Chapter One
Beginning of a Dream
I’m Kaylee Underwood. I just turned 15 years old today, on August 13. I’m a sophomore at my school, Frazier Mountain High School. The school’s population is 496 students. I’m on the schools Volleyball team were called the Falcons. I live in a small town called Frazier Park Ca. Frazier Park is up in the mountains and the population is 2,416. The school is really pretty, it looks like from an old history book. It has a maroon-brick building with stairs in the front building. When you walk in the school there is blue and grey lockers all the way down the hall, it’s very brightly lit, it’s really pretty they keep it really clean, you would think it was a private school, than a public school. I also love to sing I send a video to this music school, Star Struck Academy in LA, you have to be 13 through 19, they have a age limit. I haven’t heard from them yet, I just hope I make it, but it’s so far away and I know my dad won’t let me go.
My mom came in to wake me up for school, “Kaylee wake up, you’re fifteen today!” she said cheerfully.
“Ok mom. I’m getting up.” I was groaning.
Great I have to wake up to go to school, sometimes I wish my birthday were on a holiday.
My mom smiled at me and got up from my bed, “Well hurry down.” My mom said in a sweet voice.
I got up from my bed and stretched. I looked at the mirror and see nothing different. I still looked the same with Ivory skin, slender sporty body, straight brown-hair and my blue eyes and I think I gotten a little bit taller than before. I was trying on my clothes that my mom and I went shopping yesterday for and earlier fifteen B-day present. While we were shopping, my mom wanted to have a “Mother Daughter Talk” I can’t believe we had that discussion, I already know that stuff from school Duh!
I picked my favorite outfit, which was by Heart and Soul floral Charmeuse
Top in purple with a black poke dot tie waistband with Floral embroidery blooms with style. Cap sleeves, shirred accents and picot trim lend feminine charm. Crocheted and with a scoopneck. I think it looks so cute on me. I put my hair down with the sides pulled back with bobbing pins.
When I got downstairs my 13-year old sister. Mandy, who likes teasing me, but even though we fight I still love her, I would never tell her that. My sister and I kind of look alike, just she has gorgeous wavy brown-hair and blue eyes too. She was wearing a eyelet peasant top in white with cropped cargo pants in military green.
“Hey Kaylee, your getting old!”
Wait until she becomes fifteen, which is two years from now.
“I’m not getting old!” I snapped back, which is true.
She had a smirk on her face, “Then why do I see wrinkles.” she said sarcastically.
I ran to the mirror and I did see lines on my face, but they were from my bed.
“These aren’t wrinkles, their called bed marks you idiot.” I said harshly.
“That’s what you want to say.” she said wit a smirk.
Urgh! I can’t wait until she gets fifteen, she’ll understand.
“Stop your fighting you two!” my mom yelled.
“Sorry!” we both said.
Mandy and I went into the kitchen and my dad kissed me on the forehead.
“Good morning you two and stop driving your mom crazy.”
My dad is very protective of me, he doesn’t want me to go to the Star Struck Academy, but I’m going to try to convince him to let me go. He always thinks of me as his little girl, he doesn’t understand how this school is important to me and I’m old enough to follow my dreams. My dad says “Never let anything get in your way to get to your dream.” he just doesn’t realize that he is the one who is standing in the way of me getting to my dream.
My dad went outside to get the newspaper, so I went to the window to look, he was stretching and the paperboy threw the newspaper to him and my dad slips on the sidewalk and spills his coffee on his suit and falls down.
“My suit!” my dad said with aggressive tone.
The paper boy looks both ways and rides off.
I walked away from the window and sat at the counter and my dad came back in the house and went upstairs, and he started mumbling to himself.
“I guess dad was chasing the paperboy again.” I said with a chuckle.
“Your father.” my mom rolled her eyes and chuckled.
My dad always has a hard time getting the paper, it’s like him and the paperboy having a war.
“I think I should drive you and Mandy to school.”
