A/N.

Hey guys. Okay, so this is my first story, so be patient, yeah? I'm Australian too, so if you think something is spelt weird, that's cause I'll be using the Australian spelling. Except with Mom. Cause this is set in America.

MEGHAN IS NOT IN THIS STORY. Just FYI :) Oh, and anything that is in bold in this chapter has a link to polyvore down the bottom. Just in case you want visuals :)

My name is Juliette Forde, and today I'm since I can remember, my parents have lived in a creaky old weatherboard house on the river with weed poking through the cracks in the path and a rusted gate swinging out front. Every morning, I've walked along the road to the bus stop, picking up my best friend Robbie as I passed his drive. I've known Robbie since forever, and most of the time it feels like he knows more about me that I do. He's a total goof, and I don't think I've ever seen him act serious. He practically lives at my house. I've always thought he was a bit of a freak, but, hey, he's MY freak. We often explore the woods along the river behind my house, looking for pretty little clearings and glens, and seeing if we can find any animals. It might sound childish, but neither of us can stand to be inside for long. My life basically revolves around being outside – nothing decent happens inside anyway.

Everyone at school thinks I'm weird, cause I don't dress like all the other girls… Well, sorry for not wanting all the guys to be talking to my chest instead of my face. And I have really pale skin. Not like chalky pale, but china-doll pale. Most of the time I like it, but apparently it's just sooo nasty! to have pale skin. You just have to be tan. So, needless to say, I've never had a boyfriend. Although, people always mistake Robbie for being my boyfriend, which is really awkward, since he's like my brother. I've never really had a crush on any guys either. Not that I'm not attracted to guys in general but the guys I know just seem really… immature to me. I don't know, teenage relationships just seem ridiculous. They never last, and I don't want to be one of the girls who have a different boyfriend every week. No guy I know has ever caught my eye… Although lately I've been dreaming of a boy. I don't know who the hell he is, but he's seriously hot. Like, make-you-faint kind of hot. He has this look to him that just screams dangerous, but I don't feel threatened. His hair is a little longer than most guys – down to his shoulders, but it suits him. And his eyes? Well, have you seen the colour of liquid mercury? Yeah. Just like that. And in the dreams, I'm either making out with him, or he's holding me. He might just be a dream, but lemme tell ya, boy got abs to DIE for.

Maybe it's just a subconscious wish for a boyfriend, but I don't know. He seems real to me. But I haven't told Robbie. That would make things really weird. Like, weirder than normal.

For some reason, I keep thinking about these dreams. Normally, I don't remember my dreams when I wake up, so they are weird anyway, but the boy's face is so clear in my mind, so perfect that I can't help but wonder if I've met him somewhere? I mean, my imagination is good, but I doubt I could think up the tiny little stud he has in his - ear. Seriously, I'm not that good. Until I noticed it on 'him', I never really liked earrings on guys anyway. Ugh, why am I still thinking about this? They're just stupid dreams! That feel, well, really real… Like, suppressed memories-real. I think I'm going crazy.

This morning I woke up to my big brother throwing the cat on my face; leave extremely attractive scratch marks across my forehead.

"DANIEL, WHAT THE HELL? I HATE YOU, YOU PIG!" I screeched, jumping up and smacking him as hard as I could, and running down the hall to look at my face in the bathroom mirror.

"Happy birthday sis!" he called back, sounding so smug that I just about spun around to go hit him again. I hissed to my self as I examined the bleeding marks, wondering if there was any way to hide them for school. After I decided that there was no way anything would cover them, without making them infected that it, I slammed the bathroom door shut and hopped in the shower. I knew my parents would have already had theirs, so I deliberately ran out the hot water. Ah, sweet revenge. I glanced at the hall clock on my way past, swearing to myself when I realised that I only had another half an hour to get ready. Thank God I laid out my clothes the night before. I pulled on my leopard skirt & lace-neck tank with my cream wedges, smirking at Daniel as he called me a bitch when he slid back into his room with his teeth chattering. I blow-dried my hair, leaving the brown curls natural, cause I hate having my hair straight and always seem to burn myself with my straightener anyway.

