Disclaimer: I don't own Lorien Legacies...

Hi guys!

I wish i was number five here! Thanks for the reviews so far, I didn't expect any yet! :D

Relationships are being planned out right now but if I get my way, this could very well be a Nix story... but we'll have to wait and see.

Please read on!

Loss, Love, Laughter, Life - Chapter 2

Author - I wish I could be Number Five

POV - Marina

My alarm goes off way too early. I groan and roll over, hiding my face in my pillow. I can't believe it's already time to get up.

I can hear Ella scampering around the house already. She's going to school earlier than me since she's planning on meeting some of her friends. They're all terrified since it's their first day at High School.

I sit up I bed, resting my head in my hands. I'm not looking forward to this year at all. I've got a crazy amount of work to do to pass my exams and get into Uni. I have to deal with the same cliques as every year and on top of that, try to deal with Ella.

My phone beeps and I grin at the picture Maren sends me. She knows how to cheer me up. We're best friends and have been for years. It was ever since I was bullied at 7 years old for having pigtails. Maren had punched the guy and then after that, we'd been firm friends. I can't imagine life without her brusque but fun personality.

I get out of bed, pulling a brush through my hair. Thank god I showered last night. I throw some clothes on, thankfully having passed the stage of caring about fashion. I shove some shoes on and shoulder my bag.

"Hey Mar" Adelina, my aunt, greets me as she trudges to the bathroom. I nod at her as I amble downstairs, smelling the fresh coffee. I grin and drop my bag by the door, going straight to the coffee.

"Hey El" she nods at me, engrossed in her phone. I sigh as I pour myself a cup.

"How are you?" I ask. She shrugs, shoving a piece of toast in her mouth as she grabs her bag.

"Good, see you later" she calls, heading out of the door with her phone. I roll my eyes at her behaviour. In a month or so she'll realise there's more to life than a new phone.

I grab a piece of toast, smiling sadly at the picture of my parents on the side. I miss them so much; it's a constant ache in my heart. The thought of the fatal car accident almost makes me want to start crying again. I shake my thoughts off and quickly eat my toast, leaving soon after Ella does.

I drive slowly to Maren's house, taking care on the roads. I'm not a fan of driving after my parents' crash but I have to man up and deal with it. I have to become an adult now, for Ella's sake as well as mine.

I get to Maren's house where she's waiting outside, grinning when she sees me. She's all ready to go to school, PE kit at her feet.

She's so annoyingly beautiful, Maren. She's got long black hair, grey eyes and a striking face. I feel plain next to her but I still love her as my best friend. Besides, the way she takes the piss out of herself makes me feel a million times better.

"Hey" I call as I wind the window down. "Need a ride?" She grins and hops into the passenger seat, her eyes sparkling in mischief.

"Senior year Mar!" she cheers. "We're gonna tear this place up!". I laugh as I drive the car out of the drive, waving to her grandma in the window.

"Sure we are. I can just totally see us wrecking the school with our maths equations" I say dryly.

"But seriously! We're gonna have tons of fun" Maren says enthusiastically. I bite my lip.

"We have to apply to Uni and get the grades… I don't know if I can have fun this year Maren" I say with a shrug. She rolls her eyes playfully and jostles my shoulder.

"Loosen up. You'll get into your dream Uni easily" she says. "Especially with that crazy fund your parents left you" she adds.

Anyone else talking about my now dead parents would get a glare but I simply grin at her. Being my best friend gives her the ability to say things like that. She plays around with the radio, frowning.

"So, you going for the running team again?" I ask her as I drive around a roundabout. She grins and settles back in her seat, giving up on the radio.

"Sure am" she nods determined. "I've got to make the netball team too" she says determinedly. "I've got to do it this year" I grin and roll my eyes at her.

"You will" I reassure her. She smiles and turns to me.

"And what about you? Ever thought about going back to swimming?" she asks me. I pause as I drive through a tricky bit of road, getting to the school.

"I don't know… I haven't been since their death and it would feel weird to go back" I admit. Maren bites her lip as she gently touches my arm.

"You have to go at some point" she says sadly. "You have to move on and live your life" I nod and fight back tears, driving into the school car park.

"I know… but I have so much on my plate at the moment" I shrug as I step out of the car. I grab my books and put my bag on my shoulder. I drop my keys on the ground and bend down, picking them up.

"Nice one Mar" Maren teases as she gets out, flipping her perfect black hair over her shoulder. She pulls it back into a ponytail and grins at me.

"How's Ella doing?" she continues our earlier conversation as we head into the school grounds, the sun shining down on us. I shrug and slip my jacket off, revealing my tank top on underneath.

"Same as, same as. She's been working hard over the summer" I shrug. Maren nods and then sighs.

