Here's the thing. I wrote this when I was 14 years old. Please don't expect it to be perfect. There will be spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. A lot of them. But I promise you, the plot is worth the read. However, if you still have issues with it and just want to have a smooth sail read, I recommend you to read: Mismatched Compatibility, A and D, or Cruel Me. I improved tons when I wrote those. :)

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Maxine Ferguson's parents just got divorced.

She hated leaving her school, where she was popular among her schoolmates because of her angelic voice. She also had reddish brown hair and brown eyes.

As of the moment, her mother and her were currently loading their luggage onto the sleek black Mercedes Benz.

They had decided to move to the city where Natalie, her mother, grew up. Her mother was raised in the Upper East Side of New York City by her grandfather. And so, Maxine's grandfather offered to help them by offering them a place to say at his condominium in Fifth Avenue.

Like most teenagers that had to choose between their mother and father, Maxine chose her Mom. There was no certain bond between her and her Dad. He was always away.

Maxine could not understand why her Dad had to see other women.

Wasn't her Mom enough? Wasn't the love and care that her Mom gave her Dad enough? If her Dad could not even take care of their Mom, how could he even take care of her and Alex?

Although Maxine loved her father, she almost hated him. But remembering all the care her Dad had given her when she was still a little girl made that hatred go away. So she was just mad at him. Very mad.

She knew that someday, she would forgive him for doing that to her Mom. But that someday was not going to be tomorrow or any day soon.

Besides, Mom needs us more, thought Maxine.

"Is this really okay for you, sweetie?" Natalie asked Maxine, frowning slightly.

"Mom, I've told you a dozen times. It's fine," answered Maxine with a smile, as she pushed the last luggage in to the trunk of the car.

"Thanks." Natalie returned the smile. Then, she looked around as if she was searching for something and added, "By the way, where's your brother?"

"Pickaboo!" a little boy with the age of five surprised them from behind.

"You startled me, Alex!" exclaimed Natalie, clutching her chest.

Alexander grinned. Natalie was suddenly reminded of her now ex-husband. He looked exactly like his father, with the curly brown hair and especially with the big brown eyes.

"Are we ready to go, Maxine?" asked Natalie as she got in the driver's seat.

"Yeah," answered Maxine, when she finished putting the seat belt to Alex at the back, and settling herself beside her mother.

"Well, New York, here we come!" said Natalie gracefully with such cheerfulness in her voice. She started the engine and began to drive.

"Yeah, new world, here I come," sighed Maxine quietly and gloomily.

Maxine knew that she was not forced to go with her Mom. But she still agreed to come. She could not stand to be away from her mother.

Besides, she thought, new surroundings can't be that bad.

After a couple of hours, they finally arrived at Crystal Life Condominium.

It was twenty-one stories high. The building covered three thousand square meters in Fifth Avenue.

Maxine could just not wait to see how it looked inside.

As they got out of the car, an old man - in his fifty's - approached them. He was stout. And the color of his hair weren't white, but dyed black. Then again, the way he wore his uniform stated that he had a high position at the place.

"You're the Ferguson family, I suppose?" asked the old man.

Maxine noticed that there was a British accent in his tone.

"Yes, we are," Natalie answered, smiling at him. "Father must've told you that we were coming."

"Indeed," nodded the old man. "My name is Joe. Please let him take your things." Joe gestured at the bellboy beside him.

Natalie just nodded. She let the bellboy carry the bags.

Maxine did not complain. She simply stared at her mother, wondering if this was the kind of life her mother grew used to. It was definitely different for her because she grew up knowing how to do chores.

Life in New Jersey was simple. Life in New York might be heaven for her.

Maxine absentmindedly followed her Mom and brother to the elevator, taking in the luxurious place. Everything she saw shined and glimmered. She felt like a commoner that just found out that she was a princess.

When they reached the twentieth floor, they stepped outside the elevator and there Maxine gazed at her surroundings as she stood at the wide hallway.

The walls were wallpapered a floral beige. The style was very elegant. There was a bouquet of white roses in an expensive vase in each corner of the hall.

On that floor, Maxine noticed that there were only three doors. One was the fire exit. And the other two were the condominiums.

So Maxine concluded that there were two condominiums on each floor.

"Just put them here," Natalie told the bellboy, who somehow struggled to get their luggages. "We'll be able to put them inside by ourselves. Thank you." She handed a tip to the bellboy who brought all their things to their floor.

