1 Chapter One

"Alex!! Get up else I'll send Will up there and you know what that means!" Mom hollered from downstairs.

" Ugh. Please don't do that to me". I murmured groggily and snuggled under the covers.

It must have been moments later because I woke up again but this time ... in pains.

"Argh!" My hands flew to my hair. Someone was on me pulling it hard and I mean hard. I looked into a very familiar black eyes glinting with wicked humour. My six years old brother. "Christ. William let go of me this instant. Else I'll... aaaargh!!" He pulled harder cutting me off.

" Not a chance". William laughed "This is my favourite thing to do and you know that".

" I swear I'll kill you". I struggled furiously to pull his hands away but man this guy had the energy I didn't have this morning.

We rolled with me screaming in mad pain and William laughing in fun . He got no conscience. At a point, my leg got caught up in the covers and we fell to the floor with loud thud. But hey, lucky me William was beneath me. He cried out in pure pain and pushed me away from him finally freeing my hair from his tight grip. He stood up and ran out after baring his little teeth at me. Evil child.

"You're damn right dude get the hell out of my fucking room!" I cursed as he slammed my door.

"Christ". I groaned in pain massaging my scalp. That episode completely rubbed the sleep out of my eyes so I stood up and started heading for the bathroom but I stumbled on the damn covers and fell flat on my face.

"Lord!" I yelled in frustration pounding my fists on the board. "I don't think I deserve this". Grudgingly I stumped to the bathroom. " I hate school. I hate mornings".

***

I nodded at my reflection in my vanity mirror. I wasn't ugly but not exactly pretty either. I didn't have the type of face capable of turning heads or making guys drool. Let's say I was just there with my black curly hair, blue eyes, sensuous red lips (my best quality of course) and for a girl of fifteen I can proudly say I got the height thing. I needed make-up to enhance my looks but since I was not a fan, I applied little mascara and just a touch of lipstick.

Good to go, I picked up my bag, grabbed my phone and went downstairs.

Everybody was already seated in the kitchen for breakfast and by everybody I meant mum, dad and William. Mum was a nurse turned housewife. According to her, she quitted to take better care of us, and said to return when William is older. I don't see why she's still hesitating. Dad on the other hand owned a pretty decent mechanic workshop. He had a few employees so he could afford to be home by this time. "Morning mom, morning dad". I kissed their cheeks and sat down to hot chocolate and sweet smelling pancakes.

"And how was my Angel's night?" Came from dad who was reading the morning papers.

"Don't ask Dad, you know already" I sighed wistfully.

"It wasn't enough right?" Dad chuckled " No night is ever enough for you Alex".

" Mom?" I turned serious.

" Yes darling".

" Do you want me bald?".

She looked startled. "Where did that come from? Of course no."

"Then stop sending this brat..." I gave a pointed look at William who stuck out his tongue at me "...to me every morning".

"It's William to You". Dad looked up from his papers and peered at me through the rim of his reading glasses.

" But at this rate all my hair will fall off and things at school will get worse" I protested.

"Then you have to learn to stop ignoring your alarm clock,..." Mom turned to William "... and Will darling stop whatever it is you do to your sister's hair. I don't tell you to do that I only say you should have her off her bed"

" But that's the only thing I do to her that works". William defended. "Water doesn't do the trick anymore. Can you believe that? Such a sleepy head"

I rolled my eyes at this "Seriously Will? Don't exaggerate. I'm not a log of wood tapping me gently will do the trick". It was a blatant lie and I knew it too.

They all gave me the "are you kidding me" look, including dad whom I thought was reading the papers.

" Alright people I get your point", I came out clean, "but seriously there must be something else other than pulling my hair don't you think?"

"Maybe". William shrugged innocently but he wasn't going to change with the look he gave me so I dropped it for now. Something else was on my mind. I sipped my beverage in silence for a while and shooting glances at mum and dad who seemed oblivious. I couldn't hold it in anymore, better to get it over with. I placed down the mug and rubbed my clammy palms on my jeans.