Great, I have to go to school on my birthday, school isn’t really bad, I have a lot of friends and plus I’m on the Varsity volleyball team, which is so much fun, I’m glad I took the sport up.
“You know what mom, it’s my birthday today, I shouldn’t have to go to school. What do you say?”
“No!” My mom said with snipping tone and she raised one eyebrow up.
“Think about it?” I said with a questionable tone and shrugged up my shoulders.
“I’ am thinking about it and the answer is No.” She rolled her eyes.
I looked down and unhurried to the front the door.
Man that sucks, whatever. I thought that would have worked, but I guess not.
When I got to school my best friend, Carmen came up to me. Carmen is kind of wild, outgoing and wears really funky clothes that she makes, she should become a designer. Carmen has straight blonde-hair with some blue shrieks and side bangs. Her shrieks match her eyes and she is wearing a plain blue shirt with black spandex’s over her shirt and a plaid blue skirt with long black boots. Carmen doesn’t care what people think about her, but she is always there for me when I need someone to talk to and get through stuff.
Carmen came up to me all excited. I wonder what’s up with her, usually she isn’t all excited when were at school.
“Guess What?” She said with an excited tone and her eyebrows were raised up.
Well I guess there’s something going on, I hope it’s not bad news, I hope she can make it to my party.
“What is it?” I said with a curious tone.
This freaking me out. I wish sometimes she doesn’t hold the answers to make it all drama like.
“A foreign student came from Rome, isn’t that exciting?” She said with a smile and her eyebrows still raised up.
That was the big news, well I better act like it was exciting.
“Wow…” I took a breath, “Um…” I took another breath, “I can’t believe it!” I said with an unenthusiastic tone.
“Yeah, she’s on our volleyball team, that’s pretty cool to have a foreign student here, especially in a small town…”
Wow she is talking really fast, she usually does that when something big and exciting happens to her.
“Calm down! You’re talking really fast again.” I said with a soothing voice.
“Oh I’m sorry, I usually don’t realize that I’m talking fast…”
See what I mean.
“You’re doing it again.”
“Ok! I’ll stop.” she with an apologize tone.
My other best friend , Shelby, came up to Carmen and I. Shelby has straight brown-hair and brown eyes, she is really beautiful, but she doesn’t know she is. Shelby sometimes doesn’t get stuff that Carmen and I talk about, you will find out in a minute, but that’s what we like about and what makes our group unique. She wears normal clothes, she doesn’t care about huge brands, like Hollister, American Eagle, Old Navy , etc. She just wears what she feels. Even though she isn’t bright, she is always there for me. Today she is wearing a blank she has her hair down with a tan headband on.
“What did I miss?” She said with a questionable tone.
“There’s going to be a student from Rome on our Volleyball team!” Carmen said with an enthused tone.
Shelby eyebrows raised up, “From Rome, so she’s a Roman Empire?” She said with an excitable tone.
See what I’m talking about, she doesn’t get stuff.
“Noooo! She’s from Rome, she’s not an Roman Empire.” Carmen said slowly.
“Oooooh!” Shelby said slowly and she had a confuse look on her face.
Carmen just looked at Shelby and back at me and shook her head in bewilderment.
“Anyway, we have a volleyball practice tomorrow after school.” Carmen said with an normal tone.
“That’s great, I can’t wait for our big game on Friday!” I said in excited tone.
Shelby and Carmen all looked excited for Friday, then bell ringed to get to our flirt class, which I have English, it’s so boring.
“Shelby and I will see you at your house for your B-Day” Carmen said nonchalant.
“Yeah! Fifteen year-old” Shelby said with enthusiastic tone.
Then we all head to our class.
After school I went to my dad’s diner that he owns, I’ve been working here since I was thirteen.
“Hey Dad!” I said in a calm tone.
“Hey Honey! Can you wipe the counter for me?” He said in a hurry to get to a customer.
Great for my birthday present I have to wipe the counter, joy!
“Sure thing dad!” I said in agreement.
