Okay, I just joined today and decided to be brave enough to post my first story. I started writing only a few months ago. Not only that, but the last time I wrote anything had to be in October. Maybe even longer. Another thing to keep in mind -- I'm only 14.

In other words, this is probably going to be terrible. But that is why I'm here. I want to learn. =] CC much appreciated.

The idea for this story is based on an incident that happened to me. I decided that if I spiced it up a little it'd make a pretty cool story. Err, to me anyway. I'll poke you every five minutes to make sure you haven't fallen asleep on me.

And so, without further adieu... here is my miserable attempt at writing a story. P-a-t-h-e-t-i-c.
PS-- this is a rough draft.

It was one of those insanely hot summer afternoons that caught you wishing it were winter, ninety-seven degrees and humid without a cloud in the sky. As usual, Jason was driving with the windows of his Mercedes-Benz rolled down and AC/DC blasting on the stereo. I found myself pretending to be interested in something outside of the window, though there wasn’t anything but a few run-down buildings and a gas station. We were almost there.

I twisted the rear-view mirror in my direction, checking myself over one last time. My hair was still an unmanageable, dull-brown mess set high on my head – my failing attempt at a bun – and my black eyeliner applied far too thickly. I looked perfectly disheveled. I frowned slightly at the thought of going to the mall, especially with Jade’s new friend, Matthew Lawton. I had never heard of him – it was destined to turn out awkward.

I wore my favorite long-sleeved fishnet top. It was red, with a black tank underneath. An assortment of necklaces hung from my neck like a rainbow, matching my knee-length leggings. A pair of black shorts had been thrown over carelessly, along with my longest striped socks. To complete the look, I wore the black and red converse’s I had bought three years ago –I hadn’t grown much, I was still only five feet tall. In all, I probably looked like a color-blind loser who didn’t know the first thing about matching clothes. But I liked it, and that was all that mattered. I frowned slightly at the thought of Jade’s new friend. Would he laugh? Jason caught the slight movement.

“Amber, quit worrying about the way you look babe. I think you’re hot,” he grinned, reaching over to rest his hand on mine. I rolled my eyes. He thought I looked hot? I would have preferred to look pretty.

“Who said I was worried about that?” I muttered, snapping the mirror back into place as we pulled into the parking lot.

“We’ve been dating since you were in the seventh grade,” he laughed. “You’re a sophomore. That’s three whole years.” Three years too long, I thought edgily.

“What’s your point?”

“Well, my point is that I think I know you better than you know yourself anymore.” Yeah, right – and I’m actually a squirrel in disguise, plotting to take over the world.
The mall was completely overcrowded, but we managed to find a parking space that wasn’t too far from the entrance, for Jason’s sake. He was impatient to get into the mall and eat.

It wasn’t hard to find Jade and Caleb, leaning against one of the walls and glaring at anyone who dared look their way. The third member of their group, I figured, was Matthew. Jade waved enthusiastically at me.

“Amber! I’m glad you could come!” she pushed off of the wall and strode over. Was she? They were all seniors, besides Jason, who was a junior. I always felt I was embarrassing them by hanging around.

“I heard about your newest friend, so I had to come see who it was this time,” I winked. She rolled her eyes and grabbed my arm, dragging me back to the other two. I smiled at Caleb in recognition, and he nodded stiffly. Not the talkative type.

“Matt, this is Amber. Amber, Matt.” Jade grinned from ear to ear, dropping my arm when I stood before him. I stared. Something about those deep blue eyes and dyed black hair looked familiar. The lip ring, right in the center of his bottom lip, made him even more recognizable. Then it all came rushing back, and I groaned. He was the guy from the library the other night. The one who, as I tried to concentrate on writing my report, wouldn’t stop drumming his fingers on the table and found other creative ways to distract me. The one who whistled random songs, ignoring the fact that I was utterly annoyed. That was him.

His eyes danced, my expression obviously amusing him. He must have recognized me too. “How did the report go, Amber?”

I felt the rage burning inside me and had to remind myself that we were in public, and that stomping on his foot would cause unwanted attention. So, extremely disappointed, all I could do was glare daggers at him and try hard not to blush.

“You know each other?” Jade inquired, looking a bit upset.

“Actually, yes we do. I just never knew her name,” Matt explained.

