Cloud Nine: Invasion Book One

Chapter One: Dominix

"Max! Dom! It's time for school," mom yelled up the stairs. I rolled over in my bed and pulled the covers over my head. I heard Max roll over on the couch, and then something hit me. "What the hell did you throw at me?" I growled, under the covers. "A pillow. Get up. Your mom is waiting," Max said, getting up off the couch I have in my bedroom. Max pulled my blackout curtains open and sunlight flooded through my window. "Bro. I can't see. That's way too much light," I moaned. "Pull the covers off your head, and then maybe you'd be able to see. Good morning, Max," dad said, walking into my bedroom. "Good morning, sir," Max said, leaving the room. I pulled the covers back from my face as dad closed my curtains slightly.

I pulled myself out of bed and went to the bathroom; stopping to look at my ever handsome face in the mirror. My crystal blue eyes were bluer than ever today. I ran a comb through my dark brown surfers' hair. I changed my clothes, noticing my jeans looked like waders so I threw on a pair of grey Nike sweats. Honestly, I can't stop growing. Mom's going to freak. "You're pulling my hair," Stormie cried. "Well maybe don't put my favorite bow in your hair when you know that's my favorite bow," Sunshine growled. "No fighting girls," mom sighed.

"Today's the day, babe. Today is the day," dad said, wrapping his arms around mom. "I know. We're all excited. This is a big leap for the Angeloff's. Especially since Sidney was able to help this year. I'm sure it was a great bonding experience for them," mom said. "What's happening today?" Max asked. "The list of participants that passed the tests is being announced this evening," dad answered. "Tests for what?" Max said.

"The great expedition into the unknowns of space upon the spaceship, Desertion. It's supposed to house six astronauts for up to twenty years in orbit or fifteen years of travel, and it can relaunch at least ten times," Sunshine said. "Good, Sunny. You've been studying," dad laughed. "Well, daddy. When you're going to be gone, as long as you are, I wanted to know that nothing would happen to you," Sunshine mumbled. "That's okay, baby. You guys are going to be late for school. Let's go," mom said, ushering us out of the kitchen. "I'm driving you guys to school today because I'll need to pick Dom up after school," mom said. "By the way, mom, umm, my jeans are a little short again," I mumbled. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Dominix. I just bought you brand new jeans. You're going to be over seven feet tall before you're even twenty," mom sighed. "How tall are you now, Dom?" dad asked. "I'm thinking around six foot six inches," I laughed. "Too bad it's too late to put you in football," dad joked.

Mom dropped the girls off at school first and then drove Max and me to school. "Mom, why did you drop the girls off at school first when you have to drive all the way across town again to drop us off," I asked. "I need to tell you both something, and the girls and your father can't hear this. Your father was accepted for the space expedition. They are leaving in three days," mom said. "That's good news!" Max said. "It is good news, but," mom started. "But what, mom?" I asked, clearly on the edge of my seat. "Alexandria was chosen too," she mumbled. "What? Lex didn't even try out. She would have told me if she did," I gasped. "I'm sorry, baby. That's just what I heard," mom said. We drove the rest of the way to school.

Lexie was standing at her locker with Trisia, Teresa, Sidney, and Blake. I walked up to her and spun her around. When she was facing me, I punched the locker next to her head. "Why the hell didn't you tell me that you tried to get on the space expedition?" I accused. "What do you mean?" Lex denied. "What do I mean? You know exactly what I mean. We promised each other we wouldn't," I spouted. I walked off before she could defend herself.

I didn't talk to Lex for the rest of the time I was at school. Mom came and picked Lex and me up before the seventh period ended. "Where are we going, mom? I thought I was the only one being picked up. What are you wearing?" I scoffed, getting in the front seat. Mom was wearing the most flattering skin tight black dress I have seen this woman wear. A set of pearls and diamonds hung off her neck and wrists like they were made just for her. She look elegant. No wonder Dad cuffed her fast when they were younger. She gorgeous. "What's wrong, Dom? You never sit in the front when Lex is with us," mom asked. "It's just the girl I was going to spend the rest of my life with is leaving for five years in three days," I mumbled. "If you actually want to spend the rest of your life with me, then you would wait for me. You would be celebrating that out of two hundred thousand people, I was chosen to be one of the six people to live and work on Desertion," Lex cried. "She is right, Dominix. Your father came home every night and told me how exhausting tryouts were. He almost didn't make it," mom agreed.