My name is Amy. Yeah, I know. It's not very exciting or cool, but I guess that's who I am. I live on my Gram's farm. I've lived with her for 3 years now. When I was 13, my parents died in a car accident, so I had to come live here. Not that I mind, I love my Gram. It's just a lot of work living on a farm.
But for some reason, my BFF Brit, convinced me Gram's farm is the ideal place for the Autumn Festival this year.
She's on the Festival planning committee, along with my long term frenemy, Jessica. She's the Cheer Captain, and the reason I'm not on the squad. She sabotaged my try out last year and convinced her mom, Karen, (who happens to be the cheer coach) that if I couldn't even make that little flip, I wouldn't make the cut. Karen agreed. Since then, everyone at school has called me "Accident Amy."
But let's not talk about that. This weekend is the Autumn Festival, and I'm setting up the barn with my other BFF, Ashley. She is a hacker. With her skills, the haunted house this year is gonna be EPIC!
I look around and we are sorely understaffed. We had 10 names to volunteer to set up the haunted house, and including me, there is only 4 of us here. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, for the last week everyone in school has been staying home sick. But they never get back to school... it's kinda weird.
"Hey Ash," I call out. "You almost done?"
"Just about! This is gonna be sweet! Can't wait for all the jocks to crap their pants!" Ashley cackles hysterically.
Ashley is like me. Another social outcast. I think that's why we get along so well.
"Hey," Tylor pouts. "Not all of us jocks are that bad!"
"Yeah," Agrees Taylor.
Taylor and Tylor are the only other kids helping us today. The twins are part of the "In crowd." Taylor is on the Cheer Squad, and Tylor is the star football quarterback.
"In fact," Tylor continues, "I was gonna ask Amy if she would be my date tomorrow night."
I gasp.
The utter look of shock on his sister's face makes is almost offensive!
Okay, so I've had a secret crush on Tylor for forever. But he never seems to notice me; and that's okay since I've sent the last two years basically trying to blend into the background, so the other kids would stop picking on me... It's almost worked. If I was someone else and he asked me, the answer would take less than a second to respond "YES!" but because of who I am...
"Um... as flattering as that is, I've got a haunted house to run," I respond.
"C'mon, you can have a date and still run the haunted house," he insists. "You know, I've actually wanted to ask you out for a while, but Jessica... Well, I don't know if she's jealous or what, because she's told the whole team not to date you. But I'm getting sick of her bossing me around. Please?"
So, that's why... And all this time, I thought I wasn't pretty enough.
I look at Tylor. He is completely dreamy! Should I really trust him? He sounds so sincere... What could be the harm?
"If you are sure, then I would love to!" I relent.
Tylor gives me a super star grin and I just about melt.
"Already for tomorrow!" announces Ashley.
"Great! Let's get outta here!" I say.
Outside, Brittany is all smiles. "Hey Amy! We just finished the corn maze! It's gonna be fantastic!"
I love Brit, she is so enthusiastic, and that's just what I need, when most of my life has been so dark.
She is joined by Stephany, Michelle, and Jenny... all of them are on the cheer squad, but I have no hard feelings toward them. They are just following Jessica...
Speak of the she-devil...
"We just finished...