There is nothing quite like the whispers in the hallway as I walk down the corridor with my brothers on either side of me. Especially when those whispers are about me. It isn't a surprise that the information was leaked, and unlike all the other gossip that had flown through these halls — this gossip is fact.

We're different from our classmates, our lives on display in a glass box for the world to judge. I've grown used to it, but right now, I want nothing more than to turn around and leave. Leave the stares. The judgement. The quiet whispers. The not so subtle jabs directed at us.

For most people, when their parents separate they can keep it to themselves. Pick and choose who gets to know the information. That isn't the case for me and my brothers, not when you're the kids of a legendary musician. Not when every gossip tabloid out there is trying to exploit your private family business every waking moment of your life. Not when the "inside source" shares the information.

I want nothing to do with this.

None of us do.

"We'll catch you later, E," Riker hums after pinching my arm lightly to get my attention when he spots his red-headed girlfriend and our school's class president, Lena at her locker.

I nod my head as him and his twin, Isaac leave me to continue my way down the halls alone. Isaac peeking over his shoulder to give me a reassuring smile, making the same blue eyes we share brighten as he stops at his own locker and a sigh falls from my lips before heading for the junior hallway.

"Stevie!" Isla shouts from the end of the hall when she spots me. My eyes widen at the sudden attention as she runs to reach me, but not before being swatted by our other best friend, Robyn.

Isla and I have been best friends since the age of three when we met in pre-k. She was an outsider, and so was I. The two of us instantly gravitating towards each other. She's been with me through every bad thing that's ever happened in my life and I, her. Robyn came in a little bit later. We met her when we started high school, but it feels like we've known each other our entire lives. They are my saving graces from all the stares and whispers in our Malibu high school. Without them I'd probably drown.

"How are you doing?" Isla asks as she wraps her arms around me the ends of her black hair tickling my cheek when she pulls back, the dark bob reaching the bottom of her jawline.

The separation isn't news to them. Nor me. It happened three months ago and both of them knew the day my parents told me but still it's a tough pill to swallow knowing everyone else around me knows now too.

"I've had better days," I shrug as I reach for the dial on my locker, tucking a piece of my fallen blonde hair behind my ear. "Thanks for the added attention, by the way. I really think the shouting helped. It's not like I haven't had enough of that for a life time."

"Sorry," she frowns, scrunching up her nose. "I think my mom's rubbing off on me."

"Yeah, her little Korean heart means well," Robyn smiles softly from the other side of me, resting her head against the metal door while folding her arms over the top of her cheer uniform.

She isn't your typical looking cheerleader, not by a long shot. Robyn is bold. Courageous in everything she does, and never stops to care about what others think about her. When she joined the squad, she tried to appeal to how everyone else looked. Taming her long lion's mane with too much product and an unhealthy addiction to a straightening iron, but she eventually got bored with trying to succumb to societies beliefs on what a cheerleader should look like and decided to do things the way she wants. She didn't even give it a second thought when she brought the razor to her head, riding herself of any worry.

The shaved look suited her strong features and only drew more attention to the masterpieces she created with make-up. Instead of worrying about her hair in the morning, she gets to play with colors and has created some looks only Robyn Lloyd can pull off. And I mean that in the best possible way. I'm envious of her courage and confidence. It oozes out of her and pours out to the people around her.

Which is probably why Isla and I feel like super women in her presence. Her aura cheering on woman and our incredible differences instead of judging them.

"I'm sorry this happened, boo. Did they find out who leaked the information?" She asks, resting her hand on my arm with a small frown on her face.

A sigh falls from my lips as I shake my head. "No, seems pointless now. Everyone knows already."

"Well, we'll kick anyone's ass who says anything to you," Isla grins at me, making her dark eyes brighten. Always trying to put a smile on my face, but all I can do is roll my eyes at the comment.

"And by we'll she means me," Robyn laughs, her once shaved head now cluttered with tight coarse curls. Still short enough that she doesn't need to worry about taming them when she wakes up, but long enough that they're are noticeable.

"Thanks guys." I smile at their effort to cheer me up as I pick my calculus textbook out of my locker. "Now, I've got a date with math class so I'll see you later."

"Lunch?" Isla asks.

"Can't. I've got a meeting with Miss. Arthur about this month's issue," I frown, having to talk about the photos I need to take at the pep rally for the school paper/blog.

"Boo," Isla frowns.

"Then we'll see you at the pep rally after school?" Robyn questions.

