Complicated Notes

Chapter One

I heard the words coming out of my mother's mouth, but my brain wasn't processing them. There was absolutely no way in heck that what she said can be true. I hear my brother's cheers, my father trying to calm him down before he breaks something.

"I don't understand why this is such a big deal Arabella, it's only a year, and the Ryker's are a very nice family, you'll get along fabulously!" my mother tries to soothe me, holding me at arm's length, attempting to console what to her may seem as an overly dramatic reaction, not understanding the reasons behind my panic. "I don't understand why I have to stay there, can't I come with you? With my record, we all know that I could very well graduate earl-" I was cut off by my slightly older brother, Carter, slinging his arm around my shoulders "Yeah, cause you're a little nerd!" he laughed rubbing his knuckles into the top of my hair, moving his arm to have me in a choke hold. "Hey, not fair, you know I don't like it when you do that." I complain, breaking out of his hold, attempting to flatten out my hair, which by this point most likely resembles a bird's nest. "And I'm not that short!" I call, walking away from the family meeting and towards the kitchen. Okay, so I am pretty short, but it's not my fault I got my nan's height! At 17 years of age, I stand at 5'1". And a half. Remember the half!

"Aw, come on Bells, Jace isn't that bad a guy." Carter tries to sell me on the idea of living with the guy that's made my life a living hell for the last 3 years. But I can't tell Carter that, or else Jace would tell everyone of my status as THE Carter Wright's "baby" sister. Not that that would be a bad thing, I just know that it would make the bullying worse.

"Whatever C, I just don't feel comfortable living with a guy I don't know. For a year." I try to explain to my idiot of a brother. "I don't understand why I can't live with Jess, her parents love me." "Her parents are coming on the trip with us, Bell." My dad said as he waltzed into the kitchen, Mum trailing behind him. "Really? So where's Jess staying?" Carter perked up at the mention of my beautiful best friend, whilst I roll my eyes. It's so obvious that he likes her, but he doesn't pursue her because of me, which I truly don't understand.

"It's so obvious that boy is smitten with Jessie, why doesn't her make a move already?" Mum whispered in my ear as she reaches for a mug to pour her "precious" coffee in. "I've been asking myself that too, y'know, Jess has had a crush on him since I met her." I purposely raise my voice towards the end of the sentence so that Carter can hear. "Wha? Who does Jess have a crush on? Bella! Come back!" He calls after me as I leave the kitchen to head to my room.

As I tune my guitar, and grab my laptop and notebook, I get an incoming FaceTime call from the raven haired beauty that is my bestest friend in the entire world, Jessica Marie Howard. "Chica, do I have news for you! I GET TO LIVE ALONE FOR 1 ENTIRE YEAR!!!!!" she yells through screen."Babe, I need my eardrums." I laugh at her excitement. "Right, of course, how could I forget, you need them for when you're a famous singer/songwriter/dancer combo mashup threat thingie. Obviously, I'm going to be your manager." she rants, as I continue laughing. "Jess, I have to TELL people about my 'hidden talents' in order to be famous, and that's not happening anytime soon. You know that." I deadpan. "Why not?" she whines. "Because, being 'famous' requires being on stage, in front of people. Not something good for a girl with severe stage fright and social anxiety." I state, while mindlessly plucking and strumming away on my guitar.

"Whatever. So, I'm assuming you're also living alone for the upcoming trip?" she inquires. "You assume wrong, my raven-haired friend. You'll never believe who I'm living with." I say. "Who?" she asks cautiously. "Jonathan Rkyer...." I brace myself for the screams that are sure to come. "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? OH MY GOSH YOU LUCKY LITTLE OOOOHHHHHHHH MY GOSH YOU GUYS ARE TOTALLY GONNA MAKE OUT, I MEAN LOOK AT HIM, HE IS ONE FINNNNNNEEEEE PIECE OF MA-" "Who's a fine piece of man? Besides me, I mean." Carter cuts her off by strutting into my room at that exact second, causing Jess' face to go as red as my hair. "Ummm, I, she, yo-" she stutters. "Me? I'm the fine piece of man? I mean, I know I'm attractive and all, but for THE Jessica Marie Howard to say so....Wow. I'm honored." he teased. "Okay. Out. Now." I laugh. "But I was talking to Jes-" I cut him off. "Exactly. 'was', as in past tense. Now get out, before I get Mum." I attempt to push him out. "Okay, okay, I'm goin', I'm goin'." he laughs as I continue shoving him. Well, trying to. That boy is basically pure muscle.