Chapter one: Downward spiral

It was precisely a little after 3 in the afternoon when I received news that sent my world spiralling downwards; My parents business had just gone bankrupt and now my upcoming midterm exams seemed like the least of my worries.

Before the news broke out I was trying to get in some study time. Usually I would prepare for the exams days before because I worked best under pressure. Today though, my mind wasn't with me. It had abandoned me the second it gained knowledge of the

misfortune that fell upon my family.

"Lia, what's wrong?" Kyson, my bestfriend asked, looking at me through his thick reading glasses.

I met Kyson on orientation week, we were both scared and confused but somehow still excited. I sat next to him and my simple 'hello' was enough to ignite a conversation that eventually led to the formation of our amazing friendship and bond. We were always open with each other but I preferred to keep some things from him, not because I didn't trust him because I trusted him with my whole life. I just didn't want to burden him with every single problem I stumbled across.

"I'm just really stressed about these upcoming exams." I lied with a straight face.

He closed the book he was reading and set his glasses aside. "Lia, you have a GPA of 3.8 and you've never gone below that so I know for a fact that's not what's bothering you. So here's what's going to happen, you're going to tell me what's really bothering you or Mr stuffings will have to spend the night with me."

I gasped, feigning shock. "Ky, no not Mr stuffings..you wouldn't dare!"

Mr Stuffings was a stuffed girrafe I brought with me from home. It was a gift I received from a girl who lived in an orphanage I volunteered at. She told me it kept all the bad dreams away and kept her safe at night and since I made her feel safe she wanted the same for me. Overtime I became attached to Mr stuffings, without it I wasn't be able to get a good nights sleep.

"Choose your poison." He leaned in and whispered slowly, the sunlight shining on his eyes.

Kyson was very attractive, with his chestnut brown hair and eyes. Ontop of that he was intelligent and sweet. He wasn't like other guys who were obessed with sports and cars. Kyson was interested in poetry, books and art. It was rare to come across men like him. If it wasn't for his—excuse my language, wench of a girlfriend I would confess to the feelings I've had for him since the first day we met. His girlfriend Gianna was the complete opposite of him she was obnoxious, materialistic and short tempered. I guess opposites really do attract.

"You're seriously going to use blackmail on your own bestfriend?" I scowled at him.

Snickering he grabbed my hand which was laid flat on my textbook. "Alright you're right, this is ludicrous." He began rubbing small circles on the back of my hand. "You know you can tell me anything. Please tell me what's going on."

All the sense was getting knocked out of my head. He was going to find out eventually right so why not tell him now. "Okay, I uh—"

A loud bang made us jump apart, the source being none other than the wicked witch of the East, if you hadn't figured out who that was by now I was referring to Gianna. "Adalia! keep your disformed hands to yourself please."

"Gee, hello to you too Gianna. I'm good thanks for asking." I said with sarcasm laced in my voice.

I didn't understand why Kyson chose her to be his girlfriend of all the nice, tolerable women on campus. Instead he went for the one who was most likely a spawn of Satan.

Kyson groaned, lightly banging his head against the table. "Gianna, how many times do we have to talk about this? You can't keep talking to her like that!"

"Can you blame me? It's hard not to, when she looks like—" She goes mute when Kyson gives her a look with his eyebrow raised.

Circling the table, she goes to the side Kyson is sitting on and sits on his lap. "You've been studying all day..can't you take a break?" her lips make a loud smacking noise as she placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

Already feeling overwhelmed with the news from home I couldn't sit and watch the guy I had feelings for do the things I wish I could be doing with him, do it with someone else. I gathered up my books and walked to the dorms. They wouldn't notice anyway, when they were together I was always invinsible. I didn't mind though because I'd grown used to it.

<<•>>

I'd just finished a successful study session and now I was getting ready for bed. Ever since my roommate, Cleo got a boyfriend, she'd spend most of the nights at his place which meant I got the whole dorm room to myself. Sometimes it was nice and at times it got lonely having no one to talk to.

My phone rang and I reached out to grab it. I already knew it wasn't Kyson calling because he was more of a texting person. The only other people I talked to were my professors and my parents. The professors wouldn't inconvenience themselves by calling this late so I knew that it was most likely my mom or dad calling.

"Hello?" I spoke into the phone whilst arranging the pillows on my bed.

"Hi sweetie," My mom chirped, she had an angelic voice that always seemed to help me calm down.

"How are things at home?" I stopped what I was doing and sat on the edge of my bed.

"I've seen better days." She sighed, "Thank god for your father or I'd be a nervous wreck right now."

"How's he taking it?"

Another long sigh followed. "He's trying to put up a brave front for my sake but even I can see that it's just a facade."

"That's not why I called though." There was a long pause on the other line. "I need you to come home this weekend for a family meeting."

My heart pounded alarmingly fast against my chest; we only ever had family meetings when a relative had passed away or there was conflict that needed to be resolved. I hadn't been home in two months and I had left on a good note so it was most probably that a relative passed away.

"Why what's wrong?"

I wondered if she could hear the panic in my voice.

"No,no need to get your panties in a twist. I think we may have found a way to fix our current problem. Just be home this weekend."

"Okay." I said feeling a bit more hopeful. "I'll be there, I have to go now. Greet dad for me, I love you."

I waited for her to say I love you back before cutting the call.

Maybe things would be okay after all..