feel the dead leaves crunch under my feet as I walk down the familiar street. Although it breaks me every time I catch a glance of the gloomy atmosphere, I never thought that I'd actually come here again.

The breeze was a bit too chilly, than the normal December weather. I could see the huge dead tree becoming bigger and bigger as I walk closer. I finally reach the huge gates and look at the enormous-sized letters on top.

Cemetery.

I push the gates open and walk inside. I catch a glimpse of the gravestone; it was the only gravestone that had dark red and purple flowers surrounding it.

I head to the grave, my converse crushing all the dead leaves and flowers under my feet.

Anastasia Falls

2001-2011

In a memory of a loving sister and daughter

"Everyday is a new journey."

I smile and kneel down on the dirt, sitting down and crossing my legs. I didn't really care about the fact that I'm sitting on dirt, while brown leaves poke my bottom. Although, that really hurt, a lot.

"Hey, Ana," I start. "How's everything going? A lot of things happened since the last time I visited you. The guys are still the same overprotective, lazy bums they are. Mum still works in that technology center and dad," I pause. "Well, he's still working with Jennie's father in this huge company.

"Speaking of Jennie, she still hates me because I'm from a different race, but I don't hate her though. She's just trying to tick me off and I don't care about her.

"Alex, the guy I have this huge crush on, talked to me. I know, I can't believe it either," I exclaim. "It actually went pretty well and I wish you were here to cheer me on. I gotta give most of the credits to the girls, though, since they helped me with this.

"I still haven't told mum and dad that I'm in a secret band. I think I'm going to hold on this secret for awhile, since I'm not sure how they are going to react," I pause thinking of something to say.

"Oh! Luke Carter is staying with us now. Remember Luke? Black hair? Green eyes? His mother doesn't like mum and vice versa? Yeah, that Luke. You're probably wondering how mum even agreed on this when she doesn't like Mrs. Carter?

"Well, she told me that she likes Luke, since he's a 'sweet' boy and she just doesn't like his mother, which is so untrue. He's a pain in the butt and I can't stand him.

"Just because, he's the hottest guy I ever encountered with and he has the most beautiful green eyes I ever saw, doesn't mean I like him.

"The good thing is that he's staying for two weeks only, so let's just hope that time is on my side right now." I say, chuckling slightly.

"I miss you, Ana, so much. I wish you could be here with me, support me and help me whenever I need your help. I'm really glad that I have my friends and family with me, but I need you to be here with me," I swallow the lump in my throat, fumbling with the rose gold bracelet on my wrist that had Sister carved in the middle of its chain.

"Anyways, I have to go. School is starting in thirty minutes and I don't want to get detention again," I roll my eyes and get up, dusting my pants. Thank Zeus, I'm wearing black pants.

A cold rush of wind passes by carrying purple and maroon petals, I hold my hands out and they land in my hands. As stupid as that sounds, I've always thought that this was a sign from Ana, telling me that she loves me. But, it could be just a coincidence every time.

"I love you, Ana," I grin, placing the petals in front of the gravestone, where there's a pile of petals already there.

I fix my backpack on my shoulder and start walking back to the gates, looping around the graves, until something catches my attention and I freeze. I back track my steps and look down at the gravestone, shocked at what I read next.

Thomas Carter

1967-2011

In a memory of a loving father, son, husband and brother.

| | | |

"Anna!" I hear Riley yell and I snap back to reality.

"What?!" I yell back.

"Were you even listening to me?" She asks, sighing.

"Sorry, Riley. I was just thinking about something," I tell her.

"Are you okay? You've seemed really off since this morning," Colette says, worriedly and Sophie and Riley nod their heads in agreement.

"Yeah, it's just that I visited Ana this morning and she's been on my mind ever since," I half-lie.

Although I wasn't sure yet, it wasn't really my place to tell the girls that Luke's father is dead. However, it could be any other guy, the name Carter is a popular name, but again, it could be Luke's father.

Luke never really mentioned him and when he said that his family is visiting his aunt, he just said his mother and his sisters. He never brought his father up, but I could be assuming things.

"Oh," Sophie says.

