Love at Last Sight

Chapter 1

I had a good life with my grandparents; small town is equal to freedom. No rumors, no malls, no paparazzi, no shit magazines or shit people.

Then came the summer vacation, and with them, a bucket of cold water: I would have to move to New York, and I felt like crap. Rumors, shopping malls, paparazzi's, shit magazines and shit people.

The great Broadway celebrity was calling me and I had to comply with hers request: my divine mother wanted me around. Show that she had me and that she was the best mother in the world.

"Come on, Valentina." She put her sunglasses on her face as she walked out the door of the big house where I lived with my grandparents. A beautiful land, where I grew up, just like her.

They where working at the town market, I was alone at home. No one to protect me. 

"I do not want to go!" I walk away once more. I did not want to move to that city. I could see the changes coming into my life, I was never good at it. To change.

"You do not have to want Valentina! You're 17 years old! It's time to move in with me, your mother. "

"You were a mother just when you put me in the world. I do not want to go. "I close my eyes and slowly lower my head. The feeling of helplessness hit me.

"Sorry, Val. You have no choice." Her voice is close, and she drags my giant suitcase with her.

The next few days on a slow roller coaster: many emotions. I tried to adapt, I had to adapt. My mother hardly stayed at home; she had rehearsal and show every day of the week, twice up. I had gone to one or two, dragged, of course.

I was locked in the big room in the apartment she had, I didn't want to get out; huge and all black and white. Expensive. At least the woman had good taste.

My mother was a vegan, and the place did not have anything other than this diet. I had been to the market at least five times since the week I arrived. I felt like she doesn't care at all.

It was the day of enrollment at the new school, and I feared it. She insisted on one of those expensive elite schools, you know? Gossip Girl type, and I hated the idea. Until then, I studied in a public school like most American teenagers. I would eat cheap lunch at school and use public transportation or walk to school. Now, I would have to feed off those fine dishes they served, and accept as ''present '' a black sedan that she had given me.

"She has perfect grades." The principal - I think - analyzes on her desk Macbook. She had a fine appearance and looks beautiful.

"I told you, Cecily." My mother responds in the most 'false-proud' voice I've ever heard.

"Can she stay that way for the rest of the year, Rachel? Do you have the potential to study at this school? You know Valentina, it's not like that farm town you lived in. "She seems to stare at me with contempt.

"I know, there it was so much better." I smile with my eyes closed.

"Valentina." My mother looks at me and whispers.

"You're already enrolled. At the end of the hall, in the left, you can find where you will choose the best uniform for you. "Cecily swallows as she finishes speaking. I just wanted to call her a snobbish cow and leave, but I was sure it would appear in the papers and I was not comfortable with that kind of attention.

"Thank you, Cecily." My mom picks up some papers with the woman and we get out of there. "Did you need to behave like that?"

"Yes, she was offending me," I say, obviously.

"You'll look beautiful in this uniform." She changes the subject.

"Was it only because of it that you put me here?" I arched an eyebrow.

"You're not funny, Valentina." A lady comes to see me as soon as we enter the room. She takes my measurements and hands me a pair of uniforms. Some peers, actually. Two white social shirts, two very short skirts, navy blue ties and a thick blazer of the same color. According to her, I decided on my hairstyle and shoes.

The visit to school had been rather annoying and tedious; I was already starting the next day, and I was not excited about it, like, at all. I would have to dress like Blair Wardolf and drive expensive cars until finish high school, no good.

I woke up feeling bad, or rather, really bad: it was the first day of school in the elite school. The shower made me feel better, but still, I did not want any of it.

The white shirt, the skirt, the tie, and the blazer were already on; a white sneaker was sporting my feet, and my hair was as loose as ever, quite natural. In the old school I dressed as I wanted, always respecting the rules. I would go through light makeup and always look happy, or so I was told.

I tried to follow the routine I did in my old city: to get dressed, to spend some makeup, to straighten my hair and to have breakfast; As soon as I got out I saw Rachel, my mother, leaning against the kitchen island with a steaming cup of coffee and a newspaper in her hands.

"Once again, dazzling Rachel Rose enchanted all the viewers of her musical: The Sparkle in Two Looks." My mother says excited and I felt nauseous.

"Good morning." I speak quietly and catch a mug in one of the cabinets, after failing twice.

"Good morning, Val. Anxious?" She smiles, not looking at me: she still looks at her photo in the newspaper.

"No." I respond short and thick. I get the last two slices of bread and eat fast. "I'm going." I take the backpack off the couch.

"Oh, wait." Rachel drops her newspaper on top of the island and picks up a key with a gold keyring. "Those are the keys to your car."

"I really need..."

"Yes, no discussion. New city, new school, new lifestyle; it's an elite school, you can't go by bus,"She interrupts.

"I can, actually." I speak quietly and pick up the keys, turning toward to the door.

"Bye." She hums as I leave the apartment. I walk down to the parking lot, as soon as I get there, I look at the black car. "An Audi, that's great," I whisper ironically to myself.