A/N: Thank you to everybody who reviewed and supported me. Here's another chapter for you guys.

Teresa knew the day won't be good if the first thing you see after waking up is your mother's frowning face.

Jessica was wearing a loose red tank top with knee length blue jeans. She was wearing black slippers. Her chestnut hair was pulled into a pony tail. Her arms were tightly crossed across her chest. Her rosy lips were pressed into a tight line. Her emerald eyes were troubled.

Teresa rubbed her eyes and looked at her mom sadly. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?" she sighed.

"Yes, you kinda are."

"Okay, I won't do it again."

"You've been saying that for half a year."

"Well..."

Her mom exasperatedly looked at her. "Teresa, those pills are not good for your health."

"Mom, I have trouble sleeping."

"You could've called me."

"I can't put me to sleep anymore, mom. I'm sixteen."

"You're still my kid."

"Ugh," Teresa stretched and got out of bed. She was going to the bathroom when her mother held her arm.

"I have something to show you." she told her.

That got Teresa's attention. "What?" she curiously asked her mother.

Teresa got reminded of her mother's beauty again when she smiled at her. "It's a surprise."

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"Okay. Are you ready?" asked Jessica.

"Yeah," said Teresa, smiling.

Jessica removed her cupped hands from Teresa's eyes and let her process what she was seeing.

It was a black sedan. Definitely not new, but looking really good. The color was a little faded and ashy, but it looked like gold to Teresa's eyes. She gaped at it with her jaw slack.

"Mom, how did you...?"

Jessica put a hand in her hair. "I had to pull in a few strings." She hesitated. "Is it bad?"

"I love it!" She told her with shock.

"Good. I bought it as apology, you know. Since I couldn't give you a gift for your birthday..."

Teresa smiled sadly. "Mom, I..."

"It's okay." she said. "As long as you're happy, I'm happy." She smiled brighter than the morning light they were doused in. "It's also a gift for first day. You needed encouragement and confidence."

"Thanks, mom." Teresa smiled. She looked at her suspiciously. "Wait, how much money went on this thing?"

Her mother's smile morphed into a sad expression. "Oh, that's no matter, dear."

She stared at her mom, now horrified. "Mom, you didn't have to!"

"You're my daughter." Jessica said; her hand on Teresa's cheek. "You know I'd do anything to make you happy."

"But it's too much..."

"Oh don't worry about that, sweetie. Really it wasn't that expensive." Teresa could definitely tell that her mom was lying.

But she let it drop. "Thank you, mom." she said. "Not only for this, for everything."

"You're welcome, you know that." She ruffled Teresa's hair. She looked at her wristwatch. The dial read 7:36. "Goodness, you'll be late." she told Teresa. "Get ready and come down in an hour."

"Okay,"

She hurried upstairs and rushed to her wardrobe. She took a pair of jeans, a red blouse and a fresh towel. As she turned on the heater and waited for hot water to come out, she checked her figure in the full length mirror behind the door; satisfied to see beauty. She had what most girls would call an 'hourglass curve' figure. Her height was perfect; a five feet three inches. Since last year, she embarrassingly admitted to herself that instead of growing up, she was growing out. Her chest wasn't as flat as it had been a year ago. Her legs still had curves behind the knees. Her thighs and shins were still elegantly thin and curved. Her arms were thin and curved perfectly too.

After about five minutes, hot water began rushing out the shower. She gratefully undressed and stood underneath the shower; letting the scalding hot water calm her frenzied nerves. She used her favorite strawberry flavored shampoo and her orange flavored soap. Even though she liked these flavors, she didn't want to smell like a fruit pie.

She rubbed her hair with the towel after she finished. She put her clothes on and rushed out the room for breakfast. She hated blow drying her hair. She preferred air drying and combing instead of brushing.

She ran down the stairs and saw the grandfather clock. It was 8:06 am. She rushed to the kitchen table and sat among her brothers. The breakfast menu was appealing. There was fruit smoothie, toasted bread, left over garlic bread, three flavors of homemade jam, butter, sausages, eggs and coffee. Jessica sat herself beside her daughter and quickly finished grace with her family. Teresa sipped her coffee while Jessica was buttering her bread. James, Stan and Tommy took a serving of everything on the menu.

While Teresa ate garlic bread, her mother spoke up. "You have to be excited!" she exclaimed. "My first day of tenth grade was golden."

"I hope that's what happens."

Her mother sighed. "It'll be totally fine, T. Just relax!"

Teresa smiled. "Okay,"

"That's my girl."

After they finished eating, Jessica kissed her boys goodbye and sent them off to school on their bikes. When she and Teresa were at the door, it was half past eight. She handed her daughter the car keys and smiled at her encouragingly. She put her hands on Teresa's shoulder and exhaled. "Good luck," she said, and kissed Teresa on the cheek.

"Thanks, mom." said Teresa, smiling.

She got into the minty leather seats of her car and turned the key. She waved goodbye to her mother as the engine started. Her mother waved back, smiling. She took a deep breath and drove away from her house, rolling the windows down.

"Okay, California High." she said. "Here I come."