"Don't worry, Anna. You'll be alright by the end of the day," Riley smiles and the three of them squeeze me in a huge hug. I hug them back and smile gratefully.

"Thanks guys," I say, pulling away.

The bell rings and we all stand up, dumping the rest of what's on our trays in the garbage bin. We walk out of the cafeteria and separate our ways, since I don't have any of the girls with me in History lesson. I'm walking to class by myself, when someone starts walking next to me and I notice it's Jennie.

She smiles sweetly and it doesn't take Einstein to know that's a fake one. "Hi, Anna," she says.

Wow, she knows my name, that's new. I bet she asked someone about it, before she approached me.

"Jennie," I mumble.

"How is your life going?" She asks.

"What do you want, Jennie?" I ask impatiently coming to a halt stop.

"I heard Luke is staying at your house. Is that right?" She asks, placing her hand on her hip. Her dark brown skin have that natural melanin glow and her usually frizzy, curly afro is now in a box-braided ponytail that reaches her lower back with two braids framing her face and even though, she's evil, she's very much gorgeous.

I don't know why, but I've always believed that popular people could either be rich and just a bit pretty, or gorgeous and not rich. I've believed that since I was in Year 8, but all my beliefs went crashing down when I entered senior year.

It was like everyone went on a long trip to Puberty Hits Land and got spitted on by the god of gorgeousness. Unfortunately, I wasn't informed about this and the only thing that I got spitted on by was that llama I saw in the zoo.

"Sorry, you just have to ask your boyfriend about that," I fake smile and I start walking away, but she just follows me and stops in front of me, making me stop.

"I know he's staying at your house and small warning: stay away from him, it's better for both of us," she warns me.

"Don't worry. He's all yours," I tell her, before walking past her to my class.

I walk inside the classroom and take a seat in the middle of the class. I get my earphones and my phone out and play my playlist, since Mr. Miller didn't come yet. I notice someone sitting next to me and I look up, finding Abby smiling at me.

By the way, Abby is the most popular, most gorgeous and the richest girl in school. She's that nice popular girl I was talking about earlier. She's also my cousin on my dad's side.

"Hey, Anna," she says, putting her golden hair up in a ponytail.

"Hey, Abby," I say, pausing my playlist.

"How are you doing?" She asks.

"Good. You?"

"Fine," she replies.

"Why are you not sitting with your friends?"

She rolls her eyes, "I'd rather sit with you than sit with their fake asses," she says.

"Do you really dislike them that much?"

"Disliking them is an understatement," she mutters. "I can't even stand sitting with them on the same table."

"Abby, you could have just sat with us from the beginning of the year," I tell her.

"I know, but I thought you wouldn't really like it if I sat with you and your friends."

"Abby, you're my cousin. I can't do that to you," I tell her softly and she gives me a guilty look.

Sometimes, I feel like my brothers' and my cousins' social lives are so much better than my own. Liam is the most popular guy in his grade, my brother is one of the cool and popular people and Abby is the most popular girl at school. And there's me, but I don't mind the position that I am currently in. It's just highschool after all.

"But you can still sit with us, if you want," I offer.

"Really?" She beams.

"Of course," I chuckle.

"Oh my God! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She squeals, squeezing me in a huge hug.

"I. can't. breathe," I struggle.

"Sorry," she quickly pulls away.

Mr. Miller walks in and he asks everyone to settle down. The whole lesson Mr. Miller just asked questions and Abby and I were the only people who were answering.

The bell rings and only one period is left before I leave this stinking school. Luckily, Colette is with me in Geography class and I won't feel lonely.

"Geography-" Colette starts, after she takes a seat.

"-sucks," I finish.

"I was going to say 'is disgusting', but that works too," she nods.

Mr. Harris starts the lesson as soon as he sets foot in the class and I get really bored from his voice that I decided to get my notebook out and try coming up with a new song.

I think of something to write about and I'm about to write what came on my mind, when the notebook gets snatched out of my hand. I look up, startled and Mr. Harris stands there, glaring at me and clutching my notebook in his hand.

"Is there something more important in there than what I'm discussing, Miss Falls?" He asks.

