Chapter 2

I do not know what I would have done without Paige. Paige was out neighbor's daughter, and to say she had helped me settle in would be a huge understatement. We had moved here in August. Paige and I became instant friends in that last month of summer. It was Paige who talked to me constantly and helped draw me out of my pain. It was Paige who introduced me to people and made me interesting on the first day of school. Hell, it was only because of Paige that I was even semi-popular now. Paige has always seen me, no matter how invisible I tried to be.

As we walked the hallway leading to the lockers, I could sense the jealous glances that were being thrown my way by other girls. I am sure most of them wish to be in my place, sidekick to the most popular senior.

Paige has been popular her whole life I guess. Surprisingly, she isn't mean, neither did she have an inflated ego. Paige is just...nice. I guess that is partly what makes her popular, if you ignore her flowing blonde locks and gorgeous face.Paige listens to everyone and respets everyone, she tries to find solutions to every problem and no matter what, she is a loyal friend.

"So, it's senior year, have you decided on who you will be dating?" Raven,our other friend asks excitedly as we are getting our books out of the locker.

I let out a tired sigh. Raven only started hanging out with us at the end of our junior year, and only because she was desperate to be popular. Paige of course was too nice to see through her, but I could. My boyfriendless status hadn't been a problem before Raven, but now that she kept pointing it out, it was becoming one, and I needed to handle it as soon as possible.

Paige of course had claim on the most popular guy of the senior class, Cory Mason. Everyone knew they liked each other, everyone wanted them to be together, and it had finally happened just before school closed for summer last year. Raven had her eyes set on Pierce because he was the second was most guy, and I guess I will be stuck with Henry.

Henry is Cory's other best friend and he is totally okay. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him. It just irks me that people assume we have to end up together simply because we are both brown skinned. I hate it when people give us knowing looks whenever they see him talk to me, or leave us alone on one pretext or the other, or simply try to get us to hang out more. Our friends especially.

"You have got to ask Henry Araya, simply walk up to him and ask him, before someone else does," says Paige.

I blush furiously and pretend to look for some lost book in my locker. Even though Paige's tone is kind and I know she means well, I am really hurt that she can't see that our skin color was the only thing that Henry and I had in common.

"Yeah, Henry is free but not for long," Raven adds her two cents without being asked as usual.

As usual, I remain silent.

Paige gently touches my shoulder, "Let's not pressure her Raven, she probably doesn't want to date right now."

Raven gives me a reproachful look, "Doesn't want to date? How can she hang out with us if she isn't seeing anyone?"

"I don't remember us making the rules about compulsory dating," Paige snaps.

Raven shrugs,"It will be weird, that's all. Like what will she be doing when both you and I are hanging out with our boyfriends? Will she just be standing or sitting their awkwardly? Plus, she needs to date Henry so that our friendship circle remains the same. Three girls, three boys,three power couples."

"Oh, so you and Pierce are official, huh?" Paige asks without a trace of the impatient tone she has shown earlier.

Raven smiles and fidgets with her handbag, "No."

Paige pokes her playfully in the ribs and she lets out squeak.

"Oh my God, you are hiding something. Something happened, didn't it? Spill."

Raven shifts a bit on her feet, "Well, he came over at my house and he kissed me."

I almost roll my eyes but I stop myself. That's not what happened. She invited him at her house, pretended she needed help with Math homework and she kissed him. It hadn't been a great kiss either. To quote his exact words, 'it was sloppily done, wet and kinda messy'. But I couldn't say it to Raven or anyone else, I couldn't even say it to Pierce himself, because those words had not been meant for me, they had been meant for Sky Milano, his best friend online. The only problem was, I am Sky, and he had no idea.