Prologue:

"You're ruining my life!" I shout, standing up from the couch.

"Do not use that tone with us, missy!" Dad looked angry, "You don't-"

"Percy," Mom put a hand on his arm. "Pick your battles."

"This sucks," I said, venomously, "I'm 16- you can't control me like this!"

"We can do what's best for you!" Dad yelled. "Now go to your room! You're grounded!"

I felt myself shake with rage, "I hate you!"

My name is Casandra Jackson, and I didn't want to be a horrible angsty teenager. But if you took a look at my life, you'd understand. First of all, school was a nightmare. I had dyslexia and ADHD, not to mention about a billion things more important to think about. Like the fact that I'd never been kissed. That was mostly due to my parents being crazy strict. My curfew was 6:00, and even though I had my license, I wasn't allowed to drive anywhere by myself, or get my own car. Dad was the history teacher at our school, and he always checked up on me. All of my friends had to be interrogated before my parents could "trust" them, and honestly I was tired of being the sophomore freak who everyone made fun of.

Don't get me wrong. Despite what I just screamed at my parents before storming up to my bedroom, I loved them. I really did. Dad was sweet; half of my friends thought he was the funniest teacher in school, and the other half thought he was the hottest (I know, gross). And Mom was amazing. She and I always got along (usually) and Dad was always saying how lucky my brother and I were that we got her brains, because she's the smartest architect in New York.

I slammed my bedroom door closed and fell back into my bed. Tonight I was invited to Spencer Kendall's 17th birthday party. It was in the ballroom of The Plaza Hotel, and it was all anyone could talk about. And I was invited! I had been so excited when I got home, but my parents said no. No. Can you believe it!? It was Friday night, I was practically an adult and I wasn't even allowed to go to a cute boy's birthday party! Arrughh. This was so unfair.

There was a knock on my door and I glared at the celling. "Go away!" I shouted.

Slowly it opened up, and there was Josh. Josh was 12 years old and a pain in the butt. When my friends saw him for the first time, they all had the same reaction: "How are you two related?!" It was true. His dark blond hair and green eyes didn't exactly match my black hair and grey ones. Plus my parents let him do sports because Mom was the captain of his soccer team, so he was really tan. Double plus, he was the most annoying creature on Earth, and I was a sweetheart. Kind of.

"What were you guys yelling about?" He asked in a quiet voice, like I was a stranger. That was the thing about Josh. Around new people he clamed up and got really shy, but once he got to know you or say, lived with you for 12 years he could shout and scream and torture you to his heart's content.

"Nothing. It's none of your business." I said, not looking at him.

"But I live here."

"It's nothing!" I sat up and slapped my hands down, "Now leave and close the door behind you!"

Josh widened his eyes and my heart softened. I can never resist those big green puppy dog eyes. It wasn't Josh's fault that I was trapped here.

"Trapped," I whispered to myself. Josh took a step forward.

"What?"

"Nothing," I said, quickly forming a plan in my head. "It's going to be okay."

He rolled his eyes. "You're so weird." He walked out of my room- forgetting to close my door!- and I ran to my closet. I had to find the perfect outfit to wear to Spencer's party. I was totally going to be there. After all, being trapped means that you can break out.

Around 10 o'clock I slipped into a cute black dress and grabbed my one inch red heels. Minor detail, the party went from 9 at night to 2 in the morning. Whatever. I should still be allowed to go- I didn't know much about my parents early years, but I'm pretty sure they had fun when they were 16. I didn't get why I wasn't allowed to. It's not like I'd ever drink or do drugs or anything. I just wanted to be included with everyone else. As I slowly opened my window, I doubted myself. Clearly, I had already lost the title of daughter of the year, but was this really who I was now? Someone who sneaks out? Someone who rebels? Then, I thought back to all those sleepovers I could never go to because I had to be home at 6. I thought back to the 8th grade week in the wildress trip I had to stay home from. I thought back to not being allowed to get a cell phone because it "wasn't important." It may not be important to my parents, but it's important to me. They don't remember how hard it is to be a teenager.

I slung one leg over the ledge. And then the other. I landed with a soft thud, shoes still in hand. Thank God my room was on the first floor. I quietly made my way to our side gate, to get to the front yard. I wasn't going to risk starting a car, so I guess it was walking for me.

Was I nervous walking at night with no phone in what I hoped was the right direction? Yes. Was I still going to do it? Hell yes.

Don't worry Spencer. I'm on my way. Tonight, I was getting my first kiss. And nothing was going to stop me.