Always The Second Choice

Chapter 1

Emma

Why was I born?

Why did I have to be born into the Di Laurentis family?

Why did it have to be the day I was born today when I don't have anyone to actually celebrate my existence with?

It's 8 am on April 24th, it's my 19th birthday. Instead of being greeted with warm hugs from my parents along with receiving presents they picked out themselves, I'm on my way to my 9:30 economics class in the middle of a thunderstorm. This is surely going to be a memorable birthday I'll tell my kids about, that's if I have kids.

It's been 4 months since my brother ran away. Since my parents decided I'll be inheriting all their fortunes. I was an english major but they forced me to switch programs so I can take over as soon as I graduate. Now I'm in the business administration program at NYU and I have no idea what I am doing. This is what Liam was good at. This was supposed to be Liam's future. He was the one who was supposed to take over, be the child our parents bragged about. This is his life that I'm living now.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!"

As I see a small figure running towards me through the rain, I remember I do have one person who genuinely cares about me, my best friend. Hannah is sprinting as fast as her short legs allow her across the field in front of the building I have class in while yelling happy birthday. This girl is attracting way more attention than I like so I start running towards her too before more people start staring.

"Stop yelling. I get it, it's my birthday. Get over it"

She stops to be her dramatic self and gasps. "Child, it's not everyday you turn 19th."

Rolling my eyes, I grab her by her elbow and drag her towards the business building. The day's already had a rough start, might as well avoid sitting drenched in water for the next three hours listening to my monotone prof.

"I may be 4'11, but I am not a child. You can stop dragging me now."

I let Hannah's elbow go as she gave me the death stare. I may be eight inches taller than her but she inherited her hispanic mom's tacts. She can take me down any time. Maybe that's exactly what I need right now. It would be the best gift she could give me today. She tackles me, I get a concussion, I miss school. It sounds like the perfect plan to me.

"Tackle me."

"Are you insane?" Hannah yells while looking at me like I've grown a pair of horns.

"Yes I am. Come on, this way I can miss out on my miserable econ class and maybe we can go out." I pleaded with her to help me carry out my brilliant plan.

She just stared at me with bewildered eyes until they softened to what looked like pity. "They forgot again, didn't they?"

Unable to bring myself to speak without letting out a sob, I simply nodded. With that she jumps onto me, wrapping her lean arms around my torso. "It's okay babe. How about after class we go out to celebrate your birthday. Mama and Papa wanted to invite you to dinner tonight, so come and stay over at my house."

As I hugged her with every once of love I had in me, I wondered how in my empty life, I was lucky enough to have Hannah to fill it up without void.

"Thanks Hannah. Ok now that you have made it clear you won't execute my brilliant plan, I have to get to class. I'll meet you at the english building."

Holding each other in our embraces for a couple more moments, we let go and said our final goodbyes. As I entered the lecture hall, I decided to sit in the far back instead of my usual spot in the middle rows. I don't plan on paying attention during today's lesson. It's not like anyone would notice that I switched my seat anyways. Just a couple moments later, Mr. Hamilton entered the room holding a number of files that made my eyes tear up. Great, just the way I want to spend my birthday, or my day in general.

Twenty minutes into the lecture, I felt a pair of eyes burning into the back of my neck. No one noticed that I switched places, even if they did, it shouldn't matter cause everyone does it once in a while. Brushing it off, I decide to sleep for the reminder of the class. Even if someone was staring at me, they'd know better than to stare at a sleeping, disorientated figure aka me for the next two and half hours.

I jolted up to the sound of Mr. Hamilton's voice "Ok class, make sure to hand in your Economy Around The World paper during the beginning of the next class, unless you have any questions for me, you are all excused. Except Ms. Di Laurentis, please come here to the stage."

Shit, I wondered if he noticed me sleeping, did I snore? Ok whatever might as well find out what he wants. As I walk down the aisle looking at my feet, I bump into someone who is taller than your average guy and he definitely smells really good. I took a couple steps back before I lifted my head up to see who it was, but he'd already walked past me. I stared at the back of his head until he was no longer in my field of vision. Slightly disappointed, I turned back to face my prof staring at me impatiently. What's up with everyone staring at me today.

"Good afternoon Mr. Hamilton, you wanted to see me?"

"Good afternoon to you too Ms. Di Laurentis. I heard some snoring in the back today, I was wondering if you knew who the source was."

Turning crimson from embarrassment, I knew he probably already knew it was me. Why else would he only hold me back. "I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again."

"I hope it won't for your sake. I wanted to ask you how you are adapting to the new program. I know you fast tracked all the courses for the first year with the help of your parents. I hope you know this class is not going to be easy, especially without your parents' assistance. I remember your brother, he was a model student, I hope you take after him."

Can this man mind his own business? I hate it when people think I am just a spoiled rich girl who knows nothing but how to paint her toenails. What I hate even more is being compared to my brother. He was built for the Di Laurentis lifestyle while I was in the shadow reading my heart out dreaming of having a simpler life than the one I lived right now.

"You have nothing to worry about sir, I will be successful in your class. I am sorry but I have to leave now. Have a great day." I said while trying not to grit my teeth. Without giving him a second look, I turned around and quickly walked out of the building.

I tried to clear my mind by thinking about tonight's dinner at the Well's house. Hannah's mom is the best cook ever, not like I would know what a mother's cooking is like. As I thought about my mother's non-existent cooking skills, my mood just worsened. I wanted to scream, my best friend's parents knew me better than my own parents. Like for god's sake, they haven't remembered my birthday for the past three years. I don't even remember the last time my parents spoke to me with affection. It was always Liam. Maybe I should have run away too. Once again in deep thought, I bumped into another person. That scent, I know it.

"You should really try to watch where you're going."

I jolted my head up to the deep voice to see who the owner was. No way. No fricking way. Standing before me was my childhood friend who later proved to be a bully like all the other rich kids I knew, Dean Hayward. He looked different than he did when he was 8, I mean obviously he looks different. No matter how much he changes, I can never forget this ocean blue eyes I've only seen one other person have, his grandma.

Today was not the day I wanted to confront my former friend. Not today. Not ever. I don't think he has recognized me yet. Good, this means I can get away from him without bringing up old memories. "Sorry." With that I ran towards the english building. Before I turned the corner, I looked back to look at him one last time. He was staring at me with an unreadable expression. I stared back for a couple of seconds with furrowed brows before I continued on my way to see Hannah.

Little did I know, like a moth drawn to a flame, Dean was going to follow me wherever I went after that day. He was the moth drawn to my barely lit flame.