Chapter One
I know that your parents will always be your parents, and you will always be there baby. But it gets to a point, when they need to loosen those reigns. I was eighteen, and my dad needed to realise that I was not his little girl anymore.
He was a protective man, always had been always would be. Imagine Liam Neeson in Taken, just without all the kidnapping and car chases, and the cool parts to the movie. And if you haven't watched that movie; have you been living under a rock?
But, yes, very overprotective. When I was sixteen, and went on a school trip to New York, he had paid a PI to fly to New York and report back all my activities. I didn't speak to him for a month after I found out.
My brothers always told me it was because I was his only daughter, and after our mother died, it was his way of keeping me safe. That was fine coming from them – they didn't have a tracking device slipping into their handbag when they went for a weekend shopping trip in Montreal. But I was the baby, and the only girl.
My father and I lived in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, had all my life. My mother was Native, with Hopi background, but my father wasn't. Not even close; but he tried to keep my roots close as he could after my mother died.
Which would have been made easier if my Grandmother didn't hate my father; but that was a story for a different time. So, even though I was only going for a month, my father tried to pull the Native card to make me stay.
"I'm just saying that you might not like the city" he shrugged. "You're ties are all here. They aren't used to people like you in LA".
"Are you being racist?" I asked. My father's face coloured slightly.
"No, I'm just saying they might not understand your culture and--"
"Dad, shut up. Or I might have to push you off the bus" I rolled my eyes. "And if anyone is mean to me, I will simply place the curse of my ancestors on them. White people hate that shit".
My father sighed, forehead creasing as he tried to find another excuse to keep me at home. My older brother – Selson – was a student of UCLA, and I was going to stay with him for a month.
My grandmother, on my father's side, was ill and in hospital. Meaning my father was going to stay with her, in Scotland, for a month while his elder brother was working away. However, at the end of the month his brother would return home, and once more become her carer.
However, during this time my father had wanted me to go with him. I had refused. I didn't want to spend my summer in a shoddy old house, with only had electricity when the wind mills were blowing in the garden.
However, due to an unfortunate incident with an ex-boyfriend, my father refused for me to stay at home by myself. It took some time, but I finally convinced him to let me go and stay with Selson in LA. He still would rather me go with him, but I wasn't doing that.
So, the day before he was due to leave, we got the ferry to Vancouver, and then from there caught a bus to the airport. I could have done it myself, but my father wanted to make sure I didn't change my mind and run away with some hobo I found on the street – as if I would do that.
The bus pulled up at the airport, and we got off. I collected my suitcase, as my father sulked like a small child. "Stop sulking, it looks like I just told you Santa isn't real" I rolled my eyes, and he just glared at me.
I then checked it, before it was time for us to say goodbye. I gave my dad a hug, and I could see his eyes tearing up. "Don't cry. You're a really ugly crier" I told him.
"You know my rules, Alora" he told me sternly.
"Are they the same rules you gave Selson before he left for college? Cover your bump before you hump? Hide that knife, until she's your wife? If you think she's spunky, cover your monkey?"
"Alora, stop, please I beg you". My father flushed in embarrassed, and I grinned proudly. "I'm serious, LA is a dangerous place for a young girl. Just promise me you'll be safe? And you'll call me every night"
"Every night" I nodded, before pecking his cheek sweetly. He then gave me another hug, before he finally allowed me to finally walk towards the gate. I turned around a few times, to see him still standing there. I laughed to myself, as I turned the corner out of his sight.
I ate breakfast at the airport, before catching my flight to LA. I slept most of it, so it went quickly. I was excited to spend the summer in LA, with Selson and his college friends. I was not ready for a full relationship – not with how the last one ended – but I was open to the idea of fun.
The heat of LA hit me the moment I stepped outside the airport. I swore, tugging my jacket off, as I turned my phone back on. It sung out a melody, as it loaded up. I pushed my jacket into my bag, as I rung Selson.
"Hey sis" he chirped happily. I could hear lots of background noise, and I knew that he wasn't at the airport. I knew my brother was unreliable, but I was shocked with just how much that had worsened since moving out.
"Where are you?"
"At a house party, why?"
