S1. Ep1

JENNIFER LANE

"Jen, get over here." An over-commanding voice called from my room.

"What is it this time, mom?" I poked my head into the room. My mom was standing by my bed, holding up a small white plastic bag in her right arm.

"What is this?" she asked with that - you're so Effed up - face on and I honestly had no idea how to explain to my mom what she was seeing! Neither how I had a tiny plastic bag with drugs in it. I just stood there silently, like a statue!

"What is wrong with you Jen, four months ago, you promised me you were stopping drugs for good, I took you to a rehabilitation institution that costs a fortune, and here we are, back to square one." She sat on my bed, put her hands on her face, and started crying.

"Mom, please listen, I promise I'm not taking drugs again." I inched closer, knowing that she could snap at any moment. She looked back at me. "Jen, am holding a plastic bag full of first grade aspirin, from under your bed, you really think I am stupid?"

I honestly knew how that looked and, well, I didn't blame her for not believing what I was saying, but frankly, I didn't even know I still had drugs.

"Mom, I swear I must have forgotten where I hid those when we took out the rest of the stuff," I sat next to her slowly coming closer, then our elbows brushed and I touched her shoulder slowly to try to calm her down. "Mom, you have to believe me. I gave up that stuff, I promise." She stopped crying, wiped her face, then looked at me.

"Promise?"

"I promise. And to prove it, we are going to burn these together and make sure I don't have any left, ok?"

She nodded. I felt angry at myself for making my mom cry. We waltzed out of the room and went to the backyard, and then we took a lighter and lit up the small plastic bag.

"Promise me that you will never ever take this stuff again."

"I promise."

"I want you to be the woman I raised you to be, and make me happy, okay?"

"I promise mom." She hugged me. My mom was a hugger, by the way, not that it's relevant, but still, we stayed like that for some time and then we went back inside.

CALLUM

"Hey Jackson, did you see my father?"

"No sir, but he left an hour ago." Jackson answered with so much Respect.

I pulled out my phone only to find a message from my dad that read, "Hello Callum, I left earlier for an important meeting, don't wait up."

"Well, he's going to be gone for a while. Hey J, do you mind getting me the car keys for my dad's Porsche?"

"Are you sure you should be driving without supervision" Jackson said.

"Listen J, I have a driver's license and am old enough to look after myself. Now get me the keys while I get something to wear."

"As you wish, sir."

I walked into my room and got my ATM card, got a jacket, and then called Eric.

"Yo Eric,"

"Cal, man, what's poppin?"

"Nothing man, want to out on a little joy ride in my old man's Porsche?"

"For real?" he sounded over the mountain excited.

"Yeah man, just be at the Margarita's parking lot in 5 minutes."

"You got it, man."

I hanged up and then walked to the giant underground parking. Every car you are thinking of right now is there. I walked to the black Porsche near the exit, where I found J standing with the car keys in his hands. He handed me the keys.

"Be careful Callum, your father will murder me if you even put a single scratch on the car."

"Don't worry J, I'll be back in 2 hours."

I started the engine, tapped the small blue button that was on the dashboard, and then the garage door opened. I pulled out of the parking and drove to Margarita's where I found Eric standing near the road. I pulled over and pushed the door.

"Damn dude, this some dope ride man." Eric said as he slowly entered whilst admiring the car from outside.

"I know right."

"So where to?"

"I was thinking church or the new nightclub in town,"

"You mean Deep, right?" Eric chimed.

"Yeah, that one. I heard that they have the new drug license."

"Like for real?"

"Yep."

"So then shut up and get to the driving."

I turned on the engine, letting out a low, elegant growl; the dashboard lit up, and the place dimmed a bit because of the shady windows. I waited for the traffic lights to go green, gave the car some gas, and then I hit the accelerator. Going 90mph over speed limit without caring about the fines and all the traffic bullshit. I rolled down the window, letting the cool wind fill up the space. I could feel any depression, any sorrow, or any pain exiting out of me as the wind hits me. Greatest feeling ever. Oh, and Eric was screaming "more speed" the entire drive.

We got to the club; I parked the car in an underground parking lot across the bar. I got the car key and ID, then we walked straight to the club. We found a long line. But lucky for me, am rich. We got close to the bouncer; I gave him some good amount of cash then he let us in.

