Against All Odds

CHAPTER - 1

ELLE

I was snuggled under my blanket, drifting between dreams and reality, when all of a sudden I heard a squeaking noise. Squinting through the bright sunlight, I saw Liam standing at the foot of my bed, grinning like he was up to no good. In his hand, he was holding a can of silly string, and I just knew the reason behind his stupid grin.

"Elle, wake up! It's your first day." He yelled.

Before I could process what was about to happen, he aimed the can at me and sprayed the silly string. It created a mess, hitting me directly in the face. I gasped as I felt the awful spaghetti like strands sticking to my hair and my cheeks.

"Are you serious Liam? A silly string, really?" I was beyond annoyed.

"Come on, you can't start your college looking like a sleepyhead." He said, "Get up before I mess your entire room."

"You could have just tapped me on the shoulder." I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"Where's the fun in that?" He screamed.

I struggled to sit up, shaking my head while I wiped the sticky mess off my face and hair. As I glanced at the mirror, I couldn't help but laugh at my own reflection, a bird's nest of hair with colourful strands of silly string clinging to it.

Without wasting another moment, I swung my feet out of the bed and dashed into the shower, desperate to rid myself of the clinging foam. As the water cascaded over me, I couldn't help but curse the chunk of foam that had stubbornly lodged itself in my hair, forcing me to wash it thoroughly.

I stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a white towel around me. As I approached my bed, I noticed the cute outfit I had prepared the previous night. It consisted of a white crop top with cherry prints, sweetheart neckline and puffy sleeves, matched with high-waisted black wide leg jeans. Eagerly, I slipped into the outfit and reached for my trusty makeup bag.

I applied a skin tint to ensure smoothness, followed by a few coats of mascara to enhance my lashes. For a touch of colour, I dabbed my favourite tint on my lips and cheeks, giving them a natural flush. Before leaving, I grabbed my hairbrush and gently ran it through my damp hair, smoothing out any tangles and creating a presentable look.

"Are you ready to go?" Liam stormed into my room and enquired.

"Yes." I answered, stealing one last glance at my reflection in the mirror. Taking a deep breath, I walked out of the apartment towards the car.

Taking my place in the passenger seat, I joined Liam who was once again playing the role of chauffeur for the day.

"So, Liam, are you excited to get the privilege of driving me to college every day now onwards?" I couldn't resist teasing.

"Privilege? More like a sentence." He retorted. Always a drama queen. "But if you promise to not sing along with your favourite songs, I may just survive." He added, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

I shook my head. "Oh, please, soon you'll be begging me to give you a private concert."

"That was a very good joke, Elle. You're improving." His tone was mocking. My brother has an uncanny knack of flipping the script on me. This was how it always went. I would come in armed with my own witty remarks, imagining myself to be smarter, only to find him waiting with his quick comebacks. Everytime I tried to make him the butt of the joke, he'd effortlessly flip it back on me.

Why did I always underestimate his ability to come back with something sharp?

I need my next remark to be as witty as a well-timed comeback. I cannot always let him have the last laugh, no way. But before I could come up with a decent thought, I heard him say something. It must have been a joke, because he suddenly started chuckling.