1 Chapter one

"Ding ding ding."

With my eyes shut tight,knees curled to my chest, cheeks on the pillow,bum stuck in the air and a heavily drooling gaped mouth . A position I would never want my future husband to see me in.

"Ding ding ding." My disrespectful alarm consistently screams at me . I stretch my arm to put it on snooze , only to get disrupted by a vibration from my phone with an inscription of the word "Dad" which I was totally oblivious to,minutes ago.

I make a grab for it, lazily laying flat on my back after realizing how awkwardly my sleeping posture was. I type in my passcode getting a beautiful view of my pet kitten as my home screen.

Sliding into my call history only to see 21 missed calls from my dad which is kind of weird. "Ha, did something happen?" I mutter sneaking a look at the date and time at the top right of my screen.

6:16am Saturday , February 4th 2018 .

Getting 21 phone calls from my dad whom I haven't seen for months now due to his business travels only means he has very important news to share with me.

My Dad, Carl Alonso martinez single father of three . I , Elenor Breeze Martinez 15years, plus my little siblings Gigi age 10 and Carlos age 5 are left in the hands of my cheerful Aunt "Sue." My dad rarely came home, always giving excuses like"Honey I'm sorry but I have to work harder so you guys live comfortably."

But I knew it was because of the shattering heartbreak he had from my mom who he divorced last two years. Seeing my striking resemblance to her every passing day in the year after , only made him weaker and weaker until he decided to run off in the name of business.

Leaving us in the hands of his cousin Aunt Sue,who is in her mid thirties but still unmarried. He made it plain that money isn't an issue since he's a successful architect, with his own company "Carl_tect enterprises."

Never lacking anything apart from his presence,my siblings and I live normally with our Aunt who's like a mom to us. I sit upright, with my phone in my hands tapping the"call back" option. It dials in only to hear the robotic voice of a lady saying "line busy, please call back later."

"Definitely talking to my aunt instead." I assumed. Still with droopy eyes which only meant I didn't have enough sleep . All because I stayed up binging horror movies the whole of last night which got me awarded with aching neck and limbs.

I drag myself from the soft comfort of my bed in order not to get tempted to go back into "Lala land," I enter my walk in closet after putting my phone on charge. Not bothering to look where I'm walking only noticing that I was stepping on some soft and hard stuff .

Taking a look at my appearance in the mirror made me fringe. With my jet black hair, shuffled like that of a rat bush, bloodshot eyes and some huge blob of gum stuck in the middle of it looking like a pink egg .

This is definitely a disastrous morning look for any prince charming who'll fall for me. Staring intently at the mirror ,not failing to notice my brown Jade eyes which I think makes me look cute. I foolishly smile at myself striking wide dimples on both cheeks ,and sadly it turns out I look like an evil half clown half witch ready to strike at my rival "Cinderella."

Click click bang

The twist of my doorknob startles me, knowing that someone wants to be let in and that cannot happen with me looking like this.I try to make a run for my hair brush but I get tripped over by something with wheels which I couldn't see properly. With a huge thud,I fall flat on my face but luckily got saved by a heap of clothes .

I look around me,now aware of the state of my closet. Not only that but my room and the discovery of myself in the mirror minutes ago. And "bang," there goes my door wide open with Aunt Sue carrying little Carlos who's wide awake on her hips ,her phone in her left hand and Beth right by her side simultaneously rubbing her eyes .

"Ooh what a mess," she gasps with a laugh living a grin on her face. I raise my head and smile wildly at them only to scare Bertha out of her wits " Eeee monster." She wiggles behind Aunt Sue crying as if I was her nightmare.

But did she have to overreact to the extent of crying,uhhg now I'm well aware I'm not anywhere near cute .I roll my eyes, tragically standing up due to all the stuff scattered all over. Not failing to notice Carlos giggling childishly which isn't quite surprising because the boy just isn't bothered or scared of anything.

Aunt Sue quiets Bertha down,patting her head and walks into my room. Sitting Carlos on the bed, with Bertha still hanging on her tail sniing "Good morning." I mumble, walking out of my closet.

"Good morning sweetie." She cheerfully replies, making her way to me and pulls out the blob of gum in my hair."ouch." I whimper feeling like it was a rough tag even though she did it gently. "Sorry," she says sympathetically."Come sit ,so I can make your hair and then you can start with cleaning your room."

I make my way to the dresser at the right corner of my room, slumping lazily on the large pillow in the chair. Aunt Sue walks to pull the blinds. Bringing in a light of the rising sun shining brightly into the room.

I look around to see Carlos and Bertha playing with their kiddie pads, which I have no idea came from. But I'm certain i just failed to notice them bring it along.

I sit silently, watching my hair being brushed and combed with Aunt Sue humming one of her favorite songs "despacito." After combing out some other stuffs, she devides it into two and braids the traditional hair of the Latinas.

"Thank you." I smile bashfully at her in the mirror "I look like doughnut,"I thought aloud which of course my aunt heard. "Oh shush you look beautiful," she says pulling my cheeks as if I was a kid. It's because you just woke up not long ago, that's why your face looks chubby."

"Your dad said he called you but you didn't answer." She says.I told him that you were asleep that explains it."

"Yeah ,he did."I called back, but his line was busy so I figured he was speaking with you.Was it something serious." I probed suddenly looking concerned.

"Nope, not at all." He was just checking on you guys and brought up the issue of your vacation ending soon. He asked if you've made up your mind on the High school you want to attend. He actually called loads of time because you weren't answering, and he thought I allowed you to a party or something yesterday,which made him think you weren't safe."

"Ha," i chortled."Parties huh, something you wouldn't allow me to go to unless I'm sixteen. And even that too you said there must be adult supervision, so I don't see why he should be worried."

"Well we're just being careful since the youth this days are becoming stubborn lately." She says laughing. I get up to start arranging my stuff and get my dirty clothes ready for laundry.

"Well did he mention anything about his return this year." Him missing Christmas and new year with us was enough punishment after all." I say with sadness setting in my eyes .

"Oh honey." She walks to me, hugs me with one of her soothing Pats. I am certain he'll come back before you know,he sounded much much cheerful.And also he wanted to speak to you so badly which only means there's great news. Hmm,so put on your big girl smile and pray for the best."

"Have to go prepare breakfast,and I'll be overjoyed to see your room in a new light for a month at least." She laughs infectiously. She carries Carlos ,with Bertha following right behind making their way out of my room.

School is starting Soon and that means a whole new life,can I make it out there.Having to start afresh with new friends,new bullies ,stuck up cliques, jocks to deal with is big deal