"Honey, wake up. Sweetie it's school."
Mom's voice is a sweet, soft murmer, although to me it's as if she's screaming for me to wake up from my amazing slumber.
School.
Joy.
I groan under my breath as I toss a pillow over my head, muffling Mom's attempts at waking me up.
"Come on, hun. I know you're sad and that you're not exactly eager to go to this new school-"
"Well, that's an understatement," I grumble inaudibly, but I doubt Mom hears me.
"- but this could be good for you," Mom continues. "For all of us." Her voice is sad now and I cringe. Immediately guilt racks through me. I roll over in bed and sit up, scrubbing the sleep from my eyes with the warm palms of my hands.
Mom smiles at me as she sees my face. She's seated at the edge of my bed, her brown hair shaping her face in a beautiful halo atop of her head and I reward her with a toothy smile through half closed lids.
"I'm sorry I made us move. Things will get better though, I promise. Besides, what's so bad about a fresh start right?" Mom retorts.
I struggle to hold back an eyeroll. Everything. Being the new girl. New friends. New enemies. Ugh, I shudder at the thought.
"Fine," I say reluctantly. "I'll get up. But only because I love ya," I grumble, kicking the blankets off of my feet as Mom stands from the bed. She grins.
"Thank you for being so understandable."
Frankly I've blocked her out already, already making my way towards the bathroom. I throw my hand up in acknowledgement as I walk away though.
My little sister Nessie runs into me in the hallway and I groan as her head knocks into my diaphragm. I ignore it as I bend to envelope her in my arms, heaving with her weight, I begin to tickle her. Her giggles ring out loudly, and her curly locks bounce around the place at her attempts to shove me away.
"Please!" she begs, breathless from laughter. I smile. "Bel- Mom! Please!"
It's not even a half minute which has passed before I notice my mom standing in the doorway, taking in the scene. She's smiling, almost teary. I chuckle and roll my eyes at her emotional response. Come on, it's not like it's new of me to play with my little sister.
Basically any form of affection sparks Mom's waterworks though. I shouldn't really be surprised.
"Get a room," my brother, Riley, grumbles as he passes us.
"Morning hun," Mom greets him.
Riley mumbles a reply as he makes his way toward the bathroom. I roll my eyes. Leave it to Riley to lighten the mood.
Note the sarcasm in my tone.
"I'm going to start with breakfast. Pancakes or waffles?" Mom asks.
My mood instantly lightens.
"Waffles-"
"Pancakes-"
"French toast-"
Riley, Nessie and I scream out simultaneously.
Mom shakes her head in amusement but with obvious annoyance.
I gasp. "Mom, but, Waffles!" I emphasize.
"Pancakes," Nessie disagrees. I glare at her in a non-threatening way, despite my obvious distaste. We always have pancakes. She pretends to cower away before sticking her tongue out at me. Mature. Then again, she is only five, I remind myself.
"French toast is the best," Riley states as he passes us again.
I glare daggers into his head. Riley tends to get on my last nerve. And he knows I hate French toast which is why the insensitive prick is practically begging Mom to make it.
Mom chuckles. "Awesome," and I am reminded how young Mom really is at her remark. "Pancakes, Waffles and French toast coming up."
I open my mouth to argue, but then I realise what she said.
I feel immediately guilty.
Mom waves it off.
I grin, and I'm reminded why Mom is simply the best.
"Thanks, Momma bear," I say as I kiss her cheek before strolling off to the bathroom. Nessie grabs Mom's hand before they make their way downstairs to start on breakfast.
I sigh as the cold water refreshes my face. I'm so not looking forward to a new school but hey, what can I do?
Riley is obviously going to be super popular as soon as he enters the school, with him being, well, as much it grosses me out to say this, good looking and all. Riley is taller and well built, whereas I'm petite and almost..., a head away from him.
Okay, definitely a head away from him.
He's tall okay.
I'd like to think of myself as "not tall". The word 'short' is not in my vocabulary okay.
Riley inherited Dad's blue eyes, blonde locks, and Mom's defined features, whereas I must of fell out from the wrong tree, because God knows I do not look like my parents.
Freckles coated the apples of my cheeks, and although they were barely noticeable, it still annoyed me. Its mere existence infuriated me. Couldn't I have clear skin like Riley? I mean, he's a guy for goodness sake. How can his skin be so perfect?! We're practically the same age.
Riley's a year older than me, but I'd like to think I'm more mature than him, despite my lack of height. It's not the size that counts.
I definitely got Mom's brown wavy hair, although there's no other connection between Mom and I that says I'm her daughter. In fact, I happen to remember being asked if I was adopted quite a few times. Jeeze. Rub it in much?
Mom says I look like Grandma, but I wouldn't know seeing as though I've never met the lady. Why you ask? Mom says she's in an old age home because she has old timers or something like that.
