The Breakup Girl

Chapter One

I started tenth grade with a bang.

It was weird, yet amazing, to have everyone like me and know who I was. All the girls would include me in their gossip, and a lot of people would compliment my hair or clothes. For my birthday, people I didn't even know were sending me wishes. My locker was covered with cards and decorations. And the whole fifth period lunchroom sang me 'Happy Birthday.'

I owe this self-success to one person:

Brandon Dowey.

Now, it's not like I just met the kid. He was always there. I always remember hearing his name, but before September, I've never hung out with him, had classes with him, or even talked to him. I didn't want to waste my time with him; girls like me don't go for guys like him.

By saying 'girls like me' I don't mean that I'm the freaky girl who wears dark makeup and clothes and listens to music about death...

No, I'm one of the girls, I guess. You know how in every school all the normal girls hangout together? Yes, well I stayed with the girls that all the guys go out with. Except... Not me. I can't tell you why, honestly. If I knew, I'd be trying to fix that right now. I dressed like the other girls, wore my long hair curled or straight, and it's not like I pounded myself with makeup. I was nice to everyone, yet it still wasn't working. Guys didn't even talk to me.

So when Brandon Dowey of all people started staring at me- in a nonstalkerish, adorable way- I started getting all fidgety and excited. Most girls could care less and go on with life. Me? Well, I told all my friends and would spend all day looking forward to eighth and ninth period, since he was in my Literacy class. It's not like I even planned to talk to him or anything. I wanted to see if he would look at me again, just notice me. As you can see, I wasn't used to the whole guy thing.

Brandon Dowey had Bieber hair. He had a voice that wasn't boyish, but wasn't very deep yet. He fooled around with his friends, but when it came to girls, he was shy. He had never had a girlfriend before, and some people said he hadn't even kissed a girl before.

I hadn't kissed a boy before, but I didn't say anything. In a way, I found that has a relief.

And then, the last important thing about Brandon Dowey was that his life revolved around one thing: football. I mean, this kid was obsessed with football. His friends said it was all he talked about. He didn't have time for girls and friends because he had practice every week.

Maybe about a month went by. We hadn't really talked that much yet. So when my friend, Ashley, told me that she got him to come to the movies with us, I freaked.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked, holding my gym shorts in my hand. We were in the girls locker room. It was towards the end of September.

"Nope!" She grinned.

"ASHLEY!" I jumped onto her and started jumping up and down. The other girls looked at me and laughed, wondering what the hell was Paige doing, but I shooed them off. This was big. Stuff like this didn't happen to me.

Since it was chilly, I went with black leggings and a hoodie the night of the movies. It was Ashley, Sam, Claire, Bridget, and I. The beginning of the year, Ashley, Sam, Claire, and I became close. Bridget was tall and quiet, she was Sam's friend. I knew her and I talked to her a little bit.

Sam's mom drove us, and since there was no room in the back of the tiny car, I had to sit on Bridget's lap.

"Paige, sit down so Sam's mom can see." Ashley said.

I groaned, and laid down on all of their legs. I was the smallest, so of course I was stuck with that uncomfortable position.

We all got out of the car and said thanks to Sam's mom, before we went inside. That's when I saw him.