Labels

This book includes the following:

- Romance

## Prologue

Hello, my lovely readers! In this book, you recognize the story of five different girls in ninth grade who are stereotyped as one thing when really, they’re so much more. Cameron is known as Priya’s younger sister, the art nerd, and the girl who eats lunch under a tree. Connie is known as the smart girl or the mathlete. Taylor is known as the pretty, popular girl. Iris is known as the shy, plant girl. And Keiko is known as the rebel. They aren’t all those though. They have stories beneath the labeled exteriors that you get to see.

# Part One - Cameron’s Story

## Chapter One  - Macaroni and Cheese, A Tree, and Three Peculiar People

In ninth grade, I was known as Cameron Rivera. Aka, Priya’s-Younger-Sister. Aka, That-Girl-That-Eats-Lunch-Under-A-Tree. Yes, I’m Cameron Rivera. Yes, I’m Priya Rivera’s younger sister. Yes, I had lunch under a tree. The day it all started, I was in line with my best friend, Dehzeylah DeRomas. It was macaroni and cheese day— the only day I ever ate school lunch. Most people would save up to eat on pizza day. Not me. I wanted that macaroni and cheese that made my day, every first Monday of each month. I watched the lunch lady put the scoop of perfect macaroni and cheese on my plate. Gooey, creamy orange-yellow sauce, and perfectly cooked, macaroni noodles, and cheese. Dehzeylah and I paid and walked over to our special tree. We always ate there.

Ryan was already there, eating a yellow apple. Ryan was my other best friend. It was just us, sitting under that tree. I was peculiar. Dehzeylah and Ryan were too. I was a good old Mexican girl with my tan, sunburnt skin, big brown eyes, and wavy black hair. Mama was Mexican and spoke Spanish. She knew a little bit of English. I thought in puzzles, wondering the deepest questions there was to wonder. I was a thinker. Dehzeylah (or Dez, as I call her) was the analytical one, always letting her long dark hair fall over her black skin and hazel eyes as she leaned forward, determined to figure out one math problem or another. Ryan was the laid-back one. The one who would always sort out a fight someone was having. The one who just wanted peace. We were weirdos. And I *loved* it.

I didn’t care what other people thought. Until The Incident happened. Then I cared. Right then, sitting under the tree, with no idea what would happen to me two hours later, I didn’t care. I was just having fun, joking about how humans are technically just tiny specks of dust compared to the entire universe out there, as Dehzeylah worked on math, and Ryan ate his apple. I didn’t care as I ate my macaroni and cheese under the tree — us three peculiar people.

## Chapter Two - Science, Art, and Stairs

The bell rang. Dez and I picked up our bags, waved goodbye to Ryan, and went to science class. I sat there, doodling as Mr. Reedwhistle droned on about cell theories and the nervous system. I doodled a lot. I still got good grades — As and Bs — because, I guess, the information stuck to my brain. It was easiest for me to understand things if I drew them. So, if I drew during science class, the information. Mr. Reedwhistle didn’t care. He said it was great that I used drawings to help me remember things and that if I was learning the material, he would let me doodle.

Art has always been fun for me. I was in the Art Club, I won competitions, I always took art class, and did after-school classes every Monday. Monday was my favorite day of the week — macaroni *and* art class. I had art friends, who were art nerds like me. Savannah had curly, light brown hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. She did still lifes — drawings that were of objects, like a pot. Oliver drew plants. Only plants. Iris did manga. Benni did realistic pieces. Lakshmi did cartoon-type drawings. And me? I did it all.

Science finished and Dez went to math. Lakshmi and I had to hurry for art class with Mrs. Leesham. Mrs. Leesham wasn’t a stickler about people being tardy. We just didn’t want to miss a second. Lakshmi’s black hair flew out behind her as we ran towards a flight of stairs. If I could go back in time, I’d tell myself to stop running. If I had slowed down, The Incident never would have happened. But, this isn’t Harry Potter. I can’t go back in time. The Incident happened. And I keep watching it in my mind to this day. We started down the stairs, running. Then I tripped. Tripped forward and tumbled down the stairs, slamming and landing my entire weight on my ankle. I screamed in pain.

“Cam!” Lakshmi cried. “Cam, you okay?”

I bit back tears as Lakshmi helped me hobble to the office, which was nearby. We waited for Mama to come to pick me up and drive me to the hospital. I sat in the back, grasping my ankle with my eyes closed. And I don’t know if I didn’t tell you this yet, but this wasn’t the big thing. This was just the incident that set off the chain reaction.

## Chapter Three - Doctor Sheila, Casts, and Siblings

The nurses and doctors asked me, “Where does it hurt?” I pointed to my ankle every time. Doctor Sheila explained that I had broken my ankle as they put on the cast. At 3:32 exactly, Mama took me home and I saw Dad there. And Dad never came home early unless it was special.

“Daddy!” I sobbed, a rare immature moment.

“Baby!” Dad cried, hugging me. “Priya should be home soon.”