"Julie! C'mon, you need to open your presents before you go for the bus!" my mother called excitedly up the stairs. Presents. I'd forgotten about those. I was kinda hoping that they'd forget, but apparently not. I'd never been one for material things, and had never played with dolls or anything like that when I was little; preferring to play in the dirt, climb trees and plant gardens. Mom had been constantly criticising me for not acting like a girl, but I just shrugged her off. I was having fun. She hadn't changed; still buying me things I didn't, and would never, want, like make-up and magazines full of fashion and make-up tips. I mean, sure, I love dresses and skirts, but some of the things that were in those magazines are ridiculous. I grabbed my book bag off my desk and my cardigan off the door knob before trudging down anyway, prepared to put on some fake enthusiasm and pretend to love whatever they'd decided on this time. If it was some jewellery I could probably cope, cause even though I wasn't big on the other stuff, I loved things that sparkled. I don't know why, but if something throws rainbows on my wall, I can't help but smile. Hence why most of my clothes have rhinestones or sequins on them. I can't resist. And most of the time, I wear sparkly jewelry, like today, with my favourite butterfly ring and some bangles.

When my foot hit the bottom step, I paused. Sitting in the lounge just off the entrance I could see the back of Danny's head as he sat watching cartoons. Yes, nearly 18 and he still watches cartoons. My mom & dad were in the kitchen drinking coffee and discussing something in low voices, snapping apart when they noticed me.

"Julie! Happy birthday, Princess!" Dad exclaimed, stepping over Danny's legs to hug me, "I can't believe my baby's 16 already!"

"Daaaaad!" I whined, "Please don't go all mushy on me. Please?"

He laughed lightly, stepping back and chucking me under the chin, like he always did when he wished I would stop growing up.

"Sorry Princess," He said, smiling down at me, "I just –"

"David, honey, she needs to open her presents now, or she's going to be late!" Mom chirped, hurrying across the floor to the small stack of gift-wrapped boxes on the coffee table. I fought back a groan as she spun over to us with a way-too-cheerful smile stretching across her face.

"Now, this one's from your father and I," she said, handing me a small box.

I pulled the paper off to reveal a jewellery box. A small smile began to form on my lips as I opened it, and became a full-fledged grin when I saw the ring nestled inside. It was a dusky sort of gold with a huge moonstone set into it, and I'd spotted it the week before when Mom & I went to the mall.

Mom laughed at my excitement and flitted back to the pile to bring me more.

Fifteen minutes later I left the house with a new watch on my wrist, another bracelet, a new necklace and several new books. I was kinda surprised that Mom hadn't tried to turn me to make-up again this year, but it was a good kind of surprise. I loved my bracelet most, cause it was made of a stretchy band instead of metal, which often gives me a rash, so I can wear it all the time. I began to amble down to the end of Robbie's drive, where I could see him bouncing up and down waiting for me. As I got closer, I could distinctly see the huge grin on his face, and began to worry. A grinning Robbie was always a scheming Robbie. This couldn't be good.

"Happy birthday Princess!" he shouted, "You ready for the start of the rest of your life?"

I stared at him, thinking he'd completely lost it, and shook my head. It was Robbie. When was he ever normal?

"Thanks Robbie. C'mon, we're gonna miss the bus, and I am NOT walking on my birthday."

I shifted past him to walk up the hill to where the bus picked us up and he grabbed my wrist.

"We're not going to school," he stated softly.

"What? Robbie, just cause it's my birthday, doesn't mean we're playing hooky," I told him firmly. He just grinned at me.

"Princess, there's something more important for us to do today."

Outfit: /cgi/set?id=29350127

Ring: /cgi/set?id=29350175

Rest of Presents: /cgi/set?id=29350250