A Week In the Life

Confessions From Miss Perfect (and Cliff)

Cliff's POV

(Kelly)

I said bye to everyone as band practice ended, and Sarah even gave me a-drumroll please-a hug! For a few seconds, I just stood there like to doofus I am, but manage to hug back, my heart pounding, and trying to ignore Ian's sniggers in the background.

So, needless to say, as I closed the door, my sprits were soaring. Until I turned the corner to the hall to see-Kelly.

Kelly was my older sister, in her junior year at high school, and well...perfect. Unlike me. She was popular, confident, and everyone loved her. I was her little brother: shy and, well, forgettable. And she had the nerve to annoy me on top of it all!

"You've been spying!" I felt anger build up over my previous elation.

Kelly smirked. "You have a GIRLFRIEND!"

"Shuddup!" I had a sudden wish to punch her.

Kelly laughed, clearing enjoying herself. "Are you going to tell Dad and Mom?"

As if!

"Will you?" I asked angrily.

"Of course not. But then how will you take your precious Sarah to the movies?"

"You have been spying!" I sputtered.

"So what if I have? You need a ride and you know it."

As the bitter truth sank in, I realized I did. I had two choices, tell Mom and Dad about Sarah, and have them freak, or do whatever Kelly wanted. And I had a feeling "whatever Kelly wanted" wasn't something good.

"What do you want?" I groaned.

Kelly's voice softened, sounding almost sad. "Cliff...I need help."

Help? Miss Perfect needed help?

"Um...Oh, okay." I said, taken back.

She took a deep breath sighed, sounding sad. "I need help in school."

"Why do you need my help?"

"Because!" she looked pained.

"Just tell me!"

"Because you're smarter than me, OK? I CAN'T fail Geometry and I CAN'T tell Mom and Dad!"

"Why not?"

"Because! Everyone expects me to be perfect, and if I'm not, if I break down..."

I was utterly surprised. "You ARE perfect."

"I'm not." Kelly looked forlorn. "You're smarter than me." she said again.

"I still don't get my you need my help! Everyone loves you! You can find help!"

"You don't understand the pressure."

She had unwittingly struck a nerve. "Of course I don't! Nobody notices me at all! You're the Golden Kid! I'm just...the shadow."

Kelly looked as shocked as I felt. Quietly, she said, "Nobody notices you because you don't let people. The people you let in love you. Ian, Aaron, Sarah, don't they mean anything?"

"But I'm scared!"

"Then you shouldn't want for people to notice you. It won't happen."

I knew Kelly was right. But I just couldn't! Anyways, this conversation had gone overly off-topic. "So...about the Geometry lesson..."

Kelly brightened. "Tomorrow afternoon?"

"Sure."