“Thanks Honey!” Then he left to go to the customer.
Then my very best friend, Ryan, he’s kind of tan, less bulky with untidy short-brown hair with stunning hazel eyes and he was wearing a dark blue polo shirt with black jean pants, he looks so good with dark blue shirts. Ever since this diner was open, he’s been coming in all the time, so when he was thirteen, he’s been working at the diner.
“Hey fifteen-year old! Feel any different?” He said in a friendly voice.
Maybe, I don’t know I just turned, but I do feel kind of taller.
“Nope! I feel the same.” I said like there was no difference.
“Well…this might change your mind, here’s your present.” He said with a smug.
Wonder what it is. That was so nice of him to get me a present.
I took a breath, “You didn’t have to give me a present.” I objected.
“I wanted to give you a present, here.” He pressed.
Ryan smiled at me with a gorgeous smile that he has, he gave me the present and I opened it. Wow I never saw anything so beautiful I can’t believe he go me this, it must of cost a lot.
I was frozen and took a breath to keep me from fainting, “Its beautiful Ryan.” I gently said.
I glanced up at hi with an appreciation expression. He was looking at me with genuine in his eyes.
He took a breath, “It’s a charm bracelet.” He said softly.
I took a breath, “It has all the things I like to do. Thank You!” I said with amazement.
Ryan put the charm bracelet on my wrist. We were so close, he was looking down at my wrist and I looked at him with gratefulness, it looked so beautiful on me.
I took a breath, “You know you shouldn’t have.” I inclined.
“Happy Birthday Kaylee!” He said with heartfelt tone and he smiled at me.
I took a breath and looked down at my charm bracelet smiling at it. I’m so shock that he got this for me.
I took another breath, “Well I better get back to work, before my dad sees me not working.” I said in a sad tone.
Ryan looked down and looked back up at me and gave me pleased smile, “Ok.” He said with saddened tone.
Then I went back to work.
After work I went to home to get ready for my party.
“I’m home!” I yelled in a softness tone.
I went upstairs and got ready for my party, then came back down stairs and sat on the couch, then the doorbell ringed and I got up from the couch and opened the door and it was Carmen and Shelby.
“Happy Birthday!” They both said with a strong excited tone, which I jolted in place.
I took a breath to calm my heart down, “Thank you guys! Come in.” I said breathless.
Then my mom came into the living room, “Hey Shelby and Carmen.” My mom said with a friendly tone.
Carmen smiled, “Whatz Up Mrs. Underwood!” Carmen said with an attempt to sound nonchalant.
My mom raised her chin in a fraction. “Um…Whatz Up Carmen!” My mom said carefully.
“Hi Mrs. Underwood!” Shelby said with a softness tone.
“Hi Shelby!” My mom said in a calm voice.
Carmen turn towards me and she gave me a pleased smile, “Can you believe it your fifteen?”
Then my mom started crying again, she does this to Mandy and I all the time. My dad said my mom started crying when we did our first “Potty Training” but if it was me I probably would of hold my nose.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t believe my daughter is growing up, now we have to have that “Mother Daughter Talk”” She sniffles.
You see what I mean.
Mandy started to laugh and I looked at her and I gave her scowled, “What are you laughing at, it’s going to happen to you.” I said with a harsh tone and she stopped laughing. I got her good.
“Carmen, Shelby, do you guys want to go swimming?” I asked.
“Cool!” Carmen said nonchalant.
“Sure!” Shelby said in a calm voice.
We all got into our swimsuits and jumped in the pool, it was such a hot day, what way to cool off. After we were done swimming, we dried off and got back into our clothes and went back into the living room and sat down on the couch and my mom made us popcorn and we were watching a movie. Carmen turn the volume down, I guess there is something important, I hope it’s not about the new girl from Rome.
“Someone has a crush on you.” Carmen said in a excited tone.
Now I’m definitely hoping it’s not the new girl from Rome.
Shelby smiles at both us. I gave Carmen a bewilder look, “On me?” I asked in astonished tone.
