Every morning starts the same way... the shrill sound of an alarm, the barks of my neighbors dog, the peeking of the sun through the curtain and the sweet smell of coffee.  I wish I could say the same for myself, my sister had the volume of her speaker cracked to the highest volume, you could literally feel the walls shaking.

I groaned as I turned to my alarm clock, and my eyes literally popped out of my skull.

7:15 am.

Are you kidding me?

Today is the first day of school, I am officially a senior now.
Yay! Just one more year out of this hellhole. (A.K.A school)

I grab my phone from the side table and play la-la land by Demi Lovato from my playlist to block out her insane taste in music, and start getting ready for school.

Thanks to Tiana I will be early.

I look at myself in the mirror, satisfied with what I am wearing. I grab my backpack and keys and turn off the music that was blasting on my phone and go downstairs.

Dad made me get my driver’s license over the summer because and I quote, “I am tired of being your chauffeur.”

I honestly don’t see what the big deal is. The route to my school is the same way to his office. I’m sure it’s because he wants to spend the spare 10 minutes watching football on the sports channel.

“Morning!” I chirp as I got downstairs.

My mum is sitting at the dining table along with my sister, Tiana, who is busy texting away on her phone. Tiana is two years older than me.

And I guessed it. My dad is in the living room watching the morning football match.

“Morning, sweetie.” My mum answers, gesturing for me to sit down. I sit down and start putting jam on my toast.

“Well, someone’s up early.” Tiana teases, looking up from her phone.

“Well, I’m seeing Stephanie today,” I answer, looking excited.

“When has seeing Stephanie been exciting?” My mum wants to know and I smile sheepishly.

She’s right though, I have never been excited to see Stephanie. Steph has been my best friend since the 6th grade when we paired up in biology class. We ‘accidentally’ made a stink bomb which landed us in detention. We’ve been best friends since then.

“You know she went to the rock camp I have been telling you guys about and I can’t wait for her to tell me all about it,” I say taking a bite from my toast. My mum stops eating and looks at me.

“Maria...” Oh no! I know where this is going. “I hope you are not still upset that we didn’t send you to that camp?”

“What?!” I say, almost choking on my toast. “Of course not,” I say. I mean I was mad, but the camp has ended so why should I still be mad.

The rock camp is a musical camp where every wannabe rock star goes, and they appoint a particular star to train you. This year I heard it was Will Tucker. I know my parents can’t afford that kinda stuff, so I’m not taking it out on them.

“You could have fooled me with your behavior all summer.” Tiana butts in and I ignore her.

Yes, I sulked all summer, so what?

“Mum.” I start, holding her hand. “I know you and dad can’t afford that stuff, with Tiana’s college tuition fee and other stuff.”

“Why do I have a feeling that you are blaming me?” Tiana asks.

Well, I am.

“I know there would be other opportunities for me, Right?” I ask squeezing her hand.

Hopefully, before I go to college.

“Absolutely sweetie, your dad is getting that big promotion today. Right honey?” She asks my dad who had his eyes glued to the television.

“What was that?!” He asks, not taking his eyes off the TV.

“You’re getting that promotion today, right?”

“Promotion? What promotion?” Once my dad is stuck to his seat watching football, the other part of his brain is on total lockdown.

“The one at your office.” My mum says through gritted teeth.

“Oh, THAT promotion.” Tiana slams her palm on her forehead and mouths ‘so addicted’ to me. “Yup, totally getting it.” I am 100% sure he does not know what mum is talking about.

“Oh, God, so help me, I will break that television one day.” She seethes with anger.

“Then how are you gonna watch that TV show what’s it again...... Mindy and Mandy?” Tiana asks

“That’s why I said ‘God so help me.’ Anyway..” She says turning to me. “With his new promotion, we will have more income and also get a job!”

“That’s not fair!” I whine, “Tiana didn’t get a job.”

“Must you always compare yourself to me?” She asks and I wave her off.

“Look sweetie, you’re not a kid anymore, you need to learn how to be responsible. If you need something, be able to get it yourself.”

Oh, please.

“We will not always be here for you, you know?”
I give a tremendous sigh before I nod in agreement.

“Fine, I’ll get a job and whatever.”

“Don’t you need to get to school?” She says glancing at her wristwatch.

“Oh, shoot!” I shout, jumping off my chair and grabbing my lunch from the kitchen island. My mum knows that cafeteria food disgusts me so she takes the pain to prepare lunch for me.

“Bye mum, I love you,” I say kissing her cheeks, I also bend to kiss Tiana’s but she swerves me off.

“Ew, gross, get away from me.” I kiss her hair instead before waving at her.

“Bye, dad.” I wave at my addictive father.

“Yeah, bye.” He says not taking his eyes off the TV.

As I leave the house, I heard my mum shout something like. “Watch out for those delinquents on Motor Bikes.” Which I ignore.

I open the door of my car which was formerly my dad’s but now he is using his company’s car; she has passed it down to me. I threw my bag into the passenger seat before getting into the driver.

I start the engine. “Well, here goes,” I mutter to myself as I drive out of the driveway, hitting the trash can on my way out.

So, it took me 20 yrs to write this chapter.
Just kidding. Maybe 6 months.
Anyway, this is the first chapter of the book.
Just a look into Maria’s family and yadda yadda.
Don’t forget to vote and comment.

Also, I don’t know if LOL could also mean lots of love. But who cares, right?.

😍 Hannah.