Nerd by Day, Model by Night

*~*Chapter One*~*

A/N
Please excuse any mistakes! :P
Chapter One. (>|!|<)

Layla's P.O.V.

   I walked into the kitchen, loosing my hand in my hair as I made my way towards the cereal that laid on the counter. My father sat at the counter, reading the paper, either something about him or my mother, since that were the only two things in the paper that excited him. I was featured in magazines and TV, not papers. My mother, though, always got into some kind of trouble when she was out with her friends. And she was out last night with Sherry, my make-up artist and her best friend.

   "Your mother got arrested." he said flatly, putting the paper down onto the counter and picking up a magazine with me on the cover. I shook my head and continued to make my breakfast. "And you gave the money you earned with modeling to a homeless family?"

   I nodded. "I met them right when I was about to start my photo shoot. I asked them if they wanted to watch, and they said sure. When I was done, I took them to the bank and cashed my check, then gave them the money."

   "It's strange how I have a wife that never does anything good and a daughter who only does good." he said, shaking his head sadly as he picked up the paper again, probably reading about my mother's arrestment if he didn't before.

   "But Val isn't your daughter." I pointed out dully, putting my cereal, toast, apple, and orange juice next to him and sitting down. "She's Drake's daughter, remember? He adopted her when she was seven, apparently."

   My father sighed, nodding slowly. "Why did neither one of you deny that rumor?"

   "They caught us off guard and I was half model, half nerd at the time. Drake hugged me to keep people from seeing and they asked if we were dating. He denied that, and fixed it by telling him that he adopted me when I was seven. It was a complete accident and lie, but they ate it up like Thanksgiving dinner."

   He laughed, shaking his head. "I'd rather he say you two were an item. Besides, a relationship with a manager and their project isn't all that uncommon. It's more likely that way, anyway. And why did he have to adopt you? Why couldn't he have divorced the woman and won custody of you?"

   "I don't know. He said it, not me. I don't even understand why he had to say either. He could've just said we were related, or didn't say anything about it and ignore it. He panicked, I guess."

   My father shrugged. "Can you drive yourself to school today, I have to go get Carly out of jail." he said, grabbing the paper and the magazine, along with his keys and his jacket. He stopped at the door, turning back to catch my answer.

   "Yeah, and it's a half day, so I'll be home at noon." I explained, letting him nod before running out of the door.

   I sighed, filling my mouth with apple. That was the longest conversation I had with either one of my parents in a few months. Drake knew me more than my parents did. Even if I quit modeling, it isn't like it'll change anything. It's been like this since my father became mayor and ever since my mother started hanging out with the bad crowd. I liked Sherry, but she isn't someone I would want to hang out with after school.

   I shook my head, grabbing my empty dishes and washing them before putting them into the dish washer. When that was done, I wipped the table where I sat, threw the rag into the washer, and ran up to my room to get dressed for school. Another day at Summers High School awaits me.

****

   Upon arrival, I notice that everyone has the same magazine that my father held this morning. The one about the act that Val pulled out of the kindness of her heart. Shaking my head, I walked passed the groups of people that were all huddled by one magazine. I walked passed the loners that held the magazine. I walked passed the goths, the jocks, the cheerleaders, and the teachers. They were all reading the magazine.