Midnight Rays

{Chapter One}

Standing in front of her mirror in her pretty pink and white bed room, seventeen year old Penelope Walker was busily fixing her waist length, wavy brown hair for school. Taking her brush, she passed it through her hair, tied it into a ponytail and sprayed it with hairspray to give it that glamorous shine.

Then she took her makeup kit and applied some concealer and foundation  to cover up the freckles dotting her cheekbones. Black eyeshadow, mascara and eyeliner made her gorgeous grey eyes pop. And finally a pale shade of pink  lipgloss was applied to her plump lips.

"Looking great today 'nelope," she said to herself as she surveyed her reflection in her mirror. Black skinny jeans that hugged her curvy figure, a knitted, white turtleneck sweater, chunky leather boots and a white beanie hat. Her uniform for the first day of school at Beverly High, an elite private school, located ten blocks from Penelope's house on Scarlett avenue.

Being a patient suffering from Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare disease that affects skin cells in a person's body, everywhere she went, Penelope had to cover up herself so no skin was exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the hot California sun. Her mother drove her to school and her father picked her up from Monday to Friday, she never walked anywhere and always had someone drove her anywhere she wanted to go.

"Penelope honey? Breakfast time, are you ready for school?" her mother's sweet natured voice called from the kitchen.
"Coming Mom," Penelope answered as she closed her makeup kit, sprayed perfume on herself, picked up her backpack and left her room.
She went downstairs to the kitchen where the smell of bacon, eggs and blueberry pancakes assaulted her nose.

"Morning Mom," she said planting a kiss on her mother's cheek and sitting down at the table.
"Morning hun, breakfast is almost done, just flipping the pancakes," Chloe Walker said sweetly as she effortlessly flipped a fluffy pancake in the stainless steel skillet.

Thirty six, with short brown hair that reached her shoulders, vibrant violet eyes, a fair complexion and a take charge personality, Chloe Elizabeth Walker was a kind-natured woman, overflowing with maternal love for her daughter.
She worked at Sanders Enterprise, a prestigious firm that specialized in real estate and property management.

"Good morning Daddy," Penelope said as she reached over the counter and hugged her father who was busily reading the papers and eating his breakfast.
"Good morning darling, did you sleep well?" he asked as he kissed his daughter on her cheek.

Forty three years old with short, black, curly hair, light grey eyes a tanned complexion and six foot four,  Lucus Walker was the patriarch of the Walker household. He worked at J.R Industries, an elite firm that provided security systems and  surveillances for companies, households, industrial and suburban areas.

"Alright honey here's your breakfast, eat up and then we'll leave in fifteen minutes," her mother said as she placed a plate of steaming pancakes, bacon, eggs and toast in front of Penelope with a mug of tea.
"Thanks Mom. Don't forget I have to bring a permission slip to school today, Mrs Phillips is adding the Facts of Life to our Biology class today and we need parents' permission to take part,"Penelope said.

"The Facts of Life huh? Didn't you learn about the Facts of Life in middle school?" Chloe asked as she too sat down to eat her breakfast.
"I did, but this class is more advanced than the middle school level, it's more...complex," Penelope replied.
"Okay I'll sign it before we leave,"
"Thanks Mom,"

When breakfast was finished, Penelope placed her dishes in the dishwasher and washed her hands.
"Finished Mom, let's go. I don't wanna be late for school," she said drying her hands on the dishcloth.

"Honeybee it's only seven thirty, school starts at eight, you have plenty of time to get there," Chloe said laughing.
"Can you blame her? She takes after her old man. Always anxious to be on time," Lucus said with a smile.
"Daddy's right Mom, let's go, let's go," Penelope said tugging on her mother's arm.

"Okay okay I'm coming, just let me put down my dishes before you tear my arm out," Chloe gasped dramatically.
Once finished, Penelope kissed her father goodbye and took her umbrella off the hook, slipped on her dark sunglasses and walked quickly to her mother's sleek, silver BMW M5. Chloe unlocked the front seat and Penelope jumped in and shut the door.

"Alright all set, do you have everything? Your phone, charger, headphones, extra hoodie, backpack, lunch bag?" her mother asked as she put on her seatbelt and slipped on her own sunglasses.
"The permission slip, sign it before you forget," Penelope said as she produced the paper from her bag with a pen.

With the permission slip signed, Chloe slipped the key in the ignition and started the car. Pulling out of the driveway, they drove onto the street. On the drive to Beverly High, Penelope listened to music on her phone while her mother drove at a steady pace, making sure to keep out of the sun.

Beverly High was a tall building, seven stories high, painted black, red and silver, the colours of the cheerleader and football team uniforms. Already several students had arrived and were flocking to school, dressed in their different uniforms.

The girls were pretty in their freshly pressed outfits. Some wore jeans, some wore leggings, others wore knee length dresses and the majority wore skirts. Penelope envied them. They could wear whatever they wanted and didn't have to fear their skin being in danger to the sun. They didn't have a skin disease, they didn't have XP. How lucky those girls were.

Her mother sensed what she was feeling when she looked at the wistful glance she shot at the girls. Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, Chloe turned Penelope to face her. The girl looked at her mother sadly, her grey eyes misty with unshed tears. It hurt her heart to see her precious baby girl in that condition.

"I know what you're thinking honeybee, you wished you could be like those girls? Free to wear whatever they wanted without fear of XP haunting them. Am I right?"
"Mom it's nothing, don't worry about me," she said forcing a smile.
Chloe seemed unconvinced but she returned the smile and pulled Penelope into her arms for a hug.

"Have a nice day baby girl, don't let anyone tease you and be careful okay," Chloe whispered in her ears.
"Okay Mom," Penelope replied.
Getting out of the car, Penelope adjusted her sunglasses, fixed her hat and pulled down her sweater.

"Bye Mom, have a nice day I love you," she said waving to her mother through the open window.
"I love you too honey, be safe my little princess," Chloe said returning the wave and driving off to work.

With her mother gone, Penelope turned and walked up the school walkway. Students waved to her as she passed and she waved back. Then she reached the doors that would let her into the hallway of Beverly High and stopped for a minute.

"Okay, you've got this girl, just get in there and start the second semester of Beverly High. You've got this," she whispered to herself. Taking a deep breath, she let it out and pushed open the doors to Beverly High, ready to take on the new year.

Author's note:
Okay the first chapter of Midnight Rays is up. I hope you all enjoyed it. Vote, comment and share. Remember this book is to raise awareness of XP, share it with your friends and family and don't forget to follow!!! ❤️❤️❤️