Chapter 1

Melanie POV

"So your birthday is on Saturday?" I ask my two best friends Liam and Lily. They are identical twins and we've been friends for 3 years now.

"Yeah" lily answers hesitantly, I don't know why but since we became friends I have never been to their place, we only hang out at mine.

They never invite me to their birthdays either, this would be the first if am lucky.

Sometimes it gets lonely at home since mum is always travelling or working, so needing company from my two best friends isn't so much to ask right?

"Am I invited this time round?" I ask pouting at them because I know they can't resist this face.

"Of course" Liam agrees and it makes me squeal happily.

Finally.

"Yes" I beam hugging him tight and he chuckles making his dimple appear. He has one on his left cheek.

Cute.

My two friends are really beautiful and you can easily tell they're twins, sometimes I envy their beauty. Not that am bad myself.

They are so lucky to have each other, I wonder how it would feel like if I had a sibling.No doubt amazing.

"Can Jake come too?" I glance at them hopefully. Jake is my boyfriend and we've been dating for 6 months.

We knew each other since childhood. We were great friends till late last year when he confessed he had feelings for me.

Being the sweet person I am, I couldn't 't turn him down for the fear of losing him, and our friendship.

Also, the loneliness at home contributed to me saying yes to him.

Sometimes I feel guilty because Jake is a good person and he deserves to be loved back. Hopefully, maybe in future, I will learn to.

"I don't know Mel, my brother said strictly, family. Sorry," Liam says apologetically and I nod in understanding.

I hope I won't be intruding though.

"Your brother, is he hot?" I wiggle my eyebrows playfully at them and they both groan in unison.

"Easy there Melanie you have a boyfriend remember?" Lily hits my shoulder lightly while Liam shakes his head laughing.

I chuckle in amusement glancing at them "What? am just asking, you know I hate surprises" I say scooping the salad into my mouth.

It's lunch break and we are in the school's cafeteria. I find the school's food revolting that's why one of my guards brings me lunch every day.

Don't even ask me why I have guards because honestly, I don't know. Each time I ask my mum she brushes it off and the conversation is to never repeat itself.

My mum and I don't have a relationship at all, she's barely even at home.

Being a fashion designer, she travels a lot and each time she's around she controls my life which sucks.

The food I eat, the clothes I wear, and everything else must meet her standards. She made me start working as a model when I was 10.

I started by modelling her designs and later on, I got offers from different companies, with her influence of course.

She also made me go to etiquette classes, Can you believe that?

Sometimes it's hard managing school and work, but that's not my mother's problem.

According to her, I have to figure everything out by myself, she says nothing comes easy and one has to learn to be independent earlier in life.

I think everything is always about money to her that's why I was raised by my nanny and guards, she had no time for raising her own child.

She stopped supporting me financially the day she made me start working. Am grateful for that though, because it made me realise how much I can achieve by myself.

I don't even know who my dad is, I have never met or heard of him.

I was denied a chance of experiencing a proper childhood, I never did what normal kids do.

Instead, I was forced to mature at the age of 10. That's why I'm moving out of her house as soon as possible because it never felt like home, not even once.

After a long tiring literature class in which I learned completely nothing, the bell finally rings signalling the end of the lesson and the day.

God knows how happy I am since today I don't get to work.

I need a good rest because I barely sleep. Especially on school and work days.

Sometimes my schedule is so tight that I don't get enough time for myself. So whenever I get time is my lucky day, just like today.

We head to the school gates with my two friends, who are in a hurry because they have a place to be apparently.

I think most of the time they act weird, like they're hiding something from me but I always ignore that feeling. Maybe am just being paranoid.

Besides my car, Jake awaits along with Axel one of my guards.

"Hey babe," he says immediately I reach him pecking me on my cheek.

"Hi, handsome" I give him a hug smiling at him lightly.

"Axel" I acknowledge him and he gives me a small nod. Just because I don't like the idea of having guards doesn't make me act rude to them.

I do respect them because I know they're just doing their jobs.

It has been that way since I knew them and I'm glad we have a great and decent relationship, better than the one I have with my mother.

"Any plans for today?" Jake asks, brushing the loose hair from my face away.

What should I say? I want to take a long long shower and just sleep till tomorrow.

I owe myself that much after too much of overworking, good thing I have no homework today.

If I tell him I'm free, he'll want to take me out on a date because he's been nagging about it for some time now.

I like Jake but there is no spark on my side, and that kills me every time am around him.

It makes me feel guilty for not returning his love. Too bad we can't just love someone because we want to, it's a matter of our heart's choices.

So like always, whenever he talks about us doing something together, I bring something else up just like I'm planning to do right now.

God! I feel like I am a terrible person for lying to him.

I thought it was the best thing to do.

I didn't wanna hurt his feelings but now am regretting my decision, maybe I should've just come clean to him or maybe I should learn to love him.

" Today am going out with mum" I hate lying.

"Oh, I thought you might be free," he says disappointment clear in his voice.

Now I feel horrible.

" Sorry Jake, what about tomorrow?" I have to make time for him if I want to lessen the guilt I feel everytime I turn him down.

Sometimes I wish he was a jerk, maybe then I could have an excuse of rejecting him but Jake is different in every sense.

"Really? " he perks up with excitement, his previous sad face brightening like I just switched it on.

I chuckle lowly "Yes, really"

"Thanks, babe, am taking you on a date tomorrow," he says with a toothy grin.

Oh goodness! I don't wanna take away that smile.

I smile back pecking his lips lightly.

"Can I go now?" I ask before hugging him and he hugs back, holding me like his life depends on it.

"I will miss you, see you tomorrow, yeah?" he says staring in my eyes before he kisses my forehead.

"See you tomorrow," I say back grinning.

He opens the door and ushers me in smiling softly.

He doesn't deserve me.

Jake deserves better and I feel like crap for lying to him.

Please just love him back, I plead with my heart.

He leans forward and kisses my cheek one last time before walking away and I groan silently tugging at my hair.

I hate lying because I know I will feel bad if someone I care about lies to me, and I'm doing just that to my boyfriend.

Am sorry jake.

The drive home is silent like always.

I wish I could talk to my mum about the boy's problems. I wish she was there for me when I need her.

I look out from the window and the weather outside is changing. The bright blue skies are turning dark grey, a clear indication of the upcoming downpour.

Hope it finds me home.

Resting my head on the backrest, I reminisce about the dream I have been having since my 17th birthday.

A silver wolf keeps appearing in my dreams. She's caged and every time I look into her eyes, it's like she's begging me to release her.

The strange dream keeps recurring but I always push it away. It's nothing serious, so I always think.

If only I knew.