Love Within

CHAPTER 1

I am in my bathroom, the warm water flowing over me, trying to relax my muscles, but it is hardly of any use. After all, first days at college are always difficult. Moving from Ohio to Seattle was difficult after Dad passed away. Now it's only my mom Katherine , my elder brother Alex and me, Arielle Jane Stewart.

I get out of  the bathroom and move towards my cupboard to look for something decent enough to wear. I go through my cupboard vigorously, spreading all the dresses around my bedroom floor. We were not rich, obviously, but my father always did his best to get me whatever I wanted. My mother never really listened to my demands. She is one of those strict ladies. Being a college professor, it's her job to be strict. Another reason to be terrified- I am going to be in her college as a student, the WCU, one of the most expensive colleges in Seattle. I got there because of my previous records and my mother's recommendations.

Just I was looking for my clothes, suddenly I hear footsteps  advancing towards my room. Just as the front door flies open I see my mom standing at the door steps with her hands on her hips and an angry frustrated look on her face after seeing my room in a mess, her brunette hair pinned into a bun.

"What hell is wrong with your room Al? Why are you so messy and OMG! You are still in your bathrobe! Go get dressed or you else you will be late.

"Mom, I can't find anything to wear. Can you help me?... please?"

She instantly picks up all my dresses lying on the floor and scans through them and picks up a pair of black jeans, a white tank top and a chestnut coloured long shrug. Yep, that is my mother, as perfect as she could be.

"Thanks mom!" I say with embarrassment. She gives me a look which tells come down quickly before I burn down all your clothes. So I quickly change into my clothes. I am not much of a makeup diva or something, so I just tie my cinnamon hair into a high ponytail, put some mascara and a cherry lip balm, as simple as that.

As I go down the stairs, my elder brother jumps in. he can be annoying sometimes.

"Ready for first day at college, huh? But don't you look too overdressed?" he prompts.

"Alex how do you always manage to interrupt me when I have to go somewhere?" God! I had waiting for the day  I could finally get my own car. at least I wouldn't have to depend on him for these car rides. Getting irritated, I stomp down the stairs and he follows me to the parking lot to our  shiny black car, rationally his though.

In the car he starts again, "what to do sis? can't help it. I love ruining your day, you know, but I do care for you."

"OK, fine !" I say rather irritated. I hate him, but somewhere down in the corner of my heart I readily accept him as my elder brother and respect him, however never show it. He is an over protective brother. That's the reason I hate him.

It seems to a long time to pass, sitting in the car with an awkward silence, that too with him who never whispers a word while driving. I spend my time looking into my phone.  He never lets me play the radio as well, apparently, it disturbs him. It was a long time to pass but finally we reach college.

I get down my car and get nervous entering the school premises and seeing so many unknown faces. I feel a shiver run down my spine. I look back where Alex is still standing by the car, waiting for me to get in. I ignore him, take my guts up enter the college.

As I was loitering about and searching for the way to the administration office, I notice a group of stylish girls of three, probably coming towards me. They looked so stylish, each of them wearing black and white stripped dresses paired with a Louis Vuitton bag of varied colors and high heeled Gucci. I am not gonna lie, they just looked perfect, but also kind of bitchy. I did relate them to myself, because I was that kinda girl in my previous school, but after my dad's death, we had to shift to Seattle and thankfully Alex and mom, both took up a job or else we would have been left jobless.