"Who has a house party in the middle of the day? You know what, never mind. I'm at the airport, shithead, you were supposed to be picking me up? I'm guessing you're not here?"
"I thought your flight got in at eleven?"
"AM, Selson, eleven AM!"
"Shit, sorry sis. I'm on my way now".
"Forget it, I'll get a bus. Fucking idiot" I muttered, before hanging up. My eldest brother, Deminick, was always five minutes early to anything, but Selson was always five hours late to anything. But that was why Deminick was a lawyer, and Selson was a frat boy.
I got a bus that stopped about half a mile from UCLA, and then got a cab the final way. The cab driver dropped me of in the centre of the campus, leaving me to find my own way to Selson's fraternity.
That was the one part of the condition I didn't tell my father about. My brother had neglected to mention he had moved into a fraternity for the new semester – and I sure as hell didn't tell my father.
I must have looked like a stray puppy. Tattered jeans, and shirt, suitcase by my feet. I tried to phone Selson again, but he didn't answer. I cussed him out for a moment, as I tried to work out where the hell his fraternity was.
"Hey are you alright there?" a voice to my left asked. I looked to my left to see a very attractive man – a very, very, attractive man. He was tall, with swept back blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a UCLA sweater, and I guessed he was on whatever sports team they had there.
"I'm actually looking for the Beta Beta fraternity house" I replied, not being able to not stare at his beauty. "You know where it is?"
"Sure. I'm heading that way now. I can take you if you want" he grinned a charming smile.
"Are you really heading that way?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest as I looked at him. I wasn't convinced by his charming routine.
He laughed heartily, "I am now".
"Works for me" I shrugged, grabbing my suitcase. "I'm Alora, by the way" I said, as he took my bag off me and led the way.
"Chad" he replied.
"Course" I smirked.
"Sorry?"
"You look exactly what a Chad would look like".
He looked at me in amusement. "Oh really? And what does a typical Chad look like?"
"Like you. Blonde, blue eyed, muscled. And – correct me if I'm wrong – you're insanely popular, captain of a sports team or possibly a Quarterback, you were prom king in high school and you have spent your life dating cheerleaders. Am I wrong?"
Chad considered my words for a moment, before he laughed. "Alright, you're pretty much right. Except I'm a Line-backer. But I bet you can't guess my major" he challenged. But before I answered, he carried on. "Actually, you won't guess. It's Biochemistry".
"Fuck. Didn't expect that" I admitted truthfully.
He gave another warm laugh. "Alright then, Alora, what is your major?"
"Don't go to school here. The suitcase wasn't a big enough give away?" I teased.
"Should have been really. So where do you go?"
"Not in college" I replied, "just staying with my brother for a month. You might know him. Selson Jeffries?"
"Sure, I know him" Chad nodded, "can't say we're friends. But I know the guy. I see why you needed help getting to the fraternity now".
"Thought I was a stripper hired for a party?"
"Crossed my mind" he smirked at me – dimples flashing in his cheeks as he did so. "But you look a bit covered up for a stripper".
"I'm a classy stripper. I don't undress until I'm in the building. Easier to pick up Quarterbacks this way".
"Thought we established I was a Line-Backer?"
"Right, my bad" I laughed.
It didn't take long until I could see the fraternity. It was a nice house, with a wide porch, and a large Beta symbol on top. Music pumped from the house, and teenagers were littered on the front porch.
"Who has a party at twelve o'clock on a Sunday?" Chad asked with a shake of his head.
"My idiot of a brother" I laughed. I came to a stop outside, and took my suitcase from Chad. "I got it from here. Thanks for showing me the way".
He offered me a bright grin. "No problem. Why don't I get your number and we can meet up while you're here? I'm sure you'll need a tour guide who can show you places that don't sell alcohol".
I typed my number into his phone, smiling as I did so. "I'll see you around, Quarterback" I winked, as he walked away. Chad just laughed, shaking his head at me as he did so.
A/N - Hello my friends, I apologise if there is anything that doesn't make sense that the character's say. I am British, but am trying to write characters who are Canadian/American so if something sounds odd, it is probably a British speech pattern :D
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