"Unfortunately, yes," I sigh before waving goodbye to the two of them.

With a huff, I find my way into the classroom and make my way through my day. Usually, lunch is reserved for half day meet-ups with Isla and Robyn but unfortunately, as the head photographer for the school paper this year it means I have to have lunch meetings with the club's advisor, Miss. Arthur to talk about the schedule for the other photographers.

I'm not thrilled about the time away from my friends, but it's made up for by getting to spend more time with my camera. It becoming glued to my hip since my mom got me my first one when I was twelve-years-old. Since then, I've had a passion for photography and the ability to freeze moments of time forever.

An ability I never, ever want to give up and the only downside to being head photographer is having to attend most school functions, like football games or dances.

Or in today's case, the dreadful pep rally.

heading to the football field

where r u

My eyes stay trained on my phone, waiting for Isla's reply until I run into a hard chest. A gasp falls from my lips when the force nearly knocks me off my feet, waiting for impact I squeeze my eyes shut in anticipation but it never comes. Instead, I feel a tight grasp on the back of my arms – large hands clasped around my elbows, keeping me on my feet.

"Woah," he says softly. "You okay?"

I nod my head and peel my eyes open to find the wonder boy of school, Felix Montgomery holding me tightly to his chest and it takes a second for me to collect my thoughts. I've never been this close to him before, and it nearly takes my breath away with how gorgeous he is. The tousled brunette curls and deep, dark eyes that stare right into my soul. His whole look is effortless and he's dangerously close.

"Yeah," I nod my head and step back from him, straightening my shirt out. "Sorry."

"Don't sweat it," he smiles while kneeling down to pick the phone I didn't realized I dropped up, before holding it out to me. "Stevie, right? You're on the the school paper?"

"You know who I am?"

"Why do you sound so surprised?"

Because I'm insignificant.

When people meet me, it's not usually me they know me for. I'm either the brainiac, Riker's little sister. Or the artist, Isaac's little sister. Or football legend, Greyson's little sister. Or the daughter of a famous musician. Never in my life have I been recognized as myself. It always has something to do with my brothers, or my dad.

"I'm...uh," I swallow before shaking my head at him, deciding to ignore the flutter of awkwardness filling the space between us. "Never mind. Thanks for not letting me fall on my ass."

"Sure." He nods, a sweet laugh that sends a chill up my spine falling from his lips. His perfect, soft lips.

"Have a good game."

"It's a pep rally, you know that, right?" He asks and I realize I'm word vomiting to keep the awkwardness from drowning us but instead of making things better, I'm making them worse.

"Right, yup," I nod my head. "Well, you have a game coming up eventually so..."

"Good luck for that one?" He offers a crooked smile that makes my knees weak.

I swallow dryly before nodding my head and hurrying around him with my stomach in knots when I spot Isla at the end of the corridor. I am suddenly thankful for her finding me when she does and the rescue from having to keep talking to him. The golden boy. The very pretty, very annoyingly charming Felix Montgomery.

"Bye Stevie," Felix shouts after me and my eyes widen slightly as I run toward Isla, gripping her forearms when she holds her hands out to me.

"Did Felix Montgomery just shout after you?" She asks.

"Nope." I shake my head and push her backwards, wanting to create as much space between us as possible. Isla being stubborn, and nosy digs her heels into the floor to keep me from dragging her along.

"You do realize I saw you, right?"

"Yes," I nod.

"What did he want?"

"Nothing," I frown. "I ran into him when I was heading outside."

"He knows your name?"

"Apparently," I swallow. "Can we go? I need to get ready to shoot this stupid thing."

"E, you're blushing," she teases, pinching my cheek.

"I am not," I shake my head, slapping her hand away as I adjust the strap of my camera on my shoulder. Bringing it up to my face, I pull the lens cap off and tuck it into my back pocket of my jeans before directing the barrel of my camera at Isla. "Say cheese."

"You can't avoid this!" She yelps after me as I move down to the field to get a better shot.

"I can try," I shout back as I wander down the stairs of the bleachers to the field while Isla follows down the front of the high rise, turning and leaning into the railing to call after me when she spots Robyn.

"Robby! You'll never guess who was talking to Stevie," she shouts and my eyes widen as I turn around to face her, my face turning tomato red. My lips part at the way she is completely disregarding my obvious try to avoid the topic.

"Isla! Shut up," I yelp and turn around to find Robyn with a few of her fellow cheerleaders, parting ways with them to come over to us.

"What is she talking about?"

"Nothing," I growl.

