Summer in January

Chapter One

Lately I've been loving loosing sleep, dreaming about the things that we could be.

I groan and roll over, hitting the snooze button blindly to make my ring tone stop. The music ceases to play and I snuggle back down, cosy in my sea of duvet.

"Jan! Get up now! You're going to be late on your first day!" I let out a groan that I hope is loud enough for Nana Sharon to hear. She 'tut tuts' as I fall out of bed. Literally rolling over and collapsing in a heap on the floor. I shake off the sleep and crawl into the bathroom, I brush teeth and hair, not bothering to do anything special. It was only school, not a ball.

But it's your first day. You need to make an impression.

I sigh and give in to the little voice at the back of my mind. Putting on some make-up. I look like a presentable human being after about an hour. Wearing jeans and a T-Shirt I thought I looked reasonable. I start to walk down the stairs then spin round, going back to my room.

Maybe a necklace to class it up a bit.

And that cardigan that looks cute with said necklace.

PUT THOSE OLD TRAINERS DOWN RIGHT NOW.

White converse. Very original.

The voice in my head was even meaner than me, I feel it looking critically at the person reflected in the mirror. Even though it can't physically nod I can tell it approves. I am a functioning person after all. I grin to myself and pick up my phone, it was one of those new smartphones; with loads of apps and things you do with it. It was a sympathy present from my old neighbours, I didn't want it at first but Nana Sharon had told me to be great full. So I smiled and accepted the gift, I only just learnt how to call and text on it.

I grab my bag and slip my things in, I stop and look at the photo on my bedside table, I promised myself I wouldn't cry. But I could feel the tears at the back of my throat.

No. I don't cry anymore. I'm a different person now, no one knows me here. It's a fresh start.

I turn the photo round so I can't see the smiling faces, I shove it to the back of my mind, moving on. I jog down the stairs and grab a bagel. Nana Sharon and Granddad James are sat at the island in the huge white kitchen. Each drinking coffee and reading the paper, their cook, Ms Rasheed is tidying away breakfast things.

"Morning Jan, would you like Willis to drive you to school?" Granddad James asks, looking at me over his newspaper.

"No thank you Granddad, it's really sunny so I think I'll walk in!" I smile, biting into the doughy goodness of the bagel. American bagels were so much better than English. Nana Sharon laughs at me, I raise me eyebrow. Why was she laughing?

"Jan dearie, what Granddad meant was would you like to drive yourself? Do you realise how far it is to school?"

I nod,"Yeah, 17 blocks."

"That's too far to walk! Especially as you only have 15 minutes, Willis can drive you today and you can see how far it is okay?" She smiles and tells Ms Rasheed to tell Willis to get the car ready. I nod again and follow Ms Rasheed to the white Ferrari waiting on the drive. I hadn't realised how sunny it was, the temperature was already hitting the eighties and it was only 8am. I sit next to Willis, the car was mine but I had no idea where the school was so he was driving today.

"Not used to the California weather yet Miss Stevenson?" I smile meekly and wipe my face with a hand, sweat pouring into my eyes. The engine starts and I marvel at the beautiful sound of it, still not believing it was mine. We drive out the half mile long driveway and through streets of houses just as big. The neighbourhood was big, all expensive houses. Slightly overwhelming.

The school took my breath away. Johnson Philips High School was one of the best in California apparently, my grandparents paid a fortune to get me in. I was dreading it, being a junior meant everyone already knew each other. I was the outsider, the new kid. Alone.

The car pulls up the drive and I see loads of other kids are getting out of other sets of impressive wheels, swimming in money.

"I'll pick you up at four, have a good day Miss Stevenson!" I didn't have time to reply as Willis had already sped off, I sigh. This is it.

I walk in, keeping my gaze ahead, avoiding eye contact with any other student. The school was a big old building at the front, then behind was more modern bits. Built in the last ten years. Then there was a few acres of fields and pitches. Hundreds of teenagers were piling through the main entrance, I follow them. Nana Sharon had told me to go to the office, the headmaster was expecting me there by nine. I check my watch. 8.57am. Crap.

I push past students and find the office through a door by reception.

"Hi I've been told to see Mr Hammonds?" I smile at the receptionist, her lipstick was running into the wrinkles around her lips and her eyes were ringed with mascara, not attractive. She smiles all the same.

"Ah, Miss Stevenson? You're just on time, head straight in!" She motions to the door behind her, I smile my thanks and knock on it. A deep voice yells something from inside that I don't understand. I open the door a little and peak my head in. I see an old man with a receding hairline sat frowning at a computer screen.

"Miss Stevenson! Come in, come in. Do you have any idea how to turn these things on?" He scratches his head, giving me such a pathetic look that I immediately go over and press the on button. He grins as it comes to life.

"Thank you! Now luckily Mrs Getts printed off your class schedule and information for you, so it should be accurate!" He laughs to himself and thrusts a small folder with some sheets in it at me, " School started five minutes ago so I shall walk you to your first class?"

He phrases it as a question but leaves the room so quickly I have to run after him. My first class was History which was just down the hall. Mr Hammonds opens the door with a flourish and pushes me in.

"Mrs Richards here I have January Steve-

"Sir! I prefer Jan please." I whisper in his ear, the curious looks I had gotten from the students weren't something I could handle today.

-Jan Stevenson. She is starting today, so everyone make her welcome!" He pushes me again, towards the desk then leaves, slamming the door behind him. I stand there, looking round. Pretending to be confident.

"Welcome to the school Miss Stevenson, please take a seat over there." I stroll over to the empty desk near the back. Mrs Richards starts the lesson again.

"Hey, you seem pretty confident on your first day." I turn to my left to see a pretty redhead looking me up and down, scrutinising me. I shrug, letting out a small laugh.

"Teenagers are sharks, show weakness and they eat you alive." The girl smirks and offers her hand.

"I'm Isabelle, but call me Izzi with a Z!" She says, I smile, taking the girls hand.

"Well Izzi with a Z, my names Jan."

"Why did your parents name you January?"

Got there fast.

"Mum wanted an original name," I shrug and turn to the board, listening to the teacher go on about the French Revolution.

"Give me your timetable." Izzi instructs, I pull it out of my bag and give it to her.

"We've got four out of five classes together, great!" I smile and take my sheet back, "Oh and FYI loving the accent, being British makes a chick 10x hotter!" She winks and turns back round.

Guess the day wouldn't be as bad as I thought.

\/\

Hallo!

So new book, hope you like it! This was just the opening chapter to the story, so it will pick up! Not sure of the title so any suggestions? Also covers would be helpfulXD

much love

Grace xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx