started with a lie ➳ raura revised

Chapter One

"Hey, Laura, can you pass the orange juice?" Mom asks me, her hand outstretched.

"Here," I say, passing her the container of orange juice. I continue to eat my cereal but steal a glance at her.

I can never get over how she looks exactly like me--except a little older and a few more gray streaks in her hair. Her face has some paint splattered on it, and the apron she wears all the time has the fresh smell of paint.

My mom's an artist.

She spends ninety percent of the day in her studio--working on new masterpieces to help pay off the bills. Of course, I have a job too. I won't let mom do all the work. Especially not after my Dad passed away a couple of years ago. Since then, all the bills have been weighed on her shoulders. But since I'm seventeen now, I can help her with a part-time job of my own.

I'm proud of my Mom. She was strong even when my father passed away.

She smiles at me and finishes her toast. After breakfast, she'll probably go back to her studio. She only comes out for meals, or if I was home and needed her for something.

I'm cool with it though, Mom loves what she does. Her brown eyes--the same ones I inherited--twinkle whenever she is in her studio. If my Mom is happy, I am too.

Since it is the first day, I am wearing a new top and a fresh pair of jeans that I bought on my mini-shopping spree when I had saved enough money over the summer. My straight--too straight brown hair was securely clipped on the top. But, no matter how much I try, my dark brown eyes pop out compared to my pale--tan needed much--skin.

"Bye, Mom!" I yell as I open the front door. "Don't loose track of time and forget to eat lunch!" Sometimes, I would come home and find Mom dazed in her work--just as I'd left her this morning.

"I won't!" She yells back. "Have fun at school!"

I close the door. Like having fun at school is even possible, I think as I lock the door. The air is chilly and the wind is blowing the leaves off the trees in the front yard. I escape to the safety of my Honda Civic. Autumn is already starting.

Radio pop songs boom from the speakers of my car as I drive to Brownwood High. People already have crowded the parking lot. I find a place to park. Brownwood, New York is a small town where everyone knows everyone since birth. One scandal here and you get judged for life.

"Laura! how was your summer?" Someone says as I get out of the car.

I would know that chirpy voice anywhere.

"Hey, Tess!" I say as I slam my car door shut. Tessa--or Tess is the only person that knows what happened last year and still continues to be my friend. "My summer was great! Joel went to college so I finally have the house to myself on the weekends."

Joel is my nineteen-year-old brother. He can be nice when he wants and he can be nasty when he wants. Unfortunately, I've seen both sides. He went to some college in Florida-wonders how he even got in with his grades. He'd have loud, stupid parties every weekend when Mom went to galleries in other states.

But now I'm finally free.

"You mean your cute brother?" Tess pouts. "I'm going to miss him." She holds some big, thick textbooks close to her chest. Tess is one of the smartest people I knew.

"Ew." I scrunch up my face in disgust. She also had always had a crush on Joel--if that's humanely possible. "What do you see in my brother?" I swing my backpack strap over my shoulder and walk side by side with her.