AN: This is my first attempt on Twilight. This chapter is entirely on my OC's. Please give it a try; that's all I am asking for. I am terribly sorry for any grammatical mistake that I might have made in this chapter. I would really be grateful to you if you take some time to review also and let me know what you think of the chapter.
Chapter 1: A Beautiful Life
"LAILA, WAKE UP. DON'T MAKE ME COME UPSTAIRS!"
That's my loving and a bit annoying mother. Well only sometimes. She has been yelling at me to wake up for past half an hour. But I aren't such a morning person on the weekends. Can you really blame me for that? I half open my eyes lazily and look at the clock hanging on the wall. I groan out loudly as I see the time.
"It's only nine." I mutter lowly to myself. No way in hell or heaven I am getting up a second before ten. I cover my ears with my pillows and peacefully go back to sleep. But unfortunately, I forgot who I was dealing with. After waiting for another ten minutes more, my super energetic mom comes into my room and pours a bucket full of cold water on me. I jump up with a startled scream. Too startled to think straight about anything. It takes me some time to process in my brain just what has actually happened. I'm completely soaked from head to toe in cold water and my bed is all wet too. As I squeeze a pillow; water pours out of it.
"You have got to be kidding me!" I yell with an angry glare at my mother. I don't hesitate for a second to express my annoyance, not to mention as clearly as possible. My mom however, despite my glaring at her, has a triumphed look plastered on her face. God, she's more immature than I am. Completely childish.
"This is not funny." I snap at her, looking dead serious but mom starts laughing at the look on my face.
"Of course it is. You're looking like a wet cat. A cute wet cat I must add." She says affectionately. I roll my eyes at her childishness and finally (having no other choice) get out of the bed. Needless to mention, muttering some wrong words under my breath.
"Breakfast is ready." Mom informs me with a cheery voice to raise my temper more. She goes downstairs and I get into the bathroom to freshen up and start the bright and sunny day.
Even though I'm majorly pissed off, however once inside the bathroom I couldn't help but smile to myself at the incident that just took place. Something like this happens every weekend. My mom always wakes up very early in the morning which is obviously very convenient for working days. Mornings on work days pass by very fast. There's never any time to waste. Unfortunately on weekends, even though there is no rush, mom would still wake up early in the morning like everyday. This habit of hers leaves her feeling lonely since I'd be sleeping in till late in the morning. Mom doesn't like loneliness therefore tries to wake me up applying various tactics, childish tactics I must clarify. So that she can properly spend her limited free time with me. Needless to say, I love my mom very much. She's the world's best and coolest mom ever. We live so happily together that no one can guess just by looking at us that we actually have a rather painful past plaguing our lives.
'My mom's name is Tania.'
Mom's an orphan who never knew her parents. She spent sixteen years of her life at an orphanage in India. When her stay there came to an end, she came to USA along with a couple of orphanage sisters. Here she met my dad, Chris Castle. My dad was eighteen at that time they met. He was a senior at Chicago public high school where mom had started her schooling as well. They became best friends soon and gradually fell in love. When mom turned eighteen they got married. My dad's family accepted mom happily. They treated her like their own daughter. Mom was very happy to finally have a family of her own.
My dad had two more siblings. One older sister named Carly and one younger brother named Frank. My dad's grandfather also lived with them. Therefore it was a perfect definition of a big happy family. I was born right after their first marriage anniversary. My mom was a fan of Indian love stories, and so she named me after a girl of a famous romantic couple in an Indian love story. The love story of 'Laila & Majnu' is still very famous in India even in present days. Or so I was told. Personally I didn't like my name all that much but there was nothing I could do about it when I was given the name; obviously. And now, it just grew on me.
Back to my mom and dad, both of my parents had completed their education on time. Mom became a surgeon and dad joined the CIA. It was his dream job. Mom and dad were totally opposite of each other and the phrase 'opposite attracts' applied to them perfectly. While my mom was soft, caring, loving, and shy. She loved listening to soft music and loved to play violin. My dad on the other hand was the perfect action hero. But despite all the differences between them, they were perfect for each other and completely in love. Even their small arguments seemed like they were expressing their love for each other. After I was born; mom and dad got our own place to stay but the apartment was near by the house where the rest of the family lived. So we got to meet each other on a regular basis. Me, mom and dad, our lives were full of happiness and too perfect. Maybe that's why it didn't last long and, soon enough it completely shattered to pieces.
It was a horrible day for us. Unfortunately for me, I still remembered the day vividly. My dad was chasing after a dangerous underworld criminal like usual. However, this time something went terribly wrong. Dad was killed by the underworld gang to which that pursued individual criminal belonged to. Dad did manage to save seven people in that mission but couldn't save himself. We were having lunch together in grandpa's house when we received the news about dad. I was only eight back then but I understood the loss and the pain very clearly. I am really proud of my dad and always will be. But the death of my dad broke my mom completely. She didn't want to exist anymore. Her own life became a burden on her. My grandpa and grandma helped us a lot during that time. They took care of mom. My aunt Carly and Uncle Frank took care of me for months while mom lived like a zombie. The only thing that gave mom any reason to live for- was me. I was the one and only reason she forced herself to forget the pain of losing her love and started living her life again.
