September 2009
I stepped through the doors of the high school I had passed by a million times over the past six years. As it closed behind me, I felt as if all eyes were on me and a silence had fallen over every student. I continued to walk, trying not to trip and fall in front of all of the judging eyes of my new peers. I made my way over to where my locker was and put in the combination to open it. As I started to put my binder in there, I could feel someone come up behind me. I turned around to see a girl smiling at me. She was a few inches taller than me with long brown hair and green eyes. “Hi, I’m Katie.” She said putting her hand out for me to shake. I smiled back at her and introduced myself. “Hi, I’m Annabella.” With that the bell rang and it seemed like it still took everyone a few extra seconds to start heading to their classes.

“What do you have first period?” Katie asked me as I closed my locker and turned to start down the hallway. “Um bio.” I said squinting at my schedule because my glasses were still in my bag. “Me too! Come on, we partner up the first day so I’ll partner with you.” she said as we linked arms and walked down to the class. When we walked into class, the teacher was writing something on the board and the silence fell over the class once again as I entered the classroom. I don’t get it… What did I do? I thought as I went with Katie to a lab table. “Alright kids, I’m your bio teacher and-“But he was cut off by the door opening. I heard a few people sigh happily and the girls across from me started to fix their hair but I was doodling so I didn't notice. “Ah Mr. Landeskog and Mr. Galcheyuk, thank you for gracing us with your presence.” I heard our teacher say. I hadn't looked up until this point and that was when my eyes met the most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen in my life. “Sorry Mr. Wells, we got lost.” said a boy with brown hair and a slight Russian accent as the other one snickered and so did a few boys who were 3 tables behind me. “Oh yes I’m sure that’s true since I had you in this classroom everyday last year.” our teacher retorted. “Damn he’s sassy.” Katie whispered to me which caused me to let out a little giggle which the boys at the front must have heard because they jerked their heads slightly in our direction. “Just take your seats boys.” Mr. Wells said as he continued to talk. As the boys passed by us I saw that they were both wearing sports jackets and when I looked close enough, I saw that they were for the hockey team. I smiled at the thought of that jacket that I had loved years ago. It had been awhile since I’d seen one and I was glad they hadn't changed. The rest of the period consisted of Mr. Wells constantly telling the girls in front to quiet down and answering questions about this year’s curriculum which were all redundant. As the period ended, Katie headed off to her math class, but I had a free period.

I went and sat in the student lounge, pulled out my MacBook and put in my headphones to drown out the noise. I looked and saw the orange chat bubble on my Skype and saw it was from my older brother Jake. I looked around and saw no one else in the lounge so I pressed the video call button and on the third ring he answered. “Hey baby sis!” he said after a few seconds. “Hey! How’s Colorado?” I asked. My brother Jake Lapierre had been drafted by the Colorado Avalanche about 2 years ago, when I was 14. It was a happy day for us all, but a sad one as well. Jake and I had always been close and a few weeks after the draft, he had to leave for Colorado. He called whenever he could and we talked all the time, but it still sucked. “It’s great but I miss you guys like crazy.” he said scratching the back of his neck. “Well we miss you too.” I said smiling at him. “So, mom decided to send you to Bryerwood after all?” he asked. “Yeah… and everyone hates me. Literally every time I walk into a room everyone stops talking and they all look at me like I’m some worthless piece of shit.” I said with an exasperated sigh. “I’m sorry sweetie. Being a Lapierre in Bryerwood is hard… Mel and I made it that way for you and I’m sorry.” “It’s alright Jake… you guys didn't know it would affect me… I wasn't even supposed to be here.” I said thinking of everything my siblings had done here. My brother had been the heart and soul of Bryerwood, captaining their number one hockey team to victory in the finals every year, but championships two years ago fell on the same day as the draft and Jake wasn't there… it was the first time they’d lost in 6 years and they blamed my brother. My sister Mel on the other hand had been every guy’s dream and every girl’s worst nightmare here. She was a junior when my brother was a freshman. She ruled the school and made sure everyone knew… she wasn't bitchy about things, but she made sure you knew she was in control. She started dating the captain of the football team, which was the second best sports team at our school behind hockey, at the beginning of her senior year. She and Nate had been friends since they were 6 years old and everyone knew it would happen eventually… but no one ever thought he’d choose her over football and that cost us football championships that year because Nate was at the hospital with Mel after her concussion instead of being at the final game. To put it lightly, my siblings were blamed for ruining sports here and embarrassing the school and since my last name was Lapierre, it followed me too.

