Chapter 1

I was wearing a baby blue dress that fell to my ankles; the sleeves were long as well, buttoned up at my wrists tightly. The shoulders were puffed up and I felt that if I spread my arms I would be able to fly because of it. Around my neck was a choker of pearls and my head felt unusually heavy. Curious, I lifted my hand up to touch my head, only to find a beaded tiara sitting atop it. A nudge in my side made me look to my right where Grandma was standing. My eyes turned to the size of saucers and I gasped. How could she possibly be here? Grandma was dead! She was meant to be dead.

“Stop fidgeting.’ She whispered in her croaky, old voice, her round glasses flashing in the light. She smiled at me warmly though, never having been good at reproving me. I stared down at her in amazement; at the seemingly impossible and did not return her smile. From her wrinkly, smiling face to her wavy white hair; every detail was as I remembered her all those seven years ago. A lump of emotion rose in my throat and I looked down, closing my eyes, before she could see the tears rolling down my cheeks. I don’t remember what was running through my head then, but it was so many confused thoughts. What was happening? Was I being visited by the dead? When my heartbeat calmed and I stopped taking shaky breaths, I opened my eyes and glanced in Grandma’s direction once again, but she was gone…

I jumped, shocked because in her place stood Dad, just as I remembered him all those years ago. I gaped and looked at him in astonishment; stumbling back. I couldn’t even blink in my disbelief. It was as if he were a statue; he was not moving. His hair was a rich black streaked with gray. His face was deeply tanned and angular. Just as I remembered him. He was wearing khakis and a polo-shirt too big for him, a bag slung over his back, and a suitcases by his side; my last memory of him.

“Dad?” I asked hesitantly, in a shaky whisper. But the stony gray eyes weren’t on me. They were far-off and distant, over my shoulder. I reached out a shaking hand to touch him but he seemed to come alive all of a sudden, his words stopping me in my tracks.

“She’s cheating on me. I told you. No one would believe me. She’s always got to be the martyr.” His voice was bitter, deep and distant, fading away. I blinked back tears furiously; righteous anger overtaking me when I remembered it had not been Mom who had cheated…

Chloe, Chloe, Chloe…

I spun around, trying to locate the person who was calling me, but all I could see was glimmering lights high up above as I spun, spun, spun…

Chloe, Chloe, Chloe…

There was a sea of strangers stretched out in front of me. They were all staring at me, smiling, as if expecting something of me. I stepped back, away from them. But they were coming forward, pressing forward, in their fine, beautiful gowns and suits.

Chloe, Chloe…

I looked to my right. Mom was standing there in her flowing, white gown, smiling and beckoning to me with a wave of her hand. God, she looked so beautiful, I was so proud of her to have come this far. I stepped towards her slowly, confidently, until I saw Michael beside her and Dylan beside him dressed in dark tuxedos. They were a family. They weren’t smiling; they looked down on me as if I were nothing. As I came towards them, increasing my pace to get away from the ensuing tide behind me, Michael and Dylan pulled Mom away, until I couldn’t see them anymore. I could feel my feet blistering in my newly acquired high heels. I started crying again, which was strange, because I didn’t usually cry if I could help it.

Chloe, the ring…

What? I looked down to find a velvety, blue box in the palm of my left hand. Was this what everyone wanted? I opened it slowly and gulped. A large diamond ring sat in its centre, shining brilliantly in the light. This little thing meant so much to so many people. Mom’s far distant voice echoed again; almost urgently.

Chloe, the ring…

Someone was shaking me furiously. I grumbled.

“No Mom….no…” I rolled away.

“Chloe, the beginning of the school year is a very important time…I remember my first day of senior year.” I heard a dreamy sigh. “Chet Stephens asked me to be his girlfriend.”

I opened my eyes, revolted.

“Really Mom….I don’t want to know. And do you happen to remember someone called Michael?” I asked bluntly, reminding her that she now had a fiancé. Rubbing my eyes, I yawned and kicked my comforter away from me once Mom flashed my alarm clock in my face.

“…We’d go skating, and for long walks, the back of his car-”

“Mom!” I pointed to the door, annoyed that she had totally ignored my question. Mom looked slightly hurt, her blue eyes downcast. Releasing a sigh of relief when she took the hint, I took a cold shower, dressed in whatever I found first, cursed myself for not packing my bag the day before, then sprinted downstairs for a quick and hopefully undisturbed breakfast. No such luck. Mom had already set out breakfast for me; toast, cereal, eggs, sausages…

“Mom,” I hissed under my breath.

“Yes dear,” she answered cheerily from her place at the stove, making only who knew what else.

