Worth it?

Prolougue

I remember the first time I met him, it was a windy afternoon not the ideal weather conditions for the award ceremony I was attending, as the entrance sign to the venue was blown away by the crazy wind, treating the sign as if it were a feather rather than a metal cut out of a generic trophy propped by a tripod. They could at least get a suitable sign, "They could have invested the spare change on a decent sign that wouldn't be gone with the wind. Am I right?" the deep baritone behind me seemed to echo my thoughts, I turn around to come face to blazer clad shoulder then I trailed my regard to the flirtatious smirk he had playing on his lips and finally to the equally playful hazel gaze which sported more blue than green, brown and gold flecks in his eyes. "Are you here for the ceremony?" I don't like speaking to strangers but it should be obvious that I am, right? I mean I'm wearing my best dress and heels though it does nothing to help my tiny demise, still waiting on the final cash out of puberty to slap on the few inches they forgot on my small 5 foot 3 inches frame, it remembered my hips and butt however conveniently forgot to graduate my B cups and promote my height. Not that I was complaining, who am I kidding of course I was, here I am in 6 inch heels and I barely grace this guy's shoulder how tall is this guy the fuck? I look off to the side and mumble an incoherent "Yes why else would I be here?" He looks me over and smiles "I guess your family member's gone inside already, sit close to the front so you can see me, I'll throw my bouquet at you, amber eyes." He walks off in a self-assured gait. What a conceited, self-righteous prick assuming I was a spectator? The damn Nerv- "Lorelei! Lorelei, baby did you find where you're supposed to go dear? It took a while for us to get the banners and everything out of the car." My mother grinned hugely at me. Seiren Jones was a strong woman in body heart and soul. She raised 6 children Jonas, Michelle, Lorelei (That's me), Deidre, Lucas and Alec the twins all of whom were fathered to the greatest dad ever Michael Jones. My family was not rich, we were very big and lived in a 4 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms. We made it work though. My parents are like regular parents you behave we all get along you misbehave you get ready for an ass whooping they both believe in 'do not spare the rod and spoil the child'. My father is a fireman and he is known by everyone. No one messes with the Jones' was something you heard everywhere in our community. My mother is a nurse who does dress making on the side she is a mother hen who protected not only us but anyone who needed help. My Brother Jonas is a soldier and Michelle just recently graduated teacher's college. And it is now my turn to try make something of myself. I wanted to be a lawyer and I've worked towards that dream all my life to get government aid and scholarships and here I am at the door to make it happen.

My parents and family were lead to the section for top 3 awardees. My father and brother in their official uniforms worn with permission of course and my mother and siblings wearing the best designs my mother had come up with to match the occasion. I however wore a simple burgundy turtle neck long sleeved form fitting dress, a long silver chain, black strappy chunky 6 inch heels 3 pairs of black studs in each ear and the a black septum. My kinky hair was slicked back into a careful French braid my mother had done which settled to the middle of my back. I was never a fan of make-up sticking to the old adage black don't crack. My sisters Michelle and Deidre however were not on that. So we compromised with eye liner mascara and matte burgundy lipstick to finish. They fussed and complained that my freckles made me too cute but the beauty spot above my top lip to the right made me too sexy and it was an unfair advantage. I was the only sibling who got my mother's amber eyes. And it was her amber eyes that got me through a lot. I made my way to the podium where they were setting up the seats for the awardees and made my way to the designated area sat and waited. I would have felt under dressed if I had cared about appearances when everyone wore designer dresses and tuxedos and name branded shoes compared to mine I ordered on wish, like I said I didn't care, it was one day and I refused to waste god knows how much on shit that will never be worn again. I knew the value of my time and money.

I worked part time jobs, from busting tables one summer to fixing cars the next; picking up old tricks of different trades so my parents didn't have to call for someone to change a pipe or fix the brake fluid of or cook dinner when either of them were too tired. I was ok with it. I had anime which was one of my escapes, anime, art and the violin. I couldn't play the violin but I loved listening it to it. I found my love of the violin through working at a music store. The owner allowed me to learn and play the piano which I apparently learned pretty quickly. I could play a few classical pieces one of my favorites was Ave Maria. When I played that piece on the piano it sounded lonely something was amiss. One rainy afternoon when the store was empty I made my way to the piano room and started playing the lonely tune, only to hear after a few bars the additive of the violin my heart sored with unfiltered emotion that even though I am lonely Ave Maria would be there. The end of the piece I cried and turned to the store owner and said "Ave Maria?" he nodded then left. A huge round of applause jolted me to reality, they were gearing up for the top 3 performers for this year. For the 10 section I placed 2nd for 8 of them and 1st for two. I did well considering all I had going on. I felt the jarring stare of someone to my right and saw it was the guy from the parking lot who had flirted with me dismissing me as a spectator whose name I learned was Mordechai McAllister, wore a scowl and I returned it with a smirk and the glare deepened. All of a sudden the loud clashed of pots and blares of horns came from my family's section of the crowd "Go! Go! Lorelei!! We love you! You made us so proud! That's my sister!" my face turned red in embarrassment as all eyes turned to them I looked over to my right his face turned in my family's direction a look of longing and loneliness loomed on his face I whispered "Ave Maria" absent mindedly and his face swung around to me and he frowned. The announcer asked everyone to settle down and then said "The time for the overall first place winner's speech will commence after a short message from our sponsors" having collected my prizes and certificate to denote my scholarship my family and I left to get dinner and go to the beach to have a small bonfire with my aunts and uncles who had wanted to come to the ceremony but could not this is what was worth my time effort and money, my family. I loved them they have done so much for me and for them I will do my best to make it far.