"We're here," Natalie added to Maxine and Alex. She pointed at the door where there was a neatly carved, DOOR 40.

Alex didn't appear to have heard his Mom. He ran around and suddenly knocked on Door 39. He continued to knock it until someone opened it.

A tall teen male that had a tousled blonde hair with startling blue eyes appeared. His expensive black sweatshirt, with the word SKY on it, was hanging from his broad shoulders. But his body was not thin and at the same time, not too muscular.

All in all, he looked incredibly handsome.

Alex froze. He suddenly hid behind Maxine in fright. While Maxine just stared.

"May I help you?" the mysterious Greed God-like creature asked.

In Maxine's opinion, his deep voice could melt anyone in sighs. How could anyone be incredibly handsome? Seriously?

"Sorry if we bothered you, young man. My son was very excited and -" Natalie tried to apologize, but was cut off by Alex.

"Hi! I'm Alex!" Alex piped out from behind Maxine.

"Hey. I'm Todd," the guy answered, giving out a breathtaking smile.

A very elegant-looking lady then came out.

"Todd, what are you doing -"

The lady stopped and stared at Natalie for a long moment, before widening her eyes in pure shock.

"Natasha?! Is that you?" she demanded, but still managing to maintain her poise. "My, my, it's been a long time!" She laughed as she walked closer to Natalie and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Natalie smiled and cried, "Janice! Oh, Janice Samuels!"

Then, they hugged. A moment later, Janice offered her and Todd's help on bringing the Ferguson family's luggage to Room 40. Natalie happily agreed. And so, they began going inside.

Maxine didn't immediately come inside due to the fact that she struggled to carry her personal belongings.

"Let me help you."

Maxine turned around and saw Todd leaning down to get her bags. When he straightened up again, he looked at Maxine's frozen expression. He tilted his head in wonder of what she was doing.

"I'm Todd," he finally said, giving out his free hand for a handshake.

Maxine's eyes flew to Todd's outstretched hand. Slowly, she accepted it.

"I'm Maxine."

They shook hands. But Maxine instantly pulled away, her heart pounding. She felt something weird when their hands touched. She couldn't describe what it was exactly.

In silence, they carried the things to the living room where their mothers were talking enthusiastically.

Maxine took in her surroundings once again.

"Whoa," she breathed out.

Everything around her was . . . neat and clean. It was so much clean that the room shined. Maxine felt like she was in a dream. It was surreal.

When Todd and Maxine entered the living room, their mothers didn't seem to notice their existence. Maxine figured that they hadn't seen each other for a long time.

"So, how's your husband, Mike?" asked Natalie.

Janice answered, "Hmm . . . I must say he's turning into your father, lately. Busy with work, running his company. Oh! And this is our son, Todd." She gestured toward Todd, when he sat beside her. "He's turning seventeen by the end of this year. What about you and Walter? Is it true you divorced?"

Natalie looked weary.

"Well, yes," answered Natalie quietly. "That's why we've agreed that the kids and I should move here." She smiled sheepishly. When she saw Janice look sorry for her, she quickly added, "There's nothing sad about. Besides, I have my responsible daughter and adorable little boy. I'll be okay."

Janice reluctantly nodded. She glanced at Maxine and gasped.

"I can see she's beautiful, Natasha," commented Janice, staring at Maxine. "How old is she?" she asked. Then, to Maxine, she added, "Maxine, isn't it?"

Maxine nodded.

"She just turned sixteen," answered Natalie. "She's in her third year of High School."

"Ooh, perfect! Todd is in the same year!" exclaimed Janice excitedly.

Todd and Maxine unintentionally glanced at each other at the same time. But they quickly looked away. Suddenly, Janice clapped her hands once.

"Enroll her to our old school, Sky International Academy," suggested Janice. "It has a higher quality education now, the teachers are very accommodating and the activities and events they prepare for students are more unique and fun than before. The school itself has an amazingly higher standard. It makes me want to go back to school," added Janice with a little laugh.

"Sure. Thank you for the help, Janice," said Natalie appreciatively.

"No problem. In fact, why not call the school now to make the arrangements so that she can go to school tomorrow?"

"Of course."

"Then it's decided," beamed Janice. She stood up, walked toward Maxine, and held her hands. "Todd's going to help you in getting used to the school, dear. Your Mom and I are going to set everything."

Todd widened his eyes after hearing what his Mom said.

"Me?" demanded Todd incredulously.

Janice shot a glance at Todd and told him, "Yes, you!" She turned to Maxine again and smiled, "He'll even tour you around the city."

