"Weather is primarily measured in terms of temperature, atmospheric pressure or the pressure of the air resting on the Earth, precipitation and humidity..." Mr. Harris explains as he writes the notes of the lesson on the green chalkboard.

I write them down after him and try not to focus on the fact that I feel like my head is going to explode any minute now. The whole lesson is one hour, but it feels like it has been two hours and that time is slowly torturing me.

If time was a person just like in Alice through the Looking Glass, I would have slapped him across the face for slowing down school hours and passing time as fast as a train in the weekends.

I let out a sigh, but I blew pretty darn hard, that it came out as a farting-sound sigh. Every single person turns their head around and looks at me. Even Mr. Harris stops writing on the board and turns to me. Colette raises an eyebrow at me in question.

"Miss Falls, we don't tolerate passing gas publicly." He says. And the entire class breaks down into chuckles and giggles.

"N-no, I-I didn't do...that. I was just sighing a-and it came out l-like that," I stammer over my words and I try to do the sigh (fart) sound I did, but it came out as a normal sigh. Mr. Harris sighs (a proper sigh), shakes his head and returns back to oh-so-annoyingly-explaining the definition of weather and climates.

I sink in my seat, avoiding the stares and the chuckles of the people by pulling my beanie down on my head. The worst thing is that Alexander is in this class.

I don't really see his reaction, because I'm fixing my gaze on my notebook. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm some kind of farting stalker. And that doesn't really sound appealing.

| | | |

"Oh and Alexander was there," I finish explaining my so-called farting situation in geography class to Riley.

Our art teacher, Mrs. Morgan, gave us some time to discuss our class project with our partners and luckily, Riley is my partner. Since I suck at drawing and a monkey can probably draw better than I can; I chat with Riley while she draws the portrait, but I promised I would help with coloring it because, lucky me, I can color inside the lines which is good.

"Did you see his reaction?" She asks, as she does the outlining of a butterfly.

"Not really," I reply. "But, I'm sure he thinks I'm a complete weirdo."

"I think you should talk to him, Lyn," she suggests.

"No way," I shake my head, remembering the last time I talked to him.

"Hey," Alexander says as soon as he approaches me.

"H-hey me?" I ask, pointing at me. "I mean, hey."

"You're Anna, right?" He asks sitting in the seat next to mine.

"Yeah, or Lyn. My friends call me both." I tell him, but then I press my lips in a thin line. Okay, focus, Anna. Calm the heck down.

He chuckles and his laugh–of course–is beautiful like the rest of him. "Okay, Lyn," he settles and I smile. "So, I heard you're good at history," he says.

"I am?" I frown, questioning myself more. It is like I totally forgot anything related to school or my life, but then it hit me. History. I'm good at history.

"Yes!" I practically yell, but I lower my voice down and repeat a 'yes'.

"Great," he grins. "How about we both do the homework together later?"

Together? Alone?

"Awesome," I reply.

"Awesome," he confirms with a smile on his face, standing up. "By the way, I like your accent," he comments before walking away.

I feel my cheeks heating up and I smile goofily as I watch him walk to his seat.

"I know the last time you talked to him didn't go as smooth as you wanted," Riley says, snapping me out of my flashback. "But I think you should try."

"I don't know," I say, unsurely.

"You don't know what?" Sophie asks.

"Tell Anna how she has to pull her big girl pants up and talk to lover boy," Riley replies.

"Oh yeah," she says. "You should talk to him."

"I know!" I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air.

"You know what?" Colette asks.

"The Alexander situation," Riley says.

"Oh-" Colette starts.

"Don't tell me to talk to him." I plead.

"I was going to say that I came to steal Sophie back for the portrait thingy," she points at Soph, before dragging her away.

"Wait, no!" she tries to get out of her grip. "I can't draw!"

"You were the one who drew the bird, Sophie," Colette replies, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah," she answers. "And it looked like a bat!"

"No, it did not."

"Miss Falls!" Mrs. Morgan calls out for me.

"I'll be back," I tell Riley and she nods.

I walk to the front of the classroom where Mrs. Morgan's wooden desk is and wait as she finishes writing something down in her notebook.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your work, dear," she says.

