Chapter 1
Ariella’s POV
I just woke up to the wretched alarm clock after it has been ringing in my ear for what feels like hours. I get up from the bed that I happen to share with my brother and begin to meditate and think about everything depressing in my life and about what I hate about myself. But these days, I prefer to pep talk myself that I’m great but most of the time it doesn’t seem to work. Anyways, enough of me thinking about my horrible life, I need to start getting ready for another horrible day at school.
I need to wake Aiden, my brother, so that we can get ready for school. I don’t need my mum or dad to be too mad this morning because it wouldn’t be good for anyone on any end, especially not me. I begin the hour-long process of making my brother get up from the bed. I push, pinch and even slap him, but it all results in the same thing every time, nothing. That’s when I decided to leave him alone, I mean come on it’s already 6:00am, as I check the time on my phone, it’s better I’m ready for school and save myself after all, every man for himself.
I spring off of the bed and begin to head for the bathroom. I need a refreshing shower after the stress of trying to wake that boy up. I spent about 30 minutes having what feels like the most rejuvenating shower ever. I just put on one of my tank tops and shorts to try to wake him up again. Thank God this time I was successful, his hair is as messy as ever and he gives me a side eye because I dared to interrupt his sleep, after that, he gets off the bed to go get a shower with a scowl on his face. I didn’t mind, after all, I get that from him every school morning.
I begin to look for what I’ll wear and something tells me it will take extra long today because I’m not too hungry to rush just to go and eat. Before I started my search I checked the time on my phone again and it was 6:45am. Oh shoot! The search begins now! I feel like wearing something baggy today, I need some freedom so I began to look for the baggiest T-shirt and jeans in the closet, I found it. I just put on some accessories with my phone and I was ready to go.
I feel good about what I’m wearing today and to be honest, sometimes I even confuse myself about my style. Some days I dress up all bright and other days just ordinarily. Although, I would probably go for baddie or soft-girl, two aesthetics that are poles apart.
I hear a knock on the door and tell the person to come in, at the same time praying it isn’t my mum or dad. The door opens and Oh! It’s Aiden.
“Ariella, come on, aren’t you ready yet?” Aiden said with a face that looked annoyed and moody at the same time.
“It’s not like mum and dad are going to scold you if we go late, so don’t be so bothered, I’m almost done give me 5.” I said with a neutral tone and expression.
“Whatever,” he said and left, just like that.
After Aiden left, I just took a glimpse of the time on my phone, it’s 7:00am and Aiden is already ready for school before me while I was busy thinking about my tastes and styles. I’ve always wondered how he always gets ready before me but I always draw to the same conclusion, he’s a BOY. I know I want to get something before I go downstairs but I can’t even remember what it was anymore. Forget it, I’ll just go, It couldn’t have been that important. I grab my bag and go to my parents’ room.
I knock on the door and hear a hoarse voice that says “Come in.” I recognise the voice, after all I hear it every morning, It’s my dad’s voice. I walk slowly into the room and greet him. As usual, the room is freezing, I don’t understand why my parents are so obsessed with the cold even though winter is fast approaching. I tell him that Aiden and I are ready for school and that we’re leaving and he picks up his phone, that’s always lying next to him, to check the time. The brightness of the phone chased away the grim darkness. He looked at the phone to check the time and I looked into the phone to see the time as well, thank God, it’s still 7:15am.
“You guys finished early today, good job!” my dad said with an expressionless tone, and for some weird reason I felt elated that he said that.
“Bye, dad,” I say with an equally expressionless tone as him.
“Bye, sweetheart, be careful while walking, OK!” I hate it when he says that, I’m 15 for crying out loud, I can take care of myself.
“Sure, dad.” I say with an annoyed tone as I exit the room.
I rush down the stairs and immediately my feet hit the platform, the first thing I see is a death stare from that annoying brat I call my brother.
“Aiden, dad said we can go, stop glaring at me,” I tell him, rolling my eyes and leaving the front door.
