Chapter 1

Sasha Watson

"Breakfast!" My brothers voice echoed in my ear, "C'mon, Sash, wake up!"

I rolled over, giving him a half-lidded glare.

"I will literally kill you." I groaned, getting up half way and slopping back down on the bed again. I put a hand across my face, shielding my eyes from the early morning sun.

"Tsk, tsk, such a way to talk to your own brother. I am deeply offended. GET DOWNSTAIRS OR I'LL EAT YOUR BACON!" And with that, he stomped out of the room, leaving the curtains open, letting pure sunlight flood in my room. I muttered curses and got up, dragging my feet to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror, same usual light golden hair, same green eyes (which were red and puffy from sleep. I washed my face, brushed my hair, brushed my teeth, put on some mascara, and got dressed.

It was the usual weather in Milton, Ontario. It was sunny, but you could tell it was going to rain by the black clouds that swept over the escarpment view from my balcony window. I settled with shorts and a long sleeved gray t-shirt. I grabbed my backpack, stuffed my laptop into it, along with a rain jacket and small umbrella. I ran down the stairs, half stumbling on the last few steps and came into the Kitchen.

My brother, Jacob Watson, sat at the breakfast bar, eating honey nut cheerio's. He handed me a plate with bacon and eggs on it and kept on reading the sports section of the daily newspaper.

"Thanks." I sat down beside him and ate quietly, rubbing the sleepy dust away from the corners of my eyes.

"Late night?" He asked, finally taking a look at me. I nodded.

"The usual."

'The usual' meant crying. My parents had died six months ago due to a drunk driver. I had been in the car, and I hadn't died, but, they did. It's a long story, so I'll save it for later.

Jacob was eighteen; he was at the legal age to look after me. I expected him to give me over to my aunt and uncle but he refused. They checked on us on a daily basis though.

"Better get walking or you'll miss the bus." He said, "Have a good day. Bye."

"Thanks, you too." I slipped on my Nikes, grabbed my soccer shoes from the closet and shoved them in my soccer bag which was at the front door. I realized with a shock that the black clouds that were over the escarpment a couple of minutes ago were now hanging low and threatening over Milton. I put on my raincoat and got out my umbrella. Then it started pouring.

"Jake! It's raining, can you drive me?"

"Screw this town and its moody weather!" I heard him pick up his car keys because they jingled loudly, "Get in the car."

"Have a good day!" Jake called as I ducked out of the car and ran through the rain to get to the front doors. I went in, soaking wet, and walked down the busy hallway and to my locker, number 217. I smiled as I saw my best friend standing there, Holden Parker. He wore a black hoodie today and jeans. His white blonde hair was a golden color because it was wet.

"Hey, Holden. Isn't I, like, the worst day outside?" I asked as he stepped out of the way so I could shove my backpack into my locker and grab the script for drama class.

"Definitely." He sighed.

"I'm guessing we'll be doing gym inside."

"Did you watch the news this morning? There's tornado warning for here, Mississauga, Vaughn, and Toronto." He explained.

"I didn't have time to watch it this morning, I woke up late."

"We better hurry; Mrs. Tulsa is on a rampage I heard today."

I nodded and we headed for the theatre, taking our seats on the stage with everyone else. We made it just in time because the bell rang right afterwards.

Holden was right; Mrs. T was on a rampage this morning.

"Get into your positions. We're doing a game today instead of rehearsal. We are going to play Canadian Idol." She said. Mrs. T was an old lady, with white hair and beady blue eyes framed behind granny glasses. She was definitely not in a good mood due to the fact that she was pacing the stage, an angry expression on her face. We all groaned, we were going to have to sing. "Holden, Jude, and Ivy, you'll be our judges. We will begin with the lowest age in the class."

Thank god that was not me.

We took seats in the audience as the first girl in our class began her audition. She was scrawny and small; she had been in my class since grade 1. She had been battling leukemia since grade 3, finally becoming a survivor in grade 8. Her name was Larissa Jones; she had a huge crush on Holden.
The auditions went on and it was suddenly my turn. The song I was going to sing: still no clue.

I got up on stage, taking slow and elaborate steps until Mrs. T told me to pick up the pace. I took center stage and looked at Holden who was mouthing something to me. Forget You, by Cee Lo Green. One of my favorite songs.

"State your name and the song you will be singing." Holden said. I gave him a scowl.

"Sasha Watson. I'll be singing Forget You, by Cee Lo Green." I said.

"You can start." Jude, a boy who was from somewhere in the states said, he had cute brown eyes and a deep tan, but his hair was startlingly blonde, he from Florida, I thought. I started singing, feeling awkward; I wasn't that much of a singer. I finished and got claps and whistles, maybe I was an okay singer after all.

All of the sudden the theatre door burst open, revealing the principal, Mr. Stager.
"Sasha Watson, can you please come with me to the office." He didn't make it a question it was an order. I threw Holden a worried look and followed him out to the hall. The last time this had happened, was after the accident, my Mom had died on the impact but my father was induced into a coma and had died the following week when I was at school.

He saw my worried expression and gave me a smile, "Nothing to worry about Sasha. Your brother is here to give you some good news." He explained. My heart started to beat again and I had forgotten that I was holding my breath; I let it out in a big rush.

Jacob sat in the principal office and turned around in his seat when we came in. He was smiling, something good had happened.

"Jake, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Remember when I applied for Texas Prairie University. Well, I got accepted and there's this house which you'll live in with these four teenagers when we get there and I'll live in a dorm until we can buy our own house and I've been offered a job and I've already enrolled you in the high school there." He explained all in a big rush. I gawked at him.

"We're moving to Texas?" I asked.

"Morganville, Texas." He said proudly.

"When?"

"Tomorrow."