In Your Arms

Chapter One

OLIVIA

Senior year. This year is going to be the best one yet. Not because of anything special but because it means that I'm close to leaving this hell hole of a house and never looking back.

I stare at myself in the mirror and decide that I look good enough for today and head downstairs to get some breakfast before I go. Sitting at the kitchen island is my twin brother, Noah, who likes to rub in my face that he is three minutes older than me. Noah and myself look like our dad with our dark hair and green eyes but thats where the similarities stop. Noah is one of the popular kids, swim team captain, everyone wants to be his friend and all the girls want to be with him. I, on the other hand, have a loud mouth. I'm only popular because of my brother because I don't give a shit what people think of me. I have a handful of friends that are in my "group".

"Good morning dear brother, where's mom?" I say as I pour myself some cereal.

"Are you seriously going to wear that? and she's sleeping still" Noah looks at me like I've grown two heads. I'm wearing my favorite black t-shirt that fits me perfectly, my jeans that are just a little too tight and my converse. I don't see the problem and thats exactly what I tell Noah.

"Your shirt shows more skin than not and those jeans are just..no. You need to go change right now" I stare him down. "Seriously Liv, I don't want to get into a fight with some douchebag on the first day of senior year. So can you just go put a hoodie on or something?"

I sigh "Listen I'll put the hoodie on because its cold out but as for the other part, no guys come near me thanks to you and Jake." Jake is Noah's best friend since forever and pretty much my other brother. Between the two of them, no one is ballsy enough to come near me.

Noah just shakes his head at me as we both leave the kitchen and head to our cars. We drive separate since Noah swims and I go to work after school. Outside we see our dad heading in through the side door, probably just coming home from being out all night. We ignore him and we don't talk about the fact that moms still sleeping. Her sleeping in means she took something to help her sleep, to help her forget.

Driving to school is the time I use to forget about my emotions and put on the facade of normal for school. The only person other than Noah who knows the truth is my best friend Ava and thats because she's been my friend since we've been little so she has seen my home life first hand. She's the only person I have over anymore. It hasn't always been like this but I cant dwell on that now, not as I pull into the schools parking lot and get out to see Ava waiting by her car for me.

She gives me a hug once I reach her "Olivia! I have big news. BIG BIG NEWS!!" at this point she's hyperventilating. Whenever Ava has big news, it usually involves Jake. Ava has been in love with him since forever and he is clueless.

I ask her "What did Jake do now?" She looks at me and says "You know..I don't always talk about him..I could have news thats not about him" I just give her a pointed look and she gives up "Okay fine! It is about Jake but I don't always talk about him!!"

"Okay just spill it while we walk, we only have 10 minutes until class starts"

"Okay okay! So you know how Jake has been coming to my work to get coffee for himself and Rachel, pretty much everyday this summer?" I nod so she can continue. Rachel is his snake of a girlfriend who I hate. I'm pretty sure she's the devil.

"Well anyways! On Saturday Jake came in and only got coffee for himself. When I asked about Rachel's order, he just looks at me and shakes his head no... Liv... HES SINGLE AGAIN! and he goes to tell me how he needs someone who understands him and wont make him choose between swimming and her! I can be that girl! This is my shot." She looks at me with such hope that I want to believe this can happen for her. Jake is an actual good guy and Ava is amazing, they would be perfect together.