A Life In The High

Introductions

a/n: hey guys,f if you read the synopsis of the story, i forgot to edit it. so, Autumn's best friend's name is, Austin Marie Shallen. Sorry for the mix up !

Chapter One: Introductions.

Hey, my name’s, Autumn, Autumn Buntler. Before I tell you what happened to me, and what led me to my breaking point. I hope you realize that not every family is what they seem to be. A picture perfect family… yes, that’s what my family was. You’d think since the outside of our manor is gorgeous, the inside should be too. Let me tell you, the inside walls were covered with, paintings by artists. Not one family picture. There weren’t even pictures of us, their kids. My parents had three kids. Me, Autumn, my sister, Storm, and my brother, Hunter. We were good kids, got good grades, and did loads of extracurricular activities. Oh, you want to know more on my family? Sure, why not. My father is a nicotine addict. Loved and loves women, he’s a player, he’s a big shot, the man of the town, he’s an influential business man all over, but, no one really knew what he did. We didn’t even know, and we were his family. I always thought it was in the black market dealings, or drugs. You never know. My mother was a pageant winning actress. She was a goddess-like human, gorgeous, perfected structure, but cold.  Her heart was made of ice with a small pinch of warmth, but only at rare times. My sister, Storm and my brother Hunter, were fraternal twins. My sister was the brains, athletic, gorgeous, a gift in artistic standings, and always getting the guys’ attention. Hunter, also athletic, star of the football, basketball, baseball, and soccer team, always getting the girls’ attention, perfectly toned body, perfect tan. Almost like a model. And then there’s me. Autumn, I won’t say I’m hideous, and I won’t say I’m gorgeous. I’m musically gifted, I love books, and I love English. I’m a cheerleader – hard to believe right? I’m the co-captain, and you might think that makes me popular! – Sadly no. The captain get’s all the guys’ attention. The co, get’s her sloppy seconds, and besides, I don’t really think anyone at my school is that hot either. I’m not like the rest of my family, I’m not a social outcast at school, I’m noticed, but noticed in the ways I don’t want to be. I’m known as, “Storm Buntler’s sister, Hunter Buntler’s sister,” or even, “Guys, shh, that’s Autumn Buntler, you know her father, Riccardi Buntler, yeah, he’s that totally rich dude that lives in that mansion! You know, yeah! That one!” God, I hated that, or even my mother, “Dude… her mom is so hot, no shut up! …but yeah, I’d do her. She’s a total hot mom. A total MILF.” That, just disgusted me. No, I just want to be known as, Autumn Buntler. The girl in all those musicals, the girl in the talent shows, the girl that’s part of a team. That girl. My best friend, Austin Marie Shallen moved to Las Vegas a few months back. I was so jealous. She was rich, same deal as me. Except she was an only child, her father was in the drug market. The only reason why he wasn’t caught is because he owns another big named company. The name’s classic, “Shallen Inc.” The cops can’t get any dirt on him, because Alejandro Shallen could easily own his whole town, given the chance. Austin hadn’t made the best choices in her life since she’s left, but hey, wherever she goes, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? She partied, and got high, drank, and smoked. I was against all that, especially since my father was into those things. My mom, Chris didn’t really care about the drugs as long as she had money to spend, to hold, and to brag about. Since she was a celebrity, of course she needed money. She had her own money, and so did my dad, but combining the two profits made the sum even more than any of us could imagine. I was happy that our family was very fortunate, but not so much with the drugs. Austin didn’t care as long as she had some drugs to get her going. Her father even gave it to her if she asked. So summer was actually here, so I decided to visit, Austin in Vegas. My parents refused to let me go, I begged and begged. I told them I’d gotten all A’s on my final exams and that I had an A average in all classes this year. And even still, they resisted. “Oh, come on! I’m always here, I never go out, and I don’t even look at boys. And plus, they don’t look at me either! If you’re worried about the boys in Vegas, don’t