ONE LOOK

BOOK 1, Part I.

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It is a strange world, Full of opposite elements, adding to each other, being enemies and at the same time required for mutual existence. There's so much attachment between people, I think, too much empathy to be handled - and with that overflow of emotion comes hate, that destroys the very affection it was created by. Happiness doesn't really exist, but is the hypothetical counterpart of sadness. Happiness is just a thought, a dream that was never reached by us. At least I couldn't remember the last time I was happy. Couldn't remember the last time I wasn't sad. And when all those thinks are a lie, an aberration, how could I possibly believe in Love? And with "Love", I don't mean the fact of affection between to parties, the sick obsession, that comes from hormones and the instinct to propagate human species. With "Love" I mean romance books and movies, that tell me: " This is the ultimate goal, the best think ever. This is ultimate happiness, this is ultimate love!" Love doesn't make you happy, because happiness doesn't exist, so there's no need, no function of losing my mind and falling in love with someone, that will never reach the person I think he is. I know, I sound like a pessimist, which isn't exactly true. I am just a realist, trying to understand the truth of the world, because I don't like to get disappointed and by believing in the "magic of love", I definitely will be.

...

The light is different. Thats the first thing I notice, as I set my feet on LA's grounds for the first time in my life. It looks warmer - more yellowish, then European light. I inhale fresh air to find out, If it also smells different here. It indeed does; the air smells like a mix between ocean, suncream and new cars.

I'm so nervous about meeting my family, that I at first don't even notice them on the huge Parking lot, leaning on a red, shiny Car. Looks new to me, but maybe they're just painfully careful with it. Two of them, from the distance they look like my Aunt and cousin, are winking at me in excitement, the other two are yelling my name. Now I'm assured, that this is my family and I walk towards them, greeting them with a smile. My cousin Keira, she is about the same age as me, but slightly smaller in height, is the first one to give me a big, inviting hug. I laugh at her in return, rather intimidated from the situation than amused by it. " Its honestly so good to see you, Alisa. How was your flight?", she asks me with gushing excitement. I shrug.

" Well... I actually slept most of the time. The seats were very comfortable though, I have to say...", I explain, while I get hugged by the other three. My uncle Alexandre then gets my luggage, to put it into the trunk of his car and Cousin Nate inspects me from bottom to top. It makes me feel self conscious, until he asks me, where my jewelry is from with glowing eyes. Heirlooms from my mothers side, I tell him with a smile and he looks kinda disappointed.

" So damn sad, that I am not related to your mom", Nate tells me with a frustrated look: " They are so beautiful, I would love to have such jewelry. You know? Like those kinda rings that you'll wear for your entire life, until your children inherit them?"

" I really do love them", I agree with him while trying to ignore Keira, who's currently giving me a big smacker on my left cheek. Now she has already spreaded her red lipstick on my face and tries to unobtrusively smear the color away with her palms. " Sorry", she apologizes. " But I couldn't help it. You are just, like, So. Cute" Nate nods in agreement and they both look at me, like proud parent. Excuse me? The time has come to finally protest: " I'm only one year younger than you both, so I'm not cute!"

" Thats so not a real argument, you can bring honey", my Aunt Miranda says to me and laughs: " All you three are as cute as one can be, not matter your age"

Alexandre interrupts our discussion by saying, that we are all ready to go, so we jump into the car - I sit between Nate and Keira, Miranda sits in front - and Alexandre starts driving. Nate and I begin a conversation about our future plans and he tells me, that he wants to get a football-scholarship at UCLA.

" He is the best Player in his schools football team, I tell you that. A really good student", his Mothers brags with pride und turns around to look at us, while Keira raises her perfectly shaped Eyebrows in disbelieve. I notice the twins glaring at each other with a challenging stare. Theres definitely something they hide from Miranda and Alexandre, I think. In the end, Nate is the first on to give up the staring contest.

"not the BEST, Mom", Nate corrects Miranda and fumbles with red cheeks on the zipper of his Jacket. I don't get how he is able to keep the thing on, while is so hot outside. But maybe I am just really sensitive with heat and he is used to it.

" How humble he is", Keira shouts and snorts contemptuously, then she leans over to me and whispers with glee something into my ear, that her parents shouldn't know: " He maybe has to repeat the year, if he continues to be so crappy in science. AS IF best student... he's a loser and lets me look bad in front of our parents, just because I refuse to continue cheerleading. Yet I am way better in school than this prick!"

" I'd rather be bad in school, then an unathletic potato-sack", Nate hisses at us and crosses his arms in upsetment. I desperately try to think about a way to get out of this fight, but deplorably I am sitting between them and no escape is to be seen.

" Just because I don't wanna be part of this sexist sport, doesn't mean, that I don't have no grace"

" What the fuck is sexist about cheerleading?"

" Well, they're actually many reasons", I now interfere, because not long ago, I watched a documentary about the cheerleading industry on youtube: " First of all, it sexualizes underage school girls, second of all Cheerleaders are just there to root for the "real" athletes, the footballers. So the typical - and very sexist - picture of the inferior Woman and the dominating Man is created. And all of this in Highschool! At least... that's what I heard, I mean... that's what they said. ...And its a really narcissistic sport with this sick self-presentation"

They both look at me in confusement and I slowly begin to regret to have opened my mouth, when seconds later Keira claps into her hands and yells: " Thats right, Nate!"

" But you are narcissistic, Keira. So it actually is the PERFECT sport for you"

To that, Keira says, that she doesn't need pubescent boys to look at her booty while she is dancing in short costumes to be knowing that her " ass is fine". Because she knows that already. I am amazed by her confident attitude, although I have enough of it myself. At least with my looks.

Keira is beautiful with her dark brown eyes, and the glowing caramelskin, that she's got from her father and the cute facial features, that she has from her mother. She is undeniably beautiful, so why should she try to deny it? Its her right to brag with her looks, its her right to feel one hundred percent confident in her flawless skin.

You could look at her and immediately see, that she is experienced with boys, that she is the popular girl, that probably everyone at school is jealous of her. I would be too, at least if I hadn't shared some of her features too; the long legs, the glowing skin, the freckles and dark eyes. But aside from that we look completely opposite. While her hair is curly and black, mines is wavy and honey blonde. I am taller and slimmer than her, while she has curves to die for. But still we both have that "Latina" glow, Nate and Alexandre do too. The only think I don't like about my body are my non-existing boobs and butt. But, I mean, Im not fully grown, I guess, so there's still hope for me.

" Everything okay, Keira?", Nate asks me and brings me back to reality. Yeah, I say, I was just in thoughts. He tells me that we would be at their house in a couple of minutes. Keira explains, that they're living right next to the beach and in the moment, she tells me that, I already can see it quite clearly, yet still in distance: the ocean blue sea.

Did you like the first chapter of "Ocean-blue eyes"? If soPlease let me know and if you found any mistakes you'd like me to correct. Until then: have a beautiful day, everyone <3