Chapter 1

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Another day. Starting with the annoyance of my alarm clock buzzing on my bedside table.
"Get up Lyla," shouts my mum, Amber.
"Yes. I'm coming mum. Chill!"
After another ten seconds of valuable sleep time I manage to rise out of my bed and wearily change into my school uniform before going to the bathroom to get ready.
As I turn to leave after doing my business I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair looks as though it could do with a wash and so I open the cupboard and grab the dry shampoo. What a life-saver!

Once I finish combing my hair, I go to sit down at my desk ready to apply my daily makeup, of a quick black waterline and mascara and a bit of deep raspberry lipstick, only to find my stool has been taken by my younger sister Candy -- I know, what a stupid name -- again!

"Candy! Where's my stool," I say as I storm out of my room and into hers like a typical teenage girl.

"What stool?" She asks, fluttering her eyelashes at me, playing not guilty.

I hate it when she does this. Sat there like a little doll, her silky blonde hair gliding across her back as she shakes her head pretending to be a cute little innocent human being.

"The one that you're sat on, maybe?" I make sure to emphasise my gesture at the stool by moving my hands out from my head to the stool.

"No, this is my stool now," she says in a childish voice, "Chill Lyla. Like, seriously I'm just borrowing it. "

"For goodness sake just give it back already," I know this is going to end badly when I lunge forward and tackle her off the stool. Why do I always have to resort to violence? Still, at least my stool was free. I take it back to my room quickly before Candy could protest.

Oh. Lucky me! That twelve year old brat has only gone and told mum that I 'threw her to the floor' - which isn't at all true - and now she claims she has concussion. Wow. She seriously needs to grow up. It was only a small barge... wasn't it? Oh no. What if she does have concussion. No Lyla! Are you mad. She doesn't know what she's on about. Screams my inner devil. Yeah. That's right - I don't care. Although something was worried deep down in my heartless soul.

Being the gannett I am, I shovel down my breakfast of coco pops, down glass of water and ask my dad what the latest update on the world is as he skims the front page of the weekly newspaper.

As he speaks I get my school bag sorted and prepare to leave.

"Not much this week, sweetheart. But as usual it's my job to warn you that there are bad people out in this world. Be careful Lyla. Bye have a good day at school. I love you."

"Yes ok. I'm always careful. Love you too. Bye" I leave the house planning on meeting my best friend Aleah on the way to school, figuring that Candy will tag along soon.

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When I reach Aleah's house I swivel on my heel to get through her gate and skip up her drive. Somehow she always manages to put a smile on my face whenever I think about her, let alone see her.
I hear a giggle come from above - her bedroom - and let myself into her house. Kicking off my shoes and dumping my bag behind the door Maryam, her mother rushes past me and up the stairs muttering, "Hiya Lyla, Aleah's just upstairs."

"Hi, thanks," leaping up the stairs two by two I reach the top and turn left into Aleah's room.

"'Sup sister?" She says before getting off her bed to give me a hug.

"Not much. Except Candy is claiming she has concussion," I said, pretending not to care, "How are you?"

"Yeah. I guess I'm good. Just ignore her. She always does that. Just so long as you're sure she'll be fine."

In finishing her makeup, she stands, grabs her bag and bounces onto her bed.
"We do have French today, right?"

"Umm. Yeah. Second period." I check to see if I definitely have my French book, planning to avoid a detention.

"Ok. Sorted. Let's go," she jumped off her bed and followed me out the door. Whilst I waited by the front door she kissed her parents goodbye and then we set off.

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