You Got Me by Mercy Amare

family a lot. Aaron was a very sweet little boy, and Grace immediately took to me like I was her new best friend. Barbara was at work practically the whole time. I was beginning to wonder when she slept. She worked so hard for her family. It was obvious that she loved them a lot.
    I also loved watching Aiden with his siblings. They were all so close, and honestly, I was a little jealous. I wondered what kind of person I would be if I had grown up in a normal family. What would it be like to have a brother or sister?
    Saturday night, Aiden hung out with Aaron in the other room, watching cartoons, while Grace and me painted our fingernails. She was the definition of a girly girl, completely opposite from me.
    “I love your hair,” she said, smiling.
    “ Thanks.” I suddenly felt a little shy. What was with everybody giving me compliments lately?
    “ I wish my mom would let me put a strip of pink in my hair.”
    I looked at her beautiful blonde hair. “Your hair is so pretty like it is.”
    She rolled her eyes. “It's so boring.”
    I laughed. Were all 15 year old girls so dramatic?
    “So what's up with all the writing on your arms?” When she said it, she wasn't judging me. Just asking why I did it.
    I decided to answer her as best as I could. “I just write opposite of what I'm feeling, and it helps me feel better.”
    She pointed to the spot that said ' I'm awesome '. “I like that one the best,” she smiled. “And it's true. You are very awesome.”
    “ Umm... Thanks,” I answered. It felt weird accepting a compliment.
    “ Are you and my brother dating?”
    “ No,” I quickly answered. “We are just friends.”
    “ Does my brother know that you're just friends ?” she asked. “Because, he looks at you like he's dying of thirst and you're a tall glass of water.”
    I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. “No he doesn't.”
    “Pu-lease,” she crossed her arms over her chest. “I've known him for 15 years, and he's way into you. You know, he's never brought a girl home before.”
    Part of me wanted what she said to be true, but the other part of me, the rational side, knew better. I'm screwed up. Aiden knows it. “He can do so much better than me.”
    Grace smiled. “I knew it! You so like him too.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I do not.”
    “Whatever, you so do.” She blew on her freshly painted nails. She was obviously satisfied with herself.
    Geez, this girl should be a interrogator.
     
    AIDEN
    I laid beside my brother on the bed. We were watching Spongebob. Roxy and Grace were in the other room, painting their nails. I could hear them both laughing. I couldn't help but smile. Roxy was really fitting in with my family, and I liked it. There was nowhere else I would rather be.
    Aaron seemed to be feeling better, which was a relief.
    “Do you want to tell me what happened?” I was dreading this conversation. My sweet brother didn't get into fights.
    He sighed angrily. “Some of the boys at school don't like me. They're bigger, and mean. I tried to stand up for myself, and then they pushed me off the top of the monkey bars.”
    “Did you talk to your teacher about this?” I asked.
    He shook his head. “If I did, they would just be meaner.”
    “Did it just start recently? Or has it been since the beginning of the year?” I asked.
    He looked away, and got quiet.
    “You can tell me.”
    “ It started after football season started. They're fans of Alabama.”
    I stiffened at that. These kids are 7 years old, and in the second grade. Too young to get so angry about football rivalries. “So they don't like you because of me?”
    He nodded. “But its ok. I can take it, honest.”
    “ Next time, when these bullies start in, walk away. Promise me, Aaron. They're not worth it.”
    “ I promise.”
    “ And just remember, we won the game last night.”
    We both bumped knuckles, and Aaron smiled proudly. “It's because they have you. You're the best football player, ever.”
    We both turned