Ok, I went back and tried to make it the show not tell effect. I really need criticism thats what keeps me going and keeps me wanting to write, to improve and impress you all. Thanks in advance for your wonderful help I'm sure I'll get. Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, or Holiday, Love to all. Love Jenn.
There are always two sides to love. The ones who get loved and the ones who always love but are never loved. If you are wondering what side I'm on, take a guess. I’m on the side that’s never been loved…except once and here’s my story.
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I don’t remember seeing my dad much growing up. That was just the way it was. We called but he didn’t visit much and we didn’t visit him, either. It was hard when people asked about him, what he was like, because, frankly, I didn’t know. All I knew was that when I was ten he married some women named Nina, we were invited to the wedding but we didn’t go, my mom couldn’t afford the tickets out to Los Angeles-where they live. Nina had two kids- Mia who was thirteen and Sean who was seventeen, my age. Then when I was fifteen they had Anna, who is now two. I was sent pictures of her and my dad offered to pay for me to come out there, but I just ignored it because I felt like he had abandoned him, and it felt good to do what he did to me to him.
So it makes absolutely no sense why my mom’s sending me to live with him. Yes, she got re-married and I told her I could give her and Phil-her new husband- time to themselves, but I thought she would just send me to my grandparents, twenty minutes away. Not my dad’s! Worst of all they live in Los Angeles. Apparently Nina is some rich chick and they live in a big house. I don’t know how my mom could send me there she knows I hate people who flaunt their richness and have big houses. Those kinds of people annoy me. I guess, because growing up we lived in a poorer township in Oregon and I think that those people shouldn’t risk it, but who am I to criticize? It’s their life, if they want to get themselves in trouble, who am I to stop them?
“Ready to go, Aria?” My mom, Lily, asked me, pushing her brown hair over her shoulder, as she picked up one of
my bags. My mom was one of my favorite people in the entire world. Growing up without a dad I learned to love my mom
twice as much as normal kids love their mom. We were super close and she knew all my secrets and my friend’s secrets-
they told her! She was the mom everyone considered to be the cool mom. That doesn’t mean we didn’t fight though, we fought just like normal teenagers and their parents, we just moved on faster.
“Are you sure you don’t even want to go into the terminal and see dad and Nina?” I asked her, as I picked up my
other bags and tried to shake my straight brown hair out of my blue eyes. My brown hair and blue eyes were some of the
few things my dad gave me. They were also the most hated parts of my body-in my opinion not in anyone else’s. Everyone else loved my eyes and hair, I think I hated them because they reminded me of my dad.
“Yes,” she said shortly. Ever since I was four- and they got divorced, because she thought he didn’t care about her and I anymore since he was working more and more hours even though we didn’t need the money- she hasn’t wanted to talk to or about my dad or Nina or anything related to my father. I understand her point of view. I haven’t wanted anything to do with him but since he showed interest in me now, I figured what did I have to lose, right?
“Ok, I just thought maybe-“
“Aria, don’t! Just get into the car, I will say goodbye to you at the airport. That way we don’t have to worry about parking,” she said with a little bit of sadness in her eyes, which quickly went away when Phil entered the room. Phil and her have been married for only a few days but have been dating since, well since I was seven-three years after she divorced my dad. I think she was with him the first time I saw her smile-when she started hanging out with Phil- after the divorce-they worked together, until he quit and got a better job, which he is now using the money to go on their honeymoon and buy a new, nicer house.
“Sorry, Mom,” I said apologizing, as I sat in got in the back seat and straightened my white skirt on-I wanted to make sure I looked perfect when I saw my dad and his new wife. They were flying out so they could see me and bond on the plane before I had to meet everyone else in the family, really I think that was just an excuse so that I didn’t have to fly alone or have to have my mom fly with me and waste money.
“Just forget about it,”
“So, are you excited to go visit your dad?” Phil asked me trying to break the silence.
“See him? Yes. See LA? No,” I said as I picked at my split ends, the many there were.
“Why not LA is filled with big houses and celebrities,” he asked, curious. He and I never really talk so it makes
sense why he wouldn’t know I hate all of the stuff he just said.
“I hate big houses and rich people who flaunt their richness,” I stated, bluntly.
“Oh,”
“Aria, I expect you to treat Nina with respect even though she's wealthier and they live in a bigger house, promise?
” my mom said as she finished loading the car with my bags.
“Promise, just why do I have to spend the WHOLE school year with them the three weeks of summer will be good
enough.”
“Your father wants to see you, he misses you,” she said as she sat in the driver’s seat and pulled out of our
driveway.
“Is that why he never bothered to come visit?!” I said, angered.
