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Normally, people are awakened by the sunlight streaming into their windows, or by an alarm going off on their bedside table, or even the smell of pancakes fresh off the pan.

But me, I woke up to the loud screaming and crying of my pretty little siblings, indicating that it not only was time to get up, but time to start my new boring day. I sighed, getting up to catch a shower and get dressed.

I walked downstairs in a gray sweatshirt and white yoga pants, my curly hair falling in ringlets down my back. “I'm off to school!” I called over the din, grabbing my backpack and leaving out the door before anyone could stop me. I took in a deep breath of fresh air, dreading the long walk to school. As I walked down the sidewalks, I counted the amount of money I had. There was enough for lunch — well, a small lunch, and some change.

I sighed. You'd think being the boss of the Gray Eyes would have me rolling in dough, but that was not the case. None of us got paid. Stealing cars and money was not a job; it was mandatory. The only way we could live peacefully was to do the things we were supposed to do, present our offerings like we were told. Getting our own money was up to us. We had to obtain jobs or get allowances from our parents like any other person out there. This life wasn't a privilege; it was horror.

I played with the spare coins that littered my hands, using my mind to lift them up and levitate them in the air in front of me. No one was looking; I deserved to have a little fun. Besides, telekinesis was the only power of mine that didn't take so much energy.

I continued to walk up the streets, the little coins dancing in front of me, forming shapes and figures at my command. It was entertaining really, the only thing that kept my mind sane from having to endure this long walk. I was about to make the coins form the shape of a star when I heard a car honk behind me.

I froze, the coins shattering to the ground in front of me.

Someone saw me.

Turning slowly, I saw the silver car creep up to the sidewalk and come to a rest at my side. Before the passenger's window could roll all the way down, I already knew who it was.

Cameron.

“Anjolie?” he said, leaning outside the window, a confused expression painted on his handsome face. “What—what were you—were those coins just—?”

“Yes, they were floating,” I answered, settling his confused nerves. He already knew what we were. He shouldn't have been surprised. “I was making them do that,” I clarified since the confused expression was still plastered onto his face.

He stared at the coins on the ground, but then finally looked back up at me. “Oh… okay… understood,” he said, a slow smile forming on his lips. Though he was smiling, I could tell that he was still a little unsettled. Well, what was
I
supposed to do about it? The sun glinted off his icy-blue eyes, providing an unnecessary indication that he was Cameron and not Cam. I didn't want to see Cam. He was an idiot. He
and
Olive. The thought of the two made me shudder.

“So… do you need a ride?” Cameron asked, interrupting my hateful thoughts and snapping me back to reality.

I stared at him. This would be the fourth time he ever offered me a ride. He knew I couldn't say no — that walk to school was torture. I had no choice but to acquiesce. “Sure,” I said and walked up to the car. Opening up the passenger side door, I hopped in and buckled up. “Thanks,” I said shyly. It was weird having Cam — well,
Cameron
— acting all nice and thoughtful. Cam would never offer me a ride, not that I'd ask him for one or anything. It was strange how the two were so similar, yet so different.

“No problem, Anjolie,” he said, turning to gaze at me, “really.” For some reason, that look alone sent a giddy shiver up my spine. I've never had anyone look at me like that before. It was so strange.

Before he could see my cheeks go all red, he faced forward and shifted the car to drive, placing his foot on the gas petal and speeding away from the curb and towards the school.

It was a moment before either of us said anything.

“So, where's Olive?” I asked, even though saying her name caused bile to retch up my throat. Oh, how I hated her.

“She's probably on her way to school now,” he answered, scratching the back of his head. “Why?”

Because a boyfriend is not supposed to be chauffeuring around other girls
. “Oh, nothing,” I said lightly. “It's just that she's your girlfriend and all…” I let the sentence trail off because I was sure he knew where I was going with this.

But Cameron didn't seem fazed. “She has her own car; she can get to school without my help.” His answer was so blunt; I figured he didn't really want to talk about Olive.

But I didn't let him off the case. “You know, it would waste less gas if the two of you just drove each other to school.” I twiddled with a lock of my hair. “You guys
do
live right across from each other.”

Cameron shrugging was his only response.

This topic was making him uncomfortable, but I was still itching to ask him more. “How did you catch me here, anyways, when I leave so early from my house? Isn't my house out of the way from yours? It's nowhere near the school in the direction you should take from your house to the school. This means that you'd have to get up
extra
early, leaving before Olive left, in order to drive the opposite direction from your house to my house and then head up to the school. This means that—”

“I followed you,” Cameron answered, finishing off my words guiltily. His cheeks flushed a light pink as he stopped at a red light.

BINGO!
“Oh,
really
?” I said, feigning shock.

