i can't get your s m i l e out of my mind; `` victoria, REA

Okay, I tried really hard to dislike Rea, honestly. I know that's not really my
usual thing, but neither is she if you think about it. I mean she's really
standoffish at first, and I guess I kinda just read that as her being a big fat
dancing brat. When I was in eighth grade and she was just starting out, I'm
afraid I openly snubbed her. I was kind of a b-word, actually. The first time
we met there was some kind of misunderstanding, I thought she'd started some
stupid rumor about one of my roommates (which it turned out she totally didn't),
and I just up and started yelling at her about it in the cafeteria. After that we
kept our distances from one another, and it really had seemed like our relationship
was totally unsalvageable. When I turned sixteen, though, and got the Chevy
my dad and I had been working on sent up to school as a birthday present,
Rea and I actually held a decent conversation. Turns out she loves vintage
cars as much as me (and Soph) do! We kind of just ignored the fact that we'd
been passively hating each other for so long, and since then we've actually
developed into really good friends. She can be a little crazy at times (and,
heck, so can I!), but I think she's actually one of my favorite people to hang
out with.

”Really the first time I met this girl I technically didn't even meet her.
She was one of those girls that just popped up and started yelling. I remember
looking at the fuming Jane and thinking 'What the fuck is this chicks problem?'
before just walking away. I admit, I'm a little shy and quiet at first, not saying
much.. But still is that a reason to yell? Well later on she was in a few of my
classes and we started talking, and finally I saw her Chevy. I didn't care if she
hated me, I had to talk to her. I've been a car fanatic ever since I was a little
girl and if I was a boy and had seem that car I'd cream. Sure I have my own
classic car but Chevy's are amazing. Suddenly we're super good friends and I
love it.. Sure she'd really a good influence, but I still like hanging out with her.
She brings out the ladylike side in me. :]“

"I don't really have much to say about Rea. Well, actually, I do,
at some point, have several things to say, to her face, but I'm not
so stupid as to bring it up now, when I still have to deal with her for
another two years. We have the same area of study - I have to
be civil, it would be absolute hell if I wasn't, but there are times when
I really, desperately don't want to be at all. I can't say she's been safe
from my sarcasm - I'd go insane if it weren't for that, but it's like everything
she does just rubs me completely wrong. The biggest turn off? Have you seen
her at parties? I thought Isaac was bad, but she's worse, if that's possible. I
get so pissed off just watching her act like that...it's like she has no respect
for herself. She has this touchy-feely thing for men that is repulsive, and I
am seriously irritated personally am appalled in general by
her behavior. The thing that really gets me, I think, is how willingly, easily,
and ridiculously Isaac goes for that. I don't know why it bothers me so
much - but it does. The way he looks at her sometimes just makes me
want to leave him, sitting with his mouth open, by himself. I'm not jealous,
ohhhh God no. I'm thankful I'm not like that, after seeing it so blatantly before
my own eyes. But I can't say anything - I have to tolerate it. We're in the same
program. I see her daily. I have to deal with her. Seeing Rea isn't like an
instantaneous signal for me to shut off the professional persona; instead,
I just go with a friendly grimace and maybe a wave. I just wish she'd
stay the hell away from Isaac.

”Sophia is a girl that should really just say what she wants to say. I
understand the idea of trying to avoid conflict but I know that she doesn't
like me. It's obvious, and the idea that she smiles and says 'hi' like we're
friends pisses me off sometimes. Still I don't want to say anything bad
just because of her and isaac and her and Jane, like she and I would
probably get along well but she doesn't really give me a chance.
What do I expect though? She likes Isaac and Isaac and I have hooked up..
A lot. She just needs to loosen up and I'm sure we'd get along well.“

"It took me a while to get past the persona, but with a little effort I
found something underneath that I could respond to in myself. She has
such a mainstream mindset, even under her rebel facade- I mean, what
is she really rebelling against? Being taken for someone like anyone
else? As if, she really is better than that. I kinda feel like there is
something she is searching for. There is absolutely nothing wrong
with that, because that in itself is one of the biggest things that
brought me to realize how much of her own person she is capable
of being. And even though she does strike me as a 'rebel without
a cause' type, she's down for some trash talk and mischief once
in a while. What a gal."

”At first I felt like Ali was a little stand offish, but I think she
was just getting used to me. I feel like she gets me though. We
get along well, and she's kind of like my missing link. While my
other best friend doesn't fuel my Trouble tank enough, Alicia
definitely does. We sure can stir some shit up, thats for sure.
Not only that bus I feel like I can tell her about anything. She's
one of those girls. Not only that but I respect her, she doesn't
try to be anything she's not like some people I've been around.