Just as I reach the bottom, my mom does her usual wake up call." LAURAAA, WAKE UP! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE..." Her usual soft tone amplified 10 times over as she yells for me to wake up. Chuckling I make my way over to her.

"Morning to you too, mom" Surprised she turns around and I swear her neck had a whiplash. Her eyes widen slightly and she drops the spatula in her hand as it clutters to the ground.

"Well, that's something I thought I'd never get to see in my lifetime." She starts off her tone back to normal. She's wearing an amused expression on her face. Always the over dramatic one. Rolling my eyes I make my way over to the island stools and sit down.

" I wasn't my idea, but Diana's version of a show," I say countering her with a don't mess with me right now, look. She chuckles while shaking her head.

"Don't be too harsh on her, she's just a kid." That earns an eye roll from me. She notices this and continues to chuckle.

"Glad to see this amuses you so much," I say as I dig into my bacon and egg. I close my eyes and savor the flavor that only my mom's cooking can make. " God mom, you should just open your own restaurant." My mouth was full of food and the sentence came out all jumbled up. Mom just rolls her eyes at this.

"Just hurry, you have to drop off Diana remember.. as my duty from today is to drop off Noah now. She already ate, so just call her down when you're done." She explains with her hands on her hips. I smack my hand onto my forehead as I remember my promise to her. Groaning I nod and call her down.

"Diana! Come down, I'm leaving, and if you don't want to be left behind, you better hurry!" I yell. I turn around and march out the door with keys in hand, without looking back if she's coming or not. "Bye, Dad," I say to the framed picture that sat on the table.

We lost our dad just a half a year ago in a car accident. Near the end, he started drinking and smoking. He'd come back drunk and dump himself on mom to take care of the rest. His last months weren't one that I'd like to reminisce about. I never figured out what made him turn out that way, but I never got a chance to ask. Before his off the rails act, he was the best dad a girl could ask for. A ghost smile appears on my lips as I remember all the fond memories I had of all of us together as a family. I frown as a flash of two figures enters my mind.

Frowning I shake my head and make my way over to my old busted down car, it's not much but it's something I treat, as my very own treasure. It's the last gift my dad gave me. Our family isn't downright broke but we don't live without a worry as well. When we lost dad, my mom took all the load onto herself. She would work long night shifts to cover up the bills and rent of the house. She tries to hide her distress behind a smile but I can see the baggy eyes that she conceals with foundation. Sometimes I catch her in a gaze, staring at nothing in particular. Sorrow fills me as I probably can't do much to help her.

Stepping into the car I turn on the ignition as the car comes to life. A slam of the door from beside me snaps me out my thoughts. In comes Diana, her hair once again neatly done after my assault on her earlier. Light makeup on her face and a fresh coat of shiny lip gloss to top it off.

"Well, are you gonna stare at me all day or are you going to drive." Rolling my eyes at her I back up the driveway and make my way towards Diana's school.

As we reach her school she immediately scrambles out of the car, afraid to be seen with me. Smirking I call after her. " Be safe! And remember to eat all of your lunch." Even from my seat, I can see her face turning pink from embarrassment. She turns and glares daggers at me. I chuckle and take that as my cue to leave.

Rounding around the corner my heart accelerates as I realize to where exactly I'm headed. My nightmare in real life. Unlike Diana, my perspective towards school isn't as easy going. I start to chuckle as I realize I'm comparing myself to a second-grader. I have four simple rules that I've stuck by in order to survive until now.

1. Keep your head down 2. Don't draw attention 3. Focus on studies. And the fourth rule... the reason I've lived through my years in high school in peace. 4. No Boys. I'm smart enough to know how things like romance or love can get in the way.

I nod to myself as I make myself an adamant promise. A horn snaps me out of my trance as I see a car coming my way at full speed. In a panic, I swerve to the right last second and my head slams into the window onto my left. I buckle forward as both our cars scrape each other on the side. I slam my breaks in a last attempt to stop. My heartfelt like it would jump out of my chest as I focus on stabilizing my breathing. I got out of the car in order to apologize.

" I-I'm so sorry, it was my fault. I was l-lost in though and I-I didn't see-" I stop mid-sentence and my breath catches in my throat as I realize who steps out. Dante Dimitri himself. The youngest millionaire in our little town. He got all the inheritance straight down after the death of his father. His black flawless hair giving off the I just got out of bed look. His green blank eyes stare at me as I uncomfortably shift in my position. He's wearing a white shirt that clings on to his sculpted chest and blue jeans which fit him perfectly. He catches my eye and smirks. I sigh. Here it comes, in 3.. 2.. 1...

"Like what you see?" He starts gesturing to his body. And there it is. Annoyance seeps through me but I couldn't help the warming of my cheeks. Thank god for my tanned skin that he couldn't see my outrageous blush.

So much for keeping a low profile...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *  

Here's Part 2 of Chapter 1. See you next update!

Lot's Of Love, Lillith Smith