Jessica walked down the isle of the school bus behind her big brother, earbuds blasting music in her ears to keep her from hearing the rude comments shot at her. She looked up to see a hand waving her over and smiled a little when she saw Kendall in the back seat. She pulled her hoodie sleeve lower on her arm as she made her way to him.

"Good morning, Star-Shine." he smiled as she pulled the earbuds from her ears and sat with him.

"Hey." she said.

"Did you do the Chem homework last night?" he asked. She nodded as she unzipped her backpack, searching for her notebook to compare answers. Suddenly, her hand was yanked in Kendall's direction.

"Dammit, Jess." Kendall said, disappointed, as he pushed the sleeve from her wrist. "I thought we were past this."

Jessica sighed, snatching her arm back, and covering the cuts with her sleeve again. She prepared for the usual lecture.

"Do you know what it does to me when I see this?" Kendall asked. "Jess, I LOVE your guts! You're my bestie! What would I do if you were gone? I'd have enough pain in my soul for everyone. Your parents, those douchebags in homeroom, everyone who's ever wronged you."

"It makes me feel better." she said quietly, looking down at her backpack in shame.

"If you keep this up, I'm gonna make you move in with me so that you won't do it anymore." he warned. Actually, that would be a relief. Her parents were drunks and were rarely home, leaving her and her brother to fend for themselves.

Feeling the sad tension that his lecture caused her, he unzipped his backpack to take out his notebook.

"I started on a new song." he said, flipping to the page and handing it to her. "It's slow and heartfelt- might not be your style. It's only the chorus so far."

Cause you're my cover, cover girl.

I think you're a super star

ya you are, why don't you know?

That you're so pretty, that it hurts.

It's what's underneath the skin.

The beauty that shines within.

You're the only one that rocks my world.

My cover girl.

"I like it." Jessica said, handing it back.

"Good- it's all about YOU." he said.

"Ya- right. I'm nobody's covergirl and I rock nobody's world." she laughed. She hated laughing and smiling- her braces always caused too much attention.

"Oh, come on, Jess. You're way prettier than you think. Even under all that eyeliner." he joked.

"That's not what I hear." she sighed.

"They just like to pick on you because of your disability and you know it." he said. "Personally- I think it's charming."

"Ya- I'm sure you like Kate the best, don't you? She's right down your ally." she laughed.

"Kate's okay. But I like Jessica the best." he said as the bus pulled up to the school. They unboarded and walked toward the school together.

"Oh, look! It's emo freek and Beanie Baby!" a boy hooted, making the group around him laugh. They called Kendall beanie baby because of his hats.

"She isn't EMO." Kendall raged.

"OOOH, standing up for your freeky GIRLFRIEND, I see?" someone else yelled. Kendall started advancing toward them, but Jessica caught him by the arm.

"Please? Not today." she begged.

"Why do you take that?" he asked angrily.

"Because no matter what I say, they won't change." she sighed as they entered the school. Kendall had been in lots of trouble for getting into fights at school over her.

In homeroom, they sat in desks toward the back.

"Okay, guys, here's your report cards." Mrs. Richards said, passing out the papers. Kendall got his and smiled, showing it to Jessica. All A's accept a C in Chem. Jessica got hers and saw that she got all A's, but 2 B's.

"How are you so awesome?" Kendall smiled. Suddenly, the look in Jessica's eyes changed, and he thought "here we go again".

"Awe, thanks, Kenny." she cooed, and touched his chin. "You're the sweetest, honeybear."

"Hey, Kate." he sighed. "Could ya send Jess back out?"

"But why would I do that?" she asked, eyes wide and pouty. "You don't wanna hang out with me?"

"Hey, Beanie Baby, what'd ya get? All F's?" the boy in front of them asked. Kendall just awaited the outburst.

"Excuse me? His name's KENDALL. And as a matter of fact, he's NEVER gotten an F. Cause he's one of the smartest people I know." Jessica, or rather Kate, raged. All eyes turned to her. "He's cute and smart and sweet and funny! Why do you ALL insist on bullying him around all day?" she said, flustered. Kendall stood up next to her and touched her arm. She looked up at him and her eyes changed yet again. She looked around, confused, then she bent down, snatched up her backpack, and stormed away, tears in her eyes.

"Jess!" Kendall called after her in the hallway. She stopped and allowed him to take her in his arms.

"I'm sick of this, Kendall." she said, a tear escaping.

"It's okay! She's not so bad. Not as bad as Ned." he said reassuringly.

"She sexually harasses you every time she comes out!" she said.

"That's alright." he laughed, and the bell rang, students flooding the halls.

"I think I might go home." she said quietly.

"NO! Just stay here! Make a list and I'll beat em all up." he smiled. "Let's go."

Kate was a completely different person from Jessica. She was peppy and brave and intelligent, but when she came out there was no hiding her. Although she wasn't as bad as Ned, who was a cranky old man who always spoke his mind. However, Ned rarely ever came out. Nobody had seen him for weeks. Altogether, the two have been successful at ruining Jessica's life.