Life at Westwood High Chapter 1

Buzz!  Buzz!  Buzz!

            Carly Martin slowly rolled out of bed and switched off the alarm on her clock.  She yawned and trudged over to her closet.  She picked out her usual "skater girl" attire: some baggy blue jeans and a green top.  She quickly got dressed and headed to the bathroom before her older brother Andrew could get in to hog it.  After finishing her business, Carly looked in the full-length mirror hanging on the bathroom door with her pale gray eyes.  She quickly brushed her blue hair, not really caring how it looked anyway.  After putting on her socks and shoes, she raced downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast.

            "Morning Mom," Carly greeted her mother, who was busy making breakfast.  She gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek, one of the few people that she would show her true feelings of love to.  She sat down at her place at the table. "Did Dad leave already?"

            "Yes, he already left for the office," her mom answer as she served scrambled eggs to three plates on the table. 

            "Good morning, ladies!" Andrew Martin dramatically entered the kitchen, giving his mother and sister a hug.  "So Carly ready for the big day?" Andrew asked as he sat down and began digging into his breakfast.

"Big day?" their mother questioned.

"Well," Carly smiled, "It's not that big of a deal.  I'm just gonna audition for my friends' band, that's all."  Her smile faded, "But maybe I shouldn't, I mean, who would want a have girl guitar player anyway?"

"Nonsense," her mom gently scolded, "Of course you're going to try out, and I'm sure you'll make it in, Honey"

"Yeah, don't sweat it, Carly.  And if by some bizarre chance they don't pick you…" Andrew punched his fist into his palm with a smile playing on his lips, "…They'll have to answer to me."

"Oh please," Carly smiled and teasingly swatted him on the shoulder.

"Now go on you two, you'll be late for school." Their mom looked at the clock.  "Have a great day today."

"Sure will, Mom," Carly said, but knew that it wouldn't be totally true, not until she stopped hiding who she really was and her true feelings to people.  She was honest with her family, but with her friends…she just couldn't bring herself to be who she really was.  Until that time comes, her wall will remain firmly in place, just waiting for the right someone to help her break free from its confines.

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            "Stop it Adam!  Give it back!" Benji Harper yelled at his older stepbrother Adam Copeland.  The seventeen-year-old jumped up to reach the papers that Adam held in his hand over is head.  Benji's smaller form, clad in black baggy jeans and a black T-shirt, was no match for Adam's tall and strong physique.

            "You wanna 'em Freak, go get 'em." Adam threw the papers, and they scattered haphazardly around the living room. 

            "You're such an ass!" Benji yelled, as he tried to get his papers in order, "I've been working on this song for a month, and you could have ruin it!" He waved the papers of his song angrily in Adams face.

            "You think I care about your little loser songs and your little loser band," Adam taunted.  "And besides YOU started it!  You could have ruined my trophy!"

            "And do you think I care about your 'little loser' football trophy," Benji mocked.

            "You better shut up, Benjamin," Adam overemphasized Benji's full name, knowing it would rile him up.  "You're so lucky you didn't break it."

            "I should have broken it, Moron!"

            "Loser!"

            "Idiot!"

            "Punk!"

            "Jerk!"

            "Freak!"

            "Son-of-a-"

            "Stop it you two!" Casey Copeland (sister to Adam, stepsister to Benji) interrupted the fighting.  She wore a pair of baggy khaki cargo pants, a red tank top, and sneakers.  She stepped in between the two and glared at each of them, really sick of their fighting that never seemed to stop.  "What's wrong with you guys?  You're both really nice people; why can't you two get along?  I mean, you guys can't really hate each other."

            "Yes we do," Adam and Benji answered at the same time.  Casey rolled her bright blue eyes and smoothed back her wavy shoulder length blonde hair with light blue streaks.

            "You guys seriously need to grow up.  Like it or not, we're a family.  You both really need to stop this fighting.  And you're so lucky that dad and mom aren't here.  You remember what they said."

            "Yeah, yeah, they catch us fighting again, and we're off to military school," Benji said not so thrilled, running a hand through his disheveled spiky black hair.

            "Well, I really don't have to worry," Adam said with a smirk, "They'd probably only send you, Benjamin, since you're the freak show of the family."

            "Yeah, whatever.  I'm outta here," Benji grabbed his backpack and began his routine walk to school.  Though Adam had a car, Benji didn't want risk being seen with him in public.

"Ah, you and Benji drive me crazy," Casey sighed and flopped down onto the sofa.

            "Come on, Case," Adam said, taking a seat next to her, "you know that the Freak started it.  Everything was fine when it was just you, me, and Dad, and even Anne is a great step mom.  But Benji…that kid is a punk.  Even you can admit that."

            "Yeah I guess…sometimes," Casey agreed, "but still Benji is a nice guy.  You just need to get to know him better."

            "Yeah, maybe on a cold day in Hell, Kiddo."  Adam wrapped his arm around Casey's shoulders in brotherly affection, "And why do I need to get to know him when I have my most favorite sister in the world to chum around with?"

            "Uh, Adam, I'm your only sister," Casey laughed and rolled her eyes at him.

            "Hey, that's all the more reason why you're my favorite," Adam gave her a trade mark Copeland smile, "Anyway, come on, let's get headed to school."

            "Great," Casey said sarcastically, school wasn't exactly exciting to her.  "Just let me grab my skateboard."  Together, brother and sister made their way to Adam's car and then off to the school that Casey defines 'as the most boring place on Earth.'

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There's more to come!  Hope you all liked it.  Let me know what you think, pretty please, *makes a puppy-dog face*.  REVIEW!!!

~*~darkcrystal~*~