A Family Secret

Chapter One

Chapter One

“Good morning, central Ohio! It is another beautiful  September day today. The sun is shinning, the birds are si-“ Was all the suave voice on the radio was able to get out before a hand slammed down on the evil black box, also known as the alarm clock.   

Grudgingly opening her hazel green eyes the teenage girl let a wide yawn escape from her pink lips. She sat up on her white sheets before rubbing sleep away from her eyes. She looked around her purple room before they set their sights on her clock.

7:00 A.M. 

Knowing that if she did not wake up soon, her mother would come in and make a fuss about how her room wasn’t picked up or that she was going to be late for school if she didn’t hurry, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and let her feet touch the cold wood floor. Lifting her body off of the bed and walking over to her dresser she started to rummage through her clothes. It was a new school year, but it was with the same old people in the same old place. It was the start of her senior year, but she didn’t feel the anxious nerves that she felt every other year. Sighing, she looked up at herself in the large mirror that hung over her dresser.

Only one more year, and then I will be gone to college just like Harmony. She thought to herself as she gazed at her reflection. It was then that she saw something a miss in her room. Turning around, she saw what she thought she did in the mirror. Slowly walking over to the window in her room she couldn’t help but question herself.

I thought I closed my blinds last night before I went to bed. Weird. Belle thought as she pulled her blinds down the length of her window. Strange things like this had been happening for a while and Belle was tired of it. It was always the same routine. She was wake up in the morning and something would be wrong with her room. Whether this meant a drawer of her dresser pulled open, light in the bathroom on, or even the blinds pulled up on her window. It wasn’t every night but Belle was sure that this time, she was going to tell her parents. Putting it into the back of her mind, she continued on with her morning routine.

Forty minutes later, Belle was not only completely dressed, but downstairs getting her bag for school together. Belle was too busy rummaging through her bag to notice another presence in the room.

“Well, I’m glad to see that you are making an effort to be to school on time this year.” The woman said from behind her. Belle turned around with a smile on her face before she went back to looking through her bag. “What do you want for breakfast? Pancakes?”

“No thanks, mom. I really need to get to school. Crystal should be here,” Belle was saying when there was a honk outside, “now.” Belle quickly grabbed her bag, phone, and a granola bag from the kitchen counter before walking towards the front door of the house. “Bye mom, love ya, see you when I get home!” She called out before heading towards her friend’s car.

“Hey there Belle!” The blonde girl called from the driver’s side of the car. Belle looked at her best friend as she slid into the passenger seat of the silver Honda. “Well don’t you look cute?”

Belle smiled at her before looking down at her outfit. It was a simple outfit with a red jacket with a white tank top underneath, her favorite pair of dark blue skinny jeans, and white flip flops. Nothing over the top but nothing too casual. She glanced at her friend’s outfit of choice. She was wearing a pink v- neck shirt, a patterned skirt, white ankle boots, and a brown leather jacket over it all. In all, it was a perfect Crystal Spence outfit.

“I could say the same thing to you!” Belle complimented.

“Thanks, I wanted to make sure I was looking extra good today, first day of senior year!” Crystal squealed. Belle just shook her head with a small smile on her face. Typical Crystal. “Oh! And I heard we were actually getting new kids this year! Apparently, from what I’ve heard, they are like very dangerous people who were in Juvenile Hall for killing a person!”

Belle had to hold in a laugh. It was typical for their high school to get a few new kids each year but they usually were kept quiet about until people actually met them on the first day of school. Though it seems that one of the kids has a little bit of a reputation and the rumor mill has already started to fill in why they are transferring in.

“Uh huh, sure. I’m sure that is not what is the case. One of their parents probably just transferred here or something.” Belle replied before looking out the window to see the red brick building known as Sommer High School, home of the scorpions. Crystal just laughed a little while they pulled into the parking lot, carefully and skillfully avoiding hitting any students milling around outside the school.

“Oh! I am so excited to start this year!” Crystal sighed as she and Belle stepped out of the car. Belle craned her neck around the parking lot trying to catch a glance of the third person to their little trio. Megan Vance. Crystal has walked over to the front of the car and was waiting for Belle to join her for the walk into school.

“Have you seen Megan yet?” Belle asked as she kept glancing around. Only to spot a blob of dark brown hair coming racing towards the two of them.

“Hey you two!” Megan said happily as she pulled both of them into a group hug. Laughing, Belle pulled away from the overly happy girl.

“Yes, I think I’ve seen her.” Crystal replied as she carefully slipped out of Megan’s grasp. “Now come on you two, senior year awaits!” She cried out as she pulled the two of them into the front doors of the school.

“This is going to be the best year yet!” Megan added in, a smile gracing her lips.

Belle just smiled as walked but couldn’t help but look over her shoulder to see a person watching the three of them with careful eyes. However, before she could get a better look, the person was gone.

Yeah, she thought, it is going to be an…interesting year.