Hey, it's me again. My mind has kicked into over-drive, and this story just appeared when I felt the urge to write. I hope you like it!

Risea Moone


Jackie Chantilly rushed down the bustling streets of Paris frantically, her hood falling to her back as she gained speed. Her older step-sister, Lysette Chantilly, was performing a flute solo for her school's musical stage production (Jackie forgot the name of it), and if she was late, her step-mother would kill her. Okay, maybe not kill her. But you get the idea.

Jackie had been at her friend's house, arguing with her boyfriend when he had called her. She had lost track of time when she had ranted on about how annoying he was, and she had five minutes to travel 10 blocks to her sister's school.

She weaved through the sea of people, jabbering apologetically when she ran right smack into an old lady. A poor dog yelped when she had accidentally stepped on it, and important-looking men shouted for her to slow down.

She crossed the street hurriedly, barely missing a moped and making a biker crash into a pole.

"Tre desole!" she called out before skidding back to the pavement and racing down it.

As Lysette's school appeared in the distance, a wave of hope washed over her as she jogged to its entrance (okay, so it takes WAY longer to travel ten blocks on foot. But do you really want me to sit here and blab about Jackie bumping into people?). She burst through the door with a smile on her face, but it was quickly erased. Lysette was on the stage with her flute, and she cracked a horrible note from Jackie's rude intrusion.

Lysette's face heated up with embarrassment, but she quickly regained composure and began playing again. Jackie shifted her eyes uneasily and scooted over and into the chairs that had been set up in the gym. She plopped down next to her step-mother, who cast her a death glare before sending an encouraging look to Lysette. Jackie sunk into her chair and furrowed her brow. She will surely be grounded.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"I 'ope you realize 'ow 'orribly rude zat was, Jacqueline!" Mrs.Chantilly exclaimed angrily as she stormed through the front door of their home and threw her keys on the counter.

"I do! And I apologized to Lysette a hundred times!" Jackie groaned as she sat at the counter and placed her elbows on it.

"Well, sometimes, sorry eezn't good enough!" her French step-mother yelled as she placed her hands on her hips. Lysette entered after them, wiping her tear-stained face on her sleeve.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" asked Jackie angrily.

"Nozing can fix your dreadful outburst." said Mrs.Chantilly. "I guess I will just 'ave to puneesh you!"

"It was an accident!" Jackie shouted, standing up and throwing her hands in the air. "Nobody's perfect!"

"Lysette 'ad been practicing for so long! Show some self control!" Mrs.Chantilly whined.

Jackie scrunched her nose. "Self control? That's what you want me to work on?"

"Eef you weren't such a spaz all zee time, zeese zings would not 'appen!" her step-mother screamed.

"You don't even know what a spaz is!" retorted Jackie. "You just heard Dad say it!"

"Enough!" yelled Fleur Chantilly. "You are still being puneeshed! Just wait unteel your fazer 'ears! 'E will deecide what will become of you!"

"Whatev." Jackie replied in her native American slang. She sat back down, this time on the sofa, and propped her feet on the coffee table.

"Feet off of zee table, Jacqueline! Zat eez not zee way a young lady should seet!" Fleur screeched as Lysette snickered from behind her mother. Jackie obeyed lazily and grabbed the remote.

"No televiseeon!" Fleur yelled again. "I do not need you to get 'yper before bed, Jacqueline!"

Lysette sneered at her again, and Jackie felt her blood boil. "Shut up, Lysette, or I will knock you into next century!"

Fleur stormed into the room, and Lysette pretended to cry again. "Why eez she so mean, Maman?" Lysette cried pathetically.

"Oh, shut it already! I could insult you way better than that! Toughen up!" Jacqueline yelled.

"You be quiet! Make 'er quiet, Maman..." sighed Lysette.

"Jacqueline, do not speak to your seester like zat!" Fleur snapped with a pointed finger.

Jackie didn't reply, just sat on the couch and crossed her arms. "I have no idea why Dad loves you." she whispered under her breath.

"What did you say?!" Lysette called loudly so Fleur could hear.

"I didn't say anything, Lysette. Why don't you be a good witch and go to bed and get some beauty rest. You need it desperately." Jackie sneered from the couch.

