Chapter 1

I looked up at the large house in front of me. My new home, great. I want to go back to Chicago. Back to where I was born. Back to my old friends, my old school, and my own house.
I'm a little scared that the first day of school starts tomorrow for my older brother and me. I hate moving to a new school two months into the semester. I'm just going to be the freaky new girl.
"Reagan!" I heard my older brother call my name. I honestly don't know why my parents named me Reagan. I know it can be a girl and a boy name, but I have never met another girl named Reagan.
"What do you want Seth?" I asked annoyed. Seth was the middle child. He was going to be a senior in high school. I secretly looked up to him. But I would never tell him that. He was usually nice to me when it was just us or when one of his friends was over. Sometimes. Other times we fight and bicker, although, it is usually playfully.
"Mom says to stop staring at the house and help with the boxes." He said.
"Why does she even care, she's never going to be here anyways." I said through my teeth.
"Ray, you know that she hates having to be on those business trips all the time, so give her a brake." He muffled my hair and went to get the boxes for me.
"When do you think Shari will be here?" I asked Seth. Shari was our oldest sister. She's a sophomore in the Medical College of Georgia. "She was supposed to be here an hour ago." I whined.
"Relax, she'll be here when she gets here." Seth said carrying a large box that said 'Reagan's Stuff'. I followed him into the house and up the stairs. "Which room do you want." he asked.
"Really? I can choose?" I asked getting excited.
"Yep! Now hurry up. I can't stand here all night." He said with a big smile. I walked in the room farthest down the hall. It was huge! Two of the four walls were nothing but windows. The ones that were not contained the door to the hallway and my bathroom. That was cool, lots of light! There was also small balcony that I fell in love with. Seth walked in behind me and set the box down. "I guess it's decided then. I'll take one of the rooms." He said winking and then walking out.
I walked out onto the balcony that overlooked the backyard. There was a river a little ways out. I bet it looked pretty cool during a sunset.
Seth poked his head out of the door, "I hope you're ready for the first day of school tomorrow, freshman!"
Yeah, you heard right. I am going to be a freshman in high school. I have to say that I'm sort of relieved that Seth is going to be there. Although, he'll probably deny that I'm his sister.
What a drag.
It was around two in the morning when I saw a flash of headlights in my window filled room. "Shari..." I whispered in the dark with an accusing voice. I ran as fast as I could, without making a sound, down the stairs. I was more than ready on giving my older sister a lecture about being on time, let alone calling to warn when you're going to be late. Oh, this was going to be good.
She had just finished locking the door - wait, when did she get a key? Never mind, I have something more important to do.
"Shari Anderson!" I nearly shouted at her. She jumped back and quickly put her hand over her heart when she realized it was me.
"Reagan, you scared me, girl." She said as she walked past me and muffled my hair. If she thinks she can just sashay in here and think nothing of it, she was so wrong. "Shouldn't you be in bed kido? It's like two in the morning, and your first day of school is tomorrow. If you go to bed now I won't tell mom and dad in the morning." My sister said with a smile.
"Where were you? You were supposed to be here at 8:30." She probably stopped at a bar. Okay that was mean. I take it back.
"The traffic was horrible and it was raining so my cell didn't have any reception." She said simply. "Was that the reason why you stayed up this late?" We had already gone up the stairs and went to the only other room up there. I was thinking about turning it into a lounge room. Kind of like an upstairs living room. But for now, Shari was going to use it. It's a good thing she isn't staying here long. I need to make my renovations. No, no, that was mean too. Sometimes I just can't help it.
"Well, yeah. I was worried." I said in a small voice. I was looking down at my feet when I suddenly felt two warm arms wrap around me.
"Reagan, you shouldn't worry about me as much as you do."
"It's just that ever since that accident-" I started to get worked up and I could feel salty tears filling my eyes. Damn emotions.