"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears, it's a world o-" Michelle Carter groaned and reached over to shut her alarm. She hated the stupid song it sang every morning to wake her up. Lying back in bed, she opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling. It wasn't an ordinary ceiling, like all the other rooms in her home. Hers was special. It was unique. She had taken glow-in-the-dark stars and stuck them all over her ceiling in a beautiful and creative design. She was proud of her work.

Getting up, she made her bed and stumbled into the washroom she shared with her twin sister, Leslie. Quickly, she knocked on Leslie's side of the door. "Get up; you're going to be late for school!" Hearing Leslie roll over, she walked over to the sink and washed up. Just as she was finishing, a bleary-eyed Leslie walked in.

"Ugh…" groaned Leslie, "it's another day of school."

"Yup! Isn't it just a wonderful day?" chirped Michelle happily.

"Hey, you're only so cheerful 'cause you get to see Landon." Leslie turned on the water and began washing her face.

"True…but hey, don't you want to see Aaron?"

"Not really. It's been 3 weeks and he still hasn't noticed me."

"You never know. It took Landon 6 weeks to notice I was even alive."

"I guess. But still…what if he doesn't like me?"

"Ask him and find out. You're not going to get anywhere if you just sit and stare at him all day.

"I know. Hey, has mom called yet?"

"Nope. It's like, 11pm over there."

"I miss her…and dad too. I wish they'd come back from Japan more often. I mean, I know we're 18 and can live on our own but still… Oh well, at least she'll be here for our graduation." Leslie smiled. "I can't believe we're graduating in 5 months!"

"Yeah, me neither. Think you'll go to the prom with Aaron?"

"Hey, that's none of your business." Leslie stuck her tongue out at Michelle. "You're going with Landon, right?"

"Of course." A dreamy look came over Michelle's face.

"Michelle? Hello? Earth to Michelle!" said Leslie, waving her hand up and down in front of her sister's face.

"Wha-" Michelle came back to Earth with a thud. "Did you say something?"

Leslie laughed. "No, never mind. Hey, I was wondering. What did you do to get Landon to notice you?"

"I didn't do anything. I just 'admired him from afar'. I guess it's just fate. We were meant to be together. That's why he started to like me even though he had no idea I liked him."

"You are so lucky! Did I ever tell you that?" Leslie began brushing her teeth.

"Nope, but thanks!"

Leaving Leslie to brood over her boy-problems, Michelle went back into her room and opened her closet. Deciding what to wear every day was getting to be a huge pain. Picking up a baby blue Roxy shirt, she wrinkled her nose and tossed it back into the ever-growing pile of clothes on the floor behind her. Rummaging through the abundant pile of clothing folded neatly in her closet, she finally came up with a outfit she thought was perfect for the day. She chose a denim Mavi skirt that stopped just above her knees and picked a DKNY white t-shirt and a dark blue denim jacket to go with it. Pulling on white ankle socks and her favorite pair of shoes, she picked up her backpack and went downstairs.

After about 15 minutes, Leslie joined her. The two sisters were identical down to the birthmarks on their arms. Long, black hair that Leslie had tied up into a ponytail and Michelle had left hanging loose, flowing over her back like a waterfall. Big almond eyes enhanced by long, thick eyelashes. Perfect, heart-shaped faces with rosebud lips and a small nose. They were thin, but not skinny, with long legs that seemed to go on forever. However, their personalities could not be more different. That morning, Leslie had chosen to wear dark blue, tinted green, Roxy jeans with a black Roxy sweatshirt on top. Underneath, she had put on a cap-sleeved Roxy t-shirt. On her feet, she had on Roxy tsunami skate shoes. Hidden by her baggy sweatshirt was a black Roxy skater belt. Leslie had definitely gone all-out on Roxy that morning.

"Yuck. Why are you wearing that ugly skirt?" said Leslie.

"Why? What's wrong with it?" Michelle glanced down at her clothing.

"Hello? It's only like 4 degrees out there!" Leslie said, rolling her eyes.

"So what? I'll put a jacket on."

"Okay then. It's your funeral." Giving up, Leslie turned and opened the refrigerator. "Hey, where's all the milk?"

"Over there," said Michelle, pointing.

"Thanks."

"So, have you decided what to do about Aaron yet?"

"Nope. Hurry up and eat. We can discuss this while we walk to school." Leslie turned and put the milk back into the refrigerator.

"Why? Why can't we talk now?" said Michelle through a huge bite of toast.

"'Cause we're going to be late, that's why."

"What time is it?" Michelle yawned loudly and closed her eyes.

"8:00am," replied Leslie, pointing to the clock behind Michelle.

Michelle's eyes shot open. "What?! Shoot. I lost track of time!"

Wolfing down her breakfast, Michelle ran back upstairs and brushed her teeth. She heard the front door open and knew Leslie was about to leave. She raced back downstairs, grabbed her backpack, and joined her sister on the front steps. Waiting for Leslie to lock the door, she straightened her backpack and fixed her clothes.

"Let's go," said Leslie, skipping off the stairs.

"Wait up! I can't walk as fast. I'm wearing a skirt, remember?"

Laughing, Leslie slowed down.

"So, about Aaron?"

"What about him?"

"Are you going to talk to him?"

"Should I?"

Playfully, Michelle whacked her sister on the arm. "Depends, I guess, on whether or not you really like him."

Jumping away, Leslie whacked her back and sighed. "I'm not too sure about that. Maybe it's just a crush."

"Yeah, I guess. " The sisters fell into step beside each other.

"I can talk to him if you want me to…" offered Michelle.

"No, that's okay. I'll work this out on my own."

"All right, then."

Together, the twins walked side-by-side, silently to school, each one lost in her own thoughts. When they arrived at school, a smiling Landon dressed in white khakis and a white West Coast Chopper t-shirt walked out to greet Michelle. Laughing, Leslie took off, leaving Michelle alone with her boyfriend.

"Hey, Landon!" smiled Michelle.

"Hey, Michelle." Quickly, Landon pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

"How're you today?" asked Michelle, hugging him back.

"Good." He draped his arm across her shoulders and pulled her against him. "Let's go in. It's freezing out here and you're only wearing a skirt."

"Okay." Smiling, she let Landon lead her inside just as the bell rang.

"Gotta run, sweetie. I'll see you after school, okay?"

"All right," answered Michelle, tilting her head up for a kiss.

Watching Landon saunter off, she headed towards her first class, Biology, with Mr. Eastwood. She, like all the other girls in her class, had a huge crush on him. He was tall, but not too tall. Built, but not too built, just enough. He had large brown eyes that were full of sympathy, laughter, and love. With a big smile, Michelle opened the door and walked in to class.