Or was it Alzheimer's?
On the other hand.
Dad's mom is my sunshine and I definitely wish I'd inherited her good looks because dayum. Dad stays with her about three neighborhoods away from us.
Mom and Dad divorced about a year ago. Mom was the one to call it off and Dad had no choice but to go along with it despite his pleadings for a second chance. Riley and I took the hit kind of hard, we were extremely sad that our family would be torn apart. Especially little Nessie. Although at the time, she didn't quite understand. She just missed Dad terribly.
Dad moved to Forks to stay with his mother and Mom stayed with us in Arizona. It was only recently that Mom decided to move back here. Apparently Mom's not new to Forks. She's been here before so she knows quite a few people, whearas Riley, Nessie and I were born and bred in Arizona. This place is practically alien to us.
Although, the bonus is that we'd get to see Dad and Gran so it isn't all that bad, but it still saddens me sometimes. I miss my friends, or what I had of them, my old school, despite the mean girls, and the teachers who I'd grown fond of. Most of all, I miss my best friend. She and I are the complete opposites but we got along very well.
I blink back into reality and find myself staring into the mirror. My eyes are a natural brown with hints of hazel here and there.
Yeah, like if you shove a microscope in front of my eyes. Jokes.
I do not joke.
I decide to brush out my wavy curls after brushing my teeth before I enter my bedroom, already planning my outfit. In which, I grab a casual T-shirt with my favorite band's logo and my favorite black jeans.
I declare the outfit planning done.
I'm obviously not big on fashion. I do my eyeliner and lashes in under two minutes before I grab the curling iron to fix my hair. I'm done in five minutes tops before I rush for my shoes.
Leave the best for last why don't you?
I rush into my black combat boots before I grab my schoolbag, black leather jacket and cellphone. Well, if you could call it that. It barely has any cellular connection and I bet even Stevie Wonder could tell its outdated. Although, anyone within bounds would be able to tell it's old. The ring alone alerts one of how old the phone is. It's not bad or anything, I mean, it gets me from point A to B. Text messaging and dialing. What else would I need it for?
I doubt I'd find a boyfriend in the next, well, entire existence of my life. Jokes. But who needs a boyfriend when you've got a bunch of em in your favorite books? Me, that's who. And better? You get to choose a favorite. A joy isn't it.
Oh, be jealous.
Mom's already done by the time I get downstairs, and I realize that Riley's already started on the waffles without me. Of course the prick couldn't wait. We both glare at one another. Aside from the fact that he came from Satan's live asshole, Riley and I get along like any normal brother and sister. We have a love-hate relationship which I wouldn't trade for the world.
"Plans later?" Riley asks but it's more of a statement.
"Milkshakes and burgers at seven?" I sing song. Riley nods. It's obvious that this is routine for us. We'll have to see if this town has a good diner however, and the idea makes me sad as the homesick feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. Forks is just not the same as Arizona.
Riley notices and sends me a small, reassuring smile. I nod.
He knows me too well. Unfortunately. Sometimes that's not always a good thing, especially when he decides to humiliate me in front of his buds. Asshole, see. Don't let his charm fool you. He's not at all a gentleman.
Riley helps Nessie up on her seat that exact moment as if he can read my mind. I roll my eyes. See, he is Satan.
Mom places a waffle on my plate before having one for herself, whereas Nessie and Riley are already starting on their third pancake.
Gross.
Nessie is cute though so that makes it okay. Riley on the other hand...
Gross.
He's scarfing it down like a pig, syrup all over.
"Mom, I think I'm gonna get going," I say.
"Already?" Mom asks. "But it's only five past seven." She frowns at my sudden eagerness to leave.
Can't blame her. A minute ago I was refusing to leave the confines of my bedroom.
"Yep, I wanna make a good impression," I half lie as I kiss her cheek. Riley scoffs. I flip him the bird behind Mom's head so that she doesn't notice.
"Isabella!" Mom reprimands. I curse under my breath as I notice the mirror on the kitchen cabinet. Wow, smooth.
I smile sheepishly at her in apology.
Riley smirks.
"Wait for Riley. He's giving you a ride to school," Mom says suddenly.
I groan. "But... I thought Mom's dropping me!"
Riley stands up as he grabs his keys. "Don't be a sourpuss and let's get going," he jokes. I glare.
Mom smiles. "It's only for today I promise. Besides, soon I'll get you a car for your birthday and then you can start driving."
"Mom, I can drive, you and Dad just refuse to get me a car," I debate.
"Yeah, well, you're only sixteen," she reminds me.
I sigh. "Riley was sixteen too," I shoot back.
Mom ignores me as she begins to clean up the kitchen. I pout but she doesn't notice and I grumble a greeting to Mom and Nessie.
Riley laughs as I have to practically drag myself out of the house and into his car.
