class where I was sitting my heart fluttering like a butterfly I had to mentally slap myself to stop staring he just looked so good and I knew I had to talk to him some how although I was not good at that sort of thing at all I need to find a reason some how. The rest of class was a blur honestly it was hard to concentrate with him a few desks away just as I was about to start staring at him again the bell rings and it's time for my next class I am not in a hurry though maybe if I take it slow I will find a reason to talk to him I think to myself as I glance in his direction. Getting my book and notebook in my bag I look in his direction again and notice he's coming towards me 'oh lord' I think and my heart rate shoots through the roof.

"What's your next class?" he asks with a smile.

"I have math with Mr. Brown next. How about you?" I question him with an excited smile.

"Uh I have science with Mrs. Jinx." he says as we start to walk out of the classroom. I look over at him when we hit the halls and he's looking around like he might be lost which makes me internally giggle, this middle school isn't really that big it's pretty easy to get around but maybe I just think that because i'm not new here.

"Do you need help finding your class?" I ask hoping to help him out a little.

"That would be nice actually I hate being new." he groaned.

"My name is Izzy by the way." I said back with a smile hoping to put one on his face considering how gorgeous it is.

"Izzy huh? Is that a nickname?" he asks questioningly.

"It's the name I like best but yes I guess it is a nickname everyone who knows me calls me Izzy the only time my whole name is used is when I get in trouble usually." I reply laughing at his curiosity. The conversation between was pretty subtle on the way to his class just the norm how old are you? What do you do for fun? How long have you lived here? Talking to him felt easy and I was comfortable which is unusual because of my usual anxiety of new people and me being so shy I couldn't help but start to like him for more than his looks at this point.

"Here ya go! Good luck with the rest of your schedule." I told him with a giant smile. He thanked me and went inside and I hurried off to my class not even giving 2 cares that I was going to be late I was on cloud 9 for sure. My next couple classes went by with out anything worth mentioning next thing I know I am on my way to lunch and I can't wait for a couple reasons one I really am hoping to catch a glimpse of Alex in the quad but also because I am starving and I need my spicy chicken sandwich with nacho cheese 'mmmm it's going to be so delicious' I am thinking to myself just as I feel some one come up beside me. I snap my head up to see who it was and see it's just Kacee.

"Hey how was class?" I ask.

"Eh nothing to special happened same old same old ya know." she said with a shrug.

"Yeah I feel the same mostly. We got a new student today though in first period english." I said excitedly.

"Oh yeah girl or guy?" she asked curiously.

"It's a guy his name is Alex. Girl when I say he is fine I mean like gorgeous!" I said with a huge smile.

"Oooh! You crushing hard already!?" She laughs and smiles at me.

"Honestly, yes I am totally crushing I showed him to his 2nd period we talked a bit he seems like a nice guy and yeah like I said hottie with a capitol H." I replied with a laugh. After ordering our food we grabbed a table and the normal group came together, they sat discussing upcoming class projects and gossiping about Melanie and her new boyfriend Brad. Melanie is one of the cheerleaders and Brad is a football player you know a part of the "In" crowd one that I am not in. She has her own little group of lackies or followers or whatever you want to call them. As they are gossiping I cannot help but look around to see if I can spot him at first I don't see him and disappointment hits me hard and makes my heart sink but just as I am about to get back into the convo I see him walking into the quad with none other than Melanie 'Of course' I think to myself with disappointment my heart dropped to my dang ankles, I elbow Kacee and nod towards them.

"Is that him?" she asks with a hint of shock in her voice.

"Yes but doesn't she have a freaking boyfriend? Jeese can't she leave any one for the rest of us peasants?" I said with aggravation.

"Maybe she's just being nice?" she says with a shrug.

"Seriously do you really think that?" I ask with shock in my voice. Like when is Melanie ever nice to anyone I have known her since kindergarten she's not really the 'Nice' kind of girl unless there's something in it for her.

"No probably not." she laughs and rolls her eyes. 'Ugh why?' I think to myself she probably likes him too and there is no way he's going to choose me over her I mean look at her a cheerleader, popular, pretty and im over here shoving my face with food I am not popular and I will never be a cheerleader ick. The rest of the day went by painfully slow my disappointment festering as the day went on bordering on resentment I just wish I could be one of the popular girls sometimes I mean this is the first guy I have been interested in for a while I have had boyfriends here and there but no one that I was immediatly attracted to like Alex. When my last class ended I was mopping down the hall going to meet my friends out front maybe they can cheer me up a bit and honestly who says he even likes her maybe he doesn't maybe he hasn't even thought about it. When I get out of the gate all my friends are standing on the side walk next to the street 'I am ready to just go home' I think to myself as I walk up to them.

"Dang what's up your butt!?" Carey snapped at me.

"The guy she's crushing on was talking to Melanie." Kacee said with an eye roll.

"Shut up Kacee" I snap back at her.

"What? It's true!" She shrieked.

"Yeah well we don't need to rub it in do we. He's probably already planning on asking her out." I said rubbing my temples.

"Yeah Kacee" Carey laughed and elbowed Kacee.

"Well I think he'd be crazy to start in with that chick she's gone out with half the guys in our class already and she always ends up back with Brad at least your classy." Xander said with a smirk.

"Thanks Xander." I sighed. I guess he has a point there I mean I don't believe in cheating or getting around a lot I mean I just want to find that one person. As we start walking down the road towards home I glance back and see Alex with another girl she's very pretty she must be new too because I haven't seen her before and as I study them they look alike maybe that's his sister or something I think hopefully. It's the beginning of the week tomorrow is only Tuesday so maybe we'll get more time to talk tomorrow maybe I could ask him about Melanie and the girl he's walking with now with out seeming desperate. All into my thoughts I totally don't even notice that Kacee and Carey are talking to me.

"Hello! Earth to Izzy!! Are you with us? Hello, hello, hello??" says Kacee snapping her fingers at me.

"Yeah yeah I am here get your fingers out of my face." I reply with a chuckle.

"Your really crushing on this new guy hu?" Carey asked.

"I was just thinking of what excuse I could use to talk to him tomorrow" I sighed.

"Why do you even need an excuse just talk to him who cares?" Kacee said.

"I don't wanna come off as desperate. Plus maybe he's already into Melanie I really don't need drama with her and her clique." I said quickly. As we get to the corner in front of our old elementary school we stop and face eachother I look back to see hoardes of classmates going in all directions to their homes and I let out a sigh.

"Look don't worry about it she has Brad and you know they always end up back together she'll get bored and move on and who knows he may not be into her anyways I mean honestly what so great about her she's pretty and popular woo hoo your smart and although you don't believe it your pretty I would even go as far to say your beautiful." Carey says with a hug that I quickly return.

"Thanks hun I appreciate the pep talk!" I say as I hug her tightly.

"Well see ya tomorrow okay and don't put to much stock in the whole Alex and Melanie thing like Carey said she'll get bored and go back to Brad like always." Kacee says with a smile. I wave at them as they start to cross the busy street and then I head the other way down to my house ready to be done with the day get my shoes off and maybe I will get to watch General Hospital with mom she has the VCR set to record it daily I smile as I think about watching my favorite show with my best friend my mom That will definitely lift my mood.