Diamond in the Sky

Chapter 1 (pre-NaNo)

I heard the music before I reached the house and hoped I wasn't too overdressed. I had chosen a short black lace dress with patterned tights. The dress had a red sash that matched my shoes and a flower in my hair. I made my way to the door, wobbling in my heels, as the shingle stones crunched beneath my feet.

People were always coming and going from their house, so they rarely locked the front door; just as well they lived in a nice neighbourhood. I pushed the handle of the PVC door down and entered the bustle of a packed house. I was a little late but I hated arriving at a party before it had even started.

I made my way through the people searching for a familiar face. I saw Fallon's older sister Keeley. She was almost a mirror image of Fallon, but older. She smiled, "Fallon's in the conservatory!" Everything she did was with confidence. Even the little nod afterwards to check I had heard her oozed confidence.

Coolly, I nodded in response. I had to cut through the kitchen to get to the conservatory. On my way through I bumped into Fallon's older brother, Nate. He was standing around the fridge with all his friends, Budweiser's poised at their lips. He had dark curly hair and green eyes. He gave me a cheeky wink as I passed and I felt myself flush red. Nate wasn't my typical type but there was no denying that he had the 'good look' gene that ran through the Rein family. Everyone fancied Nate but we all knew he was off limits. I remember the sleepover when Arizona confessed she had a soft spot for Nate and Fallon flipped.

"Are you using me to perv on my brother!" she had spat. Arizona started mumbling trying to backtrack but Fallon hadn't finished. She turned her red painted index fingernail on us, "No friend of mine is dating my brother! Understand? I don't want to see you making out with him. It's sick!" Her attention flashed back to poor Arizona who now wished she had kept her mouth shut. "You get that filthy idea out of your head otherwise things will get nasty for you."

Arizona was Fallon's number one best friend, so if she wasn't allowed to date her brother, the rest of us didn't stand a chance. The bizarre thing was, afterwards, Fallon dropped her attitude and bounced across the room to grab a bowl of popcorn to offer around. It was almost psychotic the way her moods could flip like that.

I stepped into the conservatory. Fallon was on a wicker frame sofa, watching two older lads playing Guitar Hero. Her face brightened when she saw me and I got the distinct impression that she had been bored.

*****

I knew there was no point asking if I could go to the party. It would be an automatic no. Mum likes us all to get an early night Christmas Eve so we can be up bright and early the next morning. So, I put my phone on silent and sneak out.

I heard the music before I reached the house and hoped I wasn't too overdressed. I had chosen a short black lace dress with patterned tights. The dress had a red sash that matched my shoes and a flower in my hair. I made my way to the door, wobbling in my heels, as the shingle stones crunched beneath my feet.

People were always coming and going from their house, so they rarely locked the front door; just as well they lived in a nice neighbourhood. I pushed the handle of the PVC door down and entered the bustle of a packed house. I was a little late but I hated arriving at a party before it had even started.

I made my way through the people searching for a familiar face. I saw Fallon's older sister Keeley. She was almost a mirror image of Fallon, but older. She smiled, "Fallon's in the conservatory!" Everything she did was with confidence. Even the little nod afterwards to check I had heard her oozed confidence.

Coolly, I nodded in response. I had to cut through the kitchen to get to the conservatory. On my way through I bumped into Fallon's older brother, Nate. He was standing around the fridge with all his friends, Budweiser's poised at their lips. He had dark curly hair and green eyes. He gave me a cheeky wink as I passed and I felt myself flush red. Nate wasn't my typical type but there was no denying that he had the 'good look' gene that ran through the Rein family. Everyone fancied Nate but we all knew he was off limits. I remember the sleepover when Arizona confessed she had a soft spot for Nate and Fallon flipped.