The Other Side

Chapter 2

The hype surrounding our new local residents has died off a little, and by Wednesday I still haven't caught a glimpse of anyone in the house. Stuff has continually been brought in, so maybe the family hasn't moved in yet. Maybe it's not even Harry Styles that's moving in anyway. It all could have been a big rumour, and he could have moved his family into any house in our town, or any town. Who knows? Who cares!

Stephanie Miles obviously cares. The most popular girl in school (and bitchiest).

"Alexia," she greets me, but her voice is so irritating and fake I want to stab myself in the ears already.

"What do you want, Stephanie?" I shoot her name back with just as much distaste, but she isn't phased.

"To help you," she says, trying to act sweet.

"Huh?" I look at her like she's nuts.

"Look, you're at the bottom of the food chain." Stephanie looks over at Sam. "You both are. And I'm at the top. Wouldn't you much rather be popular?" She doesn't wait for an answer as she goes on. "So I was thinking, why don't you throw a party, and I'll make sure everyone who's anyone comes. Instant popularity." She says this as though it's the one thing in my life that's been missing.

I open my mouth and bring my hand to my heart. "Steph, you'd do that for me?"

Stephanie smiles, looking so happy with herself. "Of course!"

"Wow, and here I was thinking you only ever looked out for yourself! You're so kind." And now came the part when I slapped her in the face. But how to do it? I knew the perfect way. "But I'll have to decline." Her face drops. "I'm just so busy hanging out with my new neighbour, Harry Styles. You may have heard of him. Yeah, we hang out all the time, and we're going to celebrity parties and stuff. Just no time for this ridiculous high school party scene. You get it right?"

Stephanie stands up and looks like she's about to explode. "No I don't get it. Why the hell would Harry Styles want to hang out with you, loser?"

I stand up and I'm just as furious. I can tell people are staring at us now, and I need a way to make them all leave me alone, so I go for it, though I know it's going to land me in huge trouble.

"Maybe because I'm not a disease riddled whore who looks like a crayon raped her face!" I internally laugh as I use one of Harry's best lines. "And for the record, even if you weren't trying to use me to get to Harry, I'd never let you come to my house, because it's the one place where I don't have to see or even think about you pathetic high school sluts."

A teacher was obviously in the lunch room, or very close by, as Mr Hunter is beside us now, pulling me away from Stephanie's shocked face. I finally turn away from her and follow him obediently to Ms Allan's office. I sit outside quietly as Mr Hunter explains what he saw to the principal. When he leaves, I hear her voice summon me in.

"Close the door, Miss Grant," she instructs, and I do as I'm told. "Take a seat."

I sit down in a huff, waiting for the grilling I'm about to get.

"What are you doing, Alexia?" Ms Allan asks, looking upset and disappointed, the worst face I can't bear to see right now.

"Sitting here waiting for you to punish me," I reply sarcastically, but I answer truthfully when I look at her again. "I just got sick of them, and I couldn’t stop myself," I say truthfully.

"What happened?" she questions.

Guess I should tell her everything. So I explain how Harry Styles, a member of the hottest British-Irish boy band around is now supposedly my new neighbour, and how every person in the school is now trying to get a piece of me just so they can meet him. I then explain what just occurred in the lunch room. "I'd just had enough," I say as I conclude my story.

"Alexia," Ms Allan says, leaning over her desk, "Do you know that you are the brightest student in this school."

I roll my eyes, there were a few other kids getting better grades than me.

"It's true. I'm not just talking about grades, I'm talking about life skills, street smart, everything. You are so much smarter than all of those kids out there," she explains, and then says slyly, "Especially those popular girls. And being this close to GCSEs I don't want you to do anything silly."

"I understand," I reply glumly, feeling bad that I'd disappointed her. Ms Allan has been really nice to me, even though I'd can be a bit of a handful at times. I'm not always well behaved, and I often speak my mind which gets me in a lot of trouble.

"I can't do nothing though," she says finally. "So I think it's only fair that you take the rest of the week off."

"Suspended?" I whine, and then shrug. "At least it's the first time this year."

Ms Allan shakes her head, but I can tell she's fighting a smile. "Make sure it's the last too."

I stand up and smile at her. "Maybe I'll put the long weekend to use and spy on my new neighbours."

"Or maybe you could put it to better use and study," she says, trying to sound serious.

"Why? You already said I was the smartest kid at this school." I laugh, and quickly get myself out of the room before she says anything else. "Janet," I say, tipping my head as I walk past the shocked receptionist.

I exit the school grounds and text Sam to let him know the outcome of my little outburst. I think about calling Mum to let her know I'm on my way, but figure I'll leave it as a pleasant surprise. I stick my earphones in and listen to anything but One Direction on my way home.

"Mummy, I'm home!" I call out sarcastically as I walk through the door.

"What are you doing home so early?" I hear her call from the living room.

"Suspended," I say, putting on a cheesy grin as I enter the room. But it drops as I see we have company. "Oops."

My mother looks more amused than anything. "What a wonderful first impression you get of my charming daughter. Alexia, these are our new neighbours, Mr and Mrs Milward. Joe, Anne, this is my usually well behaved daughter, Alexia."

Milward. Ha! Not Styles. My day has been made. Can't trust the paparazzi. "Nice to meet you," I say politely, shaking their hands. I quickly turn back to Mum. "I'll let you get back to entertaining, I'll go to my room and think about the terrible things I've done, and we'll talk about this later."

I smile awkwardly and skip out of the room. I'm not sure if anyone in the world could be as happy as I am to not have a member of One Direction living next door to them.