Angelica was sitting at the table with her parents, pushing her food with her fork. Bette noticed something was bothering her daughter and spoke up.

“Is something wrong boo?” Angelica looked up and shook her head no.

“I’m just thinking about something.” She finally took a bit of the casserole.

“So how was your day at school?”

“It went all right—my first practice is tomorrow after school.”

“Are you ready for the season?” Tina took a drink from her glass.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “I think we could win this year.” She smiled. “Do our next door neighbors have children?”

“Who? Christina and Leah? No,” Bette shook her head.

“No not them, our neighbors to our left.”

“Doug Williams—I don’t think he has any kids. Why do you ask?” Tina picked up her fork.

“Because I saw a girl in the bedroom across from mine in that house.

“Who knows? Maybe he does.” Angelica continued to eat her supper with her mothers.

——————————

Angelica was sitting in front of her computer, doing her homework when an IM from Melanie flashed on the screen.

HllywoodQueen: what’s up?

Vballchick_21: nothing.

HllywoodQueen: there’s a party this weekend at Ronnie’s. u wanna go?

Vballchick_21: idk. it depends on my homework this week.

HllywoodQueen: c’mon, it’ll b a lot of fun. it’s the first party of the school year. there’ll be a lot of cute guys there : )

Vballchick_21: i’ll think about it.

Angelica saw the girl’s light come on in the house next door. She turned off her lamp sitting on the desk and looked over.

HllywoodQueen: don’t b such a lame! Have some fun!

Angelica watched the girl get undressed. She looked at her computer screen and typed Melanie back.

Vballchick_21: hey i g2g. i’ll c u at school 2morrow. lata.

Vballchick_21 has logged off.

Angelica turned off her computer screen as she stood up from her chair. She walked over to the window and watched the girl take off her bra. She looked down and walked away from her window. She climbed into her bed and got under the covers. She sighed heavily as she buried her head into her pillow.

—————————-

Angelica was sitting in her English class when there was a knock on the door. Everybody looked up from their books when one of the counselors walked into the room with a new student. Angelica noticed the girl—it was the girl from the next door. Her bright blue eyes sparkled underneath the dark eyeliner. The girl’s eyes fell onto Angelica, and Angelica looked down. The counselor gave the teacher a note and walked out of the classroom. He got up and smiled at the new girl.