In The Falling Sun

Chapter 2

"Thank God it's Monday." I exhaled as I rolled out of bed. I looked out of my bedroom window to find an empty driveway. I wasn't expecting him to be here, since I didn't hear any drunk stumbles coming upstairs last night. I don't know how he manages to keep his job, in the 2 months I've been here I don't think I've ever seen him leave for work. At least not the way he used to when he was still with my mom.

I went downstairs to get some breakfast before I jumped in the shower. Only to remember, we didn't have food. If I wanted to eat, I guess it was time that I got a job.

"I'll go fill out applications after school." I spoke to myself as I ascended up the stairs to the bathroom.

I let the hot water trickle down my body, I stood there for a while before I snapped out of it. Realizing that I had to get ready for school. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. Excited because I didn't have to deal with my nightmare for 8 hours and nervous because I've never been the new kid. I've gone to the same school as everyone else since I started school. I had my best friend Alex, he was like a brother to me. I started to hang out with the wrong people and he stopped talking to me. I've had my fair share of heart breaks, but nothing hurts more than when its your best friend that "breaks up" with you. I'm not looking to make any friends at this school. Hell, with the way things are going, I'll go to school for a few months until I find a full time job. Drop out of school, save up money and move out of this hell hole. No way I can stay here for a full year.

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New faces, same cliques, same bitchy attitudes. I didn't know why I was expecting something different. Teenagers are all the same. The jocks only after one thing. The cheerleaders thinking that you need to bow down as they walk by. The outcasts that no one will ever talk to because they think differently from the ones around them, and so on. To my luck, all the jocks and cheerleaders were standing by the entrance of the school, giving me death glares.

"Hey, check out the new bait." I heard one of the air head jocks yell.

"You all have very low standards." The blonde cheerleader laughed as she rolled her eyes at me.

One of the jocks was leaning against the wall when he spoke up in my defense.

"Sorry Brittany, but some of us like natural beauty on a girl. Having a face full of makeup is nice to look at sometimes, but when you have an ugly soul, all the make up in the world won't work to cover that." I could feel his eyes burning a hole in the side of my face.

"Whatever Jack. Thats not what you were telling me last weekend." The words rolled off her tounge.

I just ignored it and kept walking. This wasn't a very big high school, and its like people have never seen a new face before. Talk about feeling like an outcast, even to the outcasts. Like I said though, I'm not here to make new friends.

"Hey are you new?" I heard a petite little voice behind me.

"Hey, is the sky blue?" I sarcastically responded as I turned to face her.

She just smiled and shook her head. "Dumb question, I'm sorry. I'm Elizabeth"

"Grace."

"Well Grace it is a pleasure to meet you."

"You're extremely cheery....its scary. So stop." I raised my eyebrows.

"I'm sorry again. I get that a lot." She looked almost defeated. Like what I said just killed her soul a little.

"I'm sorry but I'm just not used to people like you."

It's like something had just snapped in her head. "I know we just met, but can you give me a make over?"

"Me? Seriously?" I started to laugh histaricaly. "Oh wait, you are serious." I noticed the look she was giving me. "I don't do make overs."

"You can't tell me that, have you not seen yourself? I know nobody is born with firetruck red hair." She pointed to my faded red strands.

"Dammit....." I breathed out. "Fine. But we do this at your house, you have to buy everything we need." I paused. "Do you have a fake id?"

"Do I need to be 21 for hair dye and makeup?" She looked puzzled.

"Mmm maybe....maybe a few other things as well." This girl is too sweet, and too damn gullible. "But don't worry, I know a place we can get you one." I smiled.

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"Anthony! My man!" I yelled as I walked through the double doors.

"Grace! My future ex baby momma!" He yelled back.

"In your dreams dude." I laughed and rolled my eyes. Anthony was a very attractive guy, late 20's. We became pretty close when everything with my family started going down the toilet. We met at a party, he tried getting in my pants until he found out I was 15. Almost 3 years later and he has kept that as my nickname.

"You're almost legal." He winked. "Wait, whose that." He pointed to Elizabeth who had just knocked over some items on the shelf. She looked at us smiled and waved.

"Just someone I met at my new school." I shook my head as I looked at him. "We need something from you and Drew."

"Dammit, I knew you weren't coming to tell me that you can't hide the fact that your utterly in love with me. It was too good to be true." He held onto his chest. "What'cha need future ex baby momma."

"I need your guys' undying skills. I need you to take this," I handed him her I.D "and turn it into that of a 22 year old."

"Oh hot momma, if you need alcohol you know you can always ask me. I don't mind."

"But then who am I going to take to the clubs and drink with me when I want girls night?" I winked.

"You got me there. Let me just go to the back and hand this over to Drew. See what he can work with."

"Being your future ex baby momma is starting to look a little better." I jokingly spoke as he walked to the back.

"Who was that?" Elizabeth spoke up making me jump.

"Anthony, the guy whose going to get you your fake I.D." I leaned against the counter.

"Oh what a hottie." She smiled at me.

-

"I return with the gift of now being 22." He stated as he made an appearance back in the convenient store.

"Thank you good sir. Oh by the way, Miss Elizabeth over there thinks your hot." I pointed back. "Oooo is someone blushing. I mean she is 22 now." I laughed waving the fake in his face. "Hey Beth, come put this thing to work."

She shyly walked over looking over the fake. "Wow. Um okay,  what should I buy?" She looked at me.

"I'll go pick out what you can buy." Walking towards the cooler where they had the beer.

"Oh no, I don't drink." She shook her head.

"But I do. And I'll also take a pack of Camal Crush." I stated putting the 12 pack of Coors light on the counter. "Thanks love cake. I'll be seeing you around." I looked at Anthony and winked before walking out the door.

"Do you have one?" Elizabeth looked at me curiously.

"Yes," I nodded "I just wanted to see if you were going to have a heart attack when you found out the real reason as to why you need it."

"But I don't drink or smoke. I feel like this was pointless."

"You like to dance?" I questioned.

"Yes, I love to dance." Her face lit up with excitement.

"Thats what those are used for. We can go out to the clubs. To the bars. Anywhere we want to go." Dammit, I'm trapped. This sweet innocent girl trapped me into being a friend. I'm about to ruin this girl's life. "Alright, let's go get your stuff for this make over."