Chapter 2

The Start

17 years ago…

2012

"Mia, come on. You have to let me read what you've written," I pouted my lips.

"Ana, no. I promise you'll laugh."

"I won't laugh," I promised.

We are inside her room just like every day after class. We usually watch chick flicks, listen to Taylor Swift songs, gossip about school couples, and read romance novels. Right now, we are in a very important mission: get our poems published in the school's literary paper.

As freshmen students and aspiring writers, it is very important for us to create a piece that will make a lasting impression on the school. Once our poem gets published, there's a high chance that we can make it to the school paper. Then we will be able to write news, editorial, and feature articles.

"Here you go," Mia hands me her yellow paper.

My eyes glimmer in excitement as I begin to read her work. The theme of the literary book is all about the city life. As residents in New York, we are very much aware of how loud city life can be. There are so many angles to write about given the theme. However, I raised my brow as I read Mia's work.

"Uhm . . . Mia? I don't think this aligns with the theme." In fact, I don't even think that she knows how to write a poem at all.

Boy in Glasses

by Mia Grey

Boy in glasses with blonde hair, very handsome dear

Can't you notice me here?

Boy in glasses reading books inside the room,

Can't you hear my heart go boom?

Mia lets out an exasperated sigh and lies down her bed, her arms spread so widely as she stares dreamily into the ceiling.

"You can laugh all you want, Ana, but I know he will notice me someday."

"It's romantic, Mia. I am not going to laugh at you, of course. You're my best friend."

It's funny how people who met just over three months ago on the first day of school are now best friends. Mia and I started talking about our favorite books and before we know it, we can't be separated. She's my kindred spirit and my best friend.

Mia smiles and gushes, "I don't know why I really like Ethan, Ana."

"He is a smart guy, Mia. I am pretty sure he'll graduate as valedictorian." Ethan is a Sophomore, just one year ahead of us but he's pretty well-known to be so smart.

"He is like Einstein meets Brad Pitt, you know."

I laughed at that and asked, "Do you even want to be a campus journalist or do you just want to be part of the school paper because Ethan's a writer?"

"The latter," she confirmed and I laughed even louder.

"Okay, if ever I get to be a campus journalist, I'll get you as my assistant and that means you will always be part of our meetings," I promised to her and she immediately sat down and blushed deep red.

"Are you serious?!"

I nodded, laughing at her unconcealed overexcitement.

"Then, what are you waiting for?! Go and write! You need to write this poem and eventually write for the school paper! Go on! Ethan is waiting for me there!" She excitedly handed me more papers and pens and she cheered while I finalized the poem I was going to pass.

-page break-

St. Croix High School is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the state of New York. It's where the richest kids in the state study. And no, I am not one of those rich kids. My father, Ray Steele is one of the teachers and as part of the teachers' job benefits, one child is guaranteed a scholarship throughout four years of high school.

Mia, on the other hand, is the daughter of Carrick Grey, CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc. and Grace Trevelyan-Grey, the CEO of Trevelyan Stocks Inc. Individually, they own those businesses but as a couple, they own Trevelyan-Grey Hospitals. They have a lot of money and it shows in their manor.

Mia fell asleep after all the dreamy talk about Ethan. I did not bother waking her up when it's 5 pm and it's time for me to go home. I already know my way out of their manor. It's a fifteen-minute walk from the main door to the huge gate, but I am up for walking.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

I immediately froze on my tracks. There's a middle-aged woman standing on top of the stairs, well-poised and her voice echoed through the halls of the manor. The woman looked incredibly beautiful and expensive. Her jewels were pristine and her white suit was spotless. This is Mia's mother! She eyed me from head to toe and I didn't like the look in her eyes.

"Oh, hello, Mrs. Grey. Good afternoon. I am Anastasia Steele, Mia's best friend."

"Call me Madam," she said snobbishly.

"Okay . . . Madam," my voice was low and it took all the courage in me just to answer.

While she took her steps downstairs, my knees began to shake. In my whole fifteen years of existence, I've never been mortified like at this moment. Each step she took felt like death is coming close. She eyed me from head to toe and I know that if it weren't for the St. Croix uniform I was wearing, she won't believe that I really know Mia.

She's only a few inches from me now and I see up close that she doesn't have any flaw in her skin. She's too perfect and her aura feels like she can crush your soul in just one snap of a finger.

"Are you really Mia's best friend?"

"Oh yes, I am, M-madame," I answer as confidently as I can. She isn't always around so I have never seen her in the three months I've come over.

"Whose daughter are you?"

"What?"

"Who are your parents and what business do they own? Or they lawyers? Or doctors?"

Before I can even answer, a masculine yet soft voice came out of nowhere.

"Mom, you're here already? I thought you'd come home from Belgium next week?" It was Mia's older brother, Christian. He stepped in front of me and kissed his mother on the cheek. His mother, Grace seemed to be unfazed by his presence and still continued to stare at me with that cold look.

"The trip ended earlier than expected," she answered him monotonously.

"That's surprising. Oh, and by the way, Mom, have you met Ana? She's Mia's classmate and best friend."

I raised my brow at him. He knows who I am? Every time I come here, his face is buried in some girls' neck. I swear, he makes out with different girls all the time that Mia can't even introduce me to him.

When Mrs. Grey seems to be unconvinced still, Christian wrapped his arms around my shoulders playfully. It's not in a romantic way but it's in a way of how a guy would good-humoredly make fun of his female friend. I could've sworn he really acted so well and it's almost as if we hang out all the time too.

"Very well," his mom seemed more convinced now and she gave me one last dirty look before walking out.

I immediately got out of Christian's arms and he smirked at me playfully.

Christian's a year older than Mia and me so that means he's a Sophomore. However, he's not always in school. He's known to be such a rowdy guy and always up for fun. He makes out with senior girls, gets drunk every work, races cars, and he doesn't even attend class. I heard that he didn't pass all of his subjects last year but since his parents happen to be shareholders of the school as well, teachers have no choice but to let him pass. Yes, that is confirmed by my father.

"Thank you," I don't even know what I am thanking him for.

"No worries about that, Beautiful."

I raised my brow at that. I may only be fifteen but I know when a guy is sincere or not. He's just calling me Beautiful but he doesn't think I am beautiful.

I just shook my head and tell him, "Your mom's pretty scary."

"I know, right? She's all dried out. Months and years of working and she can't quench her thirst."

"What?"

"You don't get it?" He smiled, clearly amused by me.

I shake my head and tell him, "Anyway, thanks. I'll go now."

"Wait, are you going to walk all the way to the gate? I know you don't have a car so maybe I can give you a ride?"

He knows that I don't have a car?

"There's no need, Christian."

"I'm not taking no for an answer. Let's go!" Without any warning, he grabbed my hand and led me out of the manor where his Aston Martin awaits. He opened the door of the passenger seat and I didn't move.

"Look, I can really manage to walk home."

"It takes fifteen minutes to get out of this walk all the way to the gate and the bus stop is another ten-minute walk. Look, I know what you've heard about me but I am not going to take advantage of you, okay?"

I breathed uncomfortably.

His face turned serious this time when he said, "I just want to get you home safely."

Here goes nothing then. I hesitantly get inside his car. He closes the door and find his way to the driver's seat.

"Seatbelts all ready?"

I bit my lip as I nodded.

"There's a long road ahead of us," He said before he started to drive.

What a long road indeed.

Thank you for reading the last chapter and for reading today! - Cloud