Chapter one:
Drip, Drop. All I could hear is the sound of rain blocking out my aunt. She was going on and on about how great life would be but all I could focus on is the rain. I counted it as is hit the window of the passenger's seat. It was soothing yet made me feel worse than I did. The pitter patter slowly sang me to sleep.
Before I go any farther let me introduce myself. I'm Crystal Anne White. I have hazel eyes and brown shoulder-length hair. I'm in 16 and right now it's the middle of the school year. You're probably wondering why that even matters. Well you see, I grew up in a little town in Texas. I spent my whole life there and all my friends, and pretty much all happiness was taken away from me. Just like that. It's all gone. My aunt thought it would be great idea to come to New York City and buy a place. She doesn't understand me or brother, Jack. We loved where we were and neither of us wanted to move. What's the difference between us? He acts like he's happy so he can be on her good side. I, on the other hand, am on her bad side and not a day goes by when she doesn't remind me about it. Anyways you probably don't want to hear about me so let me continue.
I woke up to the sound of people honking and yelling at each other. I looked outside and I honestly couldn't believe what I saw. Huge and I mean HUGE buildings were towering over us and I couldn't help to feel so small and helpless. As breath taking as it was, the people ruined it. Too loud and so impatient. I was snapped out of my mental rant with my aunt yelling at me to hurry up. I jumped out of the car right into a puddle. Great I thought to myself that's just my luck. I quickly grabbed my bags out of the car and hurried to catch up with my brother and aunt. Little Jack slowed down and waited for me. "Thanks" was all I was able to get out before my aunt came and started lecturing me about how slow I was. "Crystal could you be any slower? If you were in a race with a snail the snail would win! Hurry up I don't want to get too soaked!" I breathed back my anger and did as she said.
We arrived at this nice house not too far from Times Square. We were greeted by a nicely dressed gentleman. "Good Afternoon Ms.White how you doing?" I was shocked at how formal he was towards our aunt. "Mighty well Mr.Johnson and how are you?" " Pretty well but the rainy days like these aren't to pleasant. I will send Mrs.Forman out." He replied and swiftly walked away. I didn't know what was going on at all and from the look on my brother's face, he didn't either. Aunt J turned to us and explained. "Young children, the lady you are about to meet is Hannah Forman, an old friend of mine. We grew up together and we are like sisters. She has let us stay here until we find a house and I expect you to be nice." She turned and looked at me when she said the last part. I just rolled my eyes and snapped back "I'm always nice to adults, just not you." She looked like she was about to go on a rant but was interrupted by a lady running down the stairs. She was slightly pale and had dark brown hair. It was like a bob cut but looked cute on her. Her eyes were blue and full of excitement! She was a short lady but skinny. "JJ!" cried out the lady. I looked at them strange and thought why she said JJ. Then I remembered aunt J used to go by JJ. She has never gone by her full name which is Jordan. Aunt J broke my train of thought by screaming, "Hannah! I missed you so much! How are things doing?" She replied, "Oh just fine! You look so great!" I chuckled at that comment and then she walked over to me and brother. She looked at him and said, "You must be Jack. JJ talks a lot about you," Jack turned red when she said that, "You seem like a very nice young boy and you will probably get along with my son." They were both all smiles and happy while I was just standing there awkwardly. It took her about three minutes but she finally realized that I was there. "And you must be... I'm sorry I don't know your name. JJ hasn't talked much about you." I shot aunt J a glare and answered, "Crystal. My names Crystal and it's very nice to meet you." I reached my hand out to shake her hand and she seemed shocked. She shook my hand and looked back at Aunt J and said, "JJ why don't you ever talk about her? She's so polite!" Before Aunt J could reply I piped in, "Thank you ma'am! Where shall we put our bags?" She looked very happy that I was being so nice. That was a first because I have never been good at first impressions. "Well Crystal, you head upstairs, take a right, take a left at the 3rd hallway, another left at the 2nd hallway, a right at the 4th hallway and it will be all the way at the end to the right." Man that was a lot of rooms. "Here's your key to get in your room!" I smiled and nodded because I didn't want her to think badly of me.
I dragged my insanely heavy bags up the stairs. I took a right then a left at the 3rd hallway. Another left at the 2nd hallway. By now I wanted to crawl but I knew I had to keep going. I kind of zoned out and didn't notice where I was walking. I had no idea where to go and which hallway to take next. I decided to abandon my bags and explore on my own. I tried to trace my steps but I just couldn't! I got even more lost than I was before. I yelled at myself, "You're so stupid Crystal! And right after that a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and a girl was staring at me. She was blonde and skinny. She had blue eyes and a face that you would know it belonged to a brat. "You sure are stupid Christine. Your bags are blocking my door." I clenched my fist but then unclenched it because I wanted people to like me. I replied, "First, it's Crystal. I'm not Christine. Second, why couldn't you just move them?" She rolled her eyes and said "That would be way to much work!" I asked her to show me the way to the room so I could move my bags.
When we got there I dreaded agreeing to move my bags. I was already so sore and tired from all the walking when I was exploring and when I came up. I took a deep breath because I knew I had to suck it up. I reached for one of my bags but someone's hand reached it before me. "It's alright I got it." I heard a voice say. I looked up and I saw a guy with blonde hair. He had blue eyes and looked a lot like the girl who just got mad at me. "The name's Chris. I'm sorry if my sister, Jessica, was bothering you. I just shook my head no because I was lost at words. He just smiled and said, "Let me guess you're Crystal?" "That's my name." I was getting out of my trance and it was an awkward silence. I decided to break the tension, "Umm I was just looking for my room. Do you know where it might be?" "I have an idea where it might be. You are probably down by the bowling alley so follow me." He grabbed my bags and started to walk down the hallway. I walked behind him silently, not sure what to say. All I could think about is what life is going to be like. I've only met three people and I'm not sure if I want to be here. Jessica made me want to scream and kick someone but Chris made it better. I don't think that it would be possible for me to be mad when I was around him. I looked up at him and chuckled. He looked at my with a confused look on his face. "I can carry a bag you know." I said. "You want to carry one? " He asked. I replied, "Only if you don't want to. I don't mind you carrying them but I kind of feel bad." Chris shook his head and smiled. "It's a thing called being nice have you heard of it?" I looked at him and he just smiled and said, "I'm kidding! What do you have in here anyways?" "Clothes, shoes, pictures, memories, and did I say clothes?" He laughed and we turned a corner. "I knew girls like clothes but do you need this much?" I laughed at his remark but I wasn't sure I should tell him I'm moving here. It might weird him out but I went for it anyways. "Well I'm moving here and I kind of need clothes!" He looked surprised and I wasn't sure what to think. Stupid Crystal! Why do you have to be so... you? Ugh I was mentally yelling at myself when I saw him smile. Wait he's smiling? I couldn't help but smile too. We walked down the hall in silence but it wasn't an awkward silence. It was a good kind of silence if there's such thing. All of a sudden he just stopped and sent down my bags. "You have arrived at your destination. Please exit to the right. Have a nice day and thank you for flying with us." I laughed and so did he. We just stood there laughing and smiling even though it wasn't THAT funny. Once I was done laughing I said, "Thank you. Seriously I would have died trying to get here." He smiled and said, "No problem! Well I have to go help cook. I'll see you at dinner!" And with that he was gone. I grabbed the key that Hannah gave me and unlocked my door.