“You didn’t tell her?” I asked.

“No, not yet. We wanted her to finish the school day first.” Mama explained.

“Good,” I said. Priya needed to finish. She was in 11th grade now, and I wasn’t about to let my injury get in the way of her finishing school. She was a good student and looked like an older version of me, except with makeup and long hair.

“Cam! Cammy!” came the high-pitched voice of my younger brother, Evan.

“Ev! Hey!” I smiled, putting on a brave face for my eight-year-old brother. Evan was smiles and rainbows. If you combined a human and a hyperactive unicorn, you’d get Evan.

“Ooh! Can I sign your cast?” Evan asked, looking at my plain white cast.

I blinked away a few tears. “Sure.” Evan ran off to grab a sharpie and Mama smiled gratefully. Then, Priya came walking into the house. She hung up her backpack and then looked at Dad.

“Dad? What the flip are you doing here?” she asked. Then she noticed Mama and I.

“Ma! Cam has art today!” she said. “What is up with you guys?!”

I showed her my leg and Priya cursed. “When the flip did this happen?” she almost screamed.

“About an hour ago,” I muttered. Priya rounded on Mama.

“And you didn’t *tell* me?!? My own sister breaks her ankle and you decide to come home without telling me a flippin’ thing?” Priya shouted.

“Pri! You had *school*!” Mama snapped.

“And I could’ve left. What the flip Ma! I- God! Whatever,” Priya snapped. She turned to me. “Sorry, Cam. This stinks.”

She ran her hand through her hair. Then, Evan was back.

“It just hurts. And everyone is going to be staring at me,” I said.

Priya sighed. “Listen, we’re not sitting around like some lame widowers whose baby just died. We’re having a party. Cameron, go call Ryan, Dehzeylah, and Lakshmi.”

Priya picked up her wallet, her purse, and her phone. “Where are you going, querido?” Mama asked.

“Ma, I’m sixteen. I can drive,” Priya replied. It wasn’t a complete answer, but Mama just nodded. Evan grabbed my arm and signed my cast with his messy, eight-year-old writing. It looked like we were going to have a party.

## Chapter Four - Coke, Friends, and Zoom Calls

Lakshmi, Ryan, Deyzehleh, and I sat on the couch, each with a Coke in our hand. I watched as Ryan threw a grape into the air and caught it in his mouth. Priya pulled into the driveway and climbed out of the car. She was carrying something in her hands.

“Pizza!” she called as she walked into the kitchen.

She noticed the four of us and she walked over. “Hi, Priya,” Dez said.

“Hey, Deyzehleh. Yo, Cam! Pizza!” Priya replied before grabbing her own Coke bottle. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a slice of cheese pizza with my right hand. I ate it. It was good. Almost as good as macaroni and cheese.

“What’d I miss in art?” I asked Lakshmi.

“We just worked on any final touches to our paintings,” Lakshmi answered. She took another bite of pepperoni pizza.

“Honey, Abuelo and Abuela are Zoom-Calling!” Mama called.

“C’mon,” I said. I looked into the screen of our computer. “Hi!” I said.

“Ahh! Cameron!” Abuela smiled. “How do you feel?”

“Fine, gracias,” I said. Abuela nodded in satisfaction.

“Bebe,” Abuelo asked. “Who are your friends?”

“This is Lakshmi, Ryan, and Deyzehleh,” I answered, pointing to each of my friends in turn.

“And where is my Priya?” Abuela asked.

“Right here!” Priya said, popping into the camera to do a little wave.

As she walked off Abuela said, “No! Priya, come back to your old Abuela!”

I laughed and let Priya talk to my grandparents. I dragged Ryan, Dez, and Lakshmi back into the kitchen. “Frozen Snickers?” I asked, opening the freezer in the process.

“Sure,” Lakshmi grinned.

Things were turning around. At least, for the night.

## Chapter Five - Typing, McDonald’s, and Couch Cushions

I slept on the couch that night. After Lakshmi, Dez, and Ryan left, Mama propped me up on the couch and I spent a few hours binge-watching TV until I fell asleep. I wouldn’t have school for the next three days. In the morning, I didn’t feel like getting up to get my art stuff, so I took out my computer and started typing up my essay due next week for Language Arts. Dad came through the front door carrying a McDonald’s bag. I smiled and thanked him as he handed me a sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich and a large fry. He handed Evan a Happy Meal. Who knew why Happy Meals were being sold at eight a.m.

So my brother had chicken nuggets. For breakfast. My dad took him to school like usual, and Mama drove to work. I was home alone. I rarely got to be home alone. Priya would always be in charge of Evan and things, so unless Priya was busy, I was never alone. I hobbled over to the table, grabbed my art supplies, and went back to the couch. I plopped down on the cushions and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders. I started drawing with my left leg still propped up. I drew an anime comic strip before rolling onto my side and falling asleep.