Should I tell her that Riley is the one working, while I'm complaining about my all-you-can-hear-is-drama life?

Nope.

"Oh, no. It's fine," I tell her.

"Oh well," she starts. "Would you mind getting me a board eraser from the storage room down the hall? You know how I can't leave the classroom like that."

"Sure, Mrs. Morgan," I nod, although I'm contemplating on the inside. I'm not really a fan of tight places, but Mrs. Morgan is one of the few teachers that I appreciate for existing, I can't simply tell her no. She depends on me sometimes and I like talking to her about everything. She's basically my best-teacher-friend.

"Thanks, dear. You're the best," she smiles at me, the wrinkles across her dark brown forehead are almost visible.

I walk out of the classroom after mouthing a 'BRB' to Riley. I walk down the hallway, the soles of my converse hitting against the ceramic floor, echoing in the empty halls.

I try not to focus on the fact that I'll be crammed up in a small storage room looking for an eraser. I breathe slowly as I walk closer to the room. I can already feel the goosebumps on my arms and my palms getting sweaty, but I try to focus on my breathing exercises that my mum taught me.

I make it to the storage room and place my hand on the door's handle. I take a deep breath before I pull the handle down and push the brown door.

Only to find Luke Carter and Jennie Olatunji. Kissing. Half-naked. Not them.

My eyes just lost its innocence.

They pull away, startled and turn to look at me.

"Oh my God. I'm so so sorry. I had no idea that anyone would be in here," I ramble.

Jennie just stands there with an annoyed look on her face and Luke has this careless look on his face, as he leans against one of the cupboards, his arms crossed against his chest. Don't look. Don't look...too late.

"Are you just going to keep staring at us?" Jennie snaps at me with a glare on her face. "Hurry up and get what you want to get."

Why is she glaring at me? It's not my fault that she and 'Mr. Bad Boy'–I do not like that term–decided to get a storage room and not a proper room or at least wait until they can go home and do their business.

"Um...right," I murmur.

I try not to think about how we're all packed in this small room or how I could feel my breathing get heavier. I need to get out of here before I faint.

I reach over and stand on my tippy toes, even though I'm 5'10, so it basically doesn't matter. Fun fact, I'm actually taller than my mum. I find it kind of funny how I tower over mum so much. Mum? Not really.

I grab the board eraser from the cupboard behind Luke, before landing back on my heels. We are so close that I can feel his warm breath on my face.

Luke's green eyes bore in my dark brown ones. His dark sea green eyes are so captivating that I can feel myself getting lost in them. I break our intense gazing by looking down on the floor and stepping back because I hate eye contact and I feel like I'm looking at him like a deer in headlights.

Movies lie about it feeling magical, it does not. It feels like I'm a hairless, wrinkly cat on catnip.

I'm supposed to move. Turn on my heels and leave, but it's like I'm pretty much stuck in my place.

"Um, you can leave now," Jennie says.

"Uh...yeah, I know that," I answer, rolling my eyes, before I turn around and exit the room. I close the room's door behind me and as soon as I hear the click of the door. I sprint down the hallway, like a pony in a marathon. I don't even look back, I just keep running down the hallway until I make it to the art classroom.

I take a sharp breath and walk inside the classroom. Fortunately, almost everybody is still discussing the 'portrait thingy', so I don't draw much attention.

"Here you go, Mrs. Morgan," I smile, giving her the eraser.

"Thanks, dear," she smiles back at me.

"No worries," I reply, before I walk back to my seat and plop down in it next to Riley, who's drawing the background of the portrait. Colette and Sophia are both talking beside her.

"Hey," Sophie says. "You're back."

"Mhm," I nod.

"What's wrong?" Riley asks.

"Nothing."

"Did something happen? Did you run into Seth?" Colette questions.

"Not really."

"Did you...get a panic attack or something?" Sophie stopped midway to lower her voice.

"No, no," I shake my head. "I went to the storage room to get Mrs. Morgan an eraser and..."

I explain to them everything that happened in the storage room. By the time I'm done, Sophie and Riley are looking at me with wide eyes and Colette just sits there with a 'no comment' look.

"Jennie is such a bitch," Colette rolls her eyes.