Cameron sighed. “I hated the thought of you having to walk all the way to school by yourself in this neighborhood while everyone else had other —
safer
— means of getting to school,” he confessed, letting the words pour out of his mouth. “I mean, the
bus
doesn't even go this way, for Pete's sake. That's how far you have to walk. That sucks, Anjolie. It really does.” I could tell he was really riled up about this by the way he was breathing. My heart squeezed for a brief moment. How thoughtful.

“You don't have to go through all this trouble, Cameron, really,” I said, feeling super grateful for his thoughtfulness.

“It doesn't bother me, Anjolie,” he said, turning to pin me with that
gaze
again. Now I was sure that he saw the blush creep onto my cheeks. That just made me blush even more. “I don't mind driving you to and from school.”

And from school
? When did we decide that he would take me home, too? Wow, he was so… I don't even know. “Thanks, Cameron,” I said, feeling shy. “That's really thoughtful of you.”

Cameron nodded, still holding my gaze, that smile lingering on his lips.

I didn't even notice when we arrived to school.

“Well, we're here,” Cameron said, shutting off the engine and taking the key out of the ignition. He pointed to the clock. “And on time, too.” He seemed pleased by this realization.

I nodded and smiled, grabbing up my bag from the floor of his car. “Thanks again for the ride,” I said, opening the car door and stepping out. I frowned, not wanting to leave Cameron. He just made me feel so… taken care of.

“You're always welcome,” Cameron said, shutting his car door and walking over to me. He stopped in front of me and placed his hands into his pockets, looking down at me with his silvery blue eyes. For a moment it felt as if we were the only two people in the parking lot. “So, I'll meet you here by the car after school?” he said, peering into my eyes.

I nodded slowly. So he was my new chauffeur. This was legit. “Yeah, sure,” I answered, slugging my bag over my shoulder. “That sounds great.” I didn't know what else to say; my stomach was flopping around so much, I felt as if I were going to be sick.

Cameron smiled and nodded. “Okay,” he said, turning on his heels, “I'll see you then.” And with that, he walked into the school, leaving me standing by his car.

I stood there, smiling into space. I had a friend. And not just a popular colleague or acquaintance, but an actual friend. That felt really nice. I would have stayed standing there, basking in this new knowledge if Hudson and Armando hadn't interrupted my pleasurable thoughts.

“Are you going into the school, or are you just going to stand there smiling?” Hudson asked, raising a neatly sculpted eyebrow at me. The kind smirk on her face indicated that she was just teasing me.

“Oh,” I said, startled by their sudden presence. How long have I been standing there looking like an idiot? “I'm going in,” I answered quickly.

Armando nodded, but then looked at the car beside me. “So, Cameron drove you here?” he asked, eyeing me suspiciously. His long black hair curled over his cheekbones and neck, framing his golden brown face. He was one beautiful man.

I nodded cautiously; their questions felt like an interrogation. I just wanted to get out of here.

Hudson looked me up and down, taking in my comfortable outfit and stringy hair. “
Girl
, if you want to win homecoming queen, you've got to try better than that,” she said, motioning to my gray and white ensemble.

Immediately, I felt self-conscious compared to Hudson. She was so pretty, dressed in a flashy dress and high-heels, her hair laying down her back in long voluptuous curls. She was always on point. Even on exam days. I guess being the king's daughter meant a life of luxury at most. She really had it good.

“Tell you what,” Hudson said, linking her arm with mine and leading me into the school. Armando followed behind us, his tall figure towering over us. “I'm going to take you shopping, you know, get you some real clothes, get your hair done, nails, all the sorts. You're going to come out of it looking like a million bucks,” she said, an excited smile forming on her carefully glossed lips. “It'll be so much fun.” She glanced at me. “What do you say?” she asked, grinning with a mouthful of perfectly white teeth.

I felt like there was a right answer to this. “Um… sure?” I answered.

Hudson squealed giddily. “Awesome! Sometime this weekend, we'll go, 'kay?” She was acting as if we were headed to some exotic vacation this weekend or something, she was that excited. And frankly, her excitement edged on me a little.

“That sounds great,” I said, smiling as well. This would be fun. I really did need a new look. And spending time with Hudson and Armando didn't sound too bad as well.

Hudson grinned and patted me on the shoulder. “See you then!” she said and turned, her heels clicking down the hallway with a grinning Armando by her side.

I smiled after them. Hm. Three new friends in one day. That's gotta be a record. Laughing, I moved toward the direction of my locker, but froze, meeting eyes with a familiar face.

Olive.

She was staring at me from where her locker was, not glaring, but not exactly friendly-looking either. Something told me that she'd seen me with Cameron, and then seen me with Armando and Hudson. Something told me that she didn't appreciate this new friendship I now had with her friends. Something told me that she wasn't too happy right about now.

Something told me that she didn't like me very much.