hi my name is Jessica I'm 15 and my life
was turned upside down the day I
discovered what everyone was hiding from
me this drama started a while ago I used
to live with my dad in a two-bedroom
apartment in a rough part of the city my
mom and dad split when I was a baby dad
refused to reveal anything about mom and
her family so I got tired of asking as
for my social life I wasn't very popular
at school but I had two good friends
Alexa and Ben and we hung out together
most of the time we didn't fit in with
the other kids but we didn't really care
we had each other there was this one guy
at school that I had a massive crush on
a sure he was blond tall and handsome
but he didn't even know that I existed
but all that changed when dad had an
accident at work and had to go to the
hospital a social worker told me that I
had to stay with my grandpa I tried to
tell her that I had no grandparents but
when she took me to see dad after his
operation he confessed that it was true
and just like that I was to stay with
grandpa Bukowski my mom's dad who I'd
never seen in my life soon I was in a
cab and speeding to the other side of
the city the part where the rich people
lived I left behind the dirty streets
and cramped apartment blocks and as the
roads widened the houses and gardens
grew with every passing minute
eventually we stopped in front of a pair
of massive iron gates and I wondered if
the driver had got the right address
this is it he called to the back of the
cab I was too nervous to say anything
and I handed him a $20 bill the gates
were huge and I was wondering how to
open them when the cab driver leaned out
of the taxi window and handed me the
change try the buzzer he suggested
before driving away leaving me standing
alone in what seemed to be the middle of
nowhere I just stared at the gates for a
few minutes the black box that must have
been the intercom it had a push button
on the front which I hesitated before
pressing yes a voice replied I explained
who I was and immediately the gates
opened I never felt so scared in my
whole life as I slowly walked up the
gravel-drive until I eventually reached
this huge mansion house at the top all I
could do was stare open-mouthed as a
gray-haired old man open the front door
mr. Bukowski I stuttered he shook his
head and held out a hand I'm Arnold
your grandfather's secretary now let's
get you inside the house was
unbelievable the whole place seemed full
of antiques and expensive looking
objects Arnold took me into a small
sitting room and I hardly dared sit on
the fancy covered chairs and brush my
pants before sitting I'll get you some
tea while you wait mr. Bukowski will be
with you shortly
I stared at my shabby shoes my dirty
bitten nails worn-out sleeves I wish I'd
made more of an effort but there had
been so little time who would have
thought my mom's dad would have been so
rich and I wondered if I'd finally meet
my mom it was then that I noticed the
photographs on the wall a series of
pictures at the same woman from a baby
to a grown woman the resemblance was
impossible to ignore it must have been
my mom without thinking I stood up to
inspect the pictures more closely I held
one close and stared at it what are you
doing young lady the voice behind me
made me snap and I dropped the picture
it fell and broke you must be Jessica
the old man said frowning grandpa he
stared at me with cold gray eyes Albert
will do no let me look at you I turned
slowly to face him full on feeling
awkward as his steely gaze look me up
and down he stared long and hard
I was happy didn't get too close I was
nervous and was sweating like a monkey I
smelled terrible regardless I could see
the disapproval in his eyes we weren't
allowed to be untidy in my days a spell
in the army would soon smarten you young
people up you have it too easy whatever
must your father be thinking about we
can't have you running around looking
like that
the neighbors will be calling the police
your mom would be turning in her grave
if she can see you in her grave I
wondered if I had heard correctly your
dad didn't tell you his bushy eyebrows
arched in surprise your mom died 10
years ago a car acts
No I'll get my housekeeper to run you a
shower and show you to your room
with a final look at me up and down he
rang a small bell to summon the
housekeeper and fix those fingernails
I can't bear dirty fingernails and with
that he left I know it must sound silly
but at that moment my emotions were all
over the place I just met my grandpa but
in the same breath found out that my mom
was dead I've never even met my mom but
now I knew she was gone I felt her loss
I'd never felt so lonely in my entire
life before I could think about it too
much the housekeeper swept me away and
up the stairs to my room oh my god my
bedroom was bigger than the whole of our
tiny apartment and I even had my own TV
I was left to shower with instructions
that after lunch I would be taken into
the city to go shopping with my grandpa
I wasn't looking forward to the
experience and through lunch felt clumsy
hardly knowing which cutlery to use
grandpa didn't speak and we ate in
silence
I wondered if we'd get a cab back to the
city but grandpa had this large
rolls-royce and driver the first stop
was to see my grandpa's barber and get
my first proper haircut I wasn't too
sure about grandpa's idea of a short bob
but then I realized how long and wild my
hair had grown and when I finally looked
in the mirror I looked like a different
person I even thought I saw approval in
my grandpa's eyes we spent some time in
a department store buying new clothes
really cool stuff that dad could never
afford it felt funny walking into school
on the following Monday the new me and I
felt so glamorous even with Alexa and
Ben the new me seemed to cause an
awkwardness between us Ben thought I
looked cool but Alexa seemed angry and
envious I felt almost apologetic for
some reason I suddenly seemed to notice
their cheap clothes and worn shoes and
