Hey guys! This is my very first wattpad story! :D I'm very excited about this story and I really hope that you guys will be too, after this first chapter. So, read on! And don't forget to comment and tell your friends about this story because any feedback that I get makes my day!

I walk along the hallway, shoving and pushing my way to my next class. I should probably hate art; I'm not the best at it, the teacher doesn't exactly like me, and I sit beside two insufferable, immature popular girls and a science geek who thinks that he's being watched by extraterrestrials. But, it's my favourite subject. Why you ask? Because I sit across from the HOTTEST guy in the world. Well, at my school at least. Ricardo Chacon. Tall, funny, caring, athletic, handsome. He had it all, including popularity, much to my dismay.

You see, when you're in the middle of the social ladder, you know, not popular but you know a lot of people because you've helped them with their homework, people like Ricardo don't look twice at you. But, when you're the pretty, popular and outspoken Kara Foss, it's a completely different story. That's the only reason why I don't like art. I have to watch her prance into class every day, wearing her short, tight designer clothes and kissing him hello, and then sit down in the spot that I've wanted so badly since the beginning of the year.

A shrill ring interrupts my thoughts, and the air is suddenly filled with the sound of papers flying out so that Ms. Hawthorne won't end up giving you a detention for not having your art out fast enough. I had attempted to draw a bird in motion, but it hadn't turned out like I'd hoped. I roll my eyes at the "drama twins" as I call them, as they whisper and giggle, casting sideway glances at my art. Just this one period left until the end of the day, I think.

The class progresses slowly, and I try to improve my artwork while sneaking looks at Ricardo. I roll my eyes again and look away from Kara's shameless flirting. She can't even keep her hands off of him during class, and yet the teacher doesn't even say anything.

Suddenly, Ms. Hawthorne slams her hands on her desk and casts her vicious glance on Kara.

"Kara Foss! You have spent the majority of this period disturbing Mr. Chacon and disregarding your artwork! Gather your supplies, you will be trading spots with…" her sharp eyes scan the room until they land on me. "Ms. Preston."

I can barely feel my hands as I gather my stuff. I can only hear my heartbeat as I make my way over to the precious spot. I sit down and duck my head, working diligently until one by one, I feel my classmate's eyes pry themselves away from me. After what seems like hours, the bell rings again and the classroom quickly begins to empty. I pack my bag, but I look up when I feel someone nudge me shoulder. Ricardo's mesmerizing brown eyes meet mine as he offers e his signature smile, the one that makes all the girl's go weak in the knees (including me).

"Hey… Juliet right?"

I nod and smile, and hope that he can't hear my heart beating wildly inside my chest.

"Name's Ricardo, in case you didn't know. I-"

"Ricardo! Let's go!"

Kara calls out, standing impatiently at the door, arms crossed, staring daggers at me.

"Just a sec!"

He turns back to me and winks before saying,

"See you around."

He turns away and links arms with Kara, who shoots me a triumphant smile. But my mood's so high, not even she could bring it down.

~OoOo~

I take my time walking from the bus stop to my house, admiring the buds of baby leaves that appear on the trees. I loved spring because it gave me a sense of hope; the world was at a new beginning. I pass rows of neatly kept houses, with flower gardens and green grass. Some had children running across the yard, while others were surrounded by an aura of peace. I smile wistfully, wishing that someday, I could have a house like that, maybe for me and Lindsay. As I continue walking down the street however, the houses begin to get shabbier and shabbier, until I come to a complete stop in front of an ugly looking house with and overgrown brown lawn and paint peeling off the sides.

I walk straight in; nobody bothers to keep the door locked because there is nothing in here worth stealing. My family isn't exactly rich. We live in a small, two-bedroom house that was basically falling apart. And whose fault was that? My parent's, because they had this disability called "I can't get a job." That would be caused by the fact that my mom's an alcoholic, my dad's a drug addict, and both of them are too busy moping about their sorry lives to get off their butts and try to get sober or clean long enough to get a lousy job. So naturally, it's up to me to pay the rent, the alcohol (I don't know, nor do I want to know where my dad gets the drugs), and whatever else my sister and I might need by singing every night at local bars and any other gigs I can get.

I sigh as I pass my mother who's currently dead to the world on the couch, and hold my breath as I sneak pass the kitchen where my dad is currently smoking. I hurry up the stairs to my bedroom, where I find my little sister staring out the open window. I shut the door behind me and call out,

"Lindsay how was school?"

She turns and rushes towards me, hugging me tight.

"Good, but I think Mrs. Cohn wants to talk with mommy and daddy."

I let out another sigh. Lindsay's teachers always wanted to meet our parents, but we both knew that it was never going to happen. So I decide to take her mind off it.

"Do you want to play on the laptop?"

Her eyes shine and her smile brightens as she nods. The laptop was one of the things that I treated myself to, that and my cell. It didn't have internet connection, but it did have a writing program and a bunch of kid games that I'd paid a guy at work to install for me. Lindsay loved it and it took her mind off of everything that goes on at home.

