Chapter 1

The (Very) Lucky and Dedicated New Girl

"Oh my gosh, I think they're here," said Taylor Parthen to her friends as they stood outside Brighton High School. Taylor was a small, pixie-like girl with an angular face, dark brown eyes, and a dark brown pixie cut. She and her friends were about to start their junior year and were all hoping that this grade would finally bring them each a date with Zach Silverstein. She was pointing at a black Ford Explorer which had just pulled into the parking lot.

"Finally!" exclaimed Alicia Singleton, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. She was slightly taller than Taylor, though not much, with long blonde hair and dark blue eyes.

"I hate how long it takes to park a car," complained Cali Wiles, who was the tallest of the three, had dirty blonde hair and brown eyes.

"They're getting out," Alicia said, pointing at the car. Out of the driver's seat emerged a tall boy, probably about six foot or six foot one, with light brown hair flecked with blonde, and bright blue eyes. This was Zach Silverstein – junior, varsity soccer captain, varsity basketball captain, and most popular guy in the school.

"He's so cute," gushed Cali.

"Look, his little brother's getting out," Taylor said. "Equally cute, but too young." A younger boy, probably about five foot ten or eleven, was climbing out of the passenger seat. He had slightly lighter colored hair than his brother, but his eyes were the same bright blue. This was Justin Silverstein, a freshman at Brighton High school, a varsity soccer player (though not a captain like his brother), and sure to be about the second most popular guy in the school once the year really started up – it was, after all, only the first day of school.

"If only he'd just grow up a bit," sighed Alicia.

"Look, it's their sister," Cali said. "Maybe if she becomes our friend we could get a date with Zach." A tall girl, probably about five foot eight, had just emerged from the back of the car. She had long medium brown hair coupled with bright blue eyes. This was Ali Silverstein, a senior and, like her brothers, the most popular girl in the school.

"Who's that?" Taylor asked in distaste all of a sudden. Zach had just helped another girl out of the back of the car who neither Cali, Taylor, nor Alicia had ever seen. She was about five foot seven, had layered auburn hair that shone in the morning light, and eyes that seemed a mixture of every other eye color – part blue, part green, a small part brown, with an inner rim of yellow.

"I've never seen her in my life," Cali said. "New girl?"

"How did a new girl get a ride on the first day of school from the Silversteins?" demanded Taylor. The four began to walk towards the high school doors, talking cheerfully.

"Do you expect us to know any more than you do?" asked Alicia, staring at the new girl in anger.

"Let's get to first bell," Cali suggested, dragging her two friends into the building.

***********

"Thanks for driving me to school," the auburn haired girl said to the Silversteins as they walked towards the doors.

"No problem," Zach said, smiling. "Who am I to say no to a childhood friend in need?"

The girl laughed as they reached the doors, Zach opening it and ushering the other three inside.

"Stop being a show off," Ali said, playfully hitting her brother on the arm as she passed. "I'll see you three after school," she said before walking away towards her first class. "Have fun, Megan!"

"Uh, where's room 201?" Justin asked nervously.

"Up on floor and to the right," Zach replied. "Have fun being a freshie." Justin rolled his eyes and started up the stairs.

"He's not the only one who is completely lost," Megan, the auburn haired girl, said. "Where is room 110?"

"You're first bell is room 110?" Zach asked. "Me, too! Just follow me, I'll show you where to go." He led her down the hall and into a large classroom. "Welcome to Ms. Brown's English classroom."

"Hey, Zach!" said a tall African-American guy with black hair and brown eyes.

"Hey, Mike," Zach said, grinning.

"Who's your new friend?" Mike asked.

"Mike, this is Megan Jensen. Megan, this is Mike Thompson," Zach introduced.

"Nice to meet you," Megan said, smiling shyly.

"Same to you," Mike said. "You two just meet? Seems like you've known each other longer than just one minute."

"I've known Megan since we were really young kids," Zach explained. "Her grandparents live just down the street and when she visited each summer we'd hang out a lot."

"Did you just move here, then?" Mike asked.

"Yeah," Megan answered. "I lived in Sandy, Utah, up until now."

"Utah?" Mike said, a bit surprised. "Isn't that where all those Mormon polygamists are?"

"Mormons aren't polygamists," Megan informed him. "Anyone who thinks that needs to get their head in the twenty-first century. Seriously, that was two hundred years ago."

"Don't get upset, I'm not criticizing them Mormons," Mike said, smiling at her. "You must be a Mormon then, if you know so much 'bout them."

"Yeah, and sorry," Megan said, blushing. "It's my automatic response. Most people say that type of thing when I say Utah or Mormon and it's a habit to correct them at this point. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Mike said. "I'd be touchy about people saying things about my religion, too. 'Course, everybody here's Catholic like me so there isn't anybody to say anything… Except Lily Hughes. She's a Mormon, I think. But she's a senior. Do you know her?"

"Yeah," Megan said. "I met her at seminary."

"What's seminary?" Mike asked her curiously.

"Early morning scripture study. Ours is from six to seven so I have time to get back home before my dad goes to work. But then I had to get a ride from Zach since school doesn't start until eight," Megan replied, smiling at Zach thankfully.

"It's no problem," Zach told her. "We'll stop by your house on our way down the street before going to school every day if you need."

"Thanks," Megan said, her smile widening.

"Six in the morning? Doesn't that mean you have to get up at like, five or something crazy?" Mike asked her in shock. Megan nodded. "Dang, girl! You're dedicated!"

Megan blushed a bit. "Not really. Almost all high school Mormons go to seminary every day," she said just as the bell rang.

"We had better sit down," Zach said, leading Megan over to a spot where he saw two open seats. They sat down just as a tall thin woman walked into the room.

"School has started! Stop talking and get in a chair! Miss Clayton, you are not an exception to the rules!" the woman said, sitting in the seat behind her desk. A girl with blonde curly hair blushed scarlet and sat down quickly in the nearest open seat. The teacher looked up over her glasses at the class before standing up once more. "Good. I am Miss Brown. Now I will put you in your assigned seats." The majority of the class let out a disappointed groan. "None of that! Everyone stand up and stand in the back of the room." The students all got up and walked to the back. "I would like Taylor Parthen to sit right here and beside her Mike Thompson. Next Lydia Clayton and then Robert Blake." The four students sat in their designated seats, all looking more than a little uncomfortable around each other. "Next row will be Cali Wiles, Jordan Thymes, Megan Jensen, and Zach Silverstein." As the next four students moved to their spots, Ms. Brown looked up from her list at Megan. "New here, are you?" Megan nodded shyly. "Speak up, girl!" Ms. Brown snapped.

"She's shy," Zach said, looking at Ms. Brown coldly.

"Mr. Silverstein, this is not your business," Ms. Brown said.

"She's my friend and you shouldn't be unkind. She answered your question. Why do you need to push her further?" he asked her. Ms. Brown, who had nothing that she could retaliate with, just fixed Zach with a cold stare and continued reading off the seating chart.

"Thanks," Megan said quietly, smiling at Zach.

"No problem," Zach whispered back, returning the smile.

"Oh. My. Gawsh," Taylor whispered, staring at Megan in disbelief. "This is so not right! New girls should not be this lucky."

"Maybe they knew each other before today or something," Cali said, shrugging.

"Yeah, right, why would they know each other?" Taylor asked, rolling her eyes. "It's not like they live on the same street or something."