Chapter 1: Boring Life

June 10, Monday

Dear diary,

Today is the first day I don't have anything to do. And I woke up today wanting to write in you. I received you as a gift from my grandmother, on my dad's side, as a graduation present. She gave it to me to write down all of the adventures I'd have. But what adventures, I am bound by my father to take his place as CEO of the family company, Silver Linings. My dad is a CEO of a business that handles the cutting of trees, I didn't even know there were still businesses like that in the 21st century. He works in the third oldest building in Los Angeles.

I like to call it the family curse, but really we don't have to claim ownership. My dad is confident that I will, though. To disappoint him would be a great shame on my father. I hate my life, I mean it's supposed to be this great honor, to take up his role. It's been done for generations at least one of the Moore's have taken the role. But it's not all it is cracked up to be.

You're probably wondering well what you want to do with your life, Noel. Well I'll tell you diary I want romance and not just dating someone but I want to be with my soulmate. I know it sounds weird but that's what I want. I want to find the one person that will fall head over heels in love with me that wants me for me. When someone says soulmates I think of my grandparents they have been married for a very long time and they act like they were married yesterday that's the kind of love I want. I'm looking for a guy that's different and is no ordinary and I will wait my whole life for him if I had to. Just how different is different, I have no idea but my mom tells me when I find him I will know.

I took a break writing in my new diary and got up to look out the window. It was a beautiful day outside. I don't know what made me write in my diary, but I did and explaining my life to it made me think.

It was weird to think that this fall I wouldn't have to wake up early, but a part of me missed it. Who decided that as soon as you get out of high school you have to decide what you want to do with your life. All my friends were leaving Evermore, which is the name of our town, it always sounded like a storybook name. My dad wants me to go to college right here, but I want to go aboard take a couple classes. See what catches my eye as a real job, but no I have to go to Evermore University don't get me wrong it's a great school, but I also have to work for my father while taking classes.

I looked back out the window watching the gardeners work on cutting the grass, watering the plants, cutting the bushes, and etc. I sat down on my window ledge watching the workers, work like bees. Daydreaming about my life I wish I had and not the life I was given.

I put down my diary and then there was a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in," I said. The door opened and one of our butlers came in. "Miss Noel, your parents are home and dinner is ready as usual."

"Alright, Lewis I will be downstairs momentarily." Lewis left, I stood up from the window seat.

I went and hid my diary, under the mattress. I started walking out of my room, turning out the light before leaving. Then walked down the front stairs that lead me to the front door where my mother was on the phone.

"Yes I will be there tomorrow, what time is the sound check?" I gave mom a peck on the cheek and hugged dad as he entered the room. He always goes to his office to finish a phone call or two and joins mom and me for dinner.

We walked into the dining room and sat in our usual spots. I sat in between mom and dad. Dad sat on one end of the table and Mom sat on the other end. The waiters brought out our food and I quietly ate my food while mom and dad each talked about each of their days. While I sat quietly eating my dinner. I had nothing to talk about my day so I just listened to them talking about theirs. Mom looked at me and said, "Honey you haven't said a word, is everything all right?"

"Yes mom, I didn't do anything that exciting today. So there is nothing to talk about."

"Well tomorrow I have a concert would you like to spend the day with your mother?" Mom asked casually.

Dad shook his head and said, "You shouldn't be using your summer just sitting in your room alone. How about I get you into a summer camp? Like the normal kids and make some friends."

I said," I have friends, they're just busy today."

"Then it's decided you will spend the day with me and perform with me on stage." Mom said trying to stop dad and me from arguing.

"I guess it would be nice to get out the hou... Wait sing with you on stage? You never let me sing with you before, why now?"

"My agent says it would be great if you and I sung together."

"Okay well, what time are we leaving?"

"Well we have to go shopping and do the sound check, I have so much to plan. Excuse me." Mom got up excitingly leaving us to plan.

I was kind of excited to hang with mom, we rarely did so and her college roommate said she was always the adventurous one, which explains why she's a rock star. "I talked to the staff and they say you're always in your room. That can't be good for your skin, hon." Dad said bringing me out of my thoughts.

I said, "Dad, I come out once in a while I just don't have things to do."

"You should just sleep in your room nothing else. What else do you do in there?"

"Write in my diary, grandmother gave me one when I graduated. I just found it and decided to write it day by day."

Dad said," If I hear you're in your room for more than half a day. I'm sending you to European camp OK." Lewis the butler came in and whispered in my dad's ear. For a couple minutes there was silence. Then dad got up and excuse himself to an important business call.

Lewis came over and sat next to me, he said, "Sorry I had to tell your dad about you being in your room it's my job to do as he says."

I said, "It is okay Lewis but you know how you can make it up?"

"Uh how?"

"First make me your famous tiramisu, and tell me who was on the phone for my dad."

"I already have it on the table in the kitchen and an important client will arrive in California soon and the board from your dad's company wants him to take care of him while he's here."

"You're the best Lewis, and did you get a name for this client?"

Lewis said, "No, but why so curious all of a sudden?"

"I guess it's because this is the first the board has asked my dad to do so." I got up and went into the kitchen to eat my tiramisu. I have no idea why this guy has taken to my curiosity but there is something about him that I have to know.