While she was having fun, I decide text my best friend Tania, who goes to the private high school that only accepts extremely smart people. That's her gift, plus she's gorgeous and very athletic. Sometimes I wonder hot it's possible that she became my friend. I'm not exactly prom queen material.

Guess what?

The reply came almost instantly.

What, did aliens attack your school?

I smile at my friend's silliness.

No, Ricardo talked to me!

Instead of my phone vibrating, alerting me that I have a new text, it begins to ring loudly. The caller I.D. says Tania, so I pick up. However I instantly regret the decision when my eardrum is nearly shattered. Tania is squealing so loud that I'm forced to throw my phone away and cover my ears, same as Lindsay. This continues until her mother yells at her in an even louder voice (if that's possible) to be quiet and she shuts up.

"Thank-you." I say, not bothering to hide the relief from my voice.

"Tell me everything!" she squeaks in reply.

So I do. I re-tell the entire scene to my best friend, pausing every few seconds to incorporate her gasps, sighs and squeals of disbelief and excitement. After I finish, she stops to take it all in. Suddenly, her tone changes and she was completely serious as she came to her conclusion.

"He's in love with you."

I laugh out loud so hard; Lindsay looks over worriedly at my outburst. I wave my hand at her and let her know I'm fine, as I clutch my side. It doesn't take long for me to be on the floor, gasping through my hysterics.

"Juliet!" she whines from the other end.

"I'm serious!" I slowly calm myself down and wipe the tears from my eyes and bring the phone back up to my ear.

"I'm sorry, but you're insane!"

I hear her "humph" and I know she's crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Anyways, if he was in love with me, Kara Foss would have my head on the plate."

I can practically feel her eyes rolling as she replies in a disgusted voice, "And I bet her stupid Daddy can arrange that too."

If it wasn't obvious, Tania shares my dislike of Kara and her push-over, millionaire father. I roll back over onto my bed.

"I know right? She's such a spoiled brat, not to mention a total sl*t."

Tania sighs her agreement but replies in a bubbly voice, "But enough of her, guess who got called down to the principal's office today and was declared a shoo-in for valedictorian?"

"Amanda Smith?"

"No, me!"

I laugh at the tone of her voice.

"I'm just kidding. I knew it was going to be you! Congrats kid."

She continues to tell me about her life at Preston High (ironic I know) until I absentmindedly glance at my clock.

"Oh shoot! T, I gotta go! My shift starts in 5 minutes and it's a 15 minute bus ride! I'll talk to you later!"

"Ok, bye girl!"

I quickly sneak downstairs and grab a juice box and a snack-pack for Lindsay's dinner, and make sure that my parents were out cold. They are more helpful like that anyways. Running back up, I place my food on my desk and go over to Lindsay.

"I'm going to be back by 10:30, but you have to be in bed by 8:00, ok? Your food is on my desk so you shouldn't have to ask mommy for everything."

Pulling her into a hug, I whisper, "I love you Lindsay."

After a quick kiss on the forehead, I run out of the house, praying that the bus I need hasn't left yet. Thankfully, it's still there, and I'm able to breathlessly pay and slip into an unoccupied seat just as we begin to move. I slip in my ear buds and cast a longing glance towards my house. I hated leaving Lindsay alone, but I had no choice. All I can do is pray and hope that everything will be alright.

~OoOo~

I push open the doors to the graffiti covered brick building, and I'm overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol and smoke. My D.L.S. (Dirty Little Secret) had a no smoking policy, but no one bothered to enforce it so I was always inhaling strong fumes that left me lightheaded. I make my over to the bar-passing tables full of drunken men who catcalled after me-to meet up with my co-worker, Nina.

Nina isn't in charge of the bar, but she has to act like it because the actual owner couldn't care less about the run down place.

"I'm so sorry Nina! I just caught up in my phone conversation that I lost track of time and-"

"It's no problem sweetie! You just go on back and get yourself ready. I don't mind extending open mike by 10 minutes, not for my favourite employee."

She shoots me a wink and I smile back gratefully. Nina was my guardian angel; she took better care of me than my parents ever did. I make my way to the employee bathroom and lock the door. Looking up in the mirror, I see a chubby girl with stringy brown hair and oily skin.

Maybe Kara was right, I mean I already knew that no guy was ever going to look twice at me. I shouldn't even bother getting my hopes up when there wasn't a chance that anything could happen between Ricardo and I.

I sigh and slip off my glasses. I put in my contacts and change out of my school clothes and into one of the many cocktail dresses that I have to borrow from Nina in order to look presentable. I stash my stuff into my locker and walk over to the stage.

Turning on the microphone, I give Larry thumbs up and he turns on the spotlight, making sure it trails my every move. I was usually a very shy person, but for some reason the spotlight brought out my inner diva. The opening notes of my song ring out and I cast a sultry look out across the crowd, and open my mouth to sing…

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