The Unexpected

Chapter 1

This is my first story, so don't judge if its not that great :) And I understand this is the most overused and cliche beginning to a book in the history of ever, but please just bear with me.

Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 1

My eyes opened to the sound of the alarm clock. I groaned, the deep noise at the back of my throat getting louder with each shrill, staccato beep. My thin fingers groped for the accursed clock while I silently prayed for five more minutes of peace. That wasn't going to happen, apparent by the sound of my bedroom door opening.

"Ricki, honey, you're going to be late. I've heard your alarm go off at least four times."

Actually, I had only hit the snooze button three times, but mentioning that fact wouldn't help.

I groaned again before throwing my purple-striped comforter over my head. "I think I'm sick. I shouldn't go to school today."

I could almost hear my mom put her hand on her most likely cocked hip. "Really, Ricki? You're almost sixteen, not five. Now get up."

The door clicked closed. I decided to make a point of counting to twenty before moving to the personal bathroom, and even when I did I made my movements slow and sluggish. Unlike most teens I normally didn't mind Monday mornings, but a week of nightmare-infused dreams will bring out the spoiled toddler in anyone.

I winced when I caught sight of my reflection. Not because of my just-out-of-bed hair, but the image of my eyes staring back at me. I had always hated the abnormal grayish hue they took on, despite what Emmy said about them being 'mysterious'. But then again, Emma is the kind of girl who thinks penny loafers are the best things to ever happen.

I scrounged around my closet before settling for a pair of miss me jean knockoffs and a lime green tank top. Fifteen minutes later and I finally deemed my appearance acceptable. I skipped down the stairs, strawberry blond hair swinging halfway down my back. My mom looked up from where she was leaning over the counter.

"Finally, Ric. Here, Emma's been waiting." She shoved a piece of toast in my waiting hands and hustled me or the door.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag before she was able to close the door on me. "Bye, Mom. Have a good day at work."

"Oh, I'm off today. Your dad and I are going out since someone agreed to trade him shifts." That's why she wanted to get rid of me so quick. My parents were most likely going out and wanted as much time together as possible without their only child around. Gross.

Emma backed up as soon as my door closed. I opened my mouth to take a bite when Emma glanced at me. "Oh, toast. Can I have a piece?" I lowered my arm and rolled my eyes a second time

"Yeah, whatever. I wasn't hungry anyways."

"Yay!" She took her hand off the wheel to grab my would be breakfast. "So," she mumbled through a mouthful of bread. "Want to go to the mall with me after school? We can run by and grab a milkshake beforehand." She taunted, waggling her eyebrows at me. Emma is the only person to know of my weakness; ice cream. And, being the best friend she is, she exploits it whenever she can.

"Sounds good, Emmaline."

Emma almost drove off the side of the road when I said her full name. "Ew, Ricki, you sound like my mom when you say that!"

"I think it's pretty." Her name sounded like something a British princess would be named. The teachers would always pronounce it Emma-line, instead of Emma-leene, one of the reasons Emm stopped writing it out on her papers.

Emma turned into the school parking lot and parked in our usual spot, as far away from the main building as we could get. She insisted on staying as far away from everyone else as possible so nobody would scratch 'her baby', an old, beat up Cadillac she got for her sixteenth birthday. I wouldn't get my license for another three months, and even then there was no guarantee I was getting a car, so I didn't say anything about her obsession in fear of losing my ride in the morning. The long shrill of the warning bell blared through the cool March air. Emma and I exchanged glances and took off through the abandoned parking lot.

When I arrived at first period, I was greeted by Mr. Patterson's hard glare. " Ms. Young, you are late. Report to the office for a tardy slip."

"But the bell hasn't-" The late bell interrupted me. He looked down to my sneaker clad feet, which just happened to be right outside the classroom door. Great.

"To the office, Ms. Young." The door closed in my face.

A great way to start the week.