Chapter 5: SIAN

I guess she was referring to the girls I had passed in the hallway who had all been whispering and twittering behind their hands.

"I think so why, what does that have to do with my brother?"

"Humph, they'll be on him like a lion on a gazelle's ass before the end of first period."

I couldn't help it, the picture her words painted had be breaking out in laughter.

"No I'm serious, those freaks have been panting in heat ever since news came that he was coming here. I have to tell you I do not appreciate the break in my routine."

"I still don't get what any of this have to do with disrupting your life." It wasn't lost on me that I'd been accusing dad of doing the very same thing to me.

"Do you notice anything different about me? Anything say that stands out?"

I looked her over but could see nothing wrong. She had amazing curly hair and bright eyes that had to be contacts but I didn't ask. And her dimples spoke of mischief and made me want to laugh all the more.

Shaking my head I shrugged my shoulders as more kids started filing into the room.

"Humph, you don't notice that I'm not stick thin like the rest of them? Yourself included?"

I had to take a second look because I really didn't know what she was getting at then…

"Oh my gosh are you pregnant?" I looked down at her stomach but there was no discernible bump. She rolled her eyes at me.

"No I'm not pregnant what's wrong with you?"

"Well you said there was something different and I can't see anything; what, you have a third nipple or something?"

"Cute, if you must know, I'm not exactly anorexic, so my best friend Tammy and I, you'll meet her in a few when she gets here.

Anyway we're usually the butt of their jokes, what usually happens is whenever there's a new guy, the twit brigade likes to show us up to make themselves look better."

"Oh, that's not nice; do people really do that stuff?"

"You seen Mean Girls?" At my nod she carried on. "Well it could've been their autobiography word for word."

For some reason her words helped ease my angst. I hate mean girls; they only serve to bring out the bitch in yours truly. I'm more of an under dog type of person, maybe because of my parent's history.

"Well you don't have anything to worry about that, my brother isn't like that at all. In fact he's very sweet once you get to know him."

"See here, I have no interest in meeting this paragon of manliness as long as he stays in the locker room with the other bungling jackasses I'm fine.

I just wish he'd have found somewhere else to land, no offense, but it's my final years of high school and I would like to enjoy them thank you very much."

"You're a hoot you know that?" Just then the teacher came in so we had to look busy. I had been so engrossed in her theatrics that I hadn't been paying attention to the rest of the class, but apparently they were paying attention to me.

There was one in particular who seemed to sense something foul about my person if the sour look on her face was anything to go by.

I nudged Belle and whispered to her. "Who's that?" I indicated the blonde who now had her nose in the air. Belle looked around and back with a sneer.

"Queen bitch, aka Mandy Taylor. She's the leader of the pack and rules with an iron fist. I have no doubt you being in their league will cause some rumblings in the castle."

'I think I resent that, I'm nothing like those girls."

"I'm sorry, you're right." She looked contrite. "I've been talking to you for half an hour and not once did I feel like gouging your eyes out with my number two pencil."

"You should be a comedian, now hush before the teacher notices us and decides to bring attention to yours truly."

"What, you're not an attention slag? Will wonders never cease, you know I was more than prepared to hate you, but I find you rather refreshing for a blonde." We both cracked up at that.

***

Thankfully the teacher just said a quick hello and welcome without making a big to-do about my being here. I had enough going on without her calling more attention to me.

I have to admit that Belle had helped to ease some of whatever was ailing me and I felt like I'd already made a new friend.

Mom and dad would love her; she was just crazy enough to fit in. I did sense a bit of sadness under all that bravado though. I guess what those girls have been doing to her and her friend had really been getting to her, even though she tried to play it off.

We compared notes and found that we had all of our classes together, which was a stroke of luck as far as I was concerned, and by lunch period we were all but attached at the hip.

"I wonder where that girl is?"

"Who your friend, maybe she called out sick, did you call her?"

"Great idea, why didn't I think of that? Maybe because it's against school rules to have your phone turned on inside these walls?" I couldn't believe it when she smacked me. It was just like my friend Jessica would've done.