Out of Your League

Chapter 1

'Of course miss, if you're sure that's where you want to go' He looked at me in his mirror, he tried to make it seem like he was just giving me a quick glance, but I knew he was making sure I wasn't joking. It's not normal for me to be home by 10:30 any day of the week, I usually stayed out until the early hours of the morning, or sometimes only came home at lunch the next day if I've found a man suitably charming and fit to spend the night with. I avoid my house, and my parents, as much as I can. I often drink before family dinners to take the edge off the incessant jabs that come at me from every direction.

I sighed and slumped back in my freshly cleaned leather seat, my dress rode up, but I didn't bother to pull it down – why should I? I'm Colette, a slut. Many boys don't realize that I hear them, or they don't care that I can hear, other boys think it's funny, most adults, especially my parents, think it's shameful and blush whenever they hear that word associated with my name. It's one of the many reasons my parents are ashamed of me and one of the many reasons why they sent me to Bartons – to get rid of me. A few times I have heard a boy mutter as I've passed them in my provokingly short skirt 'You know, I've heard that if Colette won't sleep with you then you're probably going to be a virgin for the rest of your life.' If I was truthful, it was partly my fault – I did wear clothes and act in a way that invited it, but that didn't give everyone a right to slut shame me constantly. My irritable thoughts continued for the short trip home and by the time we got there I'd managed to work myself into a fizzling temper.

'Here, miss. We're at your house.' I nodded and wearily thanked him before stumbling over to the door. Luckily for me, it was unlocked which meant that I didn't have the explain to Them that I forgot my key again. I pushed open the dark blue-grey door, shut it and then proceeded to lean against it whilst I took a breath. The staircase spun slightly. How many glasses of champagne did I drink on the disaster that was supposed to be a date? Probably too many, I think I drank to make up for the silence. A figure appeared in my vision.

'Colette. Are you drunk again?' I groaned, I couldn't deal with Luke and his bloody mocking right now. Unfortunately for me, his raised tone did precisely what he intended it to do – my mother appeared.

'Honestly Colette. Can you not conduct yourself with the refinement of your brother? Must you insist on coming home drunk or hungover every night? It's rude and frankly, disgusting. And you wonder why we are ashamed of you – my friends think...' I evaluated the situation, a brother waiting to get me in trouble and a mother ready to scold and lecture. I couldn't be arsed to deal with this tonight, not now. I shuffled towards to staircase, and for once, they didn't follow me.

*****

The lights. The lights. Too bright. I groaned as I realized where I was and why the lights seemed so bright and then groaned again even louder as I realized I was still in my heels, still in my dress and my makeup was smeared all over my face and pillow. Rolling over, I pushed a switch and the lights turned off, then I stumbled towards the window and shut the curtains. Finally, blessed darkness.

After my shower, I dressed in a simple yet fashionable short skirt and a striped blazer. There was no point wearing something like jeans because I knew my mother would take one look at me and send me straight back upstairs to change. Despite jeans being comfy and have the ability to look cool and chic, they are denim. And my mother hated denim with no exceptions – it was not posh enough for her; if Versace hardly uses then it isn't good enough for my mother. Then I took the dreaded route down the stairs to where I knew my mother was. Waiting to scold me.

From the outside, our house was clean, the window boxes perfectly colour coordinated and was a generous size for a house in Kensington. However, on the inside, it was a glittering, opulent museum displaying my parents' wealth. Everything from the carpet to the curtains, the sideboards to the sofas was put together with meticulous care, there was not a cushion out of place and no expense was spared. Unfortunately for me, this meant that although the house looked lovely to visitors, I was not allowed to sit anywhere or move anything ever in the worry it would destroy the perfect look. On the ground floor, we had a lavish open plan, marble floored kitchen-living room. Under the staircase, there was a small loo and sink. On the first floor, we had 4 bedrooms, each with an attached en-suite. As I walked down the staircase, my mother's voice and tinkling laughter drifted towards me. Thank god, finally something has gone my way – if my mother had a friend over, she would not get angry because she would be worried about shattering the perfect family front she was so desperate to present to her friends and everyone else.

I trudged towards the island in the centre of our kitchen on which there is a platter of croissants, a tureen of fresh fruit and a pot of tea that Maja, our maid, must have set out this morning. I grabbed a pain au chocolat and a mug of tea and made to head out the door when my mother's voice again floated towards me.

'Colette, would you come in here for a moment and say hello please?' The way she said it makes it sound like a polite request to her friend, but I knew that it was actually a command. And if I didn't listen, there would be hell to pay later, so, I sighed and walked towards the sofas where my mother and her friend were sitting indulging in coffee and macaroons.

'This is my friend, Maureen, remember I told you about her? She's re-doing the interior of our house' I gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded my head. Why was my mother re-doing our house again? It was re-done only a year ago and still looked pristine. Maureen made to say something, perhaps a polite greeting, or maybe a more serious discussion about whether my skirt is too short (you never know with my mother's friends) but I rushed out the door before any comment could be made. I was too hungover and didn't have enough patience to deal with my mother and her simpering friend right now.

Hey guys! I'm assuming no-one's going to read this but I've been bored over the past few days so i thought it would be fun to try and write a book.

If anyone does read this, i hope you enjoyed it :)