chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

            I looked up at the sky and saw storm clouds rolling in and silently started praying that we would make it through our graduation ceremony before the heavens opened up on us. I felt something hit the back of my head. I turned around to see two of my best friends, Madison Smith and Hillary Sanders laughing.

            “What is it, you two?” I asked, trying to hold back my grin. I knew they were up to something, they always were.

            “Are you leaving tonight or tomorrow?” Madison asked.

            “Tomorrow, why?”

            “Colt Black is having a huge party down on the lake tonight. He has a s**t ton of alcohol, and girls drink for free. Wanna go?” Hillary asked.

            “I still have packing to do when I get home and I have to get everything loaded in the Tahoe,” I said, trying to evade them. I was packed. I had been packed for an entire week. I was so ready to get out of this town, ready to move down to Mobile for college, but I had already decided I would leave the morning after graduation; I needed one more night with my friends before I went out into the world of nameless faces.

            “Come on, Harleigh, this is your last night in Cary! You need to have some fun!” Madison said.

            “I’ll be there,” I said, smiling as I turned around to watch the rest of our commencement ceremony.

            I was minutes away from officially being a graduate of Cary High School, in Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, the state capitol. I have lived here all of my life, the only daughter of North Carolina’s Democratic Senator, Charles Robinson. As much as it pains me to say, the last few years, I have come to despise him and his ways. We don’t agree on anything, and haven’t for some time. I don’t have a mama to take my side or talk to him about anything. She died in a car wreck when I was three. Ever since then, it has just been my father and me, bumping heads every step of the way. I have been saving almost every penny I get since I was fifteen and busting my a*s to make good grades to guarantee my way out of here. All of my hard work has paid off and I was offered a full ride to the University of South Alabama and I jumped on it. Why wouldn't I? It was away from home and on the Gulf Coast that I love so much. I honestly didn't even think about NOT going once I saw that coveted acceptance letter. Of course, I didn’t share my plans with Daddy Charlie; he’s not home much these days anyway, with so much going on in the country. Sure, he knows I'm moving to Mobile and where I'm going to school, but he doesn't know about the scholarship or that I am leaving in the morning. He spends most of his time in Washington, trying to suck up to President Bush, whom I’m told can’t stand him. I can’t say that I blame him.

            I am broken from my thoughts when I hear the superintendent of the Wake County School District move up to the podium.

            “This concludes our ceremony. Congratulations to the Cary High School graduating class of 2005!”

            We all rise and throw our caps into the air, laugh, cry and hug our friends, many of which have been together since we were in diapers.

            “We’re freeeeeeee!” Madison said, as the clouds opened up and the rain started pouring down. She opened up her arms and started spinning around, laughing like a child. Hillary and I were laughing our butts off at her.

            “Come on, Maddie,” Hillary said, reaching out to her. “We have plenty of time to celebrate, let’s go grab something through Arby’s drive-thru and go to my house and get ready for the party.”

            “You coming Harleigh?” Madison asked me.

            “I don’t have anything with me, so I’ll have to run to the house and get my things and I will meet you at Hil’s. Pick me up a beef and cheddar and curly fries, with a sweet tea?”

            “You got it. See you in a bit,” Madison said as Hillary started to drag her to the parking lot.

            “See ya, b***h!” Hillary said, with a smile on her face.

            “Later, y’all,” I said, walking in the direction of my own car. 

Reviews

[Justin]

that is an awesome way to start out a book, giving an a great background that leads up more in the book. congrats on getting a full ride to south Alabama, that is an amazing!!!!!!!

[Tabitha Easling Blanks]

haha, if only I did! Harleigh is loosely based on me, I live in NC, though I am not by any means a senator's daughter, but she looks like me and has the same beliefs and personality!

[Justin]

that is awesome, you are making a character based off yourself but making it a lot better, that is awesome!!!!!!