Chapter One

Alyssa hated it , the whole situation and everything it entailed. She hated that she was back to school when her family was completely torn apart but most of all she hated the brave face she’d be forced to put up in front of everyone. She hated the nonchalant “Im fine’s” when she was really dying inside and she hated the fact that as she sat with two of her closest friends they couldn’t even sense her inner turmoil. Nope , instead Jasmine , blonde and pixie-like stared down the aisle at the back of Theodore Nott’s head while Kismet sat eating dinner beside her boyfriend and chatting with him. She felt alone , utterly alone although people encompassed her on each side , she wouldn’t let this get to her she couldn’t . she didn’t need anyone to empathize with her, she didn’t need their pity or words of encouragement because they would never truly understand. Her fingers found her roll and soon she brought it to her pink lips and bit into it. She looked up and found that she wasn’t the only one being ignored. Theodore was drawling on to his friend but his friend seemed more interested in her. His brown eyes appraised her smoothly and he openly stared at her , not averting his eyes when hers met his. Her cheeks hummed and with a new found insecurity she pushed her plate forward got up and exited.

Her room had never seemed so safe as she sat on her bed with four letters in her lap. Each one unlying a piece of the story that was making her miserable , however the one she’d really wanted , the one that would fix everything was not there. She should have known better her father was stubborn and even though he had caused this all he’d never take responsibility. She opened the first one with a Scottish Flag stamp first. Her eldest sister Elise always put something extra in the envelope and lying their next to the paper with her scrawl was a ruby ring. Alyssa put it on her finger before reading:

Dear Alyssa,

I hope that you are well , I wish things had sorted differently but I knew that what occurred was inevitable. It had happened to me and therefore I saw it clearly. Nothing hurt me more than leaving you as well as Gem and Pops but I was in love and I still am, Oliver and my son are the best things that have ever happened to me.

I am writing this because I want to know that you’re alright. I want you to know that things will sort themselves out and I want you to believe mom will recover from the shell she became this summer. Alyssa our father is controlling, he controlled us all but we have to be our own people , we must love who we want to and not let him choose. Don’t be mad at Gemma , she loves Lorenzo , it’s easy to see and I know you saw it too.  I love you little Lis , please forgive us all for failing you. By the way the ring is mom’s.

Love,

Elise

Alyssa felt the tears stain her cheeks as she put it back neatly and opened the next one from Gemma.

Dear Alyssa,

I pray that you are fine , and I hope that you can find it in yourself to not let our father dictate how you feel towards me. I love Lorenzo and his wealth does not matter to me , evidently our father is not the same. Love is not determined on monetary gain but an intense spiritual connection to another person. Elise felt it and I feel it and because of our passion we have been shunned by our father.

I do not regret marrying Lorenzo and I do not detest that I am carrying his child. He is my everything , his beautiful soul is like none I’ve ever seen and he makes me happy , happier than I’ve ever been. You’re my little sister Alyssa , I love you and I always will , please don’t think less of me for what I did for my happiness. Money isn’t everything and our mother is stronger than this breakdown she is having. Take care of her , take care of yourself and always remember it’s not what our father wants but rather what you want.

Yours Sincerely,

Gemma Rose Chevalier

She didn’t blame them , she never blamed them , she wasn’t even upset with them , it was him ,her father that she was mad at. His materialism was ripping everything apart.

Dear Alyssa,

I’m in Peru with Terence , apparently he cannot live without me and wants me to marry him , I’ve declined but he doesn’t seem discouraged in fact he seems motivated. Our father is currently fuming at the fact that I said no to the heir of one of Paisley’s richest families but Terence and I’s relationship is so undefined at this point that I don’t know whether I’m straddling the line of friendship or courtship. Either way I know it’s a losing battle. Bullocks! I love him despite everything I might say but I can’t marry him I simply can’t I’m not that type of girl.  

Anyway, I hope you’re okay but you’re tougher than the shit of our household. I won’t be coming back home , I just wanted you to know that. I plan to travel the world and settle somewhere in Europe. I’ll let you know when I decide where , be safe and let me know when mother comes back to Earth if that ever transpires.

Good Luck Kiddo,

Poppy

Alyssa chuckled despite herself and looked at her mothers handwriting on the next letter. She shook her head before putting it back into her bag along with the open ones and going to sleep. Another day maybe , but not today.

Chapter Two

Arianna’s heart beat out of her chest as she ran laps around the track , leading the crowd. Her black hair bounced in its ponytail from side to side and soon she was finished. Arianna didn’t know she could run that fast but as she was the only girl ushered to the changing room she realized just how fast she truly was. It took her under forty minutes to refresh then she walked out the room to the vending machine on the second floor. A gang of boys were there when she arrived. She knew them all too well Adrian Pucey , Marcus Flint , Cassius Warrington , Graham Montague and  Miles Bletchley. They were a menacing but honestly very attractive crew. However she never allowed her appraisal to stretch beyond admiration because these beautiful creatures snapped hard. These were the boys who broke hearts and then laughed at tear-stained faces.

“Well look what we have here, Arianna Marae.”

Marcus Flint’s voce crawled up her spine sending chills to every bone as she sauntered confidently towards the machine and proceeded to get her beloved Belgian Chocolates.

“ Hello Marcus.”

She said dryly and he smiled at her before nodding at his friends who all dispersed.

“When are you going to give into your feelings for me Marae?”

He asked cockily , his eyebrows slightly lifted in questioning. She looked up at him , chocolates in hand and laughed.

“When hell freezes over Marcus , why would I do that?”