"Jacqueline! Go to your room!" Fleur called from inside the kitchen. Jackie huffed and stomped upstairs, leaving Lysette to laugh softly before putting her flute away.

Jackie slammed the door to her room and fell onto her bed, shoving her pillow into her face and screaming as high-pitched and loudly as she pleased. There was no doubt in her mind that Fleur would fabricate another story to her father to make her seem more guilty, and it made Jackie's head hot. She threw the pillow brutally to the ground and crossed her arms.

She sat up and glanced at the clock. She had thirty minutes before Dad came home from work. She needed to occupy herself. Knowing that she may be grounded when those thirty minutes are up, Jackie pulled out her cell phone and dialed her boyfriend's number. His name was Ryan, and he lived in the United States. He had medium brown hair that was semi-long, what some people call the 'shag' look, and had vibrant green eyes that no girl could resist. He called her everyday since Jackie left to live in France with her new step-mother and sister.

The phone rang 3 times before he picked up. "Hello?"

"Hey." said Jackie shyly.

"Hi." Ryan repeated.

"Listen, I'm sorry I got so mad. It was totally stupid." said Jackie sadly, twirling a dirty blonde curl nervously. Her shamrock green eyes examined her aquamarine toenails, awaiting Ryan's reply.

"It's fine." was his brief retort.

"So, we're cool?"

"Yeah."

"Good, cause I think I am getting grounded fairly soon." said Jackie.

"What did you do?" asked Ryan with a sigh.

"Why do you always assume that it was my fault?!" asked Jackie with a laugh.

"I dunno, it's a habit." said Ryan.

Jackie scoffed and fiddled with her string to her Flogging Molly sweatshirt. "Thanks man."

"What happened?" asked Ryan.

"I interrupted Lysette's flute solo." said Jackie quietly.

"Way to go, dude." said Ryan.

"Whatever. Fleur totally went ape on me. She doesn't even look French! And her voice is all fluffy and...ew." said Jackie.

"Is that all?"

"No. I basically told Lysette she was ugly." moaned Jackie.

"You did? Sweet." said Ryan with a chuckle.

"Yeah, it was funny, but Fleur heard me, and I am willing to bet that if Lysette said the same thing to me, Fleur would give her a dog treat." said Jackie.

"If she ever insulted you, I would fly over there personnally and punch her in the face." said Ryan. Jackie's heart fluttered as she smiled shyly.

"I miss you." said Jackie impulsively.

"I miss you more." said Ryan.

"This really sucks, huh? I have no idea what my dad sees in her." said Jackie sorrowfully.

"Me either. Hold on, Mike wants to talk." said Ryan just before a slight pause.

"Hey, Jacko!" said Mike suddenly. If you haven't guessed by her lingo, Jackie hung out with boys more than girls.

"Hey, Mikey!" called Jackie. "Whassup with ya?"

"Nothing much. Kate is mad at me." replied Mike.

"When is she not mad at you?" asked Jackie sarcastically.

"I dunno. I don't really care, though." said Mike.

"Good for you! Put your foot down and be a man!" said Jackie happily. Oh, how she missed her friends! Especially Ryan.

Suddenly, Jackie gasped after a loud bump echoed from above her. She lowered the phone slightly from her ear and stared upwards.

"Jackie?" called Mike. "What's wrong?"

But she didn't answer. She put the phone down, without hanging up, and walked towards her balcony.

"Jackie? Are you there?"

"Give me the phone." said Ryan from the other line. "Jackie?"

Jackie pulled open the screen door and stepped outside, the cool night air skimming her cheeks and making her breath visible.

"Jackie, is everything okay?" Ryan asked, desperately wanting to know that there was no serious danger.

Jackie looked up from her standpoint towards the roof, squinting her eyes and standing on her tippy-toes. She didn't see anything, so she shrugged and headed back inside.

"Jackie, talk to me!" she heard from her cell phone. She gasped and rushed over, picking up the phone and placing it to her ear.

"Sorry guys! I just thought I heard--"

Suddenly, something smacked into Jackie and knocked the phone out of her hands. It fell to the ground as Jackie was pinned on her bed, letting out a scream of desperation.

"Jackie? JACKIE!"