When I woke up, it was lunchtime. It took me a second to realize what had *woken* me up. It was my phone. I reached over and grabbed it as I put a cold french fry in my mouth. It was Dez FaceTime calling me. I answered and saw Dez, Ryan, and Lakshmi under the tree.

“Hey, girl!” Lakshmi grinned.

“Hi,” I said tiredly.

“So, you just woke up,” Ryan laughed.

“Mhm. I woke up to y’all calling me and cold french fries,” I snickered.

“Good for you. Well, you’ll be back in two days,” Dez said.

That was right. In two days, I’d be back.

## Chapter Six - School, Stares, and Group Projects

It was Thursday. I was going back to school. Dez, Ryan, and Lakshmi walked to school with me. People stared throughout the day and everyone wanted to sign my cast. The most popular girl in the school, who I thought didn’t even know my name, came up and hugged me.

“Aw, I heard about your leg! I’m so sorry, Cameron! Also, here’s some news— in PLTW, we have partner groups announced today because each will be speaking about something we feel strongly about,” Taylor Brennan said to me.

Taylor and I were in PLTW— Project Lead The Way- together with Mrs. Kane. Basically, we learned different units on things like equality, engineering, and climate change. Mrs. Kane was a bit wacky with sparkling blue eyes, bushy black hair, shiny black skin, and cheetah-print glasses. I walked to PLTW with Taylor and we sat down.

“Hey, guys!” Mrs. Kane smiled, clapping her hands.

“Okay, so now that we’re done with the Salam Neighbor film about the Syrian Refugees and sending letters to the refugee survivors, we’re starting a new project called Speak. I’m going to split each of you into groups of five out of random choice, and you will research something you all want to speak up about. Then, each group will be giving a speech to the middle and high school students in a month,” Mrs. Kane finished excitedly.

I glanced at Taylor, who looked excited. She glanced at me and grinned. Mrs. Kane held up a bowl with slips of paper. “Alright, in this bowl are all of your twenty-five names. I’m going to pull them and y’all will be put into those groups.”

Casey Uwena, Austin Meroke, Tony Thomas, Sana, and Sabrina Sheroll got paired up. Then Raphael Kim, Penelope Evan, Sarah May, Betty Telsa, and Lee Mitchell got put into a group. “Okay, next, for group three, we have… Cameron Rivera!” Mrs. Kane said.

I looked around, wondering who would be in my group. “Taylor Brennan!”

Taylor looked at me with her perfect teeth, perfect white skin, and perfect pale blonde hair and smiled. I gave her a small smile. Connie Eigenbroad was also in my group. She was really smart and great at math. She had brown hair that was in a ponytail, dark brown eyes, and freckly skin. Keiko Chen was also in our group. She was known to be kinda secretive and a little goth. She had black hair, was Asian, and had brown eyes. Finally, Iris Euan was known to take care of the school courtyard and be pretty shy. We were all as opposite as you could get.

# Part Two - Taylor’s Story

## Chapter Seven  - Erin

Middle school is *full* of labels. And I’m labeled as the prettiest, most popular girl in the school. ‘Perfect’. Hah. I’m not even close to being perfect. Sure, I’m pretty. Yeah, I get A’s. But I have non-normal things too. Including the fact that I didn’t even like guys, even though Matthew Hubert, the football dude in 10th grade at the high school, had asked me out. And I had turned him down. And everyone was shocked. And then my BFF Savannah just said I was gutsy. Savannah made her opinions loud and clear. On the other hand, I was pressured to put on a fake smile and pretend that I just didn’t want to date Matthew. The thing was, I didn’t even like guys. I liked girls.

I had decided I was lesbian in the summer before 9th grade when I met a girl named Erin that I really liked. She had also been lesbian and we hung out all summer. A week before 9th grade was supposed to start, Erin had to go back to New Jersey. It was heartbreaking, but we promised to visit each other during holiday breaks. I saw her again during winter break, and we FaceTimed all the time, but it still stunk having her gone. I wanted to tell Savannah because she had always been a true friend— not a fake friend who just wanted to be popular.

I was a nervous wreck for half of the day until Savannah pulled me into the bathroom during lunch and asked, “Okay, what is wrong, Tayls?”

“Um, so, you know how I’ve always turned down boys?” I asked slowly.

“Oh my god. I will never forget the look on Matthew Hubert’s face when you turned him down,” Savannah laughed.

“Yeah…” I said. Savannah grabbed my hand. I knew it shouldn’t have meant anything, but it still made my face burn. Savannah dropped her hand and looked at me in shock.

“You’re lesbian?” Savannah asked quietly. I nodded.

“I’m dating a girl named Erin. She lives in New Jersey,” I explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Savannah asked.

“*Because*, Sav. We’re just labels here. People just see me as the popular girl,” I said, exasperated.

I closed my eyes and thought about Erin. Her cinnamon-toned skin, curly, sandy-brown hair, and tealy-blue eyes. This was two weeks before our PLTW project with the other girls. Before I found a voice in myself. But I did. It was then that I finally made Erin and I being a couple public.