Breaking Standards

Prologue

I am going to university or college as the Americans call it. I guess it is extremely important now in our society to get qualifications. Not like years ago, when you turned up to a job interview and got accepted based on your personality and likeable factors. I was lucky to even be accepted to be honest. Since I turned fifteen, I started hanging out with my older brother and his gang, going to all the parties and drinking alcohol. I thought that was what life was about and that was the best way to fit in. I guess my mother’s new husband’s money paid for me to get in and whatever qualifications I had done was acceptable. I mean I was always good at English Literature. I enjoyed reading love stories and pretending I was the main character when I was younger but I learnt the hard way, love doesn’t exist. Not the way, it is presented in books anyway. No Romeo is going to stand underneath your balcony declaring his undying love for you and no Mr Darcy is going to confess to you in the pouring rain. Love is for dreamers and I was a huge one. I was lucky that my older brother was there to protect me, not everyone has that.

I wanted to make a fresh start in America and be someone different. I thought it would be easy if I changed my hair and changed my clothes. If I changed my whole personality, I might become the protoganist in a story that has a happy ending. If I stopped breaking the rules and following what society tells me to do, I might survive this university. However, that’s what I thought, but I guess you never truly know where you are meant to be in life until you find that person who can see you for who you truly are no matter what disguise you wear. He saved me and I saved him.

Chapter one New Beginnings

I stared out of my window looking at the gigantic buildings knowing this will be the last time I will see them. Most people adored the big buildings in London. I always thought they were just ways of the rich showing off and telling the poor that they will never reach that standard. This was the best decision I probably have ever made in my life. But a part of me was terrified, I had never been to America in my life. What if I don’t fit in over there? What if it’s completely different then everyone had said. “Lila, it’s time” My mother called, snapping me out of my trance. My mother and I had never been close. She remarried when I was five to a rich business man and sent me and my brother to live with our father. I walked out of the bedroom that I had been staying in for the last week and took the small bag of the things I owned with me. My mother was at the bottom of the stairs ready for me. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way and I could protect you here but I can’t.” She pleaded with me. Guilt crept into my heart. It wasn’t her fault that I got myself into this mess. I was naïve. I was stupid. I was young and wanted to be wild. But I was too distraught to say anything to her. She flipped her dyed blonde hair back. “Remember not to wear those silly short skirts and belly tops” She muttered under her breath. “Makes boys think they are going get something else” “I know mum, I won’t make the same mistakes again”

I sighed and pulled my long light blonde hair into a ponytail and went to meet my brother in his car. My brother was always the cool kid. The one everyone wanted to hang out with but what majority of them didn’t know was he actually part of Jason’s gang. That’s how he made his money. Jason’s gang did a lot of bad things and I thought I could hang out with them and act like a big girl and obviously that’s where the problem started. I pulled the car door open of my brother’s BMW and then sat down, accidently slamming the door shut. “Hey, watch the car’ My brother moaned and wiped his mousy brown hair from his eyes. I rolled my eyes at him and he grinned. “So why is mum making you go to this shitty university across the world?” He joked. He always thought everything mum did was either posh or irrational.

“It’s a fresh start. I am going to be a new person. The one who doesn’t drink. The one who stays in studying. No more trying to fit in with society and getting into fights. I mean I am so lucky that I never gave Jason my virginity when he pushed for it because then that’s something I couldn’t take back” I continued.

My brother was more like a best friend to me. Due to our mother leaving our father for a rich guy and then avoiding us, we had to stick together to support our dad. We told each other everything.

“Sounds boring. It isn’t you at all. Wearing sweaters and turtlenecks and long sleeve t-shirts. You are going to California, not Alaska. What happened with Jason won’t be the same with every other guy. I wish I had beaten him to a pulp when I had a chance” His green eyes met mine and I could tell my brother did care for me and the dark glint in them terrified me because I knew he would do anything for me. This is why I have to go. I can’t have him do something that will cause him to get arrested or beaten up himself.

“I won’t make the same mistakes. I am lucky I am not Bonnie” I whispered looking down. I look down at my new loafers. They were so smart. I haven’t worn shoes like this since I left school. This will be a new me. No short skirts or tops that show me cleavage and most of all no messing around with boys or that’s what I hoped.

I never wanted to leave England, let alone London. It was all I ever knew. But now I am sitting in a taxi that it taking me to the University of California, Los Angeles. At least, there is no more cloudy skies and rain.

“Here we are” He said with a smile on his face. I was glad that my step-father had sorted the taxi out for me and the apartment complex. I got out of the taxi and looked at the building in front of me in awe. The campus looks amazing and looks almost like Hampton Court. The buildings were old but were fancy. The campus looks like a gigantic golf course that threatens to swallow me. How on Earth am I suppose to find anything in this place, let alone the apartment I am staying at?

“Miss, would you like me to carry your luggage inside? Your apartment complex is to the left just off of campus” His voice bellowed from behind me.

“No, no, I should be fine” I stammered as I was not to use to anyone helping me out. London is a very busy city and most people won’t even stop if you had walked out in front of their car. He shrugged and then drove off.

This campus was huge. Even with his directions, I still feel lost and like I don’t belong here.

I managed to carry my bags up the stars and knock on the door panting. This apartment looked really expensive. I hope I don’t owe my mother and her partner for this. They said they would pay it no problem but I can’t help but feel like they will hold this over my head. The door swings open and a petite girl is standing there jumping up and down.

“Hey, you are the new girl, right?” A girl with blue hair grinned. Her hair was rolled up into two buns and she wore denim and a casual top that hugged her small frame. She was a few inches shorter than my five foot four.

“Uh, yeah. I am Lila” I said sheepishly. This girl was just like I use to be.

“Well, I am in need of a new best friend so thank god, it is another girl who has moved in. Name’s Gen by the way. “She squealed with a playful grin and pushed my hands away to lift my bags to show me to my room in the apartment.

The room I had was average sized. It had plain walls and a double bed. There was a wardrobe and a dressing table. “Sadly, the bathroom, kitchen and living areas are shared but it’s better than sharing a bedroom.” She stated. “Don’t worry, we don’t host the parties here. Less clean up when you go to someone else’s. Plus Hayden would never allow it”

“Hayden?” I squeaked. Surely there was not a boy living in our apartment because that would just complicate my whole plan.

“Yeah, my annoying cousin” She sighed and rubbed her hands over her tanned face. “The last girl moved out because he broke her heart. It’s what he does. He uses girls and then ignores them when he gets bored. That boy can never commit.” She rolled her eyes but then had a smirk on her face. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him get close to you. My girl pals are off limits.”

“Don’t worry, boys are the last thing on my mind right now” I groaned and rolled my eyes.

I sat with Gen and we chatted for over an hour. I’ve never had a close friendship with a girl other than Bonnie. Gen was in the same year as me and I found out she’s actually in most of my classes. She was raised in Los Angeles and picked this university because it was the nearest. She was the youngest of three siblings. All sisters and it’s a mad house at home according to her. Gen also was a natural redhead but dyed her hair blue to “piss” her parents off apparently. Talking about her parents, they actually are really good friends with my stepdad and that’s why I’m in this apartment.

We didn’t speak about her cousin. I didn’t think it was best to bring it up especially as it seemed like a soft spot for her. By around 10 a clock, Gen left to go get ready for one of her crazy parties, which I gladly turned down for a night of rest.