Well there isn't really anything you need to know before reading this so...Enjoy ^^

They saw who I wanted them to see, not what I really was, I had built this wall around me, and I never once dare to look over it or tear it down, I liked it better that way. But when I realized through a very unpleasant experience that I had to at least see what was outside, I took down that wall and put on a mask, and put myself behind a window, a tinted window. I was fine with my life being like a tinted window, I could see everyone and everything clearly and no one could see me, at least not the real me, and even if they pressed their faces against the window and tried to see me, they could never take off my mask. That’s how it was for the past 6 years of my life, when I entered middle school, I realized that it wasn’t like elementary school at all, it was cruel and harsh, and I would never let myself be that vulnerable again.

I kept my head down as I quickly and swiftly walked through the open hallways of our highschool, my hand was in my pocket while the other rested securely on my black and gray kuromi messenger bag. I entered the clean, sanitized, air conditioned classroom and shuddered, the classrooms reminded me way to much of hospital. As usual I was one of the first people to get to class and I took my seat on the side of the classroom, I would have taken the back corner seat which was always open, but my vision wasn’t that great so I stuck with a middle seat all the way on the side. I slid my bag onto the floor next to me and took out my planner and a pen setting it down on the wooden desk in front of me. I took the rubber bands off of my hand and pulled my dark brown hair back into my usual ponytail, and pushed my sidebangs behind my ear, but then letting it fall back into the front of my face. I began to write down the homework for tonight that was written on the white board in an illegible handwriting to some. The rest of my classmates began to fill in the other seats and as usual I paid them no attention.

I didn’t want any chances of being noticed, or talked to for that matter, it was one of the reasons I was so quiet. Another reason was the fact that I didn’t want to burden anyone with the job of talking to me. I wasn’t exactly popular or well liked in middle school, and though I may not be the same person I was four or five years ago years ago. Reputations tend to stick, which was why I preferred to work by myself, I didn’t want anyone to have to work with me, especially if they didn’t like me. That was the main reason for this tinted window, and a mask.

When everyone had taken their seats, the teacher stood up and began talking about some book report we had to do. But, at our school we didn’t just have to do book reports, we had to have some sort of elaborate display to go with the book we were reading, and then give a 5-10 minute oral presentation on it. I sighed, I hated oral presentations, it wasn’t that I was bad at them, my teachers actually praised me for the fact that I can speak so well in front of people. It was the fact that everyone’s attention was on me, and they all would stare at me, which usually caused them to start talking about me afterwards. Great I would be their new gossip topic for the next week, though I didn’t really care, it just meant that everyone would be looking at what I did now, to see if those “rumors” were true.

I was writing down most of what the teacher was telling us, and before long class was over and I slowly walked out of class. I saw my friend Lily walking out of her class, she was a bit chubby but that was one of the things that made her, no one would expect the short chubby-ish person to knock you out. She was one of those types of people that didn’t take any shit form anyone, and if you even tried to mess with her, she would mess your face. She had dark brown hair that she had low-lighted a few years ago, her hair actually hung down to her hips but she preferred to keep it up in bun-ish thing. She was wearing a black t-shirt that said rock, roots, reggae on it in reggae colors, her jean shorts were accompanied by a white belt that had a bunch of different swirly designs on it. For a moment I rolled down my window letting her see my mask. She was one of the few people I would do that with, I might not be well liked but that didn’t mean I was completely friendless. I had two best friends, and that status gave them the right to see me, the real me, or at least my mask. I also had another few friends who were allowed to try and press their faces up against the window. Lily had the status of best friend so i smiled as she walked toward me; we began walking in sync and made our way toward the cafeteria.

“What did you guys do in English?” Lily asked me.

“Absolutely boring and we have to do another one of those book report things.” I said.

“Seriously? We just did one last week!.” She replied, I looked up to meet the warm sun that was now shining brilliantly onto my face. I turned to look at Lily, she was looking kind of bored and I just knew something was bothering her, I would ask her about it later, when I didn’t say anything she spoke up.

