Jackie Hopper was a young 14-year-old, strangely excited for her first day at a new school. Her father had retired from the army and relocated them all to his hometown. Jackie was a freshman in high school and was looking forward to the new beginnings in a small town.


The first week was crazy; she was the new girl in town and school, but she did her best and did make a few new friends. Jackie did find out that, unlike her last school, a Christian academy, this school the cliques were more pronounced. Jackie had never been popular, but she had never been an outcast either.


At her new school, she seemed to be somewhere in the middle, closer to an outcast, but she still had her presence. Jackie tried making sure she got along with everyone, popular, outcast, jocky, and geek. She wasn't one to judge, even though she knew people did.


Jackie was 5 feet 2 inches, weighing in around 130 pounds. She wasn't fat, even though at times she felt it. Her long black hair made her look sickly due to her pale complexion and plain looks. Jackie couldn't change it because it was her, and she never wore makeup.


Amanda Jackson was Jackie's first real friend, best friend, actually. They met in music class, both had signed up for choir. Amanda and Jackie were becoming like sisters, ones they wished they had because of the ones they had.


They walked the two miles to school every morning if it was nice enough because neither liked riding the bus. When Jackie's mother, Rhonda, started working at the high school as a substitute teacher for juniors and seniors, Jackie became a known person.


Thank you, Mother, for the trips down memory lane. Rhonda liked telling stories.


After a while, Jackie was known by people unknown to her. As it happened, Jackie and her siblings were signed up for the youth center for after-school hours since her mother was working now. It was alright, Jackie thought. They had an indoor swimming pool, basketball (Jackie loved basketball), TV, and other game centers and a snack bar.


Then, one fateful day, Jackie was knocked for a loop, figuratively speaking that is. Entering the youth center that day, Jackie saw him, Carl Decker. She was nearly knocked over by her little brother and sister, who were coming in behind her.


Carl was there with his two buddies, Jackson and Evan, getting ready to play some ball. Jackie was going to watch. Jackie had met Jackson and Evan in choir practice one day. Even as geeks, they were both funny, and Jackie liked them. Today, Jackie would have to find out who their friend was.


As the boys played basketball, Jackie sat in the bleachers pretending to work on homework. She got nothing done, with her binder in her lap, her attention was on Carl. He was just a little taller than she was, skinny and lanky, but the way he moved pulled at Jackie. He was quick and smooth. During one of the breaks, Jackson came over and said hi.


"Hey, Jackie, I see you have got nothing done." He smirked at Jackie. "Something or someone else got your attention?" Jackie couldn't help but blush.


"So, who's your friend Jackson?" She asked


"Oh, him. That is my best friend, Carl. Why, you ask?" Jackson asked with loads of curiosity.


"No reason," Jackie lied through her teeth, but her expression said it all. He is hot. I want to meet him. I want to have his babies. Jackie startled herself with that last thought. Did she?


Jackson laughed. "You know you're not a very good liar there, Miss Jack." Jackson was teasing her and calling her Jack was his way of letting her know so. "This whole time, your eyes ain't left him once," Jackson said. He had noticed.


"I don't even think they left him when your brother came in and got money." Jackie sheepishly shrugged.


"What can I say? He's a good ball player," and he's sexy as hell. I wanna have his babies.


Jackson laughed and shook his head. "Yeah, I bet that's why."


Evan and Carl came to a screeching halt right in front of Jackson and Jackie. Jackie's heart jumped.


"Hey man, quit flirting and let's get playing again," Evan said to Jackson as he nudged Carl, laughing. Jackie blushed as Jackson laughed. Jackie smiled and blushed at Carl and said hi.


"Alright, let's go," as Jackson spun around, he nudged Evan. "Plus, I wasn't flirting, man. Her attention ain't on me anyway." He nudged Carl and laughed, taking off onto the court.


"Jackson!" Jackie screamed and got redder than a fire engine. Carl looked back and smiled before heading back to the court.