Shelby stands up, “Finally!” She said in a overexcited tone.
I looked at Carmen and she also had a shock expression like me.
“Not you!” Carmen said with a frustrated tone.
“Oh!” Shelby said solemnly and she sat back down in disappointment.
I took back at Carmen, “Anyway who it?” I said with an unexcited tone. I don’t care, I don’t relationship right now, all I care about is getting into that Academy, but Carmen is so happy and she is just looking out for me, what can I do.
“It’s Kyle!” Carmen said with an excited tone and expression.
Oh My Gosh! I can’t believe she is setting me up with Kyle, I hope it’s not the guy from my P.E. Class, it better be someone else, I don’t know if I have at type, but if I did it would not be Kyle. Kyle is a nice person, but just not for me. Kyle has curly short brown-hair with green eyes, less bulky, skinny, and kind of good looking, but just not my type of guy.
I gave her a quizzical look, “Kyle?” I said with astonished questionable tone.
“Yeah!” Carmen said with a confusion tone.
“Are you talking about Kyle from P.E.?” I asked her with a quizzical expression.
Carmen still gave me the confuse look, “Yeah him!”
“I love P.E.” Shelby interrupted Carmen.
I looked at Shelby with a confuse expression, “Who like P.E.?”
“Obviously me.” Shelby pressed.
I shook my head in confusion and turn to Carmen to get out of this mess with this date with Kyle.
“But I don’t even like him.” I pressed.
Carmen had her bottom lip pulled up with a puppy face expression, “Just give him a chance.”
I can’t believe this is happing, especially on my birthday.
“I’ll go out with.” Shelby said with an excited tone.
I looked at Shelby, “You’ll go out with anybody.” I said with a soft, calm tone.
“True.” Shelby agreed.
“Anyway back t the conversation, just go out with him. What harm would it do? If you don’t like him…” Carmen said with a harsh calm tone.
That what I’ve been tell her. “I already don’t like him.” I said with harsh tone.
“Then you can tell him you don’t, but just give it a chance, there’s nothing wrong with going out with him.” Carmen said with an arguably tone.
I took a breath, she’s right, maybe I should give him a chance, he seems nice. “Ok!” I said in a surrender tone.
“Tell him about me?” Shelby said.
I looked at Shelby with my eyebrows rose up, “Why?” I said curiously.
“Because then he can ask me out.”
I rolled my eyes at Shelby and chucked.
“What’s happing with the singing school?” Carmen asked just to change the subject.
“Nothing my dad wouldn’t let me go anyway.” I took a breath, “It’s in LA.”
“That’s like so for away, but how are we going to get there?” Shelby said.
“By a car.” I told Shelby.
“We can’t buy a c…”
“Were not buying a car!” Carmen interrupted Shelby’s nonsense answered. Carmen shook her head.
“I mean someone can drive us.” I pressed. That was probably a stupid answered, like who would drive us.
“ Who, your father?” Carmen said with a sarcastic, question tone.
Shelby just looked at Carmen with a scornful look and shook her head, then she looked away and grabbed a popcorn and put into her mouth, but she continued, “Her father wouldn’t let her go, Carmen.”
“Wow! That was helpful Shelby.” Carmen said with a sarcastic tone and she grabbed popcorn and put it in her mouth.
“Well, I’m going to get a soda.” Shelby stood up and went into the kitchen.
“Well, I don’t see how you can get there.” Carmen asked.
I started to think, then I thought of it. I can’t believe I didn’t thought of it sooner. “How about the train?”
“Oh My Gosh! I can’t believe we didn’t see that! I feel like Shelby.”
“Carmen!” I gave her a scowl look.
“Sorry!” Carmen put her two hands up, like she was surrendering.
Mandy came down the stairs, “What about the train?”
How did she found out about the train idea. What, does she have some secret about good hearing.
“Um…Nothing.” I stuttered.
