The Story Behind A Pretty Face

Chapter 1

I ran my arm across my face. I groaned and peeped up at my phone laying beside my head. I touched the button and I swear the brightness blinded me in my otherwise pitch black room. The screen on my phone read 3:25 am.

I could never sleep on nights when Chase went missing. Where could he be tonight? My brother had been disappearing more often lately. Ever since we moved to stay with our father in Atlanta, things have been different.

Wait I'm getting ahead of myself. My name is Tamika Dre'ana Sanders, but everybody calls me Mika. I'm originally from Chicago, but since my mom wanted to get strung out and decided not to take care of me or my siblings, my father, who had left us years ago, decided to come back and play hero. So he ended up coming back to Atlanta with Chase:my older brother, Trinity:my baby sister, and myself.

I mean ATL is.... Nice,but it ain't got nothing on Chi-town.

I heard the front door slam shut. I let out a large sigh of relief. He's home. I hopped out of my bed and walked toward the kitchen. He was rummaging through the fridge. He'd been gone all day, probably was starving. I sat quietly on one of the bar stools that were positioned beside the counter. He whirled around with hand full of food,and nearly dropped it all when his eyes landed on me.

"Shit! Mika! "

I simply blinked," Trinity has been looking for you all day. She tried to wait up for you... "

He sighed and placed his stuff on the counter and proceeded to make a sandwich,"Want one?"

I shook my head,"Why are you gone all the time?"

He stayed quiet for a moment, "This isn't home, yet."

I looked around at the lavish house. It was much nicer, much bigger, and much more furnished than our old house. Looks like daddy was working his ass off... After he left us. But, I knew what Chase meant, it just wasn't the same. It wasn't our home. It wasn't Chicago.

"You don't have to be gone all time, though. You're all Trinity and I have.", I whisper.

He let out a large breath,"Look I'm sorry. I just have to adjust. How do you think school will be? "

Oh yes that's right. Summer was coming to an end soon-very soon. I had a week to get myself together.

I shrugged as I heard footsteps coming from upstairs.

" All I know is, you kids better get in bed. Can't be up all night. We have to get you guys back on a school hour schedule. ", dad's loud voice echoed through the house. He eyed Chase and I,"Now, please."

I huffed and whirled around to head toward my room.

Yeah, I'm missing Chicago more and more.

***Chase on the side***