Todd was about to protest, but Janice quickly cut him off.

"Natasha, I'll call the school. Come over later."

An hour had passed. Alex was already in his room, taking his daily afternoon nap. Maxine, on the other hand, was helping her Mom unpack.

She asked when she would see her grandfather. And she learned that he barely came home due to business trips. That made her a bit sad.

After helping her Mom, she decided to roam around the condominium.

Looking around, there were five spacious bedrooms, a den, mini library, living room, kitchen, and dining area. In each bedroom, there was a bathroom. The living room and dining area's walls were entirely glass.

Maxine suddenly remembered a friend telling her that people who lived in Manhattan were wealthy people. And now she could see why. She felt like she was leaving in a dream. A dream she didn't want to wake up from.

She eventually entered her assigned bedroom and looked around.

There was a queen sized bed. There was a closet - when she peeked inside, it was big enough to be her bedroom. By the window, there was a flat screen computer, with the speaker and everything. When she stopped gaping at her new bedroom, she finally unpacked her things and put them in place.

After half an hour, she returned to the living room where her Mom was watching her favorite show on the Plasma screen TV.

Maxine was bored as she sat beside her Mom. She looked at the clock and realized it was just four o'clock in the afternoon. She then decided to go outside, to the famous Central Park.

She asked her Mom if she could go, and Natalie agreed.

"But there's a condition," added Natalie.

"There's always a condition," muttered Maxine under her breath.

"Since it's Sunday and tomorrow's your big day, ask Todd if he could come with you," her Mom finished casually.

Maxine flushed at the mention of Todd's name.

"What?" she scoffed. "No way. He barely wants to help me out. You saw his reaction. I'll be just a bother to him. Please, Mom, no . . ."

"Well, I can't come," her Mom said firmly. "And neither can Alex. You don't know this place. You'll just be lost."

"A map can do."

"Maxine, stop," Natalie ordered, slightly irritated. "Your only choice is to go with Todd. And if you don't want to, you might as well stay here."

Maxine pouted.

She gave up. Boredom would kill her. She really wanted it bad to go outside. She had no choice, then. At this point, she had to go and ask him.

She put on her coat and went over to Room 39. She nervously knocked on the door. After a while, Todd opened it.

"Um . . ." started Maxine, looking at her feet. She looked at Todd and continued, "I was wondering if you could go with me to Central Park. Mom said I can't go alone and she won't go with me. So, if you're busy it's okay. If you don't wanna go, it's all right."

Todd stared at her, obviously thinking on what to do.

"Okay," he muttered expressionless.

Maxine seemed a little confused. "What do you mean by, 'Okay'?"

"Okay, I'll go with you," sighed Todd. "I'll just get my jacket," he added, walking back inside.

When he got his jacket, they took off and went to Central Park.

Maxine observed that Todd was not very talkative. Whenever she asked if it was okay with him to go wherever, he would always reply with "Okay" or "Fine", giving out no expression at all.

But despite Todd's silence, Maxine felt quite comfortable with him. They ate hamburgers and she told stories to keep Todd entertained. Sometimes, she felt like she was talking to herself but Todd occasionally smiled, grinned or even chuckled. And that was what kept her telling stories about her life in New Jersey.

They hung out at the Bethesda Fountain and lost track of time. It was already half past seven in the evening. They went home and said good nights when they reached their floor.

Before going to bed, Maxine told everything that had happened to Natalie.

"You mean to say, you spent three hours in Central Park?" asked Natalie.

Maxine nodded in answer, while her Mom just grinned.

"Mom!" exclaimed Maxine. She covered her face with her hands, knowing only too well what Natalie's grin meant.

"What?" she asked innocently, her eyes widened.

"You have that look!" said Maxine, still covering her face.

"What look?"

"Ugh! Never mind!" said Maxine exasperatedly. She stood up and ran to her bedroom. "I cannot believe you actually think that -"

She didn't have the chance to continue what she was saying because she bumped to the wall and fell on the floor.

"Ouch!" she cried, removing her hands that covered her face.

Natalie tried to muffle her laughter as she went to Maxine's aid.

"That's okay, honey," Natalie told her, patting her head gently. "Just sleep it over. And be ready for tomorrow." Then, she kissed Maxine on the forehead.

Maxine smiled. "Thank you, Mom," she murmured as she hugged Natalie.

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Watch the trailer!! (I really worked hard on it, if it's not obvious enough) >>