“I don’t have time to eat all this,” I said, looking at the digits on my watch which showed that I had less than twenty minutes to eat and get to school.

“Well the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll finish,” she sang, her back to me. I rolled my eyes and took a grudging bite out of my toast.

I used to be a morning person, a long time ago. Before Mom got engaged and started waking up at the crack of dawn every day of the past summer, and started cleaning the house from top to bottom with 70s music blaring. Altogether, it had not been a fun summer. You know, what with Michael always around, and sometimes Dylan, who wasn’t too bad now that I think about it, but the dinners, barbecues, restaurants, everything seemed a little too extravagant-

“We’re going to Michael’s for dinner, alright honey?”

I growled mentally, putting my spoon a little too hard into my cereal, making milk splash everywhere.

-and it didn’t help that Michael was trying to get into my good books. Buying me things, saying nice things…Blah, who needed that. Not me.

“Mmhm,” I answered, putting my jacket on and hoisting up my bag.

Mom stopped what she was doing for a moment and turned to face me.

“Chloe,” she said. I knew what was coming, one of her talks.

“Yeah Mom. Make it quick, would you?”

I tried to locate my new car keys; I’d just passed this summer!

“Look, I know you don’t like Michael…and maybe you never will, but I’m hoping, for my sake, you’ll at least try to get along with him.”

I sighed. I didn’t mean not to like Michael, I couldn’t help it really.

“I’ll try,” I said shortly.

Mom smiled brightly, her eyes shining.

“Oh, look at you Chloe, all grown up, I’m so proud of you,” she said.

Um, okay.

I gave her a small smile but she seemed to be on the verge of tears. Without warning, she pulled me towards her and gave me a hug, planting a kiss loudly on my cheek.

“Mom!” I said, annoyed. I backed away from her, slightly wary she might try to kiss me again. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Well have fun,” she called after me as I hurried into the garage, “and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

I was so glad we weren’t out in public. Mom was always over-emotional, over-dramatic, basically over-everything.

The weather had just taken a turn for the worse. The sun had been shining weakly earlier and I’d been hoping it’d hold out, until at least I reached school. But now the sun had quickly disappeared behind a heavy gray cloud and it looked like it was about to rain. I was driving slowly, carefully, in my Honda Civic, which I’d just become the proud owner of a few weeks ago. Sure it was second-hand, but at least I’d worked to pay for it, not just bought a flashy car with Daddy’s credit card (which Michael had been trying to make me do all summer-apart from the fact that it was highly annoying, he was not my daddy).

Rolling my eyes at my depressing thoughts and at the depressing weather (it had just started to come down in sheets), I flicked on the radio and looked quickly into the rear and side view mirrors, glad that there were no other drivers on this road. I was driving at a snail’s pace, slightly worried about the rain. Looking at the time quickly, I cursed at the numbers flashing up at me. I had five minutes to get into school; obviously not enough time. I thought about speeding up a little, but my imagination started running wild and I could see myself lying in the middle of the road, rain coming down on me, blood pooling around me because the tires had slid dangerously as I was speeding and I had been flung out of the car. Pulling myself out of my gruesome thoughts, I noticed a figure, a guy, jogging up the sidewalk. He had his hoodie partly over his head, trying to shield himself from the rain. I didn’t think he would stick a thumb out when he heard me coming, but he did. Ack, what was I meant to do? Suddenly all of mom’s warnings about strangers rang in my head and everything I’d learnt about hitchhikers chided at me. Feeling slightly guilty, I drove on slowly, but not before catching a brief glance of the guy’s face. Electric shocks ran through me, it was Matthias James! My heartbeat quickened at once. But how it could be, I didn’t know. Matthias had a Corvette. He was rich, what was he doing, walking to school? It wasn’t him. He was probably at school already, talking to his friends. I quickly decided it couldn’t be him and concluded to drive on. But then, lo and behold, my engine stalled and started spluttering. Oh God, I was going to die! I was out on a lonely road, with an immobile car and a hitchhiker not too far away. I was going to die. Scared, and everything else besides, I tried the engine again, but it was still spluttering. My eyes looked to the side view mirror, and I think I had a panic attack. The hitch hiker was coming towards me…and I couldn’t move. Oh. My. God. A part of my brain said a mental goodbye to my mother, another part of me was screaming that I was going to be late for school. Trying to snap out of my panicked state, I tried the engine again. It spluttered for a tense moment…and then came alive again. I was smiling to myself, just about to drive off, when someone knocked on my window. Looking around, I numbed inside. No, it wasn’t my murderer. It was Matthias James, as I’d first thought. I could hardly believe my eyes though. Why would he be out here now, asking for a ride?

