Beautiful heaven

1

"Lucy? Dinner is ready! Stop daydreaming and help your brother set the table! "Well that definitely brought her back to reality. She jumped up from the floor, locked her diary away and hurried downstairs. As usually she bumped her knee on the door frame because she underestimated her speed and wasn't able to stop in front of the door. "Ouch, stupid door!" she cried and held her knee. " Honey, language!" Her mother rotated in the kitchen and sounded grave, but Lucy knew that her mother was secretly smiling about her daughters' clumsiness. Once the table was set, the whole family ate dinner in wonderful chatter.

"So how was track practice today, Luce?" Her Dad looked at her and studied her expression. She had a knee operation last semester and today was the first practice that she was allowed to go full pace again. "It was amazing, Daddy! I've never felt so happy," she squeals and her father smiles proudly at her. She was so sad when she was told that she wouldn't be able to run for quite a while and has been really jumpy this morning. "I'm really happy for you, Lucy." Her mother reached across the table and caressed her face. "What's for pudding?" Tyler asked, trying to avoid his parents asking him about his school day. "Since the weather is pretty warm today I thought we could go to town and get an ice cream at Gulianos'?" "Mom, you're the best" Lucy cheered and got up from the table. "By the way, Tyler how was your day? Did you get your Chemistry results?"

That was the question Tyler wanted to avoid, but he should have known that his parents would ask him anyways. "Mom, Dad, you know that I really studied for the test, right? Because I sort of got 30%", he admitted and looked defeated. "How is that even possible, Ty? I questioned you and you knew almost everything!" Lucy exclaimed shocked she and her twin brother had studied for a week to prepare him for this chemistry quiz. Their Dad laid a hand on his sons shoulder. "Son, we are not going to ground you because you had a bad result. Don't be afraid of telling us! We are your parents and we won't stop loving you if you fail a test! Lucy can just give you some private lessons, and in a month's time, nobody will remember this mistake. Right, Camille? ", he said and looked his son deep in his eyes and then he regarded his wife to see if she approved. "Yes, of course, Gregory. Don't worry. I'm sure that coach won't even get a notice about it." Camille answered and hugged her 18 year old son. "Can I drive?", Lucy asked, always willing to be the driver. "Sure, honey. The keys are in the box...." "Yeah Mom, in the box next to the door. I too live here", she giggled and stormed off to get ready. She reversed their car out of the garage and waited impatiently for her family to get into the car. She switched gears and rolled onto the street. "Off we go", she said excitedly and concentrated on the street. Normally teenagers aren't very agitated to spend their Friday evening with their parents, but Lucy and Tyler know how important family is and they're willing to cherish and enjoy every minute they get with their parents. Not because they are terribly sick but because they both enjoy the family bonding times.

"There's a spot!", her Mom exclaimed and directed her daughter into the nearest parking lot. She still needed advice on how to turn the wheel and since she almost wrecked the car last month her parents are more than willing to help her not destroy their car. She closed her door, locked the car and checked if the door was really closed, then Lucy hurried to catch up with her family. They already took off and were about 50 meters in front of her. Just as she almost reached them someone bumped into her and she started stumbling. A small yelp of surprise left her lips before she could suppress it. Two hands reached out and prevented Lucy from falling to the ground. "I'm so sorry, I had to hurry to catch the last bus home, and didn't pay attention. Are you alright?" She checked her knee and begged that she didn't twist it again, but it didn't feel weird so she nodded and swallowed her arising shyness .A pair gorgeous brown eyes caught her gaze and held it. "Y-yeah, um I guess so.", she stammered and blushed. He smiled at her and cursed a second after it. "Damn, that was my bus. My parents are going to kill me if I call them now." Lucy turned around and saw the bus driving by. " I'm Lucy and by the way," He scratched the back of his head and waited for her to finish her sentence." the bus was going my direction, too. So if you want to wait a couple of minutes I'm sure we can take you home." He looked really insecure as she suggested that. "Don't worry, neither my Dad nor my brother are those typical overprotective guys who think that every boy I'm talking to is my boyfriend or anything." He chuckled silently and let go of her waist. She hadn't realized that he was still holding her until he released her. Lucy tried to hold back a beaming smile. This boy managed to make her feel special with just a glance. He had this wonderful half smile that made her blush even more. "That'd be great, my first day in this town and I already have two enemies." A loud laugh escaped Lucy's mouth and she waved her family over. They had been watching the scene curiously at a couple meters' distance and were now strolling over to see what had happened. "Guys, this is... um", she noticed that he never told her his name. "I'm Nicholas Franklin. It's a pleasure to meet you." He shook hands with Tyler, Camille and Gregory "And I sort of tackled your daughter and therefore missed my last bus home. So she suggested that I could wait until you drive home again and take me with you? Is that alright with you? Otherwise I'll just phone my parents", he trailed off and hoped that they could take him home. " Nice to meet you Nicholas. I'm Mr. Parker, and this is my wife and my so n Tyler. Why don't you join us? We are just headed to Gulianos' for some ice cream?" Nicholas nodded, impressed by the kindness of the patents whose daughter he almost tackled to the ground.