it made me feel guilty I tried to carry
on as usual for a few days but I felt
the distance growing between us it all
came to a head one Friday night after
school when Ben and I argued over
something stupid I was just about to be
picked up by my grandpa's driver when
Todd and Matt walked over eyeing up the
rolls they were the two most popular
guys in our year hey Jessica we just
wondered if you wanted to come swimming
on Saturday afternoon with us
it was the first time those two had
acknowledged me let alone talk to me I
hesitated suddenly overwhelmed Asha will
be there one of them added it seemed
that the whole school knew about my
crush I got into the car arranging to
meet them the next day I couldn't help
feeling guilty I usually went swimming
with Ben and Alexa but they'd been
acting weird all week I was so excited
if not a little nervous as I headed to
the swimming pool the next day all I
could think about was a sure they were
all there the popular people from my
school and all came to say hello as if I
was their long-lost friend it's funny
how a change in my fortunes changed
their attitude to me but I didn't think
about it too much at the time I was only
too happy to be accepted for once in my
life hi Asher came over his skin still
shimmering from his swim all I could do
was stare at his stunning figure he
flashed me a huge smile all perfect
white teeth and from that moment I was
under his spell I was having a great
time and when the crowd around me
started to laugh I joined in not really
understanding the joke I soon understood
Alexa and Ben had just walked into the
pool my heart sank as they approached I
felt so guilty and stopped laughing
immediately but the other guys around me
continued as they passed me to get into
the pool
Asher raised his I brought toward me
almost as a challenge hey Jessica he
shouted out loudly aren't these two your
friends for a moment Ben looked me in
the eye but I turned away he walked on
and everyone started laughing again
everyone except me my old friendships
were well and truly over and I tried to
push my feelings to one side I was on a
high I was accepted for the first time
and when Asher agreed to be my date for
the school dance I couldn't have been
happier back at school I tried to avoid
seeing Alexa and Ben but as they were in
my class it was pretty impossible I
tried to justify her falling out that
they wouldn't accept the new me but deep
inside I knew I'd changed not them my
new friends were fun but shallow at
first it felt good not to be the target
of their cruel jokes but it made me feel
uncomfortable on the inside one
afternoon after school on the day of the
Dan
I was walking down the corridor with
Todd and Matt when we collided with Ben
you stupid idiot
Todd called out why don't you watch
where you're going your glasses are
thick enough Matt and Todd laughed but
as Ben tried to get past they stopped
him blocking him in aren't you gonna
apologize Matt said Ben didn't say
anything but I could see how sad he
looked I could hardly bear it hey leave
him alone you two they stared at me as
if I'd grown two heads or something make
up your mind who your friends are
Jessica Matt shouted they moved to let
Ben pass but it was then that I realized
these people weren't really my friends
they could turn on me at any moment I'd
been excited about the dance all week
and my date with Asher but somehow I
wasn't happy all I could think about was
that look in Ben's eyes that look of
betrayal I looked great but I felt
shallow and weak as I stepped down the
staircase ready to be driven to the
dance
my grandpa was waiting proudly by the
door I felt the need for a talk and
suddenly everything that had happened
over the last few weeks came spilling
out of my mouth I didn't expect my
grandpa to understand he was more likely
to tell me to pull myself together but I
was surprised when I look of sympathy
passed over him and he led me into the
living room I'm sorry Jessica I
shouldn't have tried to change you it's
just that you remind me so much of
myself at your age money and fancy
clothes won't bring you happiness dear
I've been rich and I've been poor and
neither makes you happy but good friends
well that's what makes you happy I've
been up here for so long on my own that
I think I've forgotten how to be happy
don't make the same mistakes I've made I
never forgave your mom for marrying your
dad I thought that he wasn't good enough
things could have been so different do
what your heart tells you don't follow
the crowd be your own person he hugged
me and at that moment I knew that we
would get along fine together things
were going to be different there was
also something I had to do I raced
upstairs and removed the new clothes put
on my jeans and an old t-shirt and
returned downstairs my grandpa didn't
say a word but just nodded his approval
the difference my appearance made when I
stepped into the school hall I
immediately saw
and Matt and the look of disapproval on
their faces even Asher soon gave me the
same vibe Alexa and Ben were standing
alone in a corner and I stepped over to
them feeling nervous hey you guys can I
join you
Alexa and I hugged after I apologize for
my behavior and when we finished I
looked around to do the same with Ben
but he was gone I looked at Alexa for an
explanation oh Jessica
you heard him so badly couldn't you
notice that he's in love with you I was
knocked out for a second but then filled
with the warm and fuzzy glow Ben and I
had always been close but my mind had
been so full of Asher that I'd missed
what had been in front of me all the
time I pushed in the crowd and found Ben
at the bar and tapped him lightly on the
shoulder hey you
I said smiling do you want to dance
after that evening everything worked out
fine Alexa and I were best friends again
and I started going steady with Ben I'd
never been happier dad and I finally
moved in with Grandpa and it's kind of a
perfect ending I learned a great deal
about myself and the value of true
friendship