I gasp, chest heaving, as I awaken from my sleep. I reach to my nightstand, silencing the shrieking of my alarm. I notice my arms were clutching a pillow in a death grip against my chest. I saw an indent where my head must have lied in the pillow, just as I had laid my head against Erik's chest. I groan, hating to be woken from Phantom-themed dreams. It was so vivid, so real. I touched my lips to make sure I really hadn't been kissed.

A small pout came across my lips as I rolled out of bed. I hadn't gotten to hear Erik's song. As I rise, I noticed something on my mattress. There sat my iPod, earbuds tangled, peeking out beneath the pillow I had snuggled with in my dream. I reach for it, pressing the power button. The screen stays blank, not even a single flicker of power shows. "Dang it" I mutter, hurrying across my room to plug it in my laptop. I must have fallen asleep with it on...again. This makes 3 times this week! Hopefully it would have some juice before I left for school. Some people say they can't live without their phone; I can't live without my music.

I move to the CD player that sat on my desk, punching the play button. A jazzy melody filled my room, causing me to sway back and forth. "Birds flying high
You know how I feel. Sun in the sky You know how I feel." I danced around my room, letting Micheal Buble's voice wash away my already irritated mood.

"Good morning, Michael" I giggled, his voice making me giddy. Dramatically, I grab a hairbrush, using as a microphone and sing along with him, tossing my hair. 'It's a new dawn. It's a new day It's new life, for me And I'm feeling good. I'm feeling good" After glancing at the clock, I drop the brush, turn up the volume of my music, and start my shower.

I sing every song as I go through my morning routine, snapping and scatting along with Michael. Wrapped in a robe, I go to my closet, towel drying my hair. I look through my clothes, finally deciding on a white sundress with a pretty green pattern. I dress quickly and go back to my bathroom to throw on some makeup and do my hair. I'm fair skinned, with heavy brown hair and green eyes. I curl my hair with a curling iron, forming big curls that hit my shoulders. After applying my makeup, I'm finally ready. I grab my backpack, purse, and kitten heels, and head downstairs

Coming downstairs, I see my mom at the stove flipping pancakes. She smiled

"Well, don't you look lovely today, Kristin!" She said brightly.

"Thank you, Mom" I smile, giving her a kiss.

She set a plate in front of me and makes a place for herself. She reaches for my hand and we say grace.

As we dig in she asks "Honey, why were you blasting your music again? You know how I feel about that."

I sigh, "Mom, I need my music in the morning, you know that. I wakes me up and helps me focus." I say, giving her a soft smile. "I know, love. But you have to keep it down. I don't need the neighbors going crazy because my daughter love her tunes."

It's true, our apartment is small and the last thing I need is Mrs. Gibbons complaining about my 'outrageous entertainment' again. I nodded, understanding my mother.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'll try to keep Michael under control." I smile. "That's my girl" My mom smiled. We finish our breakfast in scilence.

I guess I should tell you about my family, even though there isn't much to tell. It's just Mom and I. I don't have a dad..well, I do have a dad, of course. He's not around. I've never known him, he left before I was born. Mom never talks about him and I never want to talk about him. There are no pictures, no nothing. And that's just the way we like it.

We clear the table quickly. My mom pulls her strawberry blonde hair in a pony tail. I can tell she had a hard night last night. She works midnights for a local hospital and she's constantly on her feet.

"Mom, go get some sleep. Promise me that, okay? Don't wear yourself out" I reached out to give her a hug

"Don't worry about me, baby" She said as she embraced me. I pulled back, glancing at my watch.

"I've gotta run. Remember, I'm working a few extra hours at the cafe tonight. I'll text you"

I kissed her. "Bye sweetie!" I grab my bags and head for my car, my lovely baby blue Volkswagen. Throwing my bags in the passengers seat, I take a deep breath, preparing for the day ahead.