1 Chapter One

A blank document on the screen of my laptop was staring back at me. I'm supposed to be writing my enjoyable summer in an essay for my homeroom teacher. I received my schedule in the mail four days ago and my first assignment. The problem is that I did not have a wonderful summer. It was monotonous. All I did was work and read books, not that reading is tedious because, in my opinion, it is the best thing to do.

I could say how fun babysitting is or how working as a lifeguard is a worthwhile experience but let's face it. It's lame. The dull summer was hardly my fault, for my best friend deserted me for a summer in Santo Domingo with her family. Her updates were saddening because it looked like she was having an incredible time. Though I won't surrender to the green-eyed monster, I'm glad she had a splendid time.

"You've been staring at your laptop for fifteen-minutes now. What has you so stumped?" mom asked as she leans against the doorway.

"I'm supposed to be writing about my summer activities, and all I have to say is how nasty baby poop smells and ten-year-old kids fake drowning just for me to put my mouth on theirs." Mom laughed softly.

"Think of it this way, no one was as productive as you this summer, but I bet that at least seven of your classmates will be saying how great the beach was and how awesome that party was." She smiled at me before she left to do who knows what. My mother was always doing something, either her work as a lawyer or maintaining our home. She got one thing right; no one has had my summer.

It took me two hours to finish my essay. I kept groaning at how uncool my summer ventures were. Deciding to get a snack before dinner, I head out of my room. "All finished, Roza?" God, he's getting big. I remember changing his diapers. My little brother Jacob, a ten-year-old wild machine boy, has more energy than Tasmanian from the Looney Toons. Looking at him, he resembles our father with auburn hair and honey-colored eyes.

"Roza?"

"Huh, sorry I spaced out Jake, I was thinking how big you are getting. It is making me feel old."

"Ha! Please, Roza, you're like five-years older than I am. That is not old at all."

"You are right. How silly of me."

"I'm always right, duh!" he smirked at me and walked off to his room. Before getting far, he turned around he asked: "Did you finished your essay?"

"I did, and it was completely feeble a total social suicide. I hope the teacher doesn't make us read it out loud." Laughing, he went on to his room. I bet his summer didn't suck as much, I thought sarcastically. He spent the summer with our father and his new wife. Reaching the kitchen, I see mom is prepping dinner. Looking at the digital clock on the stove was surprised to see it was six o'clock. "I didn't notice the time."

"You were busy with your essay, sweetheart, and I am not surprised. How was it, by the way?" Stupid, I thought.

"Turns out it was better than I expected, mom."

I will never admit just how painful it was to write it. Letting my mother know I thought my summer was dull and uneventful would send her into a rant about how being productive during summer is not flimsy. Mother wouldn't understand. Kids are monsters that stereotype everything. If the teacher makes us read our essay in class, my promise to Darren and Carmen would be way harder to keep after all is rare to find someone who isn't worried about their image.

Carmen, I thought. My lovely best friend returned on Friday, saying we'll see each other in school because she needed to spend the weekend getting ready for Monday, too busy having fun that she forgot to go shopping. I smile, shaking my head the same old Carmen. I did my shopping two weeks before my schedule came and finished the rest once I saw what I needed for the school year. I am responsible like that.

"Scarlett" I blinked a couple of times and looked at my mother. "You spaced out like always, and not listening to what I was saying is a wonder how you are such a great student, Scar, when you daydream most of the time." I frown at the name/nickname she called me.

"Mom, you know I hate that nickname and the full name as well. Why do you insist on calling me that."

"Please not this again. It is your name, Scarlett. I don't want to hear it. How about you tell your brother to shower. You as well, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes." I sigh inwardly. Shit! No way will she let me have a snack now.

"Yes, ma'am."

Making my way upstairs again, I stop by my brother's room and tell him to shower, continuing down the hall to my room. My room's walls greet me they are covered in band posters is a wide range for I like all kinds of music. Sketches of landscapes and animals cover up the ceiling. The biggest thing in here is the four-poster bed in the middle of the room with two nightstands on each side.

Beelining to the en-suite bathroom, I start taking my clothes off when I hear my phone ring on the nightstand, made a quick dash toward it, picked it up, and answer. Not bothering to look at the caller ID, I bark out a what.

