I knew I would never be the same. My family would never be the same. I was dying inside. I was broken.

The other girls at school would not stop bullying me about the stupid rainbow streaks in my hair. They never stopped teasing me about that my dad was a mad scientist. Nobody at school knew he was dead. Josh had just stopped attending all together.

Justin had stopped talking to me after he saw me with Chris. We had grown up together, he was jealous. It was a love triangle that I just could not handle at the time.

Why couldn't I just be normal?

I know it would have been all okay if Josh was there for me. If dad was there for me. But he was gone. My life had become a misery.

It was Monday. Three weeks since dad died. The pain hadn't stopped. The bullying hadn't stopped. I had to fake my peace of mind. I had to fake my happiness.

That's when I found it. The note.

I picked it up immediately, instantly hooked.

"Mary, meet us by the fountain outside the school, underneath the sycamore tree. Wednesday, 5:00. Be there. Sincerely, anonymous."

Meet us? Us? That's sort of freaky, I thought to myself, folding the scrap of paper and stuffing it into my backpack.

"Long time no see." A voice came from behind. I almost leapt in surprise, turning over my shoulder to see a sickeningly familiar face.

"W- Whitney?"

"Yes, Little miss Sue."

I gulped, knowing I couldn't escape from whatever Whitney was about to do or say. I remained silent, trying to avoid eye contact.

"I hear Chris Hawkins has taken a liking to you."

I didn't respond, too scared she could explode at any moment.

"Chris is the captain of the football team and hottest boy in school. Every girl in the building would kill to date him. And he loves.." she scanned me head to toe with her judgmental gaze,
"..you. Don't see why but.. he does, and that means.."

Without warning, Whitney slapped her hands down on my shoulders and pinned me against my locker.

"Chris. Hawkins. Is. Mine." She hissed through gritted teeth before shoving me back even harder and walking away, heels clacking and gum smacking.

Then the realization hit me. The note.

It was from Chris Hawkins!

But I still had to figure out what he meant by 'us'...