The Test [#1]

Chapter 1: Lissa

I run home, excited, with a letter in my hand.

Mom looks up from the kitchen table and smiles. "Hey, honey. How was school?"

She notices the letter in my hand and cocks her head. "What's that?"

I hold it out to her. "Some academy wants me to go to their school. Everything is paid for and its only a few miles from here."

Mom looks at me skeptically. "I don't know sweetheart. Maybe we should wait a while. You don't even graduate until next year."

I roll my eyes. "This could be the opportunity of a lifetime, mom. Don't you want this for us?"

"Us?"

I nod excitingly. "Daniel got one, too," I squeal. "Every sixteen-year-old in the county got one."

Now her eyes slightly widen. "Why every sixteen year old?"

I shrug. "I don't know. But Daniel is going. I don't want to be only one not to go."

"You're not going anywhere," she says, sounding scared. "You hear me? You're staying here."

I look at her. "That's not fair," I tell her. "You're always proud of Sam for getting stuff. And now that I finally get something good, you don't want me to do it?"

Her eyes harden. The same way they did at dad's funeral. "You are not going anywhere," she says angrily. "I don't want to hear you mention it again."
~•~
That night, Daniel came over. He, of course, was as happy as ever.

Daniel and I have been best friends forever. He moved from Mexico to Los Angeles when he was four. He and I didn't really get along at first. But after one day of detention together, we were inseparable.

People think we're dating. Or he's my boyfriend. But he's not.

Truth is, I don't even see myself with a boyfriend. It's always kind of disgusting to think about.

A paper wad hits my face. "Earth to Lissa," Daniel says. "You've been out for a while."

I throw it back at him. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

He sits beside me. "What is it?"

I make a face. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"It's about the scholarship, isn't it? Your mom doesn't want you going."

I snort. "I'm used to that. Ever since dad died, she doesn't let me do my own thing. I mean, this is already paid for. There's probably nothing wrong with it."

Daniel looks at me.

"What?"

He doesn't say anything.

I hit him. "Why are you at me like that? It's creepy."

He shrugs. "I'm just going to say a scholarship is never the best thing. You have to work for what you get."

I roll my eyes. "You sound like my mom," I mutter.

"How should you know? You don't give her enough time to talk."

"Let's not do this," I tell him.

He puts an arm around me. "I won't go if you're not going, Lissa. You should know that by now."

I stand up, suddenly feeling a little weird. "Let's go play something," I tell him. "Come on."

He smiles and nods. "You're on."

We leave my room and head outside.

HEY!!! ITS A LITTLE BORING RIGHT NOW. BUT I PROMISE YOU IT WILL GET BETTER.

THANK YOU SO MYCH FOR READING!!! IT MEANS A LOT.