Zoey looked at the long line ahead of her. She spotted many people she knew, many of them
which went to her school. She ducked behind the stream of people who were entering the large
brick building, trying to blend in with her surroundings.
"I can't believe I'm here," Zoey muttered, slightly ashamed of herself. "I promised myself I
wouldn't..." She drew in a slow, deep breath, and stepped forward with the line, until her turn
finally came. She picked up an application sheet, and sat down with it, taking a pen out of her
pocket.
Miss Teen, it read. Zoey filled in the information about herself, and handed it in. The woman
looked her up and down. "Welcome to the Miss Teen Contest, young lady, come back here
Monday, and we'll go over the rules and catagories."
Zoey nodded, and stepped away from the mob of teenage girls who were eagerly talking, or
laughing. Man, I really don't fit in with that crowd of people Zoey thought, as she gazed at a
group of teenages, who were all beautiful, either fixing their hair, or doing their makeup. I'm so
not like that.
Zoey sighed, and wrapped her coat around her shoulders more, as the now fall breeze played
with her hair. The dark locks of it blew in her face, and she stopped, to tuck them behind her
ears.
Zoey looked down at the ground. Leaves were starting to scatter the bare road. Man, summer
went by fast, she thought. She fixed her gaze on one leaf --- it seemed to stay put while all the
others were blew slightly down the well worn path she was walking to get away from the Miss
Teen signups.
"Just like me...it's the only one that stands out," Zoey muttered to herself. Then she felt herself
smack into someone, landing in a heap on the ground.
Zoey quickly got up, muttering a sorry.
"Zoey! Hey!"
Zoey looked up. "Hey Taylor," she said, not in the mood for a chat with him. A month ago,
she's be in heaven for just two words with him --- things change.
"What are you doing here? Are you helping out with the contest?" He asked, a hint of surprise
in his voice.
"No," she muttered, trying to push past him, but he stopped her, putting his arm around her
waist, and pulling her back.
"Taylor, let me through," she said.
"What are you doing here?"
"None of your business," she shot back, and tried to get by once again, but once again, she was
held back.
"Whats up with you Zoey?"
"If you must know, Taylor, I'm in the Miss Teen Contest. Happy now?" She asked, and shoved
past him.
"Whoooh, you? Zoey Fielding? In a beauty contest? Are you serious?" Taylor asked, laughing a
little.
Zoey glared at him. "Yes. Is that so hard to believe? You know, I actully thought of having a
chance at winning. Thank you, Taylor Hanson, for ruining my hopes."
"Whoh, Zoey," Taylor said, running to catch up with her. "Zoey, I'm sorry!"
"Yeah, well, I don't need anyone laughing at me. I need this money Taylor."
"Zoey, your my best friend! I'd never laugh at you!"
Zoey glared at him. "You just did, Taylor." She pushed her way past him, and walked quickly,
not looking back.
Chapter Ten