I had started high school at a boarding school in Canada where the rest of our family lived my freshman year, but come this year, my junior year, my mom decided I was too young to be that far away and brought me home and put me in school here, no matter how much I begged her not to. Jake and I talked until the bell rang and I had to go to my next class which was history. The lounge was right next to the classroom I had it in, so I was the first person there. I picked a seat at a table towards the back and realized they were similar to lab tables- they were set up for two people. As everyone came in and sat down, the teacher look at the clock, and then at the door as it swung open. In walked the guy from earlier with the bright blue eyes. “Mr. Landeskog, first day and you’re already late to my class.” the short woman said looking at him. “Sorry Mrs. March.” he said looking around the room. The only empty seat was next to me but I hadn't realized he sat down there until I smelled old spice and heard him whisper. “Hi.” I looked over to see him smiling at me. “Hi.” I said back as a small blush crept to my cheeks. “I’m Gabe.” he said as he let out a small laugh. “I’m Annabella.” I said as I continued to smile. “Alright class, first assignment is a project.” There was a chorus of groans. “Yes, you have to research one of the wars on the page in front of you with the person you are sharing a desk with.” Some people looked happy about this and some people looked like they wanted to shoot themselves. I was afraid to look over at Gabe because I was afraid of seeing the expression of disappointment on his face but I was surprised when I heard him say, “Well this should be fun.” I looked over at him just as he stretched. His arms were above his head and his button down was riding up just enough for me to see a small portion of his tanned and toned stomach. “Like what you see?” he asked smirking at me. I laughed and started to blush. “That’s for me to know, and for you to find out.” I said a bit flirty. “Well alrighty then. I say before we start this project, we get to know each other. I mean I know it’s a semi-big school, but I know everyone here…” he said pulling out his phone. “Well I guess I’m not part of the everybody.” I said as he slid his phone over to me and I saw that the new contact page was open on his IPhone “You think you’re gonna get my number that easily?” I asked as the bell rang and I got up, grabbing my bag in the process. “Well we need to work on the project.” he said walking next to me once we got out into the hallway. “You’re gonna have to work for it Landeskog.” I said turning around and walking away.

*Gabe’s POV*

“You’re gonna have to work for it Landeskog.” she said as she turned around and walked away from where I stood. Damn she’s good. I thought as I headed for my locker to put my stuff away for lunch. Once I got there Alex was already there talking to some girl. “Hey Gabe.” she said walking away from Alex who was mid-sentence and started twirling her hair. “Hey Tara.” I said putting my binder in my locker followed by my history packet about the wars. “So I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come over tonight. I need some help with my bio homework.” she said chewing loudly on her gum. “Tara I think you’re forgetting we’re in the same bio class so I know we don’t have homework.” I said as I closed my locker. She pouted and walked away with her arms crossed over her fake chest and Alex and I started walking to the cafeteria. “Why do you always go for girls like her?” I asked as we continued to walk. “Well we can’t all be future captain of the hockey team and have girls falling all over us, now can we.” he said with his Russian accent. Alex may have been from America, but his family was Russian and it was his first language and the accent had developed long ago. “Alright Gally, but you can do so much better than her!” I said looking around the lunch room for examples. “Like Tammy.” I said pointing to the captain of the girls’ soccer team. “She has a boyfriend who’s in college and will kill me.” he answered. “Samantha?” I asked looking over to where the girls on the volleyball team sat. “Doesn't date.” he stated simply as we headed over to our table. “Well fine, but you get the point… you don’t need a girl like Tara.” I said as we reached the table and sat down with some of the other guys on the hockey team.

A few minutes later Matt, the captain, looked towards the door as a smile broke out on his face. I followed his eyes and saw him staring at a table about 2 up from where we were sitting. “Annabella!” he called as he stood up. No way how does he- but my thought was cut short when Annabella came running over and hugged Matt. “Matt! Oh my god how are you? I haven’t seen you in…” “Two years.” he said smiling at her. “Since the draft…” she finished looking sad. “Uh you gonna introduce us to the beautiful girl?” Gally asked from next to me. “Guys, this is Annabella, Annabella these are the guys.” he said as his arm was around her shoulder and she was beaming. “You know not everyone knows what ‘the guys’ means.” Peter said from next to Matt. “Oh Annabella does.” He said looking at her as she started to laugh. We all had confused looks on our faces. “How? I mean I know I've never seen her here.” Austin said from across the table. Annabella and Matt suddenly looked very uncomfortable and kind of sad. “I gotta go… Katie’s waiting for me, but come over anytime Matt… Mel’s home and my mom misses you eating all of her cookies because you know I don’t like them.” she said giggling. “You don’t like cookies?” Gally asked looking astonished. “They’re special protein cookies… they’re gross. I like normal gooey cookies.” she said smiling at Gally. With that she hugged Matt and then walked back over to the table she shared with a girl I assumed was Katie.

As soon as Matt sat down he wouldn't look at any of us because he knew what we were going to ask. “How does she know?” I finally asked. “I can’t tell you. You’re gonna judge her just like everyone else and she doesn't deserve it. It’s not her fault.” he said drinking his water. “Just tell us… I’m sure it’s no big deal.” Drake piped up. “Fine but I swear if any of you judge her, I’ll kick your asses myself.” he said as he looked at all of us with a serious look to let us know he wasn’t joking. He sighed and finally said it and no one could believe it.

“She’s a Lapierre.”