"Forks High School, here we come," Riley says with a smirk.
I roll my eyes.
"Drive, you geek."
"I'm hurt. Now I'm a geek. First I'm from Satan's live asshole..," Riley states. I look at him in surprise.
"How did you know I said that?"
"Perks of coming out of Satan's live asshole," he says to annoy me. He squeals like a girl as I pinch him. "You'll make me crash!" Riley complains as he reverses out of the driveway. "You grumble quite loudly," he says afterwards.
I roll my eyes. "Whatever."
The drive to the school is quick and long at the same time. Probably because I'm a mix of wanting to go, because Riley's singing voice isn't as charming as he claims it to be, and wanting to stay, because well we've covered why.
Forks High is in clear view of us now and it's everything I expect it to be. It's not the biggest school on the block but hey, it's a school.
Already people are spread around the school, and I can already tell apart the crowd. We've got your typical clichéd girls, mini-skirts and tank tops, despite the cold. Yes, in the flesh. You think you'd just see them on television shows. But no, they exist, I kid you not. And then there's a blend of your typical nerds and mixture of all around nobodies.
A group of jocks are on the field, their blue and yellow jackets bright for the world to see. Hell, even someone in space would notice them. Half the school is in their own buzz, looking tired because it's well Monday and some seemingly excited because yay, it's a new semester.
Riley pulls up in the first open spot he finds before he turns off the car. Already heads are turning. Yes, my big brother is handsome, relax your ovaries, girls. I feel embarrassed as we step out of the car, people staring at us with wide eyes now. Well, mostly at Riley, the rest are probably questioning who the hell I am and why I'm in his 'god-like presence'. We don't look related and that's half the fun in this. I immediately start annoying the girls as I tug on Riley's arm and he grumbles in protest, obviously enjoying the attention.
He relents and gives me his arm anyway. Riley loves me, come on, who wouldn't. I'm the best little sister. Trust me, this is normal for us. In no way is this weird for us. We grew up close as children and I basically tell him everything. He's more of my best friend than brother actually. Only he's so much more infuriating and I have to put up with his shit on the daily seeing as though we live together.
Riley nods at the guys as we enter the school. Instantaneously, my hands are shoved into my back pockets as the nerves enter my stomach.
Riley rolls his eyes. "Nervous now? You were so eager to piss off my fangirls," he pouts, chagrined. "And now you want to be nervous."
"Whatever," I mumble. "I hate being new. Half the school thinks I'm a bitch and don't deserve you, when in actual fact you're my brother and also Satan's asshole."
He flips me the bird and already girls notice the exchange.
"Maybe she's his sister?" I hear a girl whisper.
Bingo.
I smile sarcastically at them as I walk past. Riley rolls his eyes.
"Real mature," he remarks.
"What? Half the fun in being your sister, I get to piss off your bimbos."
He laughs. "Bimbos? What dictionary did that fall out of? Dummy for Geeks?"
I glare at him. We find our lockers without a struggle, having been toured around the school firsthand by the principal the previous day. And by toured, I also mean tortured. Riley's one is two locker doors up from mine but already I'm put off.
"Jeeze, Riley, grow a limb and scooch your pooch."
"Please, the ladies love my pooch," Riley says.
"Ew," I say with disgust. "That sounds dirty. As in poo dirty."
He shrugs. He's already got his first book out, ready for his first period of ... Calculus, I read on his book.
He notices. "What have you got first?" he asks.
"English."
"Sucks for you."
"Speak for yourself, dumbo."
"Dumbo? What are you, five?"
"Probably, but then that makes you six," I remind him.
Riley pauses.
"Lame-o."
"Satan's asshole."
We part ways at the first signal of the bell.
Out of the blue, and when I say out of the blue I mean it, because I'm possibly left with two bruises, as someone bumps into me, leaving me falling onto my butt on the cold tiles of the school hall. I grumble in pain as I rub my elbow.
"Wow, it's only first period and already the new girl's falling for you," someone says. A guy, I realize.
The other one answers, his voice amused. "Shut up, Emmett."
He turns to me. "Are you okay?"
I finally look up at him and I'm immediately frozen in place.
Holy cream cheese macaronis.
Shoot me now. I picture Cupid aiming a bow and arrow at me and I wave the image away in a puff of air.
"Hi," I mumble.
He lifts me to the ground with one pull of his hand and I stand, awkward as he looks at me. "You okay?" He assesses the damage. "You took quite a huge blow. I'm sorry. Emmett is an idiot. It's like he has two left feet, I swear."
I laugh.
Emmett grumbles. "I'm still here you know."
"Anyways, uh, first period, yeah? See you around," he says, his hazel eyes searching mine. I nod.
And immediately he's gone, his friend in tow.
I shake my head to clear it, but probably end up looking like an idiot.
I check the time and groan as I rush to class.
Shoot. I'm late.