"Gees! Rose relax, girl, what has you so mean-spirited," says Carmen from the other line.

Of course, who else would call you dummy.

"Sorry, you know how I am when it comes to picking up the phone. I hate talking through this thing."

"That's because it is not boys calling you, stop don't even say that boys call you because all that do are related to you." Laughing, I think about how right she is. Well, not all of them there is Darren. "Whatever, so what's up?"

"Nothing, getting ready for school tomorrow, can you believe it, Rose? We are in high school now, four years of awesomeness, and then we head for the big bad world out there; no more training wheels, baby, we are heading to adulthood."

"Yes, that is one way to put it, though honestly, I am not in such a rush to get there. I like relying on the safety net that is my mother. When you are an adult, you have to have your own, and I am not quite sure how to build one yet."

"Chill out, Rose. I am talking about high school and fun and finally getting you a boyfriend. I'll worry about all that when the time comes." Shaking my head, of course, that's her course of action.

"A boyfriend is the last thing on my mind, Carmen, not to mention that our generation of boys is ridiculous and stupid."

"Not all, Rose. If you keep up that mentality, you will never get one." God, here we go again. She is always telling me to be more social and more agreeable to people. I don't see the point; I have tried to do so, but I have been disappointed almost every time.

Sigh "Carmen, I already promised to make more friends, is the best I can do." I can imagine her rolling her eyes at me.

"Whatever, Rose, one day a boy will sweep you off your feet, and then you'll be sorry."

"Maybe that's it, Carmen. I don't want a boy; I want a man. I'm hanging up because I have to shower and then have dinner."

I hung up the phone before she can say anything. No doubt she's looking like a fish out of the water right now. I chuckle at the mental image. Heading to the bathroom a second time, I take the rest of my clothes off and stand in front of the mirror. Staring back at me is a young girl with auburn curled hair, symmetrical features that many people deem beautiful, but to her, they are just almond-shaped eyes colored grey-blue, rosy pink lips, high cheekbones. Beautiful, they said, never once have I felt it so. I am shaking my head clear of all thoughts. I walk towards the shower and turn it on. Let's get squeaky clean for dinner, Rose.

The garden salad and roasted potatoes went well with ribeye steak mom cooked for dinner. It was delicious. I couldn't stop staring at her the whole time, wondering if she indeed was okay. It has been a rough year for all of us, with my parents divorced and all. They didn't love each other like they use to and decide that the best course of action would be a divorce.

What my parents don't know, I overheard them arguing one night. My mother told him to go to therapy with her and work on their problems that she loved him and would make any changes necessary to make it work. He told her it was too late; the spark is gone, he said. I heard my mother cry the whole night. My heart, breaking along with hers. Sadness turned to anger when I went to my father's office one day. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him kissing Mary, one of my mother's close friends.

The next thing I knew, I was moving towards them, boiling with anger, and did something I never thought I would. I yanked Mary away from my father and punched her straight in the face breaking her nose. I have never felt more satisfied than at that moment. She had fallen to the floor, screeching like a banshee while my father was too stunned to do anything.

"You both are disgusting." Those were the last word I said to him. I remember getting home and mom waiting for me in the living room.

"What you did, Scar, was completely out of line. I taught you better manners than that when your father called to tell me I couldn't believe it."

"Did he tell you it was Mary's mom?" She looked taken aback by my question, confirming that she hadn't known it was her. She took a deep breath and said that it didn't matter that I will call and apologize to both of them.

"No, I will not."

"Yes, you will, or you will be grounded, Scarlett" she meant it; I saw it in her eyes along with the pain they both caused her. She will still make me do it is the right thing to do, but I won't do it. They don't deserve anything from me.

She grounded me for two weeks without any books or technology. I didn't mind, though; I had the memory of the screaming banshee to keep me entertained. After my punishment lifted, I told mom, I had broken Mary's nose. She reprimanded me again, but while I was walking away after receiving my phone, I glanced back and saw a satisfied smirk on my mother's lips. It made me smile.

"Is getting pretty late kids, let's head to bed." mom said. We had been watching TV after dinner. Jake groaned beside me but complied anyway. Bidding each other goodnight, we headed to our rooms. Feeling dread and excitement for my first day of High School.