Chapter 1

After waking up in the middle of the night, I rolled over on the small bed and fell back asleep. Sleep didn't come easy though. All night I kept waking from hearing the leaky faucet from the bathroom, the next room over. I guessed Sean didn't get much sleep either since he was in the shower at a quarter to six.

I unwrapped myself from the flowered sheet I used as a blanket and went to make some coffee in the kitchen. The coffee maker was old; it was slow and made the coffee taste horrible. I sat down on the dirty old couch as I waited for Sean to finish with his shower. As I sat there, I started to think about Sean and how much things have changed since we were little. Sean was now the biggest guy I knew. I had talked to him a lot since we were apart and I wasn't quite ready for the new Sean. He was a lot bigger than I expected. But after talking to him for a while, under all that tough exterior it was the Seany that I knew as a child.

Sean didn't take too long to get out of the shower. He opened the door and appeared with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist shuddering. "Be-be-beware of the sh-sh-shower. It's fr-fr-freezing."

I heard him start to move to his room and called out to him, "There's some really bad coffee in the kitchen. It's hot but tastes like shit."

"No thanks. I'll just grab something on the way to school. I want to get there early so I can show you around a bit, get you situated," he appeared not two seconds later wearing a pair of jeans, a white wife beater and a black hooded sweatshirt.

"Sure, anything you say. Well, since the water isn't going to get any warmer, I think I'll get in the shower." I walked back to the kitchen placing my coffee mug in the sink.

Before I could get to the bathroom, Sean enveloped me into a hug. "I'm glad you're here. I really appreciate it." He placed a delicate kiss on my forehead.

I smiled meekly, "I really need to get in the shower." I gave him one last squeeze before exiting to the bathroom. I looked around: the pipes were rusted, the toilet handle was broken, and the mirror had tiny creaks in it ready to break at any second; I was living in hell.

I turned the knob to the shower. I didn't matter where I put it the water was still the same temperature. Sean was right, it was freezing. As I stood there turning to a block of ice, I barely had enough energy to shave my legs and arms. But I did, I couldn't go to school with hairy legs and armpits, especially if I was going to wear a tank top. I washed my hair and shaved my body, just before I thought I would turn into an ice sculpture.

I dried off and ventured into the tiny room I slept in. I went through tons of clothes to find the right outfit: a purple halter top and tight low rise jeans. I quickly blow dried my hair leaving my hair down to hang about my shoulders. I grabbed my black leather jacket and black messenger bag.

"Autumn, let's go! Its 7 already. We still have to pick up Ellie," Sean's voice boomed from the other room.

"Coming!"" I yelled back taking one last look in the cracked mirror on my wall. I slipped into my jacket and threw my bag across my chest. I ran out the apartment and jumped into Sean's Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. "Sorry, I took so long. I have to look just right for my first day of school."

"Whatever. What do you have first period? Maybe you have class with someone I know," Sean pulled up along side a white house honking the horn.

I started pulling papers and flyers out of my bag as a petite red head dressed in all black came out of the house. I finally found my schedule. I looked it over, "I have photography."

I watched as the girl slid into the back seat. "What about photography?" she leaned forward and pecked Sean on the cheek with a kiss.

Sean pulled away from the curb, "Ellie, this is my cousin Autumn. Autumn, Elli. Photography is Autumn's first class. I'm pretty sure Craig has that first too."

"Yeah, Craig has photography at that time. Are you sure you want your cousin hanging out with him?" Ellie asked raising her eyebrows.

"Craig won't do anything, El. He knows what I'd do to him if he were to touch my cousin," Sean smoothed my back with his free hand.

I glanced back at Ellie and then back as Sean. "What is so bad about this Craig kid?"

Sean opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Ellie, "Craig was dating a girl named Ashley. They were such a great couple. Until he cheated on her with Manny, the school slut. Needless to say, they broke up. He got Manny pregnant. She had an abortion. He is nothing but a man whore. I wouldn't trust him with you."

"Autumn, the kid's my best friend, besides Jay. I would have done the same thing if I had the opportunity," Sean laughed looking at Ellie. Sean pulled into the parking lot and parked near the doors.

As we piled out of the car, Ellie slapped Sean's arm playfully, "Thanks a lot! I'm really glad my boyfriend is blatantly honest with me."

I love you too." Sean wrapped Ellie up into a tight bear hug placing a kiss on the top of her head.

We headed up the steps towards the doors. Sean held the door open for us. I looked around my surroundings: flyers hanging all over the walls, the identical school lockers and a cute guy standing only feet away with a camera to his eye. He was wearing a tight brown t-shirt and a leather jacket that I could have sworn was mine. I watched him as he focused his lens on me. I shot him my winning smile as the shutter clicked.

"Autumn, the office is this way," I heard Sean call from down the hall.

I turned to catch up with him only to smack into another student. Papers and books went crashing to the floor not to mention me and the other student. That's when it hit me: it was only Monday, the beginning of a very long week.