(1) I'm Not Checking You Out. I'm Looking at You. There's a Difference.

(Check out my new book! The Sneaker Project!)

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There it is again.

The constant bragging of my "best friend" complaining about how cheap her new Louis Vuitton handbag is. It probably costs more than Kim Kardashian's butt's net worth in all honesty. I can still hear her words ringing in my ear. And I can also hear everyone's unnecessary excitement for her bragging.

People can be so obsessed.

But it's been a daily thing now.

It's either she complains or brags.

And trust me, it's worse than it sounds.

8:45(Homeroom): Alissa brags/complains about her thousand dollar designer handbags.

10:45(Math): Alissa brags/complains about her million dollar stiletto shoes.

12:10(Lunch): Alissa brags/complains about her fashion designer that did/didn't Skype with her that morning to help choose an outfit.

2:00(History): Alissa brags/complains about her parents never/always giving her so much money at the mall.

3:25(Dismissal): Alissa brags/complains about her thousand dollar Lamborghini Aventador and her super big billion dollar house.

What a shame. Alissa was so humble and sincere before she hit high school.

"Oh, more about me? Well of course! You see...daddy got into Harvard and he's like, the best surgeon in town right now! Mom too. They make lots of money and travel a lot haha! But it's not always super fun. Sometimes I absolutely hate them because they don't give me enough money for....blah blah blah."

That was all she said, more like repeated a thousand times, our freshman year of high school. Alissa changed. There was no denying it. She was the new it girl, with her new wavy golden-blonde hair and her clear blue eyes not hidden under thick square framed glasses. She was so...different.

It all starts back in 8th grade. Alissa with her scrawny short bleached-blonde hair cut in a bob. Her square framed glasses and innocent face. She wore Jurassic Park T-Shirts and knee length shorts, carrying a book around her wherever she went.

However, it all changed the first day of high school. When she came back with a hot new boyfriend, much longer hair, a new fashion style, contacts, and a fake personality.

I miss the old Alissa. This new Alissa is fine (lol you thought), but I liked 8th grade Alissa. Simpler and sweeter. Sensitive and sincere. I'm sure Tessa misses her too.

Yes. Tessa Skye.

My other best friend. The one with straight blonde hair down to her shoulders. The one with grey eyes that matched her ever pearly white smile. The one who kept humble and sincere. The one who didn't change. The one who didn't leave me alone at lunch the first day of high school. The one who stuck by my side through ups and downs.

The one who isn't always complaining about how ugly I am and what horrible fashion taste I have.

Then there's me. Cassie Davis. You can call me Cas or Cassie. Rarely do people ever call me by my real name: Cassiopeia. So I would rather you not call me that.

What a stupid name.

I'm not ugly, but I'm not extremely pretty either. I'm just Cassie. The lame girl with light freckles and sea green eyes. Light brown wavy hair. I honestly don't care about how I look like.

Unlike some people.

"Earth to Cassie?"

There she is again. Ladies and gentlemen, Alissa!

"Anyways, you can't hang around me if you're going to have bushy eyebrows that big. You see, there are these things called tweezers and plucking." Alissa explained, rolling her eyes and slapping her forehead.

The nerve of this girl. Forget it. I am not fine with the new Alissa.

"Alissa, shut up. Cas can do whatever she wants." Tessa snapped.

"I'm just saying. It's really ugly..." She rolled her eyes again, getting up. "And tell your brother Charlie I said hi!" She excitedly said, looking back at me before she sat up to go sit at the 'populars' lunch table.

How many times does she have to roll her eyes...and ask about Charlie?

"She's just so different nowadays..." Tessa sighed..

"Yeah...I wish old Alissa was back." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, let's get outta here. I'm already disgusted enough by the lunch meatloaf. I wonder what they put in the meat..." Tessa giggled, playing around with her meatloaf.

High school sucks.

________________________________

"Are you sure you don't wanna ride home with me?"

"It's fine Tessa, I'll just walk home. After all, it's only 2 miles away." I smiled.

Unless it's raining, I always walk back home. Mom and dad are always at work hogging up the cars, so that leaves me with no transportation but the bus and Tessa. But there is no way I'm getting on the bus today.

Plus I need the workout.

"K Cas, I'll text you later!" Tessa smiled, hopping into her car and driving away.

I then avert my eyes to the street that I usually walk on. I would pass stores and restaurants and see other people walking home sometimes, then I would wave and they would wave back with a smile. It's so amazing how life works, you just wave at them and they wave back. You smile at them, they smile back.

I quickly got started on the 2 mile path that took me home. I skipped, I jogged, I sprinted, I walked. I walked straight and in zig zag patterns. Anything to keep my feet busy...

I made a left towards the street with the most restaurants and stores. I walked down the path, ignoring my surroundings. Yet, this street was my favorite street. It was absolutely beautiful.

And that motorcycle over there is absolutely stunning too...

I skip towards the black beauty, running my fingers across the smooth black metal.

I mean. It wouldn't kill me to spend a couple minutes looking at this beauty. As long as the owner doesn't catch me I'll be fine.

To fill you in, I absolutely love motorcycles. I've always wanted one since I was little. My dad promised me one when I turned 18, as long as I kept great grades and stuff like that.

But I've never rode on one. And I am dying to check that off of my bucket list.

Who knew that a two wheel bicycle without any pedals driven by a motor, would be so fascinating?

"Get your hands off of my bike."

Shoot.

I turned around. I expected to see a 50 year old man with a beard and a bandanna, but found someone completely different.

Stereotypes, am I right?

I started to run, but the guy grabbed my wrist and jerked me back around.

Oh my god this guy was like a Greek god or something!

I dared to look into his stunning green eyes and his dark brown hair. He had tanned skin and was covered in black and white. He looked around the age of 16-17, my age, and he was very familiar. Maybe he went to school with me?

"I was just touching it." I stuttered, a bit frightened.

Step up your game Cassie! You don't want to look weak! What type of person do you want to be?

I quickly stiffened up and tilted my chin up.

God, he was hot though. I stared at him for a couple of minutes. From his messy dark hair to his slightly chapped lips and his dark colored clothes.

"You checking me out?" The guy raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not checking you out. I'm looking at you. There's a difference." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah. I doubt it. But can you not 'look' at me? I know it might be hard and all, especially for a girl like you." He smirked. I faked a gag and raised an eyebrow, expecting him to continue. But someone cut him off right before he spoke.

"Yo Carter, we're leaving you if you don't get on your bike and go." Another voice said, this time from behind me.

So his name was Carter.