AN: If you are still reading after that awful preface then GOD BLESS YOU! I swear it gets better from here on out! If you reviewed or even THOUGHT about reviewing then gracias amigo! Are you impressed with my awesome Spanish skills? I know you are. A major thanks to my beta BEtwilightlove!!
Song for this chapter: So What? by P!nk
Disclaimer: I. Do. Not. Own. Twilight.
Chapter 1
Claire POV
My alarm clock woke me up at 5:00 AM. Waking up this early was a sacrifice I had to make if my sister was going to take an hour and a half in the bathroom every morning. I looked around at my cream colored bedroom walls and my collection of old Hollywood and Broadway posters that hung from them. While my eyes adjusted to the light, I sighed and climbed out of bed.
I walked quickly and quietly down the burgundy colored hallway and into the matching bathroom. Stepping silently, I hopped into the shower and let the hot water calm my first day of school nerves.
My phone's ringtone sounded throughout the house as I was wrapping a large, fluffy towel around me. Muttering to myslef the whole time, I ran as fast as I could without waking anyone to my room. My eyes flashed to the caller ID. I giggled softly and flipped it open when I realized who it was.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Claire." came Quil's voice.
"Good morning, Quil."
"Do you and your friends need a ride to school?" he asked. Even though he knew the answer, he still called every morning to check; he'd been driving Nessa, Andrew, and I to school ever since my parents had decided work was more important than me. When was that, again? Oh, yeah, the second day of preschool.
"Yeah, sure."
"And your sister?"
"She's taking the bus." She was starting sixth grade today. She wanted the "full experience" of being in middle school.
"Alright, see you at 7:15." And with that he hung up.
I turned around to survey my room, making sure everything I needed was available. I plugged my straightener into the socket and turned to my closet. After pulling on a ripped pair of jeans, a light green camisole, and a white boy's vest, I walked over to my dresser and sat down to apply my make-up carefully.
I heard my mom let Nessa, my best friend, into the house downstairs as I was swiping a mascara wand over my eyelashes. She banged up the stairs and pulled open the door. Nessa looked stunning with her dark skin and natural blush. Her long copper hair was down today, flawless curls shiny and soft, and her chocolate brown eyes sparkled brightly. Her full lips stretched into a smile over her perfect, white teeth when she saw me.
"You look hot," she stated simply before plopping down on my bed.
"Thanks," I smiled at her. "Did you see Andrew out there?"
"No, do you want me to throw rocks at his window like we used to do when we were little?" she said with a giggle.
I smiled. Ah, those were the good days. I was snapped back to the present by a loud banging on the front door.
"CUH-LAIRE!" Andrew's voice rang through the house. "Open the door!" Good old mom and dad must already be at work. I ran down the stairs and yanked the door open.
"Impatient much?" I asked with a smug smile. Our mothers had met at this weird pregnancy yoga thing and became best friends. Andrew had been born three days before me and those were the only days we'd been separated our whole lives. It sometimes felt like he, Nessa, and Quil were the only family I had in this crazy, messed up world.
"Good morning to you too, dear," he smirked while pushing past me to get to my kitchen.
Lily, my sister, picked that moment to come bouncing down the stairs.
"Hello, everyone," she sang brightly. She has taken preppy to the extreme. She was all curls and bubblegum.
"That's a new look," Nessa called as she descended gracefully down the stairs. "I like it."
"Thanks," she called as she ran out the door to catch her bus.
"Alright, kids," I sighed. "Let's wait outside for Quil." We grabbed our bags, locked the door behind us, and sat down on the front step. Nervous chatter about the first day of school filled the time until Quil's jeep stuttered to a stop in front of us.
"Claire!" he yelled. "I missed you!"
"I saw you yesterday," I said, thumping him on the head as I jumped in the front seat.
Quil stuck his tongue out at me and started poking me in the ribs.
"You kids are so immature," Andrew shook his head in mock disapproval.
"Good morning, Drew, Nessa," he said, composing himself, and nodding in their direction.
"Hi, Quil" Nessa chirped.
"Let's get you guys to school!" he said with fake enthusiasm.
All three of us groaned in unison.
Minutes later Quil pulled into the parking lot of La Push High. I turned towards him to grab my bag and found him looking at me intently.
"What are you staring at?" I asked him, not rudely but with genuine curiousity.
"Nothing," he sighed. "Nothing at all."
I shook my head and smiled. "Bye, Quil."
"Goodbye, Claire" he murmured before briefly pressing his lips to my cheek.
In that brief moment that his lips touched my skin my heart stopped beating. My head swam with emotion I didn't know exsisted. It was heaven.
I got out and slammed the door firmly behind me, my skin still on fire from Quil's kiss. Once the jeep was out of earshot, Nessa grabbed my elbow and jumped up and down and squealed.
"He touched your face! With his lips!" She screamed.
"Yeah, it's no big deal," I lied casually.
"Yeah, yeah, isn't it so wonderful?" Andrew said in an annoyed voice. "Now I plan on escorting you women to class, so," he offered us each an arm. "Let's go."
We looped our arms through his and I asked, "Who do you have first?"
"Shankles," Andrew said at the same time Nessa said, "Office aid."
We dropped Nessa off first and then Andrew led me to the music room. No one outside of music, except for Drew and Quil, knew that I played the flute. I couldn't wait to lose myself in the music, to let my fingers fly over the keys. It felt the same way when I picked up my guitar, sat down at my piano, or sang my heart out. Only Drew and Quil knew how much music meant to me. It was my escape. My life.
I pulled out my flute and began putting it together.
Pretty soon the first notes of Claire De Lune began to drift through the air. Just as I'd predicted, I was completely lost in the music. It was times like this I was glad I had parents who could care less. I could play my music for as long as I wanted to and not have to worry about other people hearing me or judging me.
All too soon I was forced from my musical haven and found myself at lunch.
"Can you believe we've almost survived our first day as juniors?" Andrew asked, pecking me on the cheek as I sat down next him.
"No not really," I mumbled. My thoughts strayed back to Quil's lips against my cheek. I was fourteen when I had started thinking of Quil as less of a big brother and more of a boyfriend. I'd been hoping and praying that my feelings hadn't become too obvious, but it had been getting harder to deny them. I sat there in my own little world and Nessa and Drew knew I wanted to be left alone.
The rest of the day passed in a gray blur. I would pretend to pay attention, but I was really thinking about Quil.
Finally the day ended. I skipped, happily to Quil's jeep and jumped in the front seat. Quil nodded quickly in my direction and waited for Drew and Nessa to get in. We dropped Nessa off and as we were speeding to my house he leaned towards me and whispered, "Claire-Bear, stay in the car." I gave him a questioning look. "Just trust me. We need to talk." Andrew looked back and forth between us quickly. A confused look spread across his handsome features. I was pretty sure my expression mirrored his.
I did trust him, probably so much it wasn't healthy. I wasn't the most observant person in the world but even I knew that our relationship couldn't continue to balance on the tip of a knife anymore.
Tonight everything would change.
AN: Alright! First chapter! Victory dance! I didn't plan on having it finished it yet, but I'm in language class now... supposedly doing my assignments. What can I say? Inspiration hit me! Expect chapter 2 in a couple of days. I'm about to send it to my beta like right now... honestly. I swear.
forever yours.
brooke. twilightchic.