"So Nicholas, I guess you're new in this town?" Tyler asked. "Yeah, we just moved here yesterday and I wanted to get to know the city a bit better and lost my track of time", Nicholas retold his day with a smile in his gorgeous face and Lucy could barely understand what he was saying, because she was so focused on his beauty. "So which school are you going to attend?" Lucy asked and hoped that it was going to be the school her brother and her went to- Redondo Union High School. " I can never remember the name of the school, something like Redno Union, but I'm not really sure." "It's Redondo Union, but just call it RUHS, that's way easier" Tyler laughed. "Yeah, that was it, and they were the only ones that accepted my midterm transfer and had a good reputation in the athletics department", Nicholas answered. They talked on and on until it got slightly cold outside. Tyler and Lucy's father paid the bill before Nicholas could protest that he wanted to pay his share. "Think of it as a 'Welcome to town'-gift", Camille laughed and tried to make it less embarrassing for Nicholas. Tyler nudged his sister in the side. "Stop drooling over him, little sister" "What? Um, me drooling? No way." She laughed it off but after that she controlled her staring.

"And it's the next one on the right. Thanks for driving me home, you saved me from being grounded", Nicholas instructed. Lucy indicated and then turned right and stopped the car right in front of a beautiful two story house, that is surrounded by several very old oak trees and a wonderful garden. Nicholas mother had ordered the service of a gardener before they moved in the other day, so the garden was full with blossoming flowers, and window-boxes with awesome tulips. The whole house is made of brick stone and the windows look like they are right out of a palace. This is about the most beautiful house Lucy had ever seen. She stared at it in awe, and couldn't take her eyes off of it. "Earth to Lucy! I said see you Monday!", Nicholas laughed and waved as he walked away from her car and opened the front door. He then turned around again, waved and disappeared into the house. Her brother smiled at her knowingly but saved the comment for another time.

Lucy ran up the stairs, taking two steps at a time and threw the door of her room open. The first thing she saw was that her mobile flashed, which meant that she got a new text. It was from Beca, her best friend since birth: "Hey Sweetie. Party at Dylans' tonight, wanna go and crash at my place?" Lucy has had a crush on Dylan since forever so she quickly texted back: " I'll just ask my parents and call ya after?" She went downstairs again and asked her parents if she was allowed to go. "I don't know, honey. Are Dylans' parents home?" Camille looked at her daughter. "Um, i don't know. I guess they are at home, but I'm not sure. I mean I can be the driver!" She suggested and smirked at her Dad. "If Tyler and Beca go as well, then it shouldn't be that much of a problem. Curfew is half past 1, as always ok? Break it and you'll be grounded" "But Mooooom, it's half past 10 already!" Tyler complained. He just entered the room as his mother said the last sentence. "Two pm, and not a single second later!" turned Gregory in . "Thanks Dad", the twins cried in unison and stormed upstairs into their room. Lucy sent Beca a quick text "I'll pick ya up in '10." Then she hurried over to her wardrobe to get changed. She decided to wear a flower-print dress that ended halfway down her thigh, with a blue denim jacket and white sneakers. "Ty! I'm ready!" "Yeah me too.", he scream-answered back and she left her room, just to walk back in because she forgot to apply her favourite perfume. "How do I look?", she asked her brother. The only answer she got was a simple nod, then he refocused on his phone. "I guess Malia can't wait to see you.", she giggled and left for the garage.