“No!” I objected, bewildered. How dare he claimed to know me? I felt my cheeks grow red-hot. Jason grunted – not being the center of attention absolutely killed him – and for once in my life I was glad he was there.

“Well, o-o-kaaaay-y then,” Jade stretched the word into far too many syllables, running a hand down her rainbow-colored mohawk.

“Let’s grab something to eat. I’m starved.” I was barely listening to Jason. I was far too engrossed in the glaring contest Matt and I were secretly holding.

“You coming Amber?” Jade asked, eying me suspiciously. She obviously thought that I liked her pathetic loser of a friend. “Amber!”

I turned to face her immediately. “Wha-?”

“We’re going to the food court. You coming or not?” She was growing impatient. My eyebrows furrowed and I mumbled a quiet ‘yeah’. Matt had won.

I was pretty sure the worst of our silent war had passed. After all, we were tied and there wasn’t much left to do – unless we wanted to get imaginative. In the food court I had tripped him, causing Matt to drop his tray and fall flat on his face. To my great surprise, he laughed. Ten points for me. Then, during the movie, I quickly realized why he had bought an extra-large soda and sat next to me. Making it look like an accident, he had reached over and knocked it over onto my lap. I suppose I deserved that one. Ten points for Matt. At Hot Topic, one of the accessories had somehow found its way into his pocket, causing the alarm to screech frantically. Another ten for me, and so it had dragged on – though I hated to admit it, I realized I was actually having fun.

“I feel like I’m babysitting two seven-year-olds,” Caleb muttered. “Could you two please stop fooling around? It’s beginning to become an embarrassment.”

“Sorry Caleb,” Matthew’s apology was sincere. Almost.

“Yeah, right, but don’t apologize for making me run into a pole or spilling soda all over me,” I complained, bitter.

“I didn’t hear you apologize for the nice chat I had with the cops at Hot Topic.”

“How can I make it up to you?” I asked sarcastically. By then I had noticed that the rest of our group had moved ahead and started a conversation of their own.

“A kiss would be nice… you willing to spare one?” he raised an eyebrow.

I gasped. He wouldn’t dare! My boyfriend was walking directly ahead of us. As nice as it all sounded… “No way!”

Matt shrugged casually. “Okay – then you still aren’t forgiven.”

“Fine with me,” I grumbled.

“Hmm, but it isn’t so fine with me,” his smile made my heart skip like that CD Jade had gotten me for my birthday. I had never seen anything so perfect in my life.

“I could care less. We are at war, remember?”

“In that case, I’ll call it truce.”

I glared at him, serious now. “Matt-“

“Oh, come on – you don’t even like him. I can tell these things,” he rolled his eyes.

“I don’t like you either,” I lied. I was actually growing fond of him – I felt as if we had known each other our whole life. “No, I am not doing anything behind anyone’s back.”

“So if we catch up to them and stand next to him, will you…?”

“You know what I meant,” I hissed.

He sighed, “I guess so. But you still owe me that kiss.”

I was about to reply, to remind him that I didn’t owe him anything – he owed me a report. But Jason’s sharp voice cut into our private conversation. I looked up carefully.

“I’m sick of this. You have been hanging out with-“ he paused, glowering at Matt (who smiled oh-so-innocently) “-him all day. What gives?”

“Uh…” I hesitated. I didn’t think he wanted to hear the truth.

“Forget it. I don’t even want to know. You’ve been acting so strange lately Amber. Not just today, but for the past year – like you don’t even care about me anymore.” He was pretty much beyond accurate. What could I say? I wasn’t going to lie to his face. I didn’t want to lie. “I’m out of here. It’s over.” It was over long before this, I thought smugly, staring at my converses blankly as he left. Hmm, where did that black smudge come from? Had it been there earlier?

Caleb’s quiet voice broke through my thoughts. “Uh, Amber…”

“Yeah?”

“Your boyfriend just broke up with you.”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re not angry…?”

“Nope.”

“Huh.” No doubt he was questioning my sanity.

I glanced at Matt, who was desperately trying to cover up his grin. I spend one afternoon with this guy, and he’s already rubbing off on me…that can’t be good. For my own safety, I should have immediately locked myself up in a padded room with 24-hour surveillance. Who knew how hard I might fall for him? I was stumbling already.

I was about to learn that not every love story had a happy ending. Not even close.