“You do know that I’m not going to do the book report right?” I looked at her and sighed.

“Figures, but unlike you I have to do the book report, my mom would ground me for the rest of my life If I didn’t do an assignment.” I replied.

“Aerie!” I heard a voice call, I turned around to see a skinny, black haired girl running toward me, and I stopped and faced her as she tackled me in a hug.

“Kodi! I’m so glad you’re finally back!” I said as I returned her hug. Kodi had just returned from her semester on sea, I was actually supposed to go with her but some problems had come up. She was much fairer than Lily or me, Lily with her not-so-golden tan, and my milk chocolate colored skin. After she released me she turned to Lily and they went into a stare down in which they both started to laugh and then embraced in a hug.

“It’s so good to see you again!” Lily said, I looked at Kodi to see that she had cut her hair, which was now in a high ponytail that reached her shoulders. She had on her usual skater girl jeans and a black v-neck shirt. Her light brown eyes glowed brightly as she faced me, she was obviously happy to be back in Maui. We walked together to the cafeteria and when we go there we grabbed some food and then went back outside to sit on our usual table in the shade of the cafeteria. A refreshing breeze of cold air blew by me as we sat down.

I looked over the green landscape, because we were upcountry, from here I could see downtown, and the vast ocean. The clouds hazed it out a little bit, but it was really beautiful, I would never get tired of it. I picked at my food while Kodi told us about her semester on sea, even though she emailed us like everyday. It seems that she kept some stories to herself to tell to us when she got back, like the fact that she met a boy.

“What’s his name?” I inquired.

“Devin.” She said, “See!” she said as she whipped out her cellphone, and showed us a picture of a boy who I assumed was Devin. He had dark brown hair that was spiked up in the front, and from what I could tell he looked pretty local, he wasn’t smiling and had a much more mature face than I thought he would have. Kodi changed the picture and now he was smiling, he still looked a bit mature, but now he looked more friendly but something was still off, and I couldn’t figure out what.

“He looks local, is he from around here?” Lily asked, it seems that she had noticed that about him too.

“Actually he’s from Oahu, and he’s actually moving to Maui.”she told us.

“So I’m guessing you have dibs?” I said with a bit of laugh in my voice.

“Alas, we are not meant to be.” She said dramaticaly putting her hand up against her forehead, looking absolutely devastated. Lily and I looked at each other and then back at her, she opened one of her eyes to look at us, and on that cue-

“WIERDO!” we both shouted and then burst into laughter.

“Haha, so why are you ‘not meant to be’?” I asked, Kodi sighed putting her head down a bit.

“I found out when my auntie picked me up, that we were cousins, 1st cousins.” She said depressingly.

“That sucks” Lily said.

“Very” I said.

I looked at the clock in the cafeteria to see that it was almost time for class, we didn’t have bells here, which I prefered, and though some people wonder how we know when to go to our next class. Well lets just say if you see a large group of people from your class heading that way, you should probably go.

“Come on you guys its almost time for class.” I said as I stood up and dumped my food into the trash. The rest of the day was absolutely boring, I had my usual boring classes, and then the bus ride home downtown was well, I wouldn’t really know, I took a nap.

When I got home, I went straight into my room, closing the door and turning on my lamp, my room was almost completely black, it was a bit stuffy in here so I pushed back my black curtains a little as I opened my window. I flopped down onto my bed and brought out my laptop, finishing off my homework for tonight. It was late when I finally finished, but at least I wouldn’t have to worry about my book report, or any homework for this week. I went to take a shower and then fell asleep quickly, knowing that I’ll always be doing the same thing for the rest of my life.

Well, yes the summary does mention a boy, but i'm not going to bring him in until....the next chapter.....maybe.....i want to get more detailed with the characters i already introduced.....

anyway

PLEASE REVIEW

ur reviews really help me write...kinda...it helps me determine what story i should hurry up and write the next chapter for.....

ell, yes the summary mentions a boy.....but im not bringing him in until the next chapter...maybe....i want to get more into the characters i first introduced.