Learning To Love Him

One

Nora's POV
'Life is sweeter than fiction.' But is it really? I think not. We aren't on this planet to have a jolly good day everyday, we are here to live with the good and the bad.
I look up from my diary and stare out the window of my bedroom at the hot Californian day. The sun bouncing of the windscreen of my car parked on the street, the palm trees swaying in the warm breeze. It is the last day of summer break and junior year is looming over me like a dark rainy cloud.
This year will be different, I can feel it already. I close my diary and glance out the window once more, before I decide to hit the kitchen for breakfast. I wander down the creaky wooden stairs, through the living room and into the kitchen. Dad rushes past with a piece of toast in his mouth waving at me. He's late again, I shake my head. My mother stands at the fridge with the door open staring out the window.

"You know the fridge keeps things cooler with the door closed." I say.

Mum immediately shuts the fridge and turns to face me, her brown hair straightened and her green eyes focused. Mum isn't very tall, she's shorter than me and that's saying something.

"Last day of break." She says brightly, completely ignoring my smart remark about the fridge.

"Please don't remind me." I grab a piece of toast and smear butter and jam onto it lazily.

The phone rings and Mum puts her coffee down to answer it. She stares at the wall and nods "Yes of course Vicki she's here."

Vicki is my best friend. Victoria Martinez. She hates being called Vicki and only lets me and our other friends call her by it. I haven't heard much from her over the summer break, I know she went up to Lake Tahoe for most of it.

"Hey Victoria." I say, a smile breaking across my face.

"Nora!" She squeals and I have to drag the phone away from my ear it's that loud.

"Hey, how was Tahoe?"

"Oh my god it was like an oasis! I didn't want to leave." She sighs.

"Least you got to go somewhere, I've been stuck here all summer. Even Jayden and Nathan went away."

Nathan and Jayden Reed also known as the twins. They're like the older brothers I never had. They care about Victoria and I like we are their sisters. Honestly Nathan and Jayden are the definition of tall, dark and handsome. I love them both but there's nothing going on between any of us.

"Aww but aren't you going to Florida next year?"

"I don't know maybe." I say absently staring at Lucy, my cat, as she wanders the kitchen impatiently waiting for her breakfast.

"I'm sure you will. Anyways Nathan and Jayden aren't free but you and I are hitting the Starbucks at the North Ridge Mall today. See you at 10." Victoria hangs up before I can even think about objecting to her plans.

Mum walks back into the kitchen and I realise I didn't even notice that she left. She's all dressed ready for work in a floral skirt and white tank-type shirt. She smiles and then gives me a tight hug.

"See you later honey." She says and with that she's gone.

The house always feels lonely when Mum and Dad aren't here. I am an only child, so that would probably explain Nathan and Jayden's brotherly love. Lucy rubs up against my leg, right I had to feed her. I glance up at the clock that hangs above the kitchen door. It's 9am and I really need to get a move on otherwise I will be late to meet Victoria.