I woke up and turned to look at my sisters bed, she wasn’t there. I hopped out of my twin bed, and went down stairs. Today was my thirteenth birthday, I was contemplating if I should go to the dog shelter or to a dog park. Every year for our birthday our mom takes us to any place we want, since I’ve been wanting a dog- but getting rejected each and everytime- I went down stairs all the quince stuff was on the floor. Everything was so... pink? I didn’t like that someday I’d be the one in the light I wasn’t pretty but not ugly compared to Mathea I was really ugly! I was the smart one she was the beautiful one, I’d help her with her classes she’d help me with my boy stuff- even though I’ve only liked one boy before- she is the kindest person I’ve ever met. “Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you” she sung so great! “Thanks Mathea” “what do you want to do today Mari”? I considered my options for a few seconds “where’s mom and dad” “ mom left and dads working over time”. A sad displeased frown came over me, I had a habit of my faces changing without me knowing. “I’m sorry but they left us some money so we can still do something together... like sister bonding or something”. I loved how she could change my mood instantly. “Alright let’s go to the dog shelter on north street and donate this money” my sister looked super proud “yay we’re doing something for the animals”! I changed into my overalls and my converse and we left. Once we got home I walked in the door and quietly closed the door, but before I could sneak to my room Mathea started a commotion “mommy I can’t find my quince heels the pale pink one’s” my mom turned away from her taco meet super fast “WHAT”! She yelled “hija”... my mom started looking as if she was about to cry to a stern look “go look in your room under the bed, in the closet, under the desk NOW”! My sister left and went to find them my mom looked at me and turned I thought she was about to say happy birthday or something but she turnt her head back to the taco meet which was about to burn. “Go help your sister hija” I looked at my mom with a sad but questioning expression, “I thought my birthday was important” she turned quickly with a gasp but I was already half way up the stairs. Once I made it my sister was obviously easedropping “I’m sorry sis she didn’t mean it” “whatever she always forgets me but she can remember when you have a hair appointment or when your nails need some attention”. We sat quiet for a minute my sister turned to me, “ it’s this birthday mayhem” she quickly went to her bed and picked up the heels from under it. “I hate these things there uncomfortable the only way to get more is to hide them” I looked at her as if I was awed “you lied”... I knew my sister wasn’t perfect but I didn’t think she lied! She turned and looked tilting her head slowly, “it’s the birthday mayhem”.

I got up the next day and put on my clothes of course I was nerves cause today was the last day of 8th grade, the end of middle school! Of course I put on a basic shirt that read chicka and a pair of ripped blue jeans. “Hola Momma” I said coming down the stairs, “hola sweetheart” she said as she took of a perfectly square waffle. “Where is your sister” “THEA”! My mom looked at me with that look “ I could’ve did that Ximaria” I rolled my eyes when she rolled my name of her tongue, I hate my whole name! Mathea ran down the stairs panting in a blue jean skirt with a white shirt with a pink heart and a blue Jean jacket “hola mommy” “hola” my mom served the waffles- which were delicious- and we left. As I walked to school I couldn’t help but see the dog park I stopped and sat for a minute taking in the big, small, tall, short, and more different dogs of course it was weird because, I didn’t have a dog to bring but then a boy plopped next to me. “Hi I’m new to New York, I’m Christopher but call me Chris”! I smiled “Ximaria, or Mari” he quickly hopped up this is Lottie” he kept talking but I finally looked at his face he was hot! Like no one else he had icy blue eyes and cute blond hair that looked like bangs, he kept brushing it out of his face. I felt my face getting hot, I jumped up “I’ll be going now I have to go to my last day of school” “Lincoln Middle School”? “Yes...” he smiled “me too but I won’t start till next year we’ve moved to the apartments right there” he pointed towards where I lived “I DO TO”! All the dogs and people looked we ran straight outta there laughing and remembering all those faces, “so I live in apartment 4B” “I’m in 3C the apartment downstairs” he gave me that classic smile. “I should be going my mom will worry” he turned and him and his amazing cocker spaniel left. As I walked to school I thought about him Chris huh? I had always wanted a beagle there so cute and I wanted a boy I’d name him prince, once I got to school I got a text from my best friend Camilla . Hey girlllll wyd I’m so lonely are you coming to school? Mr.Hans is late so you have time! I read he message and dashed to class taking my seat next to Geo and Camilla “there you are I thought you’d get another tardy” she made sure she stretched the word tardy with her lips. “Whatever” I said I looked at my phone and saw the time he was 30 minutes late! He always yelled at us to not be late and all that but he’s late. “Sorry class but Mr.Hans was in an accident and he won’t be able to come so you can be on your phones I’ll be back to get you all for lunch”. We all looked said but when the principal left we all got happy, he was a jerk so mean and rude to us. “Why were you late” “well I ran into a hottie” my cheeks burned “WHAT”! I was a little embarrassed when my friend attracted half the crowd in our class, “and his dog named Lottie” “so a hottie with a dog named Lottie” “ I forgot you liked ryhmes so much” we talked until lunch, then we went to our other classes. At the end of the day I went to my neighbors house and got her dog Snow, “Mrs. Remerez” RUFF! I saw an excited mini white poodle came over and licked my ankles “hey Snow” “ hola Ximaria thank you for walking my pretty little angel” she said looking at me with pride, she was always busy and couldn’t take snow on walks “of course” with that I got the leash and left.