Dark Paradise (a danisnotonfire fanfiction)

Chapter One

- Every time I close my eyes/It's like a dark paradise -
(Dark Paradise)

------

Chapter One, In which Lolita is introduced as well as her family, background, and friends. 'Tis the next chapter where the "Dan" element truly shows.

Chapter Focus: Lolita (Lia)

Lolita's eyes snapped open, her heart racing from nightmares that seemed to be taken out of a horror film. Some Taylor Swift song was blaring from her alarm, and she reached over and turned it off.

"Lia, for the last time, please turn down your alarm!" her stepfather called from the first floor of their Mediterranean-style home. Lolita rolled her eyes.

Whatever, you fuck. It would be nice if you recognized me as more than an annoyance for once.

"Of course. I am so sorry... Dad," she replied. It sickened her to call him that - the only one who deserved it was her real father - but it was what he wanted, and of course Ryan Peterson gets whatever he wants. Such a boring name, Ryan Peterson, but it fit him perfectly. Crisp, emotionless, and businesslike.

Lolita stretched out and yawned, forcing herself out of bed with a moan. Glancing at the llama hat propped up on her chair immediately put a smile on her face, and she thought of the love of her life and only true friend: Dan Howell. Though they had never met in real life - as if - she felt the connection between them with every newly uploaded video.

Her mother popped her head in and Lolita immediately covered her half-naked form, biting back a cuss. Smiling fakely, Krysten Peterson held out a blue velvet box. (Blue Velvet - yet another reference. Will they every stop? Nah.)

"Morning, darling. Your grandmother sent this as a Christmas present. It is late, but I took a peek and it's most definitely worth the wait! I'm sure you will love it, honey. Now hurry up and get ready, as it's already 6:45," her mother warned, tossing the box on her bed and shutting the door, careful not to slam it.

Lolita sighed and picked up the box, opening it and hoping for it not to be yet another pearl necklace. How many pearl necklaces does a girl need?

They are literally white beads on a string, Lolita thought, glancing over at the wooden jewelry chest that held her vast collection of pearls.

Instead, she was surprised to see a delicate silver charm. It was plain yet somehow beautiful, and Lolita smiled genuinely for the first time in days. However, it quickly faded into her typical frown.

She noticed a small unopened envelope that had a suspicious lump in it taped to the top of the box. Peeling it off and sliding a finger under the lip of the envelope, Lolita opened it and found a charm along with a dainty note written in cursive handwriting.

"My darling Lolita," read the note, "I do hope you are doing well. Here is a small gift to keep the rebellious spark I know and love ignited inside of you, no matter how often your stiff family refuses to acknowledge it. With Love, Grandmother Vanessa."

Vanessa was definitely the black sheep of the Ectric family, hidden and tucked away in the corner of Lolita's large family tree. Probably behind a branch and under a molding leaf. If Krysten Peterson had anything to do with it, she would be out of the picture altogether.

Vanessa had dyed-black hair and bright blue eyes from wearing contacts. She looked thirty-five and nowhere near seventy, her actual age, and she knew it. Vanessa's life - in the aspects of romance, friendships, and hobbies - was thriving and wild, equal to that of a college frat boy's. Lolita's mother had decided to never let her daughter be influenced by Vanessa, so she constantly made up excuses as for why they could not see her.