The vibrant light shone in through my perfectly pink curtains, or that's what the package calls them anyway. The perfect sun, my perfect curtains, my perfect home. If only the inside could reflect the out. Its a typical morning for me, the bickering of my parents, the smell of vodka leaking from my brothers room; the only thing perfect in this home is me, and I'm starting to fall flat.
I have a lot going for me; I'm on the cheer squad, top grades, lots of friends, and an amazing boyfriend, but all for what? I don't find them enjoying anymore, I do them to uphold my reputation at Anchor High. Were a well known school in South Carolina. Right on the shore, top ACT scores, the perfect school. Its fitting for my family.
I rolled out of bed and threw my long brunette hair into a high ponytail. The plus side of being a cheerleader is I don't have to try to tame my curls; I can just pull them up and forget about them for the moment.
I walk into the kitchen and the bickering slowly stops, my mother slides over my usual breakfast; one slice of toast, dry, an apple, and one scrambled egg, with no milk or any added seasoning. The perfect breakfast to maintain my figure. I smile politely at her as I begin to eat my food. My brother, done with his morning ritual, comes downstairs. A strong scent of skunk mixed with ass following him as he takes the spot next to me.
"So Violet, I hear senior year is always the hardest, ready to get your ass kicked?" my brother, Jonah, sneers at me.
My mother jumps in before a full blown argument explodes between us, "that's quite enough, don't you have school to go to, or whatever it is you do for eight hours?"
We may not have the best relationship, by my mom at least stands up for me when Jonah gets out of line. We both know I will excel at school while Jonah does his own thing. He's supposed to be going to the local community college but I'm pretty sure he uses the money mom and dad give him for tuition for drugs. He has no job or plan for his future and I know you cant smuggle weed from your local Wal-Mart.
I rinse off my plate and kiss my mom and dad on the cheek wishing them a good day as I make my way outside where Hayden was waiting for me in his 2015 Buick Regal. Hayden and I have been the "it" couple since freshman year when he accidentally broke my wrist, three years later and it still makes me chuckle.
***
The first day of cheer tryouts are nerve wracking enough, let alone the fact that I was a freshman and everyone else here has been cheering on the team for at least a year. I stumble over to the register tables and give them my name while they write me a name tag.
"First years go over there," the blonde girl smirked. I smiled softly as I walk to where the few other freshmen were restless as well.
"Okay new girls, I'm Caroline and I'm going to run through the routine. If you cant keep up you might as well leave as soon as I show you," the blonde girl stated. She started the music and ran through the one minute routine, as she cheered I attempted to mimic the moves she accomplished but all too soon she finished the routine. "Alright girls lets see what you got."
She ran the music again and only three of us were able to attempt to make moves that resembled a cheer routine. Caroline stopped the music and told the three of us to join the other girls who had been on the team before.
"Surprisingly, you three managed to somehow follow along and are on the team. But I'm sure most of you will either be unable to keep up or drop because you know you're not good enough. Anyways, lets try to form some pyramids" said Caroline.
I got paired with two juniors and they hoisted me in their hands and I kept my knees and arms in place as I chanted along with the upperclassmen. All too soon I was falling, and the other girls couldn't help me from falling right on my wrist.
I woke up an hour later in the local hospital room with a strange boy staring at me. He jumps up as soon as I look over at him confused, I look down and see my wrist all wrapped up.
"Good you're awake I'm going to grab a nurse," the stranger said.
Wait, he stopped and looked back at me bewildered. "Who are you? What happened?"
He looked down nervously at his hands and shoved them into the pockets of his jacket, "well I was running to catch a football but I didn't really pay attention to where I was going and may have knocked you down and you broke your wrist. I'm really sorry; I honestly didn't see you there."
I just nodded slowly, "okay, but who are you?"
"I'm Hayden, your hero," he smiled brightly and ran out of the room to find a nurse.
***
I chuckle at the memory and kiss Hayden's cheek as I get into the passenger seat.
"Having a good morning?" he stated as he drives away from my house.
"Yeah, just remembering when we first met," I giggle slightly as I look out the window.
"The day that started the rest of our lives," I look out the window and try to hide my expression. I love Hayden so much, but I just don't think I could spend the rest of my life with someone who doesn't make me completly happy.
