Chapter One

It all started three years ago, on one "fateful" day in grade seven…if you could even blame fate…

I was the new girl…Just moved from Vancouver to Chicago…BIG MOVE. Not only was I ignored for being the new girl…but I was ignored for being Canadian, and on top of that being a social outcast. I know, you're probably asking, "How could you be a social outcast if they didn't even know you?". Well...let's just say this: I'm incredibly shy, don't make good first impressions…and I'm not a prep…far from…I couldn't help that most of my wardrobe consisted of the colour black…but it's not like I was gothic or anything…that just happened to be my wardrobe…

I walked to the front of the class. The teacher wrapped her arm around my shoulders and asked me to introduce myself. For those who hate their names…I feel your pain.

"My Name is Scarlet Leavitt…I moved here from Canada…" There, that’s my name in all it's glory…Not only do my first and last name sound like they rhyme…it also sounds like the noise a frog would make if he was on drugs… 'Scar-let Leave-it, ribbit ribbit'.

I heard a few snickers as I finished my sentence, but I just let it roll of my shoulder. The only person I could see that was genuinely happy of my presence, was one boy at the back row. He had scruffy brown hair and sparkling gray eyes…for being like…what, 12? He looked more mature then the rest of the guys in the class. I felt my cheeks burn slightly then averted my gaze to the floor.

…And that’s when it all began…the start to my demise…the end of my lively beating heart as we knew it.

I snapped out my trance and noticed I was staring at the back of some ones head…not just any ones head…his head. I fully gained my consciousness and blushed a slight shade of pink…good thing he couldn't see. I hate when I had flashbacks…seems like the world disappeared and I actually went back in time…but instead of seeing the flashback from my point of view, I saw it from a third-person point of view. My flashbacks were vivid and very real…and sometimes left me creeped out when they were not nice memories.

The bell rang and I got out of my seat…trying my best to zip past him. I had just reached the outside of the classroom when I heard my name.

"Scarlet! Hey!" I didn't want it to be him…but of course it was. I quickly met his eyes then looked over his shoulder to try and find someone I knew that could get my out of this awkward situation. You see, in grade seven and eight we used to be friends…but…now we never hang out anymore.

"What's up?" I tried to say as casual as possible. Pretending to scratch something off my binder.

"I like your outfit today." There was no stopping the blush creeping around my face. With that he left without waiting for me to even say thanks.

"Thanks, Josh…" I whispered.

As any weird person would do, I ran to the bathroom around the corner and stood in front of the mirror…surprisingly the bathroom was empty. I centered my attention to my clothes. I long surpassed the I Only Wear Black phase. I was wearing dark blue jeans and a casual pink tank top. Pink. My heart skipped as my mind whirled into another flashback.

We had been hanging out for a while now. We were sitting under tree on a very warm summer day. My other friends weren't at school that day and it was just the two of us.

"Aren't you hot with all those black clothes on?" he stated bluntly.

"…A little…" I admitted, fanning myself. Keeping a close eye on him…I was at a phase where I never wanted him out of my sight.

"You know what?" he said.

"What?"

"I think you'd look nice in pink." And pink is what I was. The next day I wore pink…everyday I wore pink…even if people didn't see it. My underwear, my bra, my jewelry, hair ties…you name it…everyday I would wear something pink. I started wearing other colours. So he didn't catch on that I only wore pink because of him.

"Pink…" my flashback came to an end and I wiped a tear forming in my eye. I don't know why I get emotional sometimes when I remember things. I quickly fixed "my face" like any girl would do, and took a while to breathe. If any one noticed I had been crying I would never hear the end of it. I love my friends to pieces, but they can be very nosy.

I left the bathroom and made my way outside. It was my lunch period. I shared it with Lindsay and Anne. They were my best friends since the first day of grade nine. It was now a year later and we couldn't be any more close…well...I guess we could.

I seriously don't know why I haven't told them I like him…maybe it's because the whole girl population of our school likes him too. But my story is different…and maybe I'm just a little embarrassed to be chasing something I can't have…

I've tried getting over him…trust me…but he always comes around and makes me fall for him all over again. He's like poison…but worse.

Poison doesn't keep coming back.