Aurora Raine

Prologue

Monday, August 15th, 2004

Aurora's POV

In Reefside, California, it was burning hot. Here, it's always hot but never like this.

When you walk outside, you start to sweat a lot immediately.

That never happens here and we're not used to it.

Nobody was even outside playing due to school starting.

 None of the teenagers and elementary kids were excited about school.

But a lot of the freshman were. 5 days ago was their first full day of high school. 

They always say its different from Middle School.

You get to see life in a different perspective.

I can't relate or say anything about that. I'm just saying what my brother and his friends told me about high school.

Today is my first day as a freshman. We just moved to Reefside a month ago and my "dad" just checked me and my brother into the school system a week ago.

We moved from New York and my "dad" thought we needed a change. So that's why we moved to Reefside. 

You must be wondering why I did air quotes around the word dad.

Anton Mercer is his name.

The man I call dad is not actually my father. My father, alongside my mother, was involved in a mining accident.

Their names were Grayson Fernandez and Maria Fernandez. People say I look like a carbon copy of my mom in which I don't see it but my brother looks like my dad which I can completely understand.

My father and mother's last wish for Anton was to take care of me and my brother.

I miss my parents a lot. Even though I don't show it as much as I thought I did.

My brother is going into his junior year. His name is Trent and he's my best friend. 

He would protect me from everything and I would do the same. 

We have a close bond, especially when our parents died, and don't want to lose each other unlike other siblings who hate each other.

Anyways I got up from my bed when my alarm went off surprisingly. I made my bed and walked to the bathroom.

I did my facial morning routine and took a quick shower. After that I walked out of the bathroom and into my closet where I picked out a blue crop top, a black jacket, and a pair of jeans.

I quickly changed into them and rushed downstairs to the kitchen.

Trent was already sitting there with his blueberry pancakes on his plate.

Across from him was another plate which had chocolate pancakes. Those were my favorite and I guess Trent remembered.

I give him a cheekily smile when he looks at me. I walk over to him and he kisses me on the forehead. He grins at me and points at my seat across from him. 

I walked over to my seat and grab my plate.

I dig into it immediately and looked up. I saw Trent shaking his head at me like he was disappointed about something.

I ignored him and continued to eat my food. 

Trent must have left when I wasn't paying attention because the next time, I looked up he was gone. 

I finished eating my food and run upstairs quickly. I checked the time and it showed that I was 45 minutes away from my first official day of High School. 

I grabbed my bag and brushed my teeth just to make sure I don't have stinky breath on the first day of school. 

I rush downstairs and check my phone. I see that Trent texted me with a message. 

It said, "Hurry up Rora. I'm waiting for you in the car." 

I responded with a thumbs up emoji and put my bag down at the front door.

I ran into my dad's office and see him sitting at his desk with a smile on his face. 

I walked over to him and gave him a big hug while he kissed my forehead. He grabbed me by the shoulders and looked me right in the eyes.

He said, "Have a good day at School, baby girl. I know you're gonna do great and make a lot of friends. Look after your brother as well if you can. I love you so much Rory."

I smiled and responded, "Thanks dad. I love you too." 

I heard Trent shout, "Aurora hurry up before I leave you! We can't be late on our first day!"

"Hold on! I'm saying goodbye to dad!" I yell back. Dad chuckles.

He uses his head to motion to the door and I nodded. He turns back to his computer while I'm jogging to the front door.

I put my shoes on and check the time. I see that I'm still very early and grab my bag.

I walked outside to the car and put my bag in the backseat. I then open the passenger door and get in the car.

I put my seatbelt on and put my head on the window as Trent pulls out of the driveway. 

"You don't have to be nervous. You're going to make lots of friends I know it," He said his eyes never leaving the road. 

"I'm not nervous. Why do you say that?" I say giving my brother a confused glance.

"Because I remember on my first day of high school, I was terrified. All my friends went to different high schools and I knew no one there. But turns out, I'm very likable and made new friends quickly. Also it's because when you're nervous, you start to tap your foot," Trent looks at me for a second then looks back at the road. 

I stop tapping my foot after realizing what I was doing. My older brother smirks at my actions but doesn't call me out for it. 

I was about to respond with a remark before Trent continued, "You know? High school is gonna go by fast so better make the most of it when you can. It also changes your life."

"I know Trent. I know," I sighed and played with my phone.

Not a while later, we pulled up to the school.

I already knew High School was going to change my life but what I didn't know was that day was forever going to change my life.