Stephanie Hall was pretty, athletic, and musical. Your all American girl right? Wrong. Stephanie was the out cast. The one who was never invited to parties. The one who was never asked out by a boy. School was torture for Stephanie. Her peers constently tormented her, but that day, when she met a 24 year old singer, her whole life would change. She would be forever grateful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh gosh! I'm sorry." Stephanie said turning a deep shade of scarlet. She just walked out of Sam Goody store in the mall, with her new Backstreet Boys CD. Stephanie looked up to see the most popular guy at her school, Justin LeRivere glaring down at her.
"What CD did you by Pip-squeak?" Justin asked pulling the bag from Stephanie. By now all Justin's friend had gathered around. She was admist the "cool" group. "Please don't let them bug me today." Stephanie prayed. It was the start of spring break. She was hoping, that she would be able to go through spring break without seeing Justin. It didn't look that way. Justin pulled the cd from the bag.
"Oh lookie what our Pippie likes!" Justin shouted to get everyone's attention. "The Backstreet Boys. Oh my gosh Nick is so hot! They are gods! Oh he touched me!" Justin said in a high pitched voice. Everyone that stood around her started to laugh that cruel laughter, that followed her wherever she went. Stephanie grabbed the cd from Justin, and raced from the group of kids. She could feel the hot tears roll down her cheeks. "They always do this!" Stephanie thought. Stephanie ran right past a group of five guys who had seen the whole thing. She stopped when she got to the hall that the washrooms were. Stephanie sunk along the cold hard wall. It was empty in the hall, the only noise was coming from Stephanie's sobs.
"What's wrong?" A soft, sympathetic voice asked. Stephanie shook her head and cried harder. "Please tell me." he asked softly again. Stephanie looked up to see Brian Littrell standing before her.
"You wouldn't understand. No one does." Stephanie replied.
"Will you let me try?" Brian asked wiping away a tear that fell from Stephanie's dark green eyes.
"Well it's just, these kids, won't leave me alone! Today wasn't as bad as it could have been." Stephanie didn't have to tell Brian what happened. She knew, he saw everything.
"Why do they tease you?" he asked. He couldn't see why. She looked like any normal teenage girl he had seen, and he had seen his share. She was even prettier then most.
"Well, I guess it's because I'm different." Stephanie replied after a minute. She didn't even know the answer, to the reason why they treated her the way they did.
"How so?" Brian asked. She didn't look different to him.
"I think it's because I'm christian, athletic, maybe because I get or straight A's or maybe," Stephanie lowered her head, "I'm adopted." Stephanie couldn't believe she was sharing her heart with, someone she just met. Brian didn't know what to say. Growing up, he fit in. He wasn't the kid everyone picked on. Stephanie got up to leave.
"I never caught your name," Brian said grabbing Stephanie's small hand. She turned and looked at him. He seemed to care, even if he didn't know her.
"Stephanie Hall." Stephanie replied and walked away. She didn't dare turn around or she would start crying again, because someone took the time to talk to her. It wasn't until she got home, that she noticed, she forgot her wallet and CD beside Brian at the mall.
