Ch. 1 The beginning

Over the summer between 8th and 9th grade year, I enrolled in a volunteer program at Lowry Park Zoo for teenagers ages 12-16. The program was called "ECCO", and the main objectives involved enviornmental awareness and employability skills. I was pretty shy upon entering the program but I immediatly spotted my friend from middle school, Lee. I instantly felt better since Lee had been my partner several times in our technology class at school.

The first day of ECCO, I met a giggly, short and slightly pudgy hispanic girl. Her name was Jessica. She ended up being in my group, which was one of the many that our supervisor created for us to cooperatively work on our assignments in. We became acquantinces over the hour we spent together.

The rest of the summer, I didn't see Jessica at the classes. She went on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I attended on Mondays and Wednesdays. I resorted to hanging out with a 16 year old eccentric Bisexual named Amber and a reserved, laid back 16 year old lesbian named Amy. They were different from any other friends I'd ever had before, (not to mention older). They talked about different things such as boyfriends and girlfriends, drugs, sex, peircings, art and other subjects. They fascinated me.

Starting in the beginning of 9th grade, I knew I was ready for love, ready for a relationship. Unlike many teenagers my age, I hadn't ever had a "relationship" before. Middle school boys had often irritated me. I found few of them to be decent.

I began my year in the IB program at Hillsborough High school under the support of my parents to take challenging courses. A big mistake. Not only was I doing homework 2-3 hours a night,  I was barely passing. I had few friends because I hardly had time for socialization due to the work load. Relationships? Forget about it.

In the volunteering group, ECCO, I'd started attending on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Since summer ended and school began, it was easier for my mom to let me go on those days instead.  I developed a solid friendship with Jessica during this time. Brittany, Allie, Ian, Madison, and Tommy were among the others that we hung out with everyday during class.

One day while gossiping by ourselves in the back room, Jessica decided to let me in on a little secret. "I like someone here..." She said. "Who?" I asked. She looked up at me and told me to guess. "Ian...?" I asked. She shook her head yes. I frowned slightly inside. Lately I'd began to notice our sophomore friend Ian too, especially because of his eyes. Nonetheless, I knew I had no time for relationships. "He's really cute." I told her. She smiled but then sadly said she knew he didn't like her back. I placed my hand on her shoulder in a comforting way, and reassured her that she was a great person. I worked her confidence up by complimenting her as any good friend would do. She finally got the guts to ask him out. Ian later rejected her though, explaining he only wanted a friendship. She told me the news and I hugged her,I  told her she was adorable and that she WOULD find someone. "I hope so." was her answer. "Atleast you've had a boyfriend before." I pointed out. She then promised me she'd help me get a boyfriend if I helped her.  

Around early December, my parents concluded that IB classes weren't going to work out. I'd made an "F" the entire semester of American Government and a "D" the entire semester of Algebra 2. Only half way through 9th grade and I would be leaving Hillsborough and transferring to some honors-level courses at Chamberlain. I felt dumb, especially compared to all the other IB kids. Leaving IB after one semester, I brought a pitiful unweighted GPA of 1.8 along with me to Chamberlain.

I texted Jessica the news over Christmas break. It was official. I was transferring to Chamberlain. She was excited as she assured me that she'd help me find my way around school. It was a relief to have her on my side, I was really quiet and Jessica seemed to have no fear. She also said she'd introduce me to a few of her friends as well as a new guy she liked, named Sebastian.

I braced myself for Chamberlain. A school change in the middle of my freshman year. All I could think about was "being that new kid". I hoped Jessica's friends would like me.