My World Today

Chapter 1

"Already the president is talking about raising taxes."

"Sixty percent of Americans say that they wouldn't mind having their taxes increased, in fact-"

"In fact, less than fifty percent of the Americans even pay taxes so of course who don't pay are fine if they raise the damn taxes again. This is what is wrong with our would today Lori, we have to pay for everyone else's mistakes!"

Sighing, I continued to stare out of the car window, ignoring the rest of my mom's rant. My mom, or Dr.Reed if you were her student, is a political science professor at a local university. I love her, but there is a limit to how much politics a sixteen year old girl can listen to, even if she has been listening to it her whole life. Mom had turned the radio back on and was arguing with whoever was talking now.

"Lorraine Elizabeth Reed! Are you listening to me?"

"Yep, of course. You were talking about how messed up the government is today."

"Close, I was talking about how much you will love our new house."

"Oh, we'll the reason we are moving is because of how messed up the government is, so I was close.

"Sure, if that was the reason we were moving to Texas, but it's not. We are moving because of the regulations that have been put on the coal industry has been really hard on your dad's business."

"Regulations that have been imposed by the messed up government."

"Exactly."

The last few years have been really hard on my family. My dad is an industrial engineer that deals with equipment for coal and other similar industries. So, when all hope of staying in West Virginia collapsed with the election results, my family decided to move to Texas. Hot, dry Texas that couldn't be any more different from West Virginia. It's not like I hate that we are moving to a warmer climate, it's just that I miss the color. West Virginia, despite what other people might say, is beautiful! Everything is always so green and vibrant and just so colorful! Texas, as far as I have seen, is just brown with a little green here and there. I guess I could get used to it, but for now it just seems weird. But, in its own way, Texas is beautiful too. The sky is really blue, which is a plus, and the valleys have this breathtakingish feel to them. I will definitely have new things to draw.

"We're entering Austin right now!" Mom shouted enthusiastically as we passed a sign that said, "Austin City Limit."

"You should go ahead and put your stuff in your backpack so we can unload quicker when we get to the new house. Your dad and Jamie are at your dad's new office, so we will have time to start unpacking before they get home," Mom said before glancing over to me as the stop light turned red.

"Lori, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure? You look a little pale. Are you nervous about fitting in?"

"A little."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be just fine."

I highly doubt that I will be "just fine" with my long, wavy black hair, pail skin, and emerald green eyes, I didn't exactly scream Texas. Add in my 5' 2'' height, constant shyness, and my refusal to wear makeup or anything else girly, I didn't really fit in anywhere. In West Virginia I only had a few close friends and my family. I only really felt like I belonged when I was with them or when I was running or drawing.

"Lori, look! Our new house!" Mom shouted with extreme enthusiasm that was already starting to get on my nerves.

We we were now driving down the street of a small subdivision when we stopped in front of a medium sized yellow house.

"We're here!" Mom shouted with an extreme enthusiasm that was definitely getting on my nerves now.

I grabbed my backpack and started to get out of the car when I heard Mom talking to someone. Curious, I turned around to see her talking with a guy my age with brown hair the color of dark leather and shocking blue eyes the color of the sky. I stood there staring, transfixed by his eyes, until I noticed that he was staring back. I quickly turned around, grabbed my backpack, and started to head towards the house.

"Lori, come here for a second. There is someone I want you to meet." Mom called after me. YTurning around, I found myself face-to-face with the boy she had been talking to a minute ago.

The guy with the blue eyes said in a voice softer than I had expected, "Hi my name is Kaleo, but you can call me Kal. Welcome to Austin."