Nocturnes

Chapter One- Pink

(Word Count: 5,650)

Here it is! The first chapter of Nocturnes, made over months and months of effort, is finally finished. There's just something so surreal about seeing this written and edited and now published for friends and strangers to see. I'd love to see what my readers think of it, so please don't refrain from providing criticism!

And now, without further ado, here's Nocturnes! Enjoy!

The morning started like any other, with the blood-curdling screams of his alarm clock along with the pounding of a mad woman at his bedroom door. Sam was used to this, but on the Monday after winter break, it was too much. He quickly sat up to silence the siren, yelling to his sister that he was awake. Heaving himself off his bed, he checked the time. 7:40 a.m. The realization that he was late dawned on him like the sun, and he quickly threw on a Nirvana tee and blue-gray denim jeans. As Sam rushed down the stairs he smelled the fresh brew of coffee and cooked bacon, noticing his sister Stella on the couch across from the kitchen.

"¡ Ah, por fin está despierto, ¡Ya es hora! " Stella exclaimed with sass, glancing up from her phone screen. Sam stuck his tongue out at her as he quickly tying his hair up in a scrunchie bun. His mother whipped around, and their eyes locked, the seething anger shown on her face was enough to cause Sam to shrink down. Though Sam had to bend down to meet his mother eye to eye. Her squat face was much more intimidating than you'd think, their piercing green eyes locked, his mom giving the most effective evil look he has seen in his 18 years.

              "¡Lo siento mama! Mi alarma no Estaba sincronizada con el Tiempo correcto," he replied. It was at least half the truth; He'd moved his alarm up about 20 minutes over the holidays and never thought to change it back.

              "Bueno, no lo vuelvas a hacer. ¡ Ahora tienes una quesadilla y date prisa !"

Sam apologized once more, grabbed a quesadilla from the countertop, and kissed his mother on the cheek. As he yelled goodbye at Stella, he snatched his bag and coat from the hook, wrapping the coat around himself to brace against the January cold. Maybe it was just the scent of approaching rain or the sight of the leafless trees, but something in the air told Sam that today would not be an ordinary day. It seemed as though the last orange streaks of the sunrise were smiling at him. He just managed to catch the bus, but the dirty look from the driver was enough to crush any relief he might have felt. Taking a seat in the back, Sam stared out the window, thoughts running a mile a minute. So much for a happy new year.

The scenery seemed to be in slow motion as they pulled to each stop. He took note on how the last of the leaves on a paper birch tree clung on despite the frigid weather. Sam was shocked out of his daydreaming when another student sat down next to him. Her hair was long, blond, and shaved on one side, with faded electric green tips. Her white halter top and blue, ripped jeans looked flawless on her, and when she looked over at Sam with her bright sunflower eyes, he quietly gasped.

            "Ramona?" Sam was shocked, to say the least.

            "That's my name, don't wear it out,"she said, smiling a bright braces-clad smile.

            "No way," he exclaimed, holding out his hand and hi-fiving hers. "I thought you were suspended?"

            "Turns out, two-week suspensions count Christmas break. I bet Figs wanted to kick me out for longer, the bitch."

            "Ha, well, it seems a little drawing in the girls' bathroom is a bigger problem than dumbasses smoking joints in the computer room after school to her." Sam was smiling wider than he had all week.