2 STRINGS

Behind the Pages

Wednesday ,September 25

You're kidding me. School just started, and it's a new year and a fresh chance for me, Jamie Sinclair, to dress up—just so my enemy, Jessica Wilson, can make fun of me.

In middle school, Jessica and I were best friends. We'd spend every afternoon talking about our favorite songs, doing each other's hair, and sharing snacks in the library. Back then, we were both obsessed with Xolo—a rising star in the music scene and the frontman of the band Lunar Drift. He could play the guitar like magic, and his lyrics felt like they were written just for us. Jessica and I would swoon over his music videos and dream about the day we'd see Lunar Drift perform live. But one summer changed everything. She came back with a new look, and suddenly, it was like I didn't exist.

Now Jessica's the girl everyone notices: tall, with long, blonde-highlighted hair that she wears in loose waves, flawless makeup, and this wardrobe full of stylish clothes that somehow always make her look like she's stepped out of a magazine. She's got these piercing green eyes, high cheekbones, and this perfect smile that makes every guy in the hallway trip over himself. Her whole "I'm perfect and I know it" attitude just made it worse. She used to be this pigtail-loving, glasses-wearing, slightly nerdy girl just like me. But maybe part of me is jealous that she managed to "glow up" while I... well, I still feel like the same girl I was back then.

I mean, I like how I look: black curls that fall to my shoulders, tan skin, and brown eyes. I'm medium-built, 5'3", and Afro-Latina—Dominican roots on my mom's side. But I'm not the type to stand out in a crowd the way Jessica does now.

Anyway, while getting ready for school, I decided on a simple blue T-shirt and jeans. Whatever I wear won't matter; I'll be a laughingstock no matter what. Today's already off to a rough start—I didn't eat breakfast because my gross little brother, Kooty, was making one of his weird worm smoothies again. He throws all kinds of disgusting stuff in there. Last time, he grabbed this powder from the pantry and called it "tasty porder de Frances." Pretty sure it was just my older brother's protein powder, but to me, it's "annoying brother powder."

On the way to school, I slipped my headphones in and queued up Lunar Drift's newest track, Boundless. The soft strum of Xolo's guitar instantly transported me to another world. I'd heard the song about a million times since it dropped last month, but it never got old. His voice, smooth and raw at the same time, had a way of making you feel seen. Xolo wasn't just a musician to me—he was an inspiration. Every time I hear him sing, I'm reminded of why I love music so much.

Back when Jessica and I were still friends, I'd joked about how I wanted to start a band just like Lunar Drift. She'd laughed and said, "What would you call it? Midnight Jamie?" We both cracked up at the time, but I secretly loved the idea. Now, it feels like a distant memory—a dream I'm too afraid to chase.

I've always loved school. I mean, why wouldn't I? I'm good at it. I love soccer, too—it helps me blow off steam. If I don't end up as a rockstar doctor, maybe I'll be a pro soccer player. I also love singing and have this dream of starting a band one day. And, as you can probably tell, I love writing in my diary. It's the one place I can be 100% me.

When I got to school, George Washington High, the first person I saw was, of course, Jessica, walking with her boyfriend—my one and only crush since forever, Mason Davenport. Mason's got tan skin, brown eyes, a little mole on his cheek, and rock-hard abs. He's Mexican on his mom's side, American on his dad's, born and raised here in Texas. And he's really good at soccer, which is partly why I fell so hard for him. I still remember the time in seventh grade when I saw him nail a goal from midfield, and I swear my heart skipped a beat.

I know it sounds bad, but it's not what it looks like. Back in middle school, I actually told Jessica about my crush on Mason. We'd both giggled about it, and I thought she understood. But not even a week later, I found out she was already talking to him. And that was it. She just went after him like my feelings never even mattered. But hey, it takes two to tango. Now they're practically glued at the hip, and I get to watch them every day. Lucky me.

Anyway, I was trying to sneak past without making eye contact, but of course, Jessica saw me. She locked eyes with me, then pulled Mason close, flashing me that perfect smile as she deliberately kissed him on the lips. She pulled away, batted her perfect eyelashes, and said, "Oh, Jamie, I didn't see you there!" I could feel my face heating up, but I didn't dare give Jessica the satisfaction of seeing me embarrassed. Instead, I forced myself to mutter, "Hey, Jess..." and hurried past, doing my best to pretend I didn't care.

Thankfully, just as I was ready to melt into the floor, my best friend, Melody Carter, swooped in to rescue me. Melody and I met during soccer tryouts, and we've been inseparable ever since. She's 5'5", slim, with this fierce pixie cut that just screams confidence. Melody is Black American and has this intense sense of justice that's gotten us both into (and out of) trouble a few times. If something's unfair, she's the first to speak up, even if it means going head-to-head with a teacher or coach.

"Hey, you okay?" she asked, giving me that familiar look of concern as she glanced over at Jessica and Mason.

"Yeah, I'm good. Just tired of her drama," I replied with a shrug, trying to brush it off. But she knew better.

"She's not worth it," Melody said, rolling her eyes as she nudged me. "Come on, we've got better things to do today—like surviving Mr. Thompson's history class."

Melody has this way of making everything feel like a joke, even when it isn't. She hooked her arm through mine and led me down the hall, her laughter ringing out in a way that made me feel, at least for a moment, like everything was fine. With her by my side, I could almost forget about Jessica and Mason.

The rest of the school day flew by, with Melody cracking jokes and keeping my spirits up. We met some new teachers and caught up with a few old ones, like Ms. Rivera in English, who was still raving about Shakespeare like he was her best friend. I'd forgotten how much I actually liked school—not just for the classes, but for the routine and the feeling of being in my element. I was good at academics, and it was one place where I felt in control.

After school, Melody and I headed to the soccer field to blow off some steam. We ran a few drills, racing each other down the field and taking turns shooting goals. Soccer always has this way of clearing my head, like each kick of the ball helps me shake off whatever stress I'm carrying. By the time we were done, I felt like a new person, the drama with Jessica nothing more than a shadow in the back of my mind.

That evening, Mom attempted to make pizza from scratch, but after she accidentally burned it, we ended up at a little pizzeria down the street instead. I sat with my family, savoring each slice while they joked about the pizza mishap. It was these moments—sitting around a table, laughing with my family—that I treasured most.

After my fourth slice and two bottles of Coke, I leaned back in my chair, totally stuffed. "Alright, I'm done," I announced, throwing in the towel as Dad laughed and slid another slice my way just to tease me.

When we got home, I crawled into bed, grabbing my diary to write down the day's events. As much as Jessica got under my skin, I knew I had more important things to focus on—soccer, my grades, my music, and maybe, just maybe, figuring out how to handle my feelings for Mason. Whatever happens this year, I'm determined to make it one worth remembering.

Well, that's all for tonight. See you tomorrow.