I didn’t even give him room to answer me, I’m not interested in a meaningless argument this morning, it’s way too early for a cat fight. The walk to school is 10 minutes and I don’t have time for this.
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Mateo’s POV
I hear the alarm clock, it always rings at exactly 5:00am, I just snooze it and go back to sleep. I was having the best dream ever, it was about the girl of my dreams and I really want to get back to it. I tossed and turned on the bed for at least an hour and I still can’t fall asleep and even if I do fall asleep I’m sure that I won’t be able to continue my sweet dream.
I look at the time on my phone and It’s just 6:05am. I instantly get up from the bed and get ready for the school day. Maybe I’ll be able to see her at school today and that’s what really motivates me to go.
I walk over to the bathroom door, opposite my room and knock on the door, I hear Rebecca’s weak, morning voice. I hate the fact that I have to share a bathroom with her, I know she’s my baby sister but she has to spend at least an hour in the bathroom doing what I’ll never understand.
At least she’s my crush’s best friend so sometimes, I can cunningly ask her questions about her. The most painful answer Becca ever gave me was she wasn’t interested in any relationship, when I told her to ask Ariella if she wanted to date. The only people that know I really like Ariella are my best friends -Liam and Zayn- and Rebecca, my baby sister.
I’m standing in the hallway when I hear the bathroom door open with a creaking sound, a very annoying sound that I’ve gotten used to.
“The bathroom’s free.” Becca says and I just stare at her facial features, she looks a lot like my dad and I, glaring green eyes and pink lips, my mum’s just the odd one out at home.
“Are you going to have a shower or just keep staring at me,” she says with an annoyed look on her face.
“Shut up, would you,” I say provoked.
“How dare you say that to your crush’s BFF!” she says in a joking tone with her hand on her chest and mouth open like the drama queen she is.
“I’ll just tell her,” she adds. Now she’s just teasing me.
“Fine, I’m sorry,” I say, with a smirk on my face and my hand going through my hair.
“Someone’s blushing” she says. This girl is beginning to get on my nerves, now she’s raising her eyebrows sillily.
“Go get dressed, okay, it’s already 6:45am.” I say to get rid of her, and I can feel my face is red.
“Whatever,” she says, flipping her hair and leaving for her room.
I feel like we’re going to be late to school today but I don’t really care much. I walk into the bathroom and have the most soothing shower ever. When I’m done brushing my teeth, I stare at myself in the standing mirror, devoid of any thoughts for a few minutes, my hair’s still soaked and I’m wearing a pair of joggers. I don’t even know what I’m thinking about but I know I’m lost in thought, enough of that I gotta go get dressed.
I stride over to my bedroom, drying my hair with the towel. When I get into the room, I begin to reason about what I’m going to wear and then I finally decide, anything’s going to work out.
I open the wardrobe and get out a hoodie and a pair of jeans, my usual outfit for a Monday morning, I look good. Maybe, even good enough to impress Ari, everyone’s pet name for Ariella. In my dreams, I think and still slightly hope I will impress her to myself.
“Mateo, aren’t you ready yet? We’re going to be late.” I hear Becca say from downstairs
“We’re already late so stop acting like we’re not, okay?” I say irritated.
“Would you shut up, and come downstairs you moron,” she says like the brat she is. God I hate this girl sometimes. I control my anger and annoyance just because she’s Ariella’s best friend and I don’t want her to put in a bad word for me to Ari.
“Fine, I’m coming,” I say vexed and walk out of the room angrily.
I run downstairs speedily and check the time on my phone once I’m on the platform and it’s 7:15am, Wow! That’s early for the McCarters, which is amazing. I quickly grab a granola bar and a coffee boba from the fridge, that’s gonna be for the road and it’s practically my breakfast. Becca’s staring when I grab these things as though she thinks I’m some sort of wild animal.
I glare at her and walk out of the front door, leaving her behind, she’s just 15 and she’s glaring at me so much and her sassing is not any better. I kinda pity her future boyfriend or husband but not really since at least I’ll have some breathing space when she gets married.
