The Happy Girl

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Recommended: Music and teenagers

The Happy Girl

Jackie's small features curled up in horror as I unceremoniously plopped down on the hotel room floor. "Ew! That's so disgusting, Sarah!" she exclaimed, stomping her slipper-clad foot soundly on the floor. "I can't believe that you're sitting on the carpet! You know how germ-a-phobic I am!" Rolling around some more, I laughed as her hands clasped around a jumbo-sized container of Lysol. Even on the band trip to Colorado, she was still as cautious of "infection" as ever. Shaking her head at me, she smiled somberly as she shook the can, preparing to thoroughly disinfect our room.

Based on this alone, most people would classify Jackie as, well, a freak. Most likely, they'd be right. But she's "freaky" in an amazingly wonderful sort of way. I've known Jackie since sixth grade. When I first went to West Hempfield Middle School, I didn't know many people. Most of my friends were sent to Harrold, while others became "popular" seemingly overnight, leaving their slightly geeky bookworm of a best friend behind as they went on to become cheerleaders, athletes, or student government representatives.

One of the girls from my homeroom that I quickly befriended introduced me to Jackie at the beginning of the school year during sixth-grade lunch. From the moment we met, I knew that we'd make great friends. We had a lot in common, including interests in music (we both play clarinet), television (we're both huge X-Files fans), and art. Even when we'd disagree about something, she was still fun to be around. Jackie is the kind of girl that is always perky, helping anyone out of a bad mood, even when she's in one herself. I can't help but smile when I talk to her; her happiness is seemingly infectious.

On any given day, Jackie's outward appearance is bound to be something unique and creative. With her traditional Italian looks - thick black hair, dark brown eyes, and lightly tanned skin - she can easily dress in many different styles and still look adorable. Her manner of dress ranges from punk to preppy, gothic to grunge. At school, she can appear to be a perfect little angel, yet be a hard-core, glamorous, punk-rocker at a party the same night.

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