"Who taught her manners?" Sophie joins in.

"Does she even have manners?" Riley asks.

"I don't think she does," I reply.

"Out of all the places, she chose the storage room," Riley says.

"Pretty dumb choice, if you ask me," Sophie comments.

"Forget the place. Couldn't she just wait until she went home?" Colette states.

Apparently, Jennie has slept with every guy in school. Except Alexander, my brother, Zach Thompson and Luke Carter. Well, until now. My brother and Luke's friends never really liked her. Luke isn't like her though. He only slept with another four girls–one of them is my ex-best friend, Fiona–or something like that. I'm not entirely sure about that. Those are just what the rumors say though and I never once believed them.

Luke Carter and I were once good friends, you could say. What happened after that? I don't know really. Maybe it was him getting caught with his own life, maybe it was me getting caught with my own life. It would have been nice to have him as a friend, of course, but some things just don't work out, I guess and that's okay because who knows? It might be the best for them or me and that sounds like two good sides for me.

"Alright, everyone!" Mrs. Morgan shouts, catching our attention. "I hope you had enough time to finish some of your project's work. Now, back to today's lesson..."

| | | |

"Ang bobo na matandang babae!" Mum shouts, stomping inside the kitchen, flaring with anger.

I look up from my Algebra homework. "Mama?" I raise an eyebrow at her. "You alright?"

"No!" She yells and I almost fall out of my chair from her voice. Mum never gets that angry, unless Mrs. Carter does something that annoys her.

"What happened?" I ask her.

"That old hag threw her garbage all over my garden!" She complains.

"Mrs. Carter?" I question, knowing it's pretty much a rhetorical question.

I mean, it could be that old woman who lives right in front of us. She never really liked mum. I don't even know how mum gets enemies. She's really nice, unless you do something stupid, of course. Then, she turns into Satan's wife.

"Yes!" She screams. "Emily Carter!"

"Maybe, her dog did it. You know, how the Carters' dog gets hyper sometimes," I shrug.

"It's not the dog. I know it. It's her. That old witch!" Mum shrieks.

"Mum, please calm down," I tell her softly.

She takes a deep breath, before she lets it out then she takes a seat on the chair next to mine. She puts her head in her hands and lets out a sigh.

"What am I going to do?"

"You'll be alright, mum. Don't worry. Mrs. Carter is probably just annoyed at the fact that you ran over her mailbox accidentally," I pat her back, knowing for sure it's nowhere near an accident.

"Well, she most certainly deserved that," Mum mumbles, then she turns to me and smiles. "You're such a beauty. I'm so glad I have you," she wraps her arms around me, hugging me closely to her.

I missed mum's hugs. I barely have time to hang out with her. In the day, I'm at school and in the night, she's working. She excused herself earlier from work today, since she wanted to take a small break.

My mum works as a Computer and Information Systems manager at this huge Information Technology company. I know, sounds as complicated as heck but mum really loves her job.

"Wow, mum," Cameron, my older brother says as he enters the kitchen. "Anna is actually your favorite."

"Honey, you know I love the five of you," mum tells him, standing up and walking to the stove. Yes, there are five of us. I have three older brothers and one who's younger than me by two years.

Josh, Cole and Cameron are my three older brothers. Cameron is eighteen years old. He goes to my school, but we act like siblings separated at birth. Not because of Cameron's reputation or anything, but because we already see each other at home.

Josh and Cole are both twenty. They're twins obviously. They're in college right now. They go to a university in San Francisco, which is why they live with us.

And finally, my younger brother: Liam. He's fifteen years old. He goes to my school too and yes, we act like we don't know each other. Although, Liam is in high school, he can be a brat sometimes and he really gets on my nerves by doing the stupidest things that ever existed.

Ever tried jumping off the roof with huge flaps of leaves? Well, my brother did and he actually landed safely. Don't try this at home.

Growing up, my father wasn't really there for me most of the times. So the only male figures in my life were my brothers and as I grew up they had managed to mold me into a mini them. Josh and Cole got me obsessed with football and sports in general. Cameron got me obsessed with video games and Liam taught me how to wrestle and fight, courtsey of my dad who used to wrestle in Jericó–one of my many hometowns along with Makati and Sydney.

