The Gray Zone

CHAPTER 1

I don't know why my mom thought it'd be a good decision to move two years before I graduate High-School to a whole new town. It wasn't a real town. At most more a bigger village. I didn't even care. I was pissed. In Chicago we lived in a nice apartment for my brother Levi, my mom and me, it wasn't that big but it felt like a real home, like I belonged there. I had gorgeous friends, was the captain of the volleyball team of my school and got good grades for someone who likes to drink and get high. I mean, who doesn't? At least in Chicago everybody thought like that. 

"Come on, Alexis, you'll make new friends" my mom had said. 

She hadn't that much friends in our old home and a few relatives life in LA which was located south of this hell. A hell called Newbury Park, a place for little people with their tiny, thoughtless lives. Who would want to live here? There was a mall, a middle school and a high school. That was it. It probably wasn't that bad, but I still couldn't believe we'd start a new life here. I never ever wanted to not live in a big city. My mom got a job as a lawyer in another small town in the area. She definitely was a smart woman, but making stupid decisions like this was also a part of her character. Like getting pregnant from dad and then leaving him when I was four. Of course I love her, but as I am standing in my new, pale room I questioned many of her decisions. Like buying a house that looks exactly like every other one in this street. Or that I wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend till I was 15 so I had to hide my first one from here. She always told me that "Men were pigs" after she said something about dad or came home from an unsuccessful date. And then she'd turn to Levi and say "I hope I raised you good, so no woman will ever say that about you!" 

From my experience, men or boys weren't that bad. Not at all, you just have to find the cool ones. Those who will stay up late and talk to you and you can cook with and do cute stuff. That was maybe the only good thing from moving away. A month ago I broke up with Ethan and I wouldn't want to see him anymore after what a dick he had been. But still, that was the only reason to be happy about it. We arrived here last week an there still were unpacked boxes all over the house. I never knew we had that much stuff back home. On Tuesday we went to a diner called "Mary's Kitchen" which was obviously the culinary highlight of Newbury Park, according to the amount of people that were there. My mom seemed so happy and even Levi smiled like he'd actually enjoy the new town. And I think he didn't even pretend it.

- First Day Of School-

So on the first day of the 10th grade I put on black shorts, a plaid shirt with a floral printed cross on it and my black Vans. I thought about the movies I saw about California. Young, tanned chicks with high wasted jeans shorts and crop tops popped up in my mind. I mean, I've got a few items like this myself but with my bright, wavy hair that was dyed a bit and my bread white skin I'd definitely be conspicuous no matter what I would wear. Like my brother I got big blue eyes. Other than that, I had the nose and the mouth from my dad, according to my mom. Levi looked more like her, and even though he was just one year older than me he was in general just bigger than me. He was broad-shouldered, about 6'2"tall and got trained legs which were the result of the swim training he took four times a week in Chicago. I was 5'8", but more agile than him. 

My mom drove us to the school because it was on her way to work, said goodbye and Levi and I entered. We were a little early but only because we had to go to the principal to get our schedules and paper stuff. Luckily there were signs that guided us. I was kinda glad that my brother was with me, so I wasn't that alone. We always had a good relationship. He protected me, which could kind of annoy me, and I helped him with the school stuff or something. 

 "You are Levi and Alexis Marker?" Mr. Joshua, the principal, asked us. We both nodded and he continued to tell us about his High School. I didn't listen because they are all the same. Finally we got our time tables and could head over to the first class.