Untitled-Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In the dark, the eerie green glow from the alarm clock told me it was only 3:46 a.m., but no matter how hard I try, I couldn't fall asleep. I kept thinking of me being a loner at the school even though I was Ms Thing in primary school. Silently, I slip on my jumper and creep down the stairs. I don't know how long I can keep living here, the house just seems so big and empty without dad. I can still hear the echoes of his laugh in the kitchen, the crease in the couch from where he lay as he flicked on the TV. His presence was everywhere and nowhere. The fridge is pretty much empty as the harsh, yellow light hits my eyes. I grab a carton of juice and pour it straight down my throat. It's not like my mom eats much these days, she simply survives on the cigarettes and alcohol, oh, how could I forget, the daily drug use is probably a big factor in her not being hungry. I mean, when you're stoned 24/7, does your brain even register hunger?

"Claire, get down here right now!" I'm startled awake by my mom's voice, I slip on a shirt and quickly run down the stairs. " Mom, what's wrong?" I feel the words tumbling out of my mouth in a rush. But I gasp when I take in the sight of her, she's wearing a cream blouse with a neat, black pencil skirt. Her hair is done nicely as a ponytail and she's wearing hoop earrings." Um, what's the occasion?" I ask, nervous for what she's going to tell me. Please don't tell me she needs more money for drugs, I silently pray. " Nothing, it's your first day of High School and I made you strawberry pancakes, your favorite." She did this whole charade on my Year 6 graduation as well, she turned out rushing to the bathroom for some coke and heaving on her new suit. " Mom, thanks for the effort and all but I think I'm just going to grab a banana and head out." She looks crestfallen but I don't give myself time for guilt as I bounce up stairs. Throwing on a singlet with a pair of my good, white jeans. I grab my backpack and head out before she has a chance to throw up. I don't want to see that, not today and preferably, not ever again.

Beverly Hills is the dream place to live with it's beautiful beaches, sunny weather and array of shops. As I walk down the road my cell rings and I pick it up, thinking it might be Crystal, my best friend from primary school who's going to Beverly Hills High as well. But the caller ID states " unknown". Huh, I wonder briefly before someone bear hugs me from the behind. I'd recognize her perfume a mile off, Crystal's been my best friend and confidante since my dad moved out, she has an eccentric sense of style and unlike me, seems to know who she is and what she wants to do with her life. Her shock of dyed jet black hair and bright red pout reminds me of how much I've missed her during the summer vacation.

"Looking good, girlfriend!" she exclaims ecstatically and wraps her arms around me again, I was so glad that she was going to the same school as me, I could feel the jitters in my stomach as I walk down the boulevard. The skirt was too short for me and the blouse was too hot in this weather. I silently cursed my long and lanky figure as we hurried to school.

Here's the thing about Beverly Hills High, it looks stunning with beautiful architecture and conservative uniform but lurking beneath the surface are wealth kids dabbling in drugs, wild parties and dangerous stunts, all right under the principal's nose. I was 12 at the time but already getting wolf whistle from senior jocks. This is going to a great six years, my thoughts turned dismal as me and Crystal headed up the concrete stairs to the grand hall for our timetables.

The first semester of year 7 flew past like a blur, since my home life was never going to get better or go anywhere, I put all my efforts and time into my studies and aced all my exams. It gave me a sense of satisfaction that I was top of my year and no-one was going to stop me from graduating and going into an Ivy League college. How was I to know that a single moment could change all that.

It was a dreary winter morning, one of the first I've seen since last year. California is renowned for it's beautiful, sun-fueled weather so a day or two of no sun is only natural to keep the balance. I headed out thinking about the french test I had today, totally oblivious to what lay on the dining table, my first big mistake. During french, my phone buzzed and I ignored it, thinking it may just be Crystal wishing me luck like the great friend she was, yeah, my second big mistake. After the grueling hour exam my head was filled with the correct french grammar and the correct response to "ca va bien?" My phone buzzed again. Agitated, I drew it out only to find the 50 missed calls from the rehab center that my mom's enrolled in. My heartbeat quickened and my pulse raced as I dialed the caller number. "Hello?" the next words seemed to drown me in a flurry distorted shapes and colors. "Your mother's in intensive care here, this is the first time she's been here in the last three months." My head swirled and I reached out for the wall, instead, strong arms pushed me back up and a voice echoed around my head. " Are you alright?"