“Aria! I know you blame your father, but just try and enjoy this. Meet new boys maybe find a boyfriend. I know you
have been upset ever since you and Zach broke up and-”
“Zach and I weren’t meant to be don’t bring him up!” I yelled. Zach was my boyfriend for two years and I thought
we were in love. That was until I saw him kissing Ally Miller at MY birthday party. That was when I ended it.
“Sorry, just try and make friends. His step-son is your age, right?”
“Yay!” I said, with noticeable sarcasm.
“Aria! You’re the one who offered to go so stop it! I will miss you and it will be hard for me too not to see you
everyday like I'm used to but you offered to go!” my mom said as she slammed on the breaks so she wouldn’t hit the car
in front of us.
“How much farther?” I asked, a few long moments later.
“A few minutes.”
As we pulled into the airport they dropped me off at Northwest Airlines drop off center and unloaded my stuff.
As soon as all my stuff was unloaded, I gave them both hugs and entered the airport, this was my first time in one
and frankly I was scared.
When I entered the airport I heard someone calling my name and saw a tall, blond, buff guy with brown eyes. He
was standing beside a pregnant, blond hair, blue eyed lady.
“Hi, dad,” I said as I ran into his embrace it felt so good to be in his arms, like I was safe from anything that would
harm me.
“I have missed you, where’s your mom and her new husband?” he asked as he kissed my forehead.
“They didn’t want to come in and have to worry about parking, sorry,” I said. I knew it wasn’t fully true but I didn’t
want to ruin this moment.
“Its ok. Aria, this is Nina,” he said pointing to the pregnant lady.
“Hello, Aria. I would hug you but it’s kind of hard with these little ones,” she said gesturing to her stomach.
“Boy or girl?”
“Both, so we will have a crowded house in a few weeks.”
“I shouldn’t have made you fly out if you are due so soon, I'm sorry,” I said apologetic.
“Its fine, I wouldn’t want to miss it for the world. You're father has told me so many good things about you. I'm
sure you and my son will get along great! As well as you and my daughter and Anna.” she said as she followed my father who picked up my bags and headed to the baggage checking area.
“Yeah, I'm sure we will. How long is the flight?” I asked as I put my bags on the scale.
“Two hours, real short. Then when we get home I want to show you your room. I set it all up. Sorry, but your rooms
beside the nursery and Anna’s room.” Nina said.
“No problem, sorry I came on such short notice,” I said, apologetic.
“Its fine, I can't wait to spend time together,” Dad said, as he led me to security.
After passing through security we went to the terminal and barely made our flight-but we did. Two hours is a long
time on a plane. Especially since it was raining the whole way there and it was VERY bumpy. Nina and I talked for a little bit of the ride about boys, friends, and school. She informed me that Miami Prep, the school I would be going to, was a very good academic school and had a lot to offer. As the pilot announced that we were starting to departure, I woke up my father-who had been sleeping the whole time. When we had all my luggage we headed to the sidewalk and got a taxi who took us to their house which was about fifteen minutes away from the airport.
When we pulled up to the curb of their house I was in awe. For a few minutes I forgot that I hated big houses. It was bigger than the pictures showed. It was a HUGE stone house that I would guess had four stories to it.
When I got out of the car the wind from the ocean blew my hair, that’s when I realized that their backyard led onto the beach. I could hear the seagulls cawing and the ocean waves crashing on the beach. It was nice to hear that, since I had never heard that before.
As I got my stuff, Nina led me up the spiral staircase to my room so I could put my stuff there before I met the family.
As I entered my new room my feet felt the warmth of the white carpet and the blue walls. As I inhaled I smelled the air freshener Nina must have sprayed to make my room smell fresh. My room had a nice tempurpedic bed, which I wouldn’t have noticed until I put my suitcase on the bed, it sunk a few inches. My furniture was brand-new and was all white with fancy handles on them all. The desk had a nice glass cover on top of it. Then I noticed it, my own bathroom! Back in Oregon I had to share one with my whole family so it was nice to have my own and a huge walk in closet!
“Nina, I love it. Thank you,” I said and I truly meant it, maybe spending the whole year here won’t be so bad.
“You are very welcome. Now, you ready to meet the family?” she asked.
“Yeah,”
When I went down the metal spiral staircase that made my feet cold I saw my dad with my step-siblings and half
sister.
“Aria, this is Sean and Mia,” Nina said, gesturing to a five foot nine brown haired guy and a shorter version of him
in a girl.
“Hi,” I said, shyly.
“Hey,” they both said.
After an awkward silence, Nina introduced me to Anna-who was the cutest two year old I have ever seen.
“Why don’t you get settled in and then we will start dinner?” Nina said.