CHAPTER1: 210 DAYS BEFORE

"Ms. Jennifer, please report to the principal's office." A voice said over the intercom. Jen stood up from her seat and slowly marched to the door as everyone watched. She walked down the long hallway, took a right and then got to a door with a big sign glowing green labelled "Principal Stewart". She pushed the door slowly and gave the door a slight knock. A man's voice from inside responded to the knock.

"Please come in."

Jen walked into the room to find a pale slim gentleman sitting behind a large desk. Jen slowly examined him as she drew closer to her desk.

"Please take a seat, Ms. Jennifer."

Jen pulled the chair from the desk and then proceeded to seat down.

He then quickly started Leafing through the files on his desk and then turned back at her. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to her. "This came for you." He didn't say another word. Jen took the envelope and on the back read:

West Albaria, 32nd street

TO: JENNIFER LANE

P.O BOX 987

The address looked familiar, but Jen didn't really care about the envelope, but rather what the envelope contained. She opened the envelope, pulling out a piece of paper, a letter to be precise, that read:

Dear Ms. Jennifer,

We hope this letter finds you in good health. This letter comes to you from the board of The College of Walling. We are proud to inform you that you have been selected to attend our College on a full financial aid due to your grades. We would like to discuss more about this matter in-person. Please contact us to learn more and schedule a meeting with a school board.

RSVP,

Paul Daron

Paul Daron,

Head of Admission Council.

Jen couldn't believe her eyes. The College of Walling was one of the most prestigious Colleges in Hammington. Only the elite, sons and daughters of high officials and businessmen could get into the school, but every year the school gave out 35 scholarships to the most outstanding students in the District. Most of these would be high performers whose parents who can't afford to pay for a good school.

"Congratulations Ms. Jen, looks like you'll be leaving soon." Principle Stewart said.

Jen was still speechless from the shock blow of the letter and couldn't figure out quite well how to say thank you. With her mouth slightly open (she took the whole jaw drop thing literally) she nodded her head in agreement and showed herself out. It's not every day the most renowned school in the state offers you an admission, never mind the scholarship, so she had every single right to be shocked by a mere paper. She then found an empty bench near a fountain.

Jen reached for her phone. It was a tiny grey flip phone with the mark DALLAS on the back. She scrolled through the phonebook and went straight to a number labelled mom; she proceeded to select it but then paused for a second and cancelled her selection. She flipped the phone shut and put it in her pocket, and proceeded to lunch.

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"Are you anywhere close to finishing with the class assignment?" a voice echoed on the phone. It was at 3am in the morning, and Callum looked pissed.

"Dude, you just called in the middle of the night to ask me about some stupid class assignment?"

"I… sorry dude, call you in the morning." Said the sleepy voice on the phone.

"Sure."

Callum woke up in the morning ready for his usual routine. After a shower, he picked his clothes and walked to breakfast, where he found his dad sipping a cup of coffee. Callum felt a shock going up his spine. His father seemed to have a surprised look on his face and placed the coffee mug down.

"Morning Cal." He said

"Morning dad." Callum replied, just standing there looking at his father. It had been quite a while when since Callum had seen his father in the dining room. What was he doing here? There was only one way to find out.

"Come on, take a seat and have some breakfast." Said Mr. Jefferson.

Callum sat down and poured a cup of coffee. He wasn't surprised to see his father, because well, he did own the house, but it was more of a sense of lacking comfortability. He was used to waking up alone, probably driving .one of his father's expensive cars to school and all that stuff. The sense of freedom felt blurrier every second his father spent there.

"So, how's school and everything?" said Mr. Jefferson from across the living room. Slowly reaching for the batch of muffins a bit out of arm's reach.

"It's fine."

"Are you still seeing that Rachel girl?"

"No, not really."

"Anyway, I came to talk about your intern this summer at Jeff Corps. Theodore said you would fit right into the marketing department."

"Yeah, summer is 7months from now. Who knows if I'll still be alive by then?" Callum made the joke. Looking rather serious, as if he meant it.

"Hopefully, you'll still be alive and in perfect health to run the family enterprise. You're a grown man now, Cal. You are the only remaining heir of this enterprise. What would happen to the Jefferson name if you failed-"