Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:49:37 -0400 From: Latisha Smith Subject: the good the bad and the queen chapter 2 I thought about Jackie a lot. Not in the creepy obsessive way like, I wonder what she's doing now at this very moment, kinda way. More like I'll think about my day and somehow I would end up reminiscing about something she said or did. I know it's not "normal" to think about someone so much but I can't help it. Jackie seemed to always be on my mind. Ever since freshman year Jackie has been my best friend. While all the girls at St. Luigi's Catholic Secondary School were giving Jackie dirty looks I was the only girl that went up to her and introduced myself while she sat by herself in the caff filing her nails. For someone who was alone she surely didn't look lonely. Jackie was the kind of person that always appeared as if she did not need friends. To her friends were just accessories, they could be tossed away and exchanged. I was different. Somehow she didn't glare at me and I sat down at her table, since then we've been inseparable. As I lay on my bed, fully clothed, it dawned on me that Jackie wasn't the person that was on my mind. Instead a certain new girl was plaguing my thoughts. Her lips, her eyes, her voice, her smile.my head was swimming.everything Alex. I could not stop thinking about her. Before I could consider what any of this meant I was rudely interrupted by my clone Zari. "Hey sis what's going on?" she stood at my open bedroom door smiling sweetly. Her smile was large and sickening, something was up. "What do you want, Zari" I closed my eyes and turned back on my side, away from her and facing the wall, in an attempt to get comfortable. "O nothing." I could hear her move towards my closet. "just wondering if my lil sis could do me a big favor." My closet door opened with a squeak, as Zari rummaged through my clothes. I grunted. Seems like Zari had already gotten her answer, with the way she was going through my stuff. "O c'mon you know how special tomorrow is and I have like, nothing to wear." I turned to my sister and met her eye she was looking rather desperate. "What's so special about tomorrow?" I asked playing dumb. As if she hasn't told me a million times already. Zari looked like I had just slapped her in the face. Her cobalt blue eyes, the same color that I happen to share, darkened a shade. She opened her mouth as if she was going to give me a verbal lashing but then thought better of it and her face softened a bit. With a sigh she said, "Tomorrow, after school is when--" "You get to go out with Johnny Lover boy, I know you've told me a million times already." "Then why would you torture me when I'm under such tremendous stress? I need to make myself perfect for John but I have nothing to wear." She turned back to my closet and continued to aggressively riffle through it until she appeared to have found what she was looking for. "Oh my god Kira how long have you had this?" she was holding up a lavender backless top that was slim fitting from behind and loose in front. It could be worn as a very short dress or dressed up with a pair of nice jeans. I shrugged. "Maybe last week, I haven't worn it yet." "This'll be perfect! O it's so gorgeous; I can't believe you've been hiding this from me!" She gushed as she practically waltzed out of my room. I was about to turn back on my side away from the door when I was interrupted yet again. "You know Kira, you have so much great clothes but you never wear them. What are you so shy about?" Zari left before I could give her an answer, "I'll be in my room if you need me." She called out before she disappeared down the hall. Entry 3 Still day 1.07 Thinking Positive First day of school wasn't sooo bad. It was pretty bad. But it could have been worse. I met this girl: Jackie First off I was warned by almost all the girls I talked to in my period one class about Jackie. "Jackie's kind off a loser, so you know stay away from her" "If I were you, I would stay away from Jackie Santos she's such a freak" "Jackie's an F**n bitch." In period 2 I met Jackie She was pretty nice. I don't know what all those girls were talking about. I ate lunch with Jackie and her friend: um Yakira I don't think her friend likes me. For the first time I come home from school and: ú I don't have much homework ú My muscles don't ache. ú I'm not really tired. This blows. Hands down the worst thing about my school is everyone looks the same. Most of student the body gets their clothes from Hollister or Abercrombie. Anyone who's unique is labeled as some loser nerd. I always hated that. My sister, on the other hand, fit right in. even though we are identical twins we ran with completely different crowds at school. My sister hung out with the popular sluts, (that's what I liked to call them) and I hung out with Jackie. At home my sister and I were super close but as soon as we got within a one hundred mile radius of the school and my sister came across one of her friends it was like she didn't even know me, like we didn't live in the same house and share the same mom. That didn't really bug me too much. What bugged me was being around Zari when one of the popular sluts was around. It was like she became a