I was panicking, because anytime Mandy finds out about something that I’m doing, she tell dad. I surly don’t want Mandy to find out about this. I looked at Carmen with a panicky expression and Carmen had a frighten expression and she shrugged aher shoulders.
“Your lying.” Mandy looks at Carmen an she flickers her eyes at me and I knew she is going to find out sooner, so I better tell her anyway.
Mandy looks at me with a curious expression. “I know something is going on, so just tell me.”
I just looked at her to make sure, she’s not wired, “Fin, just don’t tell dad.” I had a surrender tone and I looked down and then back up at her.
“I won’t.” Mandy gave me a harsh tone. She had anguish in her eyes and she had her arms across her chest.
“You better not.” I gave her a harsh tone back.
“Come on tell me.” Mandy said with a irritated tone. She still had arms folded and was tapping her foot, she still had that irritated expression on her face.
“Well, there’s this music school call Star Struck Academy in LA, so…”
“She’s going to take the train to LA. Can you keep it a secret, it’s…” Carmen irrupted me and she looked at Mandy with a serious expression.
“It’s really important to me, so please.” I interrupted Carmen with a begging tone.
“Ok, Ok!” Mandy said with an understanding tone and she smiled at me.
Mandy went into the kitchen, so Carmen and I got up and went to the kitchen door to listen to see if she kept the promise. She grabbed something from the refrigerator.
“Hey Mandy?” My dad said with a calm voice,
“Um…Hi dad!” Mandy said with a nervous tone.
Carmen and I barley open the door, because Carmen and I both felt something was wrong, because the way she was saying it.
Dad looked at Mandy where he know s something is up, “What’s wrong Mandy?” My dad said in a forceful tone.
“Nothing…there’s nothing going on.” Mandy stuttered.
“Look I’m going to find out sooner or later, so it’s better to tell me this now.” He said with an irritated tone.
That tone always makes me nervous. That’s when the truth comes out and he always sets his way.
“I can’t I promise to keep it a secret.” Mandy pressed.
Wow I can’t believe she stood up to dad, if it was me the truth would have come out and we would have this argument right then. You go Mandy. Please forget all those bad things that I thought about you.
“It’s not right to keep something inside just to protect someone, so tell me Mandy.”
No Mandy don’t give in, keep up your bravery.
“I can’t.” She said with a fearless tone.
Then I saw Shelby coming towards the door, so Carmen and I ran to the couch and pretend like we weren’t spying on them.
Shelby came into the living room, “Your dad knows something is wrong. He is trying to get it out of your sister.” Shelby said in a whisper when she sat down on couch.
“Oh Great!” I said with a tone that I didn’t know what was going on . I don’t want my sister to get into trouble for my problem, but I can’t tell him.
I went the kitchen, “Dad there’s nothing going on, everything is fine. What we were keeping a secret was…” I can’t believe I’m doing this, now I’m being breath the one here.
Mandy gave me a weird look, like what was I doing. I don’t eve know what I’m doing for myself, so were Shelby and Carmen, “Was…” I took a breath, “I was going to clean up the diner for you tonight.” What a nice save. I hope he didn’t catch on, on what was going on with Shelby, Carmen, and my best sister Mandy.
“Your were?” all of them said that with astound tone and a shocking expression.
I took a breath, “Yeah…” I said slowly in a shocking way. I looked at them in a astounded expression. They were still looking shock at me. “I-I was.” I took a breath, “It was going to be a surprise and I know you haven’t got the place clean up in awhile.” I took a breath, “So I thought all the times you do for me. I was paying back.” I was babbling, I’ve never talked so fast like that.
My dad’s face went from shock to a heartfelt, “Thank you sweetie.” He gave me a heartfelt smile and I smiled at him back. Then he left the kitchen and Carmen, Shelby, Mandy, and I breathed out.
“Way to do sis, I didn’t know you had it in you.” Mandy gave me a smile and she left the kitchen.
I didn’t know I had it in me either, but great now I have to spend the last night on my birthday cleaning the diner. Happy Birthday Kaylee!