What's This LOVE Thing You Talk About?

"Smile!"

FLASH.

I dropped my smile the moment the photographer opened her mouth.

"Lovely!" She said, and I took this as our cue to leave. Apparently, I was the only one. In my mothers mind, 'lovely' meant, 'it's good, but not perfect.'

"Sweetie, get back here, please. One more picture."

I moved back over to her, and she leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Smile wide. Look like you mean. Because if you don't, and this picture doesn't turn out perfect, so help me God, I will take away your Camero and reduce your credit limit."

I sighed, and smiled wide, using those years of acting and modeling classes to put the smile in my eyes.

FLASH.

"Oh wow, this is the best photo of a family I have ever taken.." The photographer announced, in her annoyingly perky way. I looked up at my mother, and she looked happy. Finally.

"Can I please go now?" My mother nodded.

"Yes, Karalynn, we may leave now." She got up, and like the flock following their leader, we followed.

"Thank you for coming!" The photographer yelled to our retreating backs. I looked back over my shoulder, and saw she had the biggest smile on her face. Photographers loved us. Our family pictures were always perfect. Great for advertising. Family picture day in my household was like a national holiday. Everyone stopped doing whatever they are doing, and they take the day off. My bother Paul, he flys home from Brown, where he is in his Junior year as an undergrad. My mother and father take off from work, and they pull me out of school. And for 30 minutes out of the 525,600 minutes in the year, we pretend to be a happy family. But the second we walk outside that photography studio, the happiness stops. My mother gets in her limo, my father in his, and me and Paul head for the nearst and most conviniet form of public transportation for a rare day of bonding. Todays poison of choice, the subway.

"So, how's the family been Kara?" That is always the first thing Paul asks when he visits. My answer is always the same.

"What do you think?" His blue eyes sparkled with amusement as he ruffled my dark brown hair. When it comes to family resemblence, my and Paul look nothing alike. He was blonde hair, blue eyes. I was dark brown hair, green-grey-blue eyes (they often have a hard time deciding what color they want to be..). He was 5'11", I was 5'5", significantly shorter. None of my friends ever believe me when I introduce him as my brother. By the time we reached Newbury Street, our conversation had already covered a broad group of topics. From school to shopping to what TV shows we've been interested in. But as we were walking into Brooks Brothers, to find Paul a new tux for our families benefit later that week, it reached a topic I personally was quite uncomfortable with.

"So... Any guy in your life that I need to meet?" Paul said as he nodded to the sales lady who was obviously dying to help him. Since our father was absent for the most part in our lives, my brother played two roles for me. The other one being father. And to tell you the truth, Paul was probably more protective than an actual father would be.

I rolled my eyes at him. He always brought this up. Always. "Paul, you know perfectly well there is NOT a guy involved in my life. But not for lack of effort on their part..." I picked out a nice navy blue suit jacket, and shoved it in his arms. "Here, try this one on. And maybe with a nice pair of kakhi's.."

Paul shook his head. "Nuh-uh. Makes me think of those hideous private school uniforms I used to have to wear. You may still be in that stage of your life, but I am far enough out of it to be done with it forever.." He instead picked up a black jacket and matching slacks. "And back to the previous topic... Okay. I know I'm supposed to be happy you aren't dating, but Kara, really, you are seventeen. You will be a senior next year.. You have yet to experiance your first kiss. I had already lost my virginity by this point and you-"

I plugged my ears. "LALALALALA! I don't want to hear it. Paul. Listen to me. I don't trust men. I barely trust half my friends, for Christ Sakes! I'm not going to blindly give my heart to someone just because you feel it's about time I do." I picked up a grey tie. "Here, this with that suit, and a nice crisp white oxford.." I said. He nodded and moved toward the dressing room.

"This conversation is not over.." He announced before going into one of the rooms.

I shook my head. "It sure as hell is.." I mumbled under my breath. Call me crazy, but ever since I turned thirteen, and was crushed by my first crush, I had decided love was for fairytales. For years everyone always tried to convince me otherwise, but no way in hell would I ever listen. Love. It's a sad story made up to keep people going. Without that search for 'the one', no one would have anything to live for. My days of romantic thoughts and hopes for a happily ever after ended that day. Paul came back out, nodded his approval, and we moved over to the register. He swiped his card, paid for the outfit, and we walked back out onto the street, heading for my store-of-choice, Nanette Lepore. This is where I would begin my search for a perfect dress. For the most part, I really didn't like my famililes benefits. They were full of stuck-up rich people I honestly did not want to associate with. But when it came to shopping for these benefits and balls, I just can't help but go all out.

Paul looked over at me, and I knew what he was thinking. "Go ahead." I said, and he smiled at me.

"I love you, Karrie, you know that, right?" He said, using his nickname he used only after he get's what he wants. Paul HATED shopping for my clothing with me. I was just 'too damn indecisive' according to him. It was okay, though, because I really didn't want to get back to the topic I knew he would drift toward.

As I searched for someone to assist me, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

"Karaa?" She said, a questioning tone to her voice, just in case she was wrong. I turned around, and plastered a smile to my face.

"Immy!" I said with false happiness. Don't get me wrong, Imogen was my best friend. But drama always follows her. And it almost always involves boys. And I almost always fix it. See, I may not believe in love for myself, but I'm one of those girls who is always helping her friends find it.

Immy smiled. "Let me guess.. Shopping for your parent's beneft next weekend?"

I nodded. "You caught me! Let me guess, skipping school to shop for my parent's benefit."

She smiled. "Fuck yeah!" Immy skipped up next to me, and looked around. "No one has come to help you yet...?"

"Nope."

"Good. Cos I kind of need you help with something.. Or, should I say someone. And it might take just a bit of explaining..."

I let out a sigh. Here we go again..

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Authors Note: Hello there(:

Well, this is the beginning, and I know it's not long at all, (only two pages on word..) but I really felt like this was a great place to stop. I'm new to this whole wattpad thing, and I hope you like it. I know it seems kind of boring, but I promise it will get better... If you would like a few spoilers for what I kind of have in mind for the direction of this story, just ask.

Now, please vote and comment because I really would appreciate it, and you should really help out a newbie.. hehe. Well, thank you!

P.S. I dedicated this to racingheart because in all honesty, her stories are the reason I posted this. They are just so good and in the past two days I've almost read through all of what she has for all of them. She inspired me to get my writing out there with her awesomeness. THANK YOU! :D