"Not nothing," Isla shakes her head. "Felix Montgomery was talking to her."

"No way!" Robyn gasps. "He's fine."

"Good, then you can go talk to him," I roll my eyes.

"Awe, c'mon, E," Robyn frowns. "We're just teasing you."

I raise my eyes to meet hers and she laughs.

"Come take a picture of the squad."

Sighing, I nod and head toward the field where the cheerleaders are getting ready for the performance. Robyn, being the bubbly and outspoken person she is gets everyone into formation while I line up my camera to shoot them – adjusting my settings to get the perfectly exposed image. After snapping a few photos, I thank them and allow them to get finished warming up.

As I make my way back toward the bleacher, wanting to find a higher view point to shoot photos for the rest of the event I come face to face with Riker and Lena. My lips curl up at the happy smile always on my brother's face when he's around her. The two of them having gotten together when they were fifteen years old. They're intense at most times, but Lena is sweet, if not a little ambition.

Both have high goals set out for them, with Riker making plans to attend medical school and Lena wanting to study law. There is no doubt in my mind that they won't be able to do it, despite the way they get on each other's nerves, and mine. I can't help but love them both. Lena now being a part of our family, forever and always.

"Hey baby sister," Riker smiles when he spots me, running his fingers through his spiky dirty blonde hair. The same color as our mom's.

"Hey," I smile as I bring my camera up. "Smile."

Lena instantly moves into Riker's grasp, resting her hand on his torso as he moves his arm around her shoulder. Both smiling intensely at my camera and moving towards me to get a look when I pull it away from my face.

"Cute! You'll send me that?" Lena asks.

"Of course," I nod.

"Thank you, Stevie," she grins before turning to Riker. "Okay, I've got to go get the rally started. I'll see you later, babe."

"Bye baby," Riker kisses her quickly before turning towards me. "You have someone to sit with?"

"Camera duty." I hold the device up, my eyes scanning for a place to station myself. "I just need to find a higher vantage point to get a better shot of the field."

"Wouldn't it be better to just stay on the field?"

"Yeah, but I'm not exactly six feet like you," I roll my eyes at the stupid question.

"That's an easy fix," he grabs my hand and pulls me toward the stairs of the bleacher. He gives me a small shove, guiding me up the stairs before sitting on the third last step and patting his shoulders. "Come on."

"No," I shake my head.

"Scared of heights, E?" He hums the question.

I roll my eyes as I move the strap to my camera around my neck, pulling my long blonde hair out from under it before grabbing onto the railing. A huff falling from my lips when he holds his free hand out for me to steady myself with, his other wrapping around my leg as I move to sit on his shoulders.

"Riker, I swear to god, if you drop me," I growl as he grabs hold of my legs.

"I'm not going to drop you," he rolls his eyes at me before standing up. "How's that?"

I want to make a snarky comment but the truth is, it's the perfect angle for me to get pictures from and he's making it possible. Making it impossible for me to be sarcastic with him.

"Better." I admit as I pull the velvet scrunchie off my wrist, pulling half of my long, rib length hair up into a messy bun at the back of my head to keep my light blonde hair out of my eyes. "Thank you."

"Tell me where to go," he chuckles, resting his hands on my thighs as I tuck my feet behind his back.

Riker takes my directions, heading for the corner of the field first as the rally starts. From my spot on his shoulders, I'm able to get the pictures I envisioned in my head and talked about with Miss. Arthur at lunch. I am suddenly thankful that I come from a family of giants. Unfortunately getting the short gene from my mom, but when I have six foot brothers around – why in the world do I need the extra height?

The pep rally starts with a bang, filled with announcements and cheers from the squad. The time that isn't filled with talking, is filled with competitions to get money or embarrass our teachers before they have all the school teams on the field. I easily spot Isaac with my camera, grinning when he waves at us before scanning the crowd for other picture worthy moments – but what I find instead is Felix.

I don't realize it at first, but I'm holding my breath when I find his eyes in my viewfinder, snapping a quick photo before lowering the camera from my face to find his eyes still on me. The corner of his lips curling up at me and I feel more exposed than I ever have with the media coverage my family gets.

Suddenly, my glass box is no longer the whispers and stares or rude comments written online. Instead, it's one stare. One voice. One person that is making my stomach flip, and not in a way I'm used to.

It's only been like five weeks since I went on my break, but it feels like forever ago but I'm back and refreshed and ready to share a new story with you. I'm so excited about I See You and I hope you are too.