I rolled down the window, nervous.

“Chloe,” he said, looking at me in surprise. “You learnt to drive.” He stated.

“Yeah,” I said quietly, “Over the summer.”

We stared at each other for what felt like a long moment. Man, I couldn’t get over him. I’d really tried this summer. I’d even compiled a list on why I shouldn’t like him, but it was useless. He was wearing a hoodie, baggy pants but I obviously couldn’t see his shoes. Oh God, I sound like an obsessed freak. Just shoot me now. His hair was somewhat wet, darker than I remembered. His eyes, those glowing orbs, looked at me with humor all of a sudden and there was such a heart-melting smirk on his face. I felt like a pile of goo.

“Well, are you gonna let me in, or will I be forced to look like a drowned rat?” He asked.

Quickly, I unlocked the door and moved back, wanting to give him enough space and not wanting to look like I wanted to be near him. I didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. My heartbeat was going out of control. I wouldn’t be able to drive.

“You never look like a drowned rat,” I mumbled. Honestly, the words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. I colored.

“Thank you for noticing,” he drawled, turning towards me, his eyes roaming over my face, lingering a second too long on my cheek. He smirked before turning and trying to shut the door, but it always refused to shut at the most inconvenient of times. How embarrassing.

I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to see if there was anything at all funny on my face, and you wouldn’t believe it; there was! Mom’s bright cherry red lipstick was smeared on my cheek, obviously the kiss I’d received earlier. I felt like dying. I rubbed at it in urgency, and it did help. As Matthias James at last had some luck on the blasted door, I inspected my cheek which was now all a very nice shade of pink compared to the rest of my face. Not.

“We can go now,” he said. I jumped, and then blushed in embarrassment.

“Mmkay,” I said. I was in a car with the love of my life, and I couldn’t even string a sentence together. Here was my one and only chance being blown out of the water.

I started driving the remaining distance to school, still as slowly as before, engulfed in a tense silence. I was turning redder and redder as the seconds passed. I realized Matthias James must think me some weirdo for driving so slowly. But no matter what, I would not endanger myself.

“D’you want me to drive? It’s only that we’re already late for school,” Matthias James asked.

I thought of an answer.

“Hey, if we’re already late, might as well take our time,” I said.

“I know. But it’s the first day of school. Not a good day to be late.”

I looked at him with a sideways glance and refused to answer. If he didn’t like the way I drove (which I was slightly touchy about), then he could get the hell out. Of course if I said that out loud, I’d be pounded meat.

Matthias pretended not to be offended by my silence and ignoring him, he swiftly changed the subject.

“My car’s in the garage; it needs a lick of paint,” he said.

“Oh,” was my answer. I wondered if he was trying to say something about the blandness of my car. Hmm.

However annoyed I was at Matthias trying to offend my car, I looked in the mirror, assessing my reflection. I wanted to give a good impression, or at least satisfactory. Of course, it was depressing. I wished I’d taken the time to think about what I was wearing; a loose, bland turtleneck and gray cargo pants. At least my converses were something to look at, they were a lime green. I put my foot down on the gas pedal, at last speeding up a little. I was so mismatched. My dark hair was out, hardly combed because of my rush and spilling over my shoulders, I was sleep-deprived and the dark circles under my gray eyes proved it.

I turned my attention back to Matthias, who started talking.

“I thought I could get to school before it started raining.”

“Yeah, so did I,” I put in. I felt him looking at me as I drove, it was very uncomfortable and I felt my face heat up again. Luckily, school was nearly in sight.

“How was your summer?” He asked all of a sudden.

“Fine,” I answered quickly. “It was very nice.” Nice? Oh God.

“What did you do?” He asked casually.

We’d arrived at school. People were still going in. I quickly tried to find a parking spot.

“Oh. You know, the usual…” I trailed off as I started reversing into a spot. This was a long process and took my undivided attention.

“Does ‘the usual’ include Dylan Everett?” He asked as I finally turned off the engine. We stared at each other for a moment. I was frowning, trying to understand what he meant. I don’t know why, but he looked disappointed and something else... “I’ve heard the rumors,” he said. But before I could ask ‘What rumors?’ he was already gone, slamming the door behind him which annoyingly refused to shut. Again.

A/N:What did you think? Thanks to:

KM Lenore: I'm not sure about the reason for their hatred of one another. Girls, yes...but I think it needs a little something else. Any ideas?

Succeeding At Failure and Miss K Ree: Thanks for the review!:)

DynamicEquilibrium:You're so kind! Really, you brought a smile to my face:) Thank you!

QueenofRoses: Thanks. Keep reading please!:)