As expected, I became her whole world. And since then it was just me and mom. All the way together. Eventually, mom decided to move away from Chicago and live somewhere else where the memories of my dad wouldn't haunt her every minute of every day. She wanted the city to stop reminding her that she has lost him forever. The mere realization of it was what tortured mom the most. Everyone understood it, including me. Therefore, there was no protest about mom leaving the place. Shortly after all arrangements were done, we moved to California State and started a new life here. Eventually it turned out to be a very good thing for both mom and I. We were ready to move on from the past. Not that it was easy but we tried our best. Both of us. Eventually things got better. We kept in touch with the others. Grandpa and Grandma would come to visit us whenever they could. They still do actually.
There was a time though, when I thought that mom would remarry someone once things are settled and somewhat normal again. I didn't expect her to choose to be a widow for the rest of her life. She is still very young after all. I even asked her once about it but she clearly stated that dad was not only her husband but her first and only love of her life. She could never get over him and didn't even want to try it. Mom believes that they would meet again in afterlife. My mother is a very religious and spiritual person. Therefore, she believes in everything like afterlife and the end of the world etc. etc. She even goes to church whenever she can, though not regularly. Being a surgeon at the city hospital, mom could hardly get any time to spend in leisure. I won't lie. A part of me was very grateful to mom that she didn't make some guy my father; because- let's face it, no one can take my dad's place in my heart. But I also made a promise to myself that if mom ever decides to get married again, I will fully support her. She deserves all the happiness in the world.
At present times, our lives are going on very good. I turned sixteen just one week ago. It sometimes surprises me really; how time can fly away so fast. Though we both are getting older but we've kept our immature behaviors because that allow us to laugh sometimes; and have a happy moment. In the beginning of our new lives, we hardly had any reason to even smile, especially mom. Anyway, speaking of some happy moments, my sixteenth birthday was the second best birthday of my life. The first best one was the last birthday I had with my dad. This time my mom gave me a car as my birthday present. It's a red colored corvette. I just love it. It's my best birthday present ever. Mom and I decided to name it 'Blush' because she seems to be blushing red all the time. I already got my driving license so, on the day of my birthday I drove the car around for three hours straight with mom sitting right beside me. For any other teenager girl or boy, it might have been an embarrassing thing to do but it wasn't for me. We had a lot of fun that day. So who the hell cared about what my friends would think of me driving my mother around and have fun doing it. I certainly didn't care at all.
Back to the current situation- finally after getting ready for the day; I go downstairs to find my mom waiting at the breakfast table for me. I knew she hasn't eaten anything yet even though she must be very hungry already. I sigh to myself and shake my head in hopelessness. What would happen to my crazy mom without me? Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the deep bond between us but truth to be told; sometimes I don't like the fact that she cares for me so much. That she's so depended on me. Due to that, I just know that she won't survive if anything ever happens to me. Thus, for the sake of her life, I always refrain myself from doing anything stupid or reckless. Things that kids my age love to do just for the sake of being a teenager. For example, drinking, smoking, sneaking out of the house to go to a late night party etc etc. And of course I've forbidden myself to go anywhere near any kind of addictive drugs. I've never even interacted with the wrong kind of company either. Heck, I've never even looked at a boy or planned to get myself a boyfriend. I haven't even gone on a single date in my life for that matter. So the truth is, I'm not allowed to be a teenager. These restrictions however are put on me by myself. I must be mature and careful since the very survival of my mother depends on me. I actively deprive myself from the kind of fun other kids my age prefer. Not that I mind doing so. I would do that and more if it means mom will be happy.
So, it's fairly safe to say that, I can do anything, give up anything, make any sacrifice just to see my mom safe and happy. However, the fact that my mom can worry like hell whenever I'm concerned, doesn't make things any easier for me. If I catch a simple cold, my crazy, anxious, panic driven mother would stop eating, sleeping or in one word living until I completely recover. So, I'm always careful and I try my best not to get sick. Because god forbid if my sickness is anything more serious than a simple cold, mom would become sick herself from worrying too much. Sometimes I can't help but wonder what will happen to mom if one day I suddenly die; or I'm diagnosed with serious health issues. Well my mother will follow me to the grave; that's for sure. If there's something I really don't like about my mother, this is it. The fact that her life depends too much on me. It's not right, neither it is healthy in any way. I never dare to say these things out loud though. I'm most certain that if I ever talk about my death, my too much caring mother will immediately suffer either a panic attack or a heart attack.