"She hasn't started the bad eating habits?" she asks. I shake my head at once. Ella had some issues with wanting to be skinny after our parents' death; she wanted some control in her life. But she'd been too thin and that was another issue i'd had to deal with/

"I've kept an eye on her… but I'm worried about her coming here. I don't want her to go off the rails" I admit. Maren gently touches my arm as we head towards the language blocks.

"Don't worry so much. Adelina and I will help you with Ella. You'll be fine" she reassures me. I nod and try to smile but I keep my fears locked inside me.

Who said school years were the best?

Xxx

My least favourite subject is Maths. I hate it with a passion and today I have it last thing. I want to fall asleep. As if that weren't bad enough, I hate my class. Sophie, the head cheerleader, is in our class as well as other annoying girls from her clique.

"Marina?" my head snaps up and I blush at once as Mr Nagy glares at me.

"Yes" I ask, my voice kind of husky. I clear my throat and try to ignore the small giggles at the back of the class.

"What was the answer?" he asks, crossing his arms. I flush and bite my lip, not having any idea what he's talking about. I wasn't listening; I was too busy thinking about Ella. Mr Nagy sighs and shakes his head, disappointed.

"Don't let your ability fall like it did last year" he says bitingly. My cheeks flame as I look down and I hear more laughs.

Mr Nagy carries on with the class but I can't get the biting comment he made out of my mind. He was subtly telling me to snap out of my feelings. How dare he tell me to get over it just like that! How dare he be so rude!

I want to get up and out of my seat but I need to pass this class. So I bite my tongue and sit through the agonising hour, watching the clock ticking down. Finally the bell rings and I get up to go, packing my bags happily.

"Marina? My Nagy calls my name and I groan quietly. I grab my books as I sling my bag on my shoulder. Most of the students have gone but one or two are still here, still packing away.

"Joseph, I need a word with you too" Mr Nagy says and a tall guy with curly hair grimaces. I go up to my teacher's desk, sighing.

"Yes sir?" I ask quietly. Mr Nagy sighs as he rifles through some papers. The boy, Joseph, is waiting behind me for his turn to talk to the teacher.

"I'm worried about you Marina" he admits. I fidget uncomfortably and look down.

"For an A grade student, a C isn't what I was expecting" I open my mouth to protest but he carries on. "You could do so well Marina! You could be going to Harvard or Yale if you wanted" he pleads. I sigh and look down, painfully aware of the boy behind me.

"I'll try harder" I shrug. He puts his hand on my shoulder.

"I know you've had it hard Marina. I can't begin to imagine what you've been through. But this is the most important year of your life and I can't bear the thought of someone as promising as you throwing it all away" he pleads with me. I bite my lip and the look up at him.

"Can I go sir?" he sighs and then nods, moving onto the kid behind me. I escape the classroom, relieved.

I hate pep talks.

Xxx

"Ella's upset" are the first words that greet me when I get back from school. Adelina stands nearby, her face sad as she gazes at me. I nod at her, walking up the stairs at once to my little sisters room.

"El?" I call outside her door, knocking on it. I can hear sobbing from inside.

"Go away!" she yells back. I sigh and then enter, thankful there's no lock.

Ella's lying on the bed, sobbing her poor little heart out. I go over to her and wrap her in my arms, gently kissing her hair.

"Sh, it's ok" I whisper, hugging her tightly. She shakes her head as she clings to me.

"I miss them so much!" she wails, her face streaked with tears. I stroke her hair back, feeling my own eyes filling with tears.

"I know, I know" I murmur, kissing her forehead. She continues to sob, her face buried in my neck.

"I wish they were here" she murmurs after a while. "I wish they could help me with my homework and show you how to drive and encourage me to join the painting club" she whispers. I nod as I continue to stroke her hair.

"You have me" I say sadly. "And Adelina" I add. Ella laughs bitterly as she wipes her face with her sleeve.

"She pretends that everything's all right… when it's not" Ella replies. I sigh and hug her tightly, my fingers braiding her hair. It relaxes her when I do that.

"She's taken us in and helped us… don't be like that El" I whisper softly. I know what she means though; Adelina does pretend that a lot of the issues Ella gets aren't there.

"How was school?" I ask her. She sighs and shrugs weakly.

"Good actually… it was just hearing everyone talk about their own parents and I couldn't help myself" she murmurs. I nod and rest my head on hers.

"I know what you mean… my teacher had a word with me today because I wasn't performing well" I tell her. She giggles and grips my hand.

"Well they can piss off" she mutters. I gasp and pull back in mock horror.

"Language Ella!" I say, imitating Adelina's strict voice. Ella dissolves into giggles and then hugs me.

"I'm so glad to have you Mar" she whispers, burying her head in my neck. "Thank you for everything" I smile as I hug her back.

"Love you too" I whisper softly.

Ok, so I made Marina have some tough problems to outline her serious attitude :D Also, it would be too easy to let our characters have easy lives.

Names for the story

Five will be Tom

One will be Sophie

(couldn't think of any other names)

Please review!