completely different person, all peppy and retarded. The solution was simple. Zari left the house ten minutes before I did and I walked to school with Jackie. Monday morning I was waiting for Jackie who happened to be running late just like sister. I sat patiently around the kitchen table waiting for the door bell to ring while Zari raced around the house getting all her books and anything else she would need for school. I guess I must of spaced out when the doorbell rang because I didn't seem to hear it. It was the sound of Jackie's sharp tone that woke me up. "Hi." She did not sound friendly at all. "Hey." My sister on the other hand sounded pretty welcoming. I gathered all my stuff and made my way to the door as quickly as possible. "Wow you look great."that didn't sound anything like Jackie. As I got to the door my heart somersaulted. Standing beside Jackie was Alex. My sister had opted to wear the top I had lent her with a pair of my skinny jeans. Her long curly hair was loose down past her shoulders and she had on a touch of eye shadow that accentuated her blue eyes nicely. She did look nice and Alex noticed. "Thanks." my sister said. I had to force my eyes away from Alex, as jealous shockwaves coursed through my body and a very annoyed Jackie snapped me back to reality. "Can we go now?" "Right, later sis tell me how everything goes." Zari was already turning away from the door as I passed through it. All the way to school Jackie informed Alex about my twin Zari and how they didn't exactly get along. I tuned in and out of their riveting conversation, but all I could think about was how Alex had been looking at my sister telling her how great she looked in my clothes. Right then and there I would give anything to switch places with Zari. I didn't want to admit it to myself but it was pretty clear, to me at least, that I liked Alex.a lot. Thoughts of her and an angry Jackie ran rampantly through my mind. I couldn't focus or concentrate on whatever it was that Mrs. Lambardo, the bio teacher, was going on about. My mind drifted back to the beginning of school, before the bell, when Jackie and I had our little argument. The fifteen minute walk to school was filled with conversation and silence. Jackie and Alex had a lively conversation, while I contributed to the silence. More than once Jackie would ask me a question and more than once one word or a shrug of my shoulders was my reply. Eventually Alex gave up and Jackie gave me the cold shoulder. After walking Alex to her homeroom class I could tell that Jackie was more that a little annoyed with me. The hallway was semi filled with students buzzing about and a few of those students sensed the tension between Jackie and I. A vicious glares were sent to any rubber neckers, (courtesy of Jackie) so we were at least ensured some privacy. What is your problem?" Agitation seemed to be dripping from her lips and shooting from her dark brown eyes all in my direction. The dumbfounded look on my face must have set her off even more because she didn't even give me a chance to respond. "Why are you being such a stuck up bitch? Alex is new here, she doesn't know anyone. You could try be a little more welcome you know!" I was taken aback by Jackie's verbal attack. Her dark eyes hardened and her normal round lips were scrunched up. This was Jackie's battle face. Provoking her wouldn't be a great idea right now but I was pissed. Around here Jackie was known as the "queen of all bitches". She was ice cold to anyone who was on her bad side, and more often than not she completely ignored new students as if they were invisible. I was the one who usually went out of my way to befriend new students and now just because she eats lunch with someone and walks them to school she's "little miss philanthropist"! I wasn't about to take her bullshit so early in the morning. "Whatever," I said turning sharply on my heel. "I don't need this; we can talk when you're not being such a drama queen." I didn't see the stunned look on her face, by then I was already at the other end of the hall. Entry 4 Day 2 .07 (English class HRM) Someone really hates me. I usually get along with everyone. Not the case at this school. Yakira hates me. I have no idea why. I'm trying not to care but still, Why does she hate me? Entry 5 Day 2 .07 (Mi Cassa) Talk about your awkward situations. At lunch I waited with Jackie at Yakira's locker. She didn't show. Apparently they had some sort of fight. Jackie kept saying it was no big deal. She was so lying. I knew she was hurt. Eventually we went to the caff. I felt weird because I didn't really know what to say. So I started talking. About: the academia. Jackie was pretty impressed. About: the whole ballet thing. She made me promise to teach her some moves. Yea right, NEVER gonna HAPPEN. Anywho. Once I started talking I couldn't stop. When I did stop, talking, I felt weird, more like stupid. I said too much, I think. Then Jackie asked me the dreaded question: "So Alex.why'd you leave the Academia?" I shrugged, but she was waiting for an answer. Lucky for me the bell rang. *note to self: keep mouth shut especially when it comes to the Academia. Thanks for the comments guys! 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