Putting all these thoughts aside, I walk up to mom and give her a tight hug. Our days won't start until we share a morning hug. She kisses my temples and goes to get the breakfast for me. I settle in the chair right across from mom and wait for her to return. After a while mom puts a plate with chicken sandwiches in front of me. I grin happily because that's my favorite breakfast. We start eating but suddenly mom's cell starts to vibrate indicating that someone is calling her. Mom looks at the ID and immediately groans out unhappily. I glance at the screen too to check the ID myself and can't help but chuckle. Mom glares at me playfully and turns the cell phone off. The person who just called mom works with her at the hospital. His name is Brian. Brian's been trying to get mom to date him for years now. Mom however thinks that he is a huge asshole and honestly I couldn't agree more with her.
Unsurprisingly, Brian isn't the only one who got a crush on my mother. And it was fairly obvious why. After all my mom is a very gorgeous woman. According to me, she's the most beautiful person in the world. And no, I'm not being bias at all. Trust me on that. Many guys hit on mom on a regular basis actually. Usually we'd just laugh if off but this Brian guy really annoys mom. It seems he just won't give up until mom says yes to him which is something that's never going to happen. But who can make that guy understand something so simple.
"I think you should give him a chance, mom. He's working really hard, poor guy." I say sympathetically and instantly receive a slap on my arm. It's fun teasing mom about certain matters and annoy her.
Speaking of the things I never say out loud, there is this one thing that I particularly avoid talking about other than my death. Actually I avoid talking about this subject even to myself. The thing is- without any doubt I'm very happy and proud that my mother is such a pretty woman; however sometimes I can't help but feel a little sad about that. Envious even. The reason is quite simple and clear. Compared to her beauty, I'm absolutely nothing. No one would spare a glance at my way when mom is with me. Even the teenager boys would ogle at my mother rather than me. And why wouldn't they? My mother has beautiful raven black hair that reaches her waist. It cascades down her back in loose curls. Even when her hair is tied up in a bun, it looks beautiful. She has such soft, silky and shiny hair. It also smells nice and fresh all the time. And even though I'm her daughter but I only have simple straight chocolate colored hair that barely reaches my mid back.
That isn't all. Mom has the best quality skin that I've ever seen. It looks smooth and got a creamy fairness to it that seems to make her face glow. Compared to her, I'm just pale and boring. And whenever I blush for some reason, I look really pathetic because not only my temples but my nose, my ears, not to mention my neck as well also turn red. But whenever mom blushes, it looks so beautiful and gorgeous that it could give a healthy man a heart attack. Metaphorically speaking of course. My mom has big attractive brown eyes but I have boring hazel eyes with a bit of green in it which I inherited from my dad. His eyes were green like forest. My mom has full pulpy pink lips but I have thin ones. The only thing that is similar between us is our heights and perhaps our figure shape a little bit. We both are five six and got a very slim body. But mom's curvier than I am.
My mom doesn't even look much old therefore, people would often mistake us as friends. Sometimes I envy mom's beauty so much that I hate the fact that I don't look more like her. Most of my features are a mix between my dad and mom. Even though I think otherwise, but my grandpa used to say that my parents did a good experiment and should make more good looking babies. But unfortunately they never got the chance to do so. Besides I never think of myself as beautiful. How could I? When I have a super model like mother around me. I'm fairly average at best. I often wonder, why mom didn't become a model or an actress. She could have done very well in that field of profession due to her stunning looks.
Needless to say, my mom's thoughts about me are completely different than mine. For her, I'm no less than a Disney princess. But every mother thinks that their daughter is the most beautiful girl in the world. So her opinion doesn't really count. In my sixteen years of life not a single boy crushed over me or asked me out on a date. They hardly notice me actually and never think of me as a potential girlfriend. Perhaps I'm deemed to die a virgin. Don't get me wrong. I am not that desperate to have a boyfriend or craving for male attention. Hell I hardly notice them myself. But being invisible isn't fun either. It didn't use to bother me before. But lately, that and many other kind of negative thoughts are crossing my mind a lot. Having no other option, I blame the whole thing on my age and hormones for thinking and feeling like that.
After finishing breakfast, it is time for us to start packing. Yes, we are moving out of California. Mom is offered a job at a hospital in Washington DC with better salary and facilities. Therefore we are moving there. Mom didn't want to move at first thinking that it would disturb my educational life. Settling down in a new school and making new friends aren't always easy. But I insisted her to take the job offer. Besides, it would be nice to go to a new place, meet new people and have a new experience. I wanted to help mom with packing so I offer to pack my stuffs myself. But after one hour of trying I gave up and went to mom. When she sees my face at the door, she instantly knew that I gave up on packing. It appeared not to be my cup of tea.
"Do you need any help?" She asks smiling smugly at me with a knowing look on her face. I roll my eyes at her. It was really not my fault that I don't know how to pack. First of all we don't move around or travel a lot, and then whenever I needed to do packing, mom would always do that for me. So, I never had the chance to learn packing things in the first place. I was completely spoiled under my mom's care. Once we started packing together though, we had a lot of fun doing it.
Tomorrow we will leave for our new destination and life. Who knows what fate has in store for us. I obviously hope for it to be something good.