Chapter 1

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Amber's POV

I have always despised Mondays. Mondays always mean I have to wake up earlier than usual and I hate it. I deeply, sincerely hate it. Sleep is an every day necessity, why would anyone want to put a temporary end to it?? My mother has to literally drag me out of bed and sometimes my elder brother finds pleasure in pouring a bucket of ice cubes over my head. I'll get back at him someday soon.

But today seems like an exception. Its my first day of senior year at a high school. A highschool. To most people that is an everyday task, but if you've been homeschooling for the past eighteen months since you moved in with your biological father, in a different continent then its a big day for you. That's why I barely fell asleep last night and woke up an hour and a half before my alarm.

I took a cold shower hoping it would calm my nerves but it obviously didn't work since I'm still walking in circles around my room. I've also checked my uniform about twelve times now. The black blazer is over a black sweater, both having the school's logo. Its paired with a silver grey shirt, a pleated black and silver checked skirt that's up to my knees, black knee high socks and a black pair of loafers.

'It's just a school Amber. A school with normal teenagers like you, normal teachers and normal subjects like any other school in the world,' I try telling my reflection in the mirror. I don't recognise the person I'm looking at. The midnight black hair, dark eyes and the round face belong to me. The nervousness behind the eyes are foreign and so is the frown on my forehead.

'Just a high school Amber. You are a Darcq. No Darcq is a coward so just grow some balls already.' My alarm chooses that exact time to ring and send me jumping at least two feet into the air. I turn it off grab my back pack and head downstairs.

The first person there is obviously is Nanny Darcq. She's been in the family since my dad was a kid or so I hear. She's also my brothers and I's nanny and so the name. She's part of the family more so than I. Her beautiful brown eyes widen at the sight of me and she blinks again repeatedly as if to make sure I'm not a figment if her imagination.

'Its really me nanny. Amber Darcq in the flesh,' I say as I take a sit on one of the stools on the kitchen island beside her.

Finally out of the shock she sends me her signature motherly smiles and places a kiss on my temple. 'Couldn't sleep?'

'More like my nerves are all over the place. But its nothing I can't handle.'

Her smile falters a bit. 'Will you be okay mi amore? You could al...'

'I'll be okay nanny,' I give her a small sincere smile. 'I can't stay hiding in here forever.' She seems to believe me and goes back to chopping apples for her fruit salad. I pick one green apple from her pile before my eyes drift to the blue bucket beside the double door fridge. A smirk slowly plays on my lips.

'Is Avan up yet?'

'Not yet mi amore, why?'

My smirk turns into a full blown grin and Nanny Darcq eyes me suspiciously.

*******
My robe covered mother rushes into the room;bed hair in display and worry etched onto her beautiful face. She eyes the scene in front of her in confusion and then smiles and folds her hands in front of her chest. My father walks in a couple of seconds later dressed in a tailor made black suit that he is mindlessly buttoning up. He leans across the door post, his face not giving anything away but I see the amusement in his cold dark eyes and a very miniscule smile on his lips as he looks at me.

My elder brother is still throwing profanities at me and his face is red with fury. Just a minute ago I had emptied a bucket full of ice cubes at his naked self and his catch of the night, a pretty blonde that I'd seen around before but I didn't really like her after she once shaved her legs in my bathroom. She was currently hiding her face behind her hair and tightly clutching the silky sheet to her body. But with the way its soaked I don't think she's doing a great job of hiding anything.

'You daughter of satan, I swear to God I am going to kill you. You are going to regret the day you were born when I get my hands on you.'

I smile sweetly at him and adjust the phone in my hand. 'Why don't you do it right now? You just have to get out of bed to reach me.'

'Yeah Avan,' my mom teased, 'Why don't you get out of bed son?' Avan's gaze travelled to the door and for the first time noticed the audience. My six year old brother, Austin, was also by the door rubbing his eyes and clutching his stuffed bear to his chest. Avan's face paled at the following words. 'And while you're at it why don't you introduce us to the girl beside you?' I swear my day just got better.

But my dad had other plans for me. 'Amber, take Austin downstairs.'

'But this is the best part,' I whine my gaze shifting from my phone to Austin to my father. The latter gives me the don't-argue-with-me-look. 'C'mon love,' I say to Austin,' Let's leave all the fun to the mean adults.'

'Amber,' my dad says as we leave the room. 'Send me a copy of that video.'

My grin returns when I hear Avan complain. 'Done. Check your email.'

*******

My nerves are all over the place as I sit beside my dad in his baby;the black Rolls Royce. This is a clear indication that he's the one driving. No one ever drives his baby. No one.

I try to distract myself by observing my dad. It is hard to believe that such an influential and rich man is my father. If you ask me,he is just like any other ordinary man;the family dark eyes, pitch black ruffled hair, tanned almond skin, the sleek handsome face, the toned but lean build and the 6'5 height. Many find him intimidating but in the eighteen months that I have known him, he is the most loving, caring, understanding man in the world.

'Hunny,' he waves in his hand in front of my face. I blink and smile. 'Are you sure you are okay? We could always go back.'

'I'll be okay dad. I'm a Darcq. I'm no coward.' Man that sounds rehearsed. Even your father noticed.

Stupid subconscious.

But he just eyed me as if trying to change my mind then went back to driving. 'I need to do this for me dad.' I add silently.

'I know sweetheart,' he says a few moments later. I'm surprised he even heard me. 'We're here.'

He parks the car as I look at the monstrous gray building that was to be my school. A number of steps lead to the front doors. Terrifying stone polar bears stand on each side of the steps. I'm guessing that's the school's mascot as well.

I'd already done my fair share of research on Continental High School. It is among the most expensive private schools in the world and hosts around five thousand  students;both local and international. Its students have access to the latest technological devices thanks to the school's partnership with an anonymous company. Most of the alumni are influential persons, my dad included and admission here is close to impossible. The waiting list is up to two years long so how my father managed to get me a spot in less than a fortnight is a mystery to me.

We step out and I notice he's parked in the principal's parking slot. Its the biggest and secluded.

'You couldn't help yourself, huh?' I say looking at the groups of students, in black and silver, all over the front of the school clearly sharing their summer holiday stories.

'I don't know what you are talking about.'

The more we stand in the secluded area of the parking lot the more real it becomes. I can swear my heart is beating at the speed of 1000m/s. I guess my dad notices. 'I could walk you to the office if you like. You'll get teased of cour...'

He stops as my arms go around him. My dad is officially my best friend. Its like he always knows what I need by heart. Or maybe its a father intuition thingy? 'What took you so long?'

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