1 Chapter 1

Ariana's POV

As I pull up to my parents house I take a deep breath to mentally prepare myself before going in.

Looking at me right now some people might think I have the perfect life.

A decent car, both parents alive and well. They own a nice two story house and the perfect daughter.

Graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA, got both academic and athletic scholarships the college of my choice.

But wait until you actually meet my God forsaken parents.

I shiver as I exit my car and grab my medium suitcase from the passenger side of my car.

When I ring the doorbell I hear the excited squeal of my mom and the russed footsteps coming to the door.

"They're here!" She yells.

"Hello welcome to the Malcom residence." My mom says to no one her award winning smile slipping from her face.

"Honey where is he?" She asks confusion covering her face and she peeks behind me.

"Mom there is no he." I say pushing past her to get out of the cold.

I go straight to to kitchen knowing my dad will have two mugs of hot chocolate ready.

"Where is he?" My dad asks the smile dropping from his face as he paces what looks like casserole on the counter.

"Dad there is no he!" I exclaim.

I quickly down the two mugs and rush up to my old bedroom.

It looks the same as always, decorated with all my medals and trophies and a poster of my old high school squad.

My mom knocks on my door and I know exactly what's she's going to say.

"Come in." I say inspite of knowing.

"Honey, what wrong?" She asks and I know for a fact she's not asking if I'm really okay.

"Nothing mom, everything is great. College is everything I expected it to be." I explain.

"Are you sure?" She asks with prying eyes.

I give her a sheepish smile While unpacking my suitcase.

She doesn't look convinced but leaves anyway.

I let out a breath of relief as soon as I can't hear her footsteps anymore.

I pull out my phone and call my bestfriend from high school.

"I'm already at your door." She says and we both laugh.

"You half hour away aren't you?" I ask knowing she probably is.

"Nah I'm 15 minutes away." She replies and I trust her judgment.

Just like she said, in 15 minutes she pulled up to my house and I rushed down to greet her and her little sister.

"Riley!"

"Ari!" We squeal each other's name as Rily jumps into my arms. I easily catch her tiny figure and spin her around as she giggles.

When I set her on her feet she runs into the kitchen to greet my parents.

"Hey Marie." I smile hugging her tightly.

"How are you? I want to hear everything about college life." She asks excitedly.

"I'd feel kind bad talking about my 'perfect life' , it'd be like rubbing it in your face."I say when we reach my room.

"I know your not that kind of person" she explains making me feel a bit better.

"And besides I'll be joining you next year." She drops a bomb on me.

"What?" I ask excitedly.

And we start screaming and jumping on my bed like kids.

When we calm down I tell her about my first semester of college.

"Wow. At that rate you'll never find a boyfriend." I growls at her.

"College cheer and nothing like high school cheap. I barely have time to sleep." I groan laying back on my bed. " And besides, I don't want a boyfriend. I'm focused on becoming a strong independent woman." I affirm to myself and she pokes my cheek.

"What ever you say."

We soon go down for dinner and that's when she tells us the good news.

So apparently she has a long lost uncle on my mother's side and he offered to help pay for college.

I'm so happy for her that tears come to my eyes.

When both her parents died in March she was so lost and broken, she even had to quit the squad to get a job so she could take care of herself and her sister.

Since she quit cheer she didn't get scouted for a scholarship. And all her parents savings went to her parents funeral.

How sad was that.

I'm just glad they finished paying their mortgage before they died.

"I'm so happy for you, but what will happen to Riley?"

"Well I was wondering of she could live here?" She asks looking at my parents with hopeful eyes.

"Sweetie, of course she can." My mom say giving her a tender smile.

We finish dinner in a happy mood. We soon move to watch a movie.

"Hey why don't you and Riley move in here and you just save all the money you can?" I ask her quietly and I see her considering it.

I know how proud she is so this is gonna take some convincing.

"I'll think about it."

I nod knowing she'll say no the next time I ask.

But she won't the chance to.

I smirk turning back to the TV.