The Simplicity of Happiness

Chapter One

[Hi, guys. Thanks so much for giving this book a shot. I hope over time that I'll become better at writing, and I'll be able to give you something better than what I'm giving you now. But at this moment in time, I'm giving you my very best. Just keep that in mind. 💙💚💙]

"Get up, Eve!" my sister, Elena, yells as she slams a pillow against my head. I feel my face sink into the bed, and my eyes shoot open in rage.

I sigh loudly into my pillow, loud enough for her to hear my annoyance, "Get out of my room, Elena!"

"Oh, come on," she whines, "I don't want to be late this year. We've been late on our first day every year."

"It's a tradition," I grumble.

"Get the hell up, Jen!" She hits me again with the pillow, calling me by my less favored nickname. My head is starting to ache from her cushioned abuse, "It's bad enough we're enrolling at the end of the year. Don't make this any worse for me," she says.

"Lena, I will give you five seconds to get out of my room before I kick your ass," I snap.

She groans and screeches, "I'm telling mom!"

I don't get how my sister, Elena, is so eager to attend this new school. Especially after what just happened to us. On second thought, I can. It is completely typical of Elena to pretend that bad things never happen to her. She has a unique ability to suppress anything she wants. Somehow, she is able to pretend like we don't have this enormous secret hanging over our heads.

When I hear the door slam shut, I decide to take her advice and finish the year off right for once in my life. Elena is right, it was going to be hard enough already becoming the new students at a new school just two months before the school year is over. We don't need to draw anymore attention to ourselves. Mom told us that it's absolutely imperative that we fit in with everyone else.

I lazily swing my feet over the bed and go into my bathroom. I thoughtlessly brush my teeth and wash my face. All of my clothing is still unpacked in various cardboard boxes, stuffed in my tiny closet. Instead of taking my time to select a perfect outfit like I usually do, I just stick my hands in a random box and pull out a shirt and some leggings.

The outfit perfectly reflected my attitude. It was a long, unflattering black T-shirt, black leggings, and a pair of dull, white converse. It was an outfit that said I really don't give a shit.

I walk past my mirror as quickly as I can manage, careful not to see my reflection. I've tried to avoid looking in the mirror as much as I can lately. To be honest, I am always disappointed with the stranger staring back at me. All that I see when I look in the mirror is failure.

Galloping down the stairs, I can smell the sweet aroma of ramen noodles. Sadly, we didn't really have time for grocery shopping when we were fleeing New York. We had to make due with what we had. Apparently, that's ramen noodles.

"Hey girl," My mom says, "Ready for school?"

I answer sarcastically, "Against my will. Elena decided to disturb my peaceful slumber."

"She tends to do that," she replies. My mom isn't just your typical mother. I am proud to say that my Mom is truly one of my best friends. Maybe that has something to do with her being significantly younger than most parents. She is only thirty-eight.

She has beautiful long, dark hair like mine. Instead of my basic brown eyes, though, she is blessed with light blue ones, like my sister Elena's. Apart from my dark hair, my brothers and I favored my father more.

She pours some noodles into a bowl and slides them over to me. I gladly take them and begin to dig in. "So, have you talked to Oliver?" she innocently asks, and my heart sinks at the mention of his familiar name.