The Art of Falling in Love

Chapter One

❝The course of true love never did run smooth.❞ -Shakespeare, A Midsummer's Night Dream

Through my half drawn blinds, cold light cascades into my room. Staring at the dark clouds above and the sun begging to come through, I can't help but feel sad about summer drawing to a close.

I pull on a simple, dark hoodie and a pair of jeans along with my boots. Tiredly, I run a comb through my brown hair and wash up for the first day of my senior year.

I take a quick glance at the canvas at the corner of my room, with a half completed painting sitting on the wooden easel. Water colours dot the top of the painting; the image of a lovely sunset had been in my mind while painting this. I had planned on painting the city before the mountainside, but I still haven't decided how I want to finish the painting.

It feels as though painting is what keeps me sane and calm at times. I love everything about painting, and the feeling of pride after a painting is complete. Holding a delicate brush between my fingers and enabling the tray of water colours to come to life is the most relaxing part of my day. I make a mental note to try and complete the painting after school today.

I had only just finished my cereal when my best friend, Alyce White, honks outside my door. Alyce never fails to show up at exactly 7:45. I bid goodbye to my parents, grabbing my backpack I had prepared last night and rush out the door. I climb into the passenger seat of Alyce's white car as she pulls away from my house.

Alyce's straight, dark hair frames her pretty face perfectly, falling just below her shoulders. With her green eyes that stand out prominently against her pale features, Alyce is as pretty as a winter's day.

Alyce smiles brightly, driving along the winding road. "We're almost done, Diana. One more year of this fuckery and we're finally free."

I chuckle at Alyce's usual fiery attitude. "Then we have to pay to go to school."

Alyce rolls her eyes. "I think I'll just marry rich."

"A woman who knows what she wants. I respect that."

Alyce grins at me, "when I do successfully marry rich, I'll make sure to buy you expensive gifts."

"You better remember this conversation in the future." I tease.

"We can draft up a contract later." She laughs, rolling the windows down and turning up the music.

We finally arrive at school and Alyce parks in the parking lot. North Point High is a depressingly drab school on the exterior, painted grey and black like an old photo. It is made of chipping bricks and concrete columns, resembling more a prison than a high school. In spite of this, I find an odd sort of comfort from stepping onto the property. Maybe it is because I am graduating this year, but a pang of melancholy and reminiscence hits my chest.

We find Thalia and Jasper Thompson, the fraternal twins who have been away in Europe with their family the entire summer, standing by Jasper's black car. We rush over to them, hugging them and asking about their summer.

Thalia and Jasper both hold noticeable and similar features. They have dark, curly hair and lively, grey eyes that could have anyone entranced by their beauty. Alongside Jasper is his girlfriend, Katia Stone.

"How was summer without the Thompsons?" Thalia asks us with a smile. "Dreadful, I bet."

Katia scoffs, "more like peaceful."

Katia has beautiful, brown, round eyes that match her thick, curly brown hair and brown skin. She is a spitting image of her Latina mother, blessed with full lips and long lashes.