“Ok,” I said, as I headed up to my room.
I unpacked the red suitcase first, I remembered that one was the one with my clothes in it. I started with my jeans
and hung them all up and put them in my closet. Then my shirts and then my shorts and Capri’s. when I was done with
clothes I moved onto my toiletrees. I put all of them in my bathroom, my very own bathroom. That sounded nice in my
head. As I unpacked my iPod I noticed the iPod dock, bright blue with a remote and everything. I plugged my new iPod
touch my mom had gotten me for a going away present, in the dock. Then I started to decorate my room. When it was all
done it looked nice, I was starting to think a year here wouldn’t be so bad.
When I went downstairs I smelled the aroma of steak, which was what we were having for dinner I guessed. It was
delicious, I never really had steak at home so it was nice to have it now.
“Mom, Cole’s coming over later,” Sean said, as he put his dishes into the dishwasher.
“Why don’t you let Aria hang with you guys?” Nina said, as she handed a block to Anna.
“Ok, if she wants to. Aria, I'm going outside to wait for him and toss the football, wanna throw?”
“Sure, but I'm warning you I have a pretty good spiral,” I said, jokingly.
After throwing the football for a mere ten minutes, Cole pulled into the driveway.
“Hey!” a tall, brown haired blue eyed guy said.
“Hey Cole! This is my step-sister Aria. The one that is staying with us for the year.”
“Hey, I'm Cole,” he said, he got out of his convertible and shook his hair out of his eyes.
“I'm Aria,” I said, shyly. He reminded me of Zach, with his American Eagle shirt and jeans.
“Aria, we are gonna play Call of Duty, in the basement, and-”
“Can I play? I used to play at home with Zach, please,” I said giving him a puppy dog look.
“Um,” Sean said when Cole cut him off, “Dude let her play,”
“Yes! Thank you!” I said to Cole, as I smiled.
“Lets head downstairs then,” Sean said.
“Cole, you look familiar.” I said, breaking the silence as we headed down the stairs to the basement.
“Because he’s a-” Sean started to say but got cut off by Cole, “You wouldn’t know me, I'm just a regular L.A. guy.”
“Ok, I'm glad not everyone around here is celebrities. They annoy me, I mean do they really need a shirt worth a
few hundred dollars?” I said, noting the look Sean gave Cole.
“Yeah, I know right? Pathetic,” Cole said as he grabbed one of the controllers as my phone started to ring, it was
Zach.
“You guys start without me, I have to take this,” I said as I answered it.
“Aria?” Zach said.
“What do you want? Wasn’t it enough that you broke my heart? I'm just getting over that, now what?” I said as my
eyes started to water.
“I'm sorry. What I did was wrong and I want you back. You are the love of my life, and-”
“Cut the crap Zach, we are sixteen you don’t know who the love of your life is and obviously its not me or else you
wouldn’t have cheated, I got to go. Bye.” I said as I hung up and started to cry.
“Are you ok?” Cole asked as he paused his game and came over to me.
“I have to go,” I said, as I ran upstairs to my room and flopped on the bed and started to cry harder.
“Aria,” I heard Cole say from outside my door.
“Come in,” I said, wiping my eyes.
“Are you ok?” he said, sitting down beside me on the bed.
“Yeah, just a stupid boy,” I said, wiping my tears. I had wanted that apology from Zach for so long, thinking it
would make it all better. I was wrong.
“I'm sorry, do you need to talk?” he asked, sounding concerned.
“He cheated on me with a slut at my party. There’s nothing else to it really. I loved him, I did and it hurt. I thought
he was the one, but I guess not. Why are boys so stupid?” I asked, as I wiped a tear from my cheek.
“If I were lucky enough to get a girl like you, I would never cheat,” he said, as he put his arm around my shoulders
giving me a hug.
“Thanks, but-” but before I could finish Cole was leaning in to kiss me. I should have stopped it, I really should
have but I didn’t. This kiss wasn’t like kissing Zach, it wasn’t as forced it was more spontaneous.
Before I knew it, Cole was backing away.
“I'm sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Cole said apologetic, as he backed away from me.
“No, its fine,” I said, then added, “What do we tell Sean?”
“That I hopefully have a date with you tomorrow,” he said, smiling a wide grinned smile, one of those smiles that makes you wanna smile..
“Is that you asking me out?”
“Only if you say yes, which I hope you do,”
“Yes,” I said, as I gave him a kiss on the cheek and hugged him.
Before I knew it Sean was entering the room.
“What the heck is going on?” Sean asked, with a puzzled look on his face. Then I remembered that I was hugging
Cole, so I backed away and Cole went to talk to Sean
