~~This is my first story so I’m sorry if it sucks.
Chapter 1

My entire life I had grown up in my sister’s shadow. She was my mother’s darling little girl, and copy of my mother in her glory days. Madilyn was my mother’s pride and joy. She had been the head cheerleader, most popular girl in school, and basically you all around peppy girl. And I had no desire to be like her. When I was old enough to tell my mother that I had no interest in modeling, cheerleading, or tumbling she had snapped. To her no girl would want to focus more on writing and art. And when she realized my decision was final she shut me out.

For a while I had tried to hate Madilyn. I wanted to hate her. But she was my older sister and she supported me no matter what. It wasn’t her fault she had been born perfect. Literally. My mother loves to tell me how her pregnancy with Madilyn had been perfect and the birth practically painless. And she never lets me forget how the nurses told her that Madilyn was the prettiest baby they had ever seen.

After all, my sister was gorgeous. She had my mother’s blonde hair and big green eyes. It’s not like I’m ugly or anything because with parents like mine you can hardly get an ugly child, but Madi’s personality burned like a bright star and mine was more like a fluorescent light bulb. Not completely terrible but not great. Madi seemed determined to get me to see that I was perfect, which frankly is ridiculous because no one on earth can have no faults. But she’s a persistent one. I still remember how proud she was when she heard I was embracing the Porter name. Come to think of it I can still remember the conversation that started the best year of my life.
...
“So then Adam asked me out, but I turned him down because I heard what he did to Veronica last year. HELLO, are you even listening to me Soph?” My best friend Blair asked, waving her hand in front of my face.

“Sorry no. What were you saying?”
“Ugh, whatever. But I do have a question for you my dearest best friend. How are you going to get us to the top of the social ladder?”
“What?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know that know that your sister is gone and in college the school will be looking towards you for guidance. Those poor souls don’t know what to do without a Porter in charge. You have to step up and lead the masses” Blair sighed.
“No. I’m not going to ‘lead the masses’ as you so eloquently put it. Besides I’m a junior. They’re all going to want a senior who looks the part to accept the role of Queen Bee.” I said.
“Sometimes you are seriously stupid. What the hell do you mean you don’t look the part? I mean look at those big blue eyes. And come on your perfect hair and flawless skin. You’re every guy’s fantasy. Own it.” She preached while grabbing one of my strawberry blonde curls.
It was our last week of summer and Blair was already plotting our rise to high school stardom. We had settled into a comfortable silence, with the exception of an occasional squeal when Blair would see something she liked.
“I’ve got it! I know how to make you popular!” Blair screamed.
“Oh do tell.” I muttered, wincing from the sudden outburst.
“You have to date the football team.”
“All of them? At the same time? I’m pretty sure that’s called being a whore.”
“No silly. If you have to climb your way up the social ladder what better way to do it than with the jocks?”
“Blair I don’t think tha-“
“Oh look! There’s Justin. Granted he’s not the most popular but he’ll do as a starting point. Plus he was asking you out constantly last year.” Blair gushed while pushing me towards Justin Germaine, one of the biggest idiots I had met. He had the dumb jock thing down to an art.
He was standing in a group of guys who were crowding Jackson Bennett. He was the schools star quarterback and captain of the football team. From what Madi had told me he was a pretty decent guy. But not decent enough to notice the likes of me.
“Hey, Justin.” I greeted, raising my hand in a friendly wave.
Justin’s head snapped up and he smiled and waved enthusiastically back. He jogged over to where I stood.
“Hey, Sophie.” He said in a fake deep voice that he gets whenever flirting with me.
I internally grimaced but kept a smile on my face.
“Hey are you okay? You look like you’re in pain.”
Oops, I guess I failed to keep a smile on my face.
“I think I ate a bad taco. If you’ll excuse me I need to go to the ladies room.” I lied while backing away. As soon as I was far enough I spun around and hit my head on someone’s chest.