And they had taught me one thing and that is not to ever show a moment of weakness in front of a man because he can take that moment and use it in a way for him to have control over me. Safe to say that I had learned that very late.

That still didn't stop them from being protective over me. No matter how old my brothers are, younger or older than me. The four of them are over-protective over me. It's really sweet of them and everything, but it kind of gets irritating.

"Lies," I sing.

My mum rolls her eyes playfully. "How was school, honey?" She asks Cameron.

"Mum, you out of all people know the answer to that," he replies, opening the fridge and getting out a soda can, before taking a seat next to me.

He opens it and starts chugging it down with this loud slurping noise. I glare at him, but he continues drinking the soda and he even starts slurping louder.

"I just thought you would change your mind about it or something," Mum says.

"Nope, still the same," He starts slurping loudly again and when I get sick from the sound, I snatch it from his hand and throw it in the trash bin across the room and it lands inside the bin perfectly.

"And she scores," I say, proudly.

"I was drinking that," Cameron whines.

"Oh really? You were drinking an empty can? Are you a freaking bubble or something?" I raise my eyebrows questioningly.

"Still, I was enjoying annoying you," he says and I roll my eyes.

I go back to solving Algebra problems and after I finish the last problem, I close my textbook and let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Mum," I say in a small voice.

"Yes?" she replies.

"Can I please please please go out with my friends tonight?" I plead, giving her a wide smile.

She lets out a soft chuckle. "Annalyn, you know I don't mind if you go out with your friends. You should be asking your father not me."

Mum is kind of right. Dad is the one who goes all berserk when it comes to me going out at night.

"Fine," I reply.

"Where are you going?" Cameron asks.

"Pinecrest Diner," I answer.

"Who are you going to be with?" He asks.

"I just said my friends."

"Just your friends?"

"Yes, just my friends."

"Don't drink. Don't smoke. Don't be late," Cameron lists.

"Cameron, that's enough," Mum scolds him.

"I'm just telling her," he shrugs.

Although, mum told him to stop, I still reply. "I'm underage. I don't want to die. And I'll be back before twelve." I cross my fingers behind my back.

"Oh and be careful. I heard that the Night Chicks are performing tonight, so it's going to be crowded tonight."

My brothers don't know that I'm the lead singer of the band. Actually, no one in my family knows that I'm the lead singer. Except Liam, I don't know how the heck did that kid find out, but he did.

I'm not really that recognizable, whenever I'm performing. I just change my style of clothing, put on lots of makeup and take off my glasses and replace them with dark contact lenses. I honestly didn't know what was darker than my poop brown eyes, so I just bought the darkest pair of brown that the guy had.

Now that I'm thinking about it, people can actually easily recognize me, but I like to think that the people there are far too stupid to notice that.

"Anything else, dad?" I joke.

"Yes, don't call me dad," He replies with a scowl.

| | | |

"It's so crowded tonight," Sophie comments, as soon as we walk in Pinecrest Diner. Breathe, Anna. Breathe. I think, inhaling and exhaling calmly as I feel the claustrophobia kicking in.

"We're loved," Riley fake-sniffs, placing her hand on her heart. Colette rolls her eyes at her actions.

"Hey, girls," Tina, the owner of the diner says.

"Hey, Tina," we all reply.

"So, the stage is ready for you. If you need anything, just call me," she winks.

"Thanks, Tina," we answer, smiling at her. She shoots us a smile and walks away. We head to the medium-sized stage where Colette's drums and Riley's piano is. And we just stand by its side.

Tina gets on the stage, turning the microphone on. "Good evening, everyone!" She greets everyone, excitedly. "Today, we're having your favorite band on stage. Give it up for...The Night Chicks!" She announces and the whole crowd starts cheering and clapping. We get on the stage and each one of us stands in front of their instruments.

"Ugh, I wish they don't come for once," Riley groans.

The three of us look at where Riley is looking and I find Luke Carter, Zach Thompson, Jennie Olatunji, Alexander Hills, Jennie's goons and a bunch of jocks, including my cheating bumhole of an ex-boyfriend, Seth.

| | | |