"Um...not really?" I answer.

"This will be in the principal's office if you need it," he says, before walking to the front of the classroom and placing my notebook under a stack of papers.

"I-I don't think that's necessary," I stammer, but he ignores me.

After he's done explaining, he tells us to answer the questions in the text book and everyone gets busy, mostly because they're scared of Mr. Harris.

I feel someone poking my side and I look at Colette, with a questioning look.

"I'll try and get it," she mouths and I nod.

She stands up and walks to the front of the classroom where Mr. Harris is sitting down. Mr. Harris looks at her questionably and she smiles sweetly.

"Miss Evrémonde, is there something wrong?" He asks her.

"Yes. Um...I was just thinking about this year's fundraiser and I was thinking maybe we could turn it into a...fun fair?"

"I'll make sure to tell Principal Collins your idea," he replies, before going back to correcting a bunch of papers.

"Actually, I wanted to talk about your...haircut," she says and I mentally face palm myself. "Did you just get it? You hair used to be more messy."

"Miss Evrémonde, my hair is always like that," he replies drily.

"Oh," she replies. "Guess I didn't notice," she says as she tries to grab the notebook from under the papers, but the bell rings.

I shoot Colette a warning look and she sends me a panicked look back. I watch as Mr. Harris starts getting up and he starts gathering his things.

"Mr. Harris, I think it's really important to discuss-" Colette starts following Mr. Harris.

"Goodbye, Miss Evrémonde," he tells her and walks out of the classroom.

Colette huffs and stomps her foot on the ground, before turning to face me. I'm expecting everyone to shoot up and dash out of this room, but everyone is glued to their seats staring at Colette.

"What are you staring at, losers?" She scoffs and everyone jumps up (except Luke and Alex) and rushes out of the room. Colette walks to her desk and grabs her bag. "Come on, Anna."

I stand up, putting the strap of my bag over my shoulder and walking out of the classroom with Colette.

"What are you going to do about your notebook?" She asks as soon as we walk out of the classroom.

"Riley told me that there's night school today, so I'm just going to sneak in and grab the notebook from the principal's office. Easy peezy," I say.

"You're going to break into the school?"

"It's not breaking, if you don't break anything," I say, logically.

"Guess I'll see you tonight then."

"You go to night school?" I raise an eyebrow questionably.

"Yup, I'm failing Math."

| | | |

Okay, so...phone? Check. Black clothes? Check. Brothers snoring their bums off? Check. Mum on the emergency dial, just in case? Check. Colette at school? Check. Totally lame excuse that only Principal Collins will believe that probably involves dreaming of half-pig half-frog clowns? Check. Feeling stupid? Check.

I walk out of the room quietly, not to disturb my brothers. I go downstairs and freeze in my place, when I hear the TV playing.

Whoops. Luke.

Luke is sitting on the leather L-shaped couch and he's too focused on Fast and Furious 7. I take long strides, walking behind the couch. The door was only a few inches away. I'm going to make it!

"Why do you look like you're about to rob a bank?" I freeze, when I hear Luke's deep voice and I slowly turn around to face him.

"Oh, hi. Didn't see you there," I smile innocently.

"Yeah, I'm too invisible to be noticed," he says, sarcastically. "Where are you going?"

"School."

"You attend night school?" He asks, smirking a bit. "Damn, Falls. I expected more from you."

"No, you idiot," I roll my eyes. "My notebook is in the principal's office and I need it."

"You mean–your diary?"

"It's not a diary. It's a notebook."

"It seemed like you're writing something important in there and if it's really a notebook, you wouldn't have cared about it that much."

"Are you stalking me?" I blurt out.

He laughs and God, does he have a beautiful laugh. "I must assure you, Cherries, that I'm not stalking you," he claims and I notice the hint of Italian accent in his voice.

"What do you want, Carter?"

"Nothing. Since, you got this covered that means you know about the security cameras."

"Security cameras?" I gulp.

"Yeah, the school is loaded with them and you can get caught, unless..." he pauses and a devilish smirk creeps on his face.

"Unless...?" I send him a questioning look.

"I come with you."

| | | |

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