worry. I’m sure they have other girls to drool over. Please let me go.” I didn’t want to fly all the way to Las Vegas, but I wanted to escape this so called family. It’s more like a void, a void of fake. I could hear in their voices they didn’t care about the guys, it’s just, how would it look sending your seventeen year old daughter to Vegas, alone? They were worried about image, typical. “Honey, Autumn. Flying to Vegas alone is kind of scary! You never know who’ll sit next to you, or who’ll talk to you. They may be drug dealers, or part of the mafia.” My mom was an actress. She’s way too overdramatic. I retaliated, “If you send me on first class, or even with the pilot, I wouldn’t have to worry about that mother dearest.” Like she cared? Her voice was feigning, total lack of care. It was giving out, she was getting tired of acting, it was unnecessary. “Okay, you can go. But only on first class, for only a month.” Perfect! Oh, I had to sound a little bit upset, “Okay… that’s fine. Thank you.” I ran upstairs to start packing for my mini-vacation from this hell. I grabbed loads of shorts, and tee’s, got some tight spaghetti straps, a bikini, and flip flops and sneakers. I figured that was sufficient, besides I was only going to relax by her pool, and maybe walk around town. I was surfing for an air plane ticket when my brother, Hunter stormed into my room. “Hey, why do you get to go to Vegas? You don’t do anything! Except for cheer and your stupid musical, if anyone should go, I think I deserve to go. You’re an invisible shit in this house.” Okay… that hurt. We were only a year apart, and he was going off to college anyway. I don’t know why this got him so mad, because during college he might be able to take other great trips. We were only in Los Angeles; it wasn’t that far away anyways. He finished his rampage and went to complain to my parents. I sighed; this family is so freaking annoying. I need to get out of a here, fast. My mom found an airline ticket for me, she told me when we sat down for dinner, this was the only time we actually looked like a family. Apparently my mother had bought out a whole jet for me, and my luggage. I wasn’t even taking that much, it was only a month. Still, I took her offer. All I had to do was pack more, right? The dinner table was always silent, and awkward. My mom didn’t know how to cook, and my father, didn’t care if we ate or starved. So, we hired a chef. The food was delicious tonight, roasted chicken, a side of pasta with plain tomato sauce, and some bread with olive oil. Simple, yet it tasted fantastic. I loved our chef. She was like another mother to me. Actually, she was more of a mother than my own mother. So I can see why I think this way. After dinner, we all retreated back into the privacy of our own rooms. It wasn’t so late, so I figured I’d give Austin a call. First ring, nothing. Second ring, nothing. A third ring and... “Hello? Autumn? Oh my God, hey! How are you? Good? I’m good, awesome actually. Hey, when are you going to visit me? Parents still uptight, oh gosh, how long’s it been, Autumn?” Austin was the kind of girl who’d ask you a question, and answer it herself. Like she didn’t have time for you to ponder the outcome of your answer, by the time she finished asking and answering her own little Q&A my ears were burning. “Hey Austini,” Austini has been my nickname for her since we were three, “I’m good, you sound awesome too! When am I visiting? Like, tomorrow! Too soon, I wouldn’t think so, I’ve been planning for weeks to persuade my parents to let me go. Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow!” We talked for awhile, she gossiped about people I didn’t know, we finally said goodbye, and I started getting ready for bed. Sleep comes to you when you’re mostly upset, your body wants to shut down, and it does for as long as it wants. It keeps you laying there, basically half alive. Sleep is comforting, and another short trip to my own world. I crawled into bed, the sheets were so soft under my skin, I stretched out, relaxed and drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep. I woke up in a rustling, loud mess. I muttered and got out of bed, I walked into the kitchen to see my mom yelling into a telephone, sayings things like she couldn’t believe he left for a trip without notifying her, and how mad she was about it. Guess dad went on another “business trip.” Awesome, at least I get to leave today myself.