"Dad?" I hesitated as he raised his brows at me

"The issue we discussed last week have you thought about it?" I bit my lip as he took off his reading glasses, folded the newspapers and kept them aside.

"Your mom and I talked about it and honestly honey we don't see enough reason to move you to a new school all of a sudden ".

" The people in the school not being friendly isn't reason enough?"

" I'm afraid not". Mom refused to meet my eyes.

" You guys don't get it. In all of Olive High I've got only one friend, Sam. It's like the whole school hates me suddenly and I sincerely don't know why or what I've done to deserve it. They murmur about me in groups. I used to have lots of friends but not anymore, it's almost like a whirlwind blew them away leaving me behind. Now things are different, I don't just... fit in anymore and it's frustrating". I blinked back tears and tried to stopped my lip from quivering.

" One good friend that cares for you is not a bad idea, Sam is one. He is a nice boy. And a nice friend. Drives you to and back from school, looks after you . What do you need more friends for? If you ask me, having too much friends isn't that good". Dad blurted out.

" Bob". Mom eyed dad significantly telling him to shut up.

"Having girlfriends is not too much to ask for. Or is it?" I fired at dad.

" Alex..." mom started in a calm and understanding voice "...do you really think switching schools will make everything alright?"

" Why not? If I can start over in a new place where nobody knows me, it'll be better. I'll make lots of friends, things will be different. Please please please do this for me". I pleaded earnestly.

" Honey that's not how things work. In Olive High you're already familiar with people and their characters. In a new school things will be a lot worse, an unfamiliar environment" Dad tried to reason with me but this was not what I wanted to hear so it was not going down well.

As I looked at them I realized that things weren't going to change, I would continue suffering.

William who has been quiet gave me a small sympathetic smile.

"Besides you're still a sophomore, things can change and it will. I'm positive" came from mom.

She sounded hopeful and it was more than I could bear that I snapped, "Well I don't care about your optimism because I'm done with it! I'm tired of being positive!"

"I'll speak with your principal". Dad said with a touch of finality and I exploded.

"Like you always do huh?" My tears were falling freely now. " And what good has that done? It only makes things worse! Do you guys know what I'm going through? No you don't because you're not in my fucking shoes!"

"Alex". Dad warned.

"You know what?" I pushed back my chair making a scraping sound and grabbed my bag standing up. "Forget it" I hissed through my teeth and stormed out.

"Alex". Mom called with a worry laced voice but I was already out the door. I stood on the porch and dried my tears but the more I dried the more they kept flowing. I gave up and wrapped my arms around myself shaking with sobs. The fucking dam already broke.

Sam's blue convertible rolled to a stop in the driveway out of nowhere. He winded down the window. "Hurry up and — shit!". He stopped when he noticed that I was crying and in a flash he was out of the car and in front of me.

I looked up at his concerned face with teary eyes, he was a little taller than I was. Without a word he took me into his arms.

"They said no Sam" I choked out

"I know". He soothed. We just stood there. He rubbed my shoulders and eventually I calmed down.

"I'm glad". He said out of the blue.

"What?" I was confused.

"You are stuck with me baby" he joked.

I punched his stomach lightly.

" Ouch" he feigned hurt and doubled over. "That hurts...but why does it hurt right here?" He tapped his heart.

"Get out". I smiled drying my tears.

He smiled too and my breath caught. Man was this guy handsome. He had thick tousled blond hair and angular features. I found his intense grey eyes most fascinating, they could pierce straight into your soul in an electrifying sort of way. It didn't help that he had thick lashes and speak not of his heart shaped lips. He would drive any girl crazy. "We can skip school today if you want".

"No thanks. Unlike someone I know I'm very responsible". I teased.

" At the very least that irresponsible person is not a crybaby". He teased back and knowing I was going to try punching him he sidestepped me and I punched thin air, almost losing balance. He laughed at this. "Better luck next time honey".

I walked past him to the car. "Fuck you Sam".

"Aw babe that sounds like fun."