authors note:
Hey, thank you for taking the time to read this. I mean, go ahead and read it if you're interested and then leave reviews (negative and positive).
This is a story that's mostly romantic chic-lit... It's nothing formal like the way Lord of The Rings was written. It's written the way I want to write it and the way other teenagers like me will understand.
It's not at all that good yet. I have to admit, i still suck.
So this is the very first chapter. sort of long, but I guess it's okay.
ENJOY! :]
Birmingham Diary One
TOTALLY PRIVATE!!!
Anyone who dares read this will suffer serious duff up.
Name: Callie McKenzie
Age: Sixteen
Lives: Birmingham (from Manchester)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 50 kg – 55 kg (depending on how much ice-cream I’ve eaten in a twenty-four hours period)
Hair: dyed black with a fringe
Eyes: greyish hazel
Favourite Book: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (the series) by Louise Renesson
Favourite Film: Mean Girls, School of Rock, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days
Favourite TV Show: Life As We Know It (cancelled), The Simpsons
Lust object: Jake Gyllenhall, Matt Good from From First to Last, Zacky Vengeance from Avenged Sevenfold
Favourite Bands: From First to Last, My Chemical Romance, Funeral For A Friend, Snow Patrol, Tegan and Sara
Favourite thing in the world: My diary? My laptop? My Polaroid? Can’t choose!
Make-up item I can’t live without: Mascara, lip-gloss and liquid eyeliner. Oh, and cool shades of eye shadow.
Ambition: Survive.
December 29
Ever feel like all the bad luck in the world was passed on to you?
My parent’s are the most evil people on the face of England (or the whole planet, that’ll do too.). I’ve been bedridden, mussing on about what I should do. Apparently my parents are the type who would just suddenly decided to move from one place to another in a snap of a finger (or two, since you need two fingers to snap. But that is not the le point.) Can you believe that in just a span of 3 days we were able to pack all our stuff and move down to Birmingham? And right after Christmas even. What kind of idiots would come to a decision to move from one place to another right after Christmas? I’ll tell you what kind of idiots, my parents, that’s who.
I had to leave all my friends back in Manchester. I stopped school there and I’m going to attend a college here when the hols are over. Can’t say I’m well wound up in attending a college in the middle of the year with a million bunches of kids I hardly even know. But it has got to be done, or my parents will murder me.
December 31
New Year’s Eve, oh joy. Mum and dad talked to me telling me about this New Year’s Eve party downtown where I can meet my cousins. Wait, what? Cousins? I have those? I told them,
“Gee, cousins? Never knew I had one of those.”
“From your father’s side of the family, dear. You have at least 20 of them.” She chortled out.
Crikey oh blimey! Twenty cousins? And I haven’t met any one of them? How the fuck is that even possible? I suppose I’ve got 5 pairs of uncle and aunties too.
“It’ll be a great party to meet your kith and kin.”
Right.
“I’m not going.” I responded and turned to go up to my shelter from evil parents, my bedroom. That’s when they started giving me this massive lecture on how I should make more effort to “fit in” and make friends.
I’m pretty sure they’ve taken lessons in how to make me feel like a socially dysfunctional freak of nature. They don’t get it though. I’m not in any mood to go out and socialize. I’m still cut-up about leaving Manchester.
Now I’m back to my bed of agony, moping about how different my room looks from the one where I used to live. Oh mopey, mopey. That was the perfect timing for dad to barge into my room scolding at me for moping about. I simply said,
“I am not moping! Now leave, he who is evil and has taken me away from my childhood hometown where I was nurtured up into a lovely woman—“
I wasn’t able to finish my speech though for he has shut the door while I was in the middle of my utterance of frustration. I don’t know what I was yakking on about but I’m pretty sure it was absolute rubbish.
December 31 (much later, past dinner)
The evil parent’s are off the building! I just might merge out of under this duvet and have a party. However, I don’t know anyone around here. I might consider throwing a party for myself? But that would be too lame and dull. So I won’t.
December 31 (much, much later)
I have decided to go to the party, wherever that party is. I don’t exactly know. Still, I got up from my bed of agony, changed into the cleanest pair of clothes I could find that didn’t smell like boxes. A pair of tight skinny jeans with a matching piano keys design belt, my green ‘Ohio Is for Lovers’ t-shirt, layers of my white fake pearls, doll shoes and a black hoodie.
I had pampered myself then applied cool make-up. The basic mascara, neon coloured blue eye shadow, thick eyeliner on my top eyelid that makes me look a bit like having cat eyes (meow.) and subtle eyeliner on my lower eyelash line. And my look would never look complete if I don’t tease my hair and overdose on hairspray enough to leave a huge hole in the ozone layer, and to top it off, I clipped on a small cut bow-type clips to the opposite side of my fringe.
All of that took me like an hour. It was already 9:30 and I was running late. I grabbed my cell phone and placed it the back pocket of my jeans and I left the house hoping that I’d find the party not too well late.
I’ve been walking around for an hour; I can’t find a proper pub here for my age group. So I’ve decided to call mum and explained to her how I’m in the middle of Birmingham, all sweaty and looking gross. Then she said,
“Why’d you leave the house without taking a shower then?” She chuckled aimlessly. I could have honestly whacked her if she wasn’t miles away. I gave an exasperated groan.
“I’ve been looking around for where the party’s at.”
“Oh your cousins have called, said they’re in a pub downtown called Mosh.”
“Mosh?” I repeated, looking around.
And there it was. The pub my mum was talking about. There wasn’t a long queue, so I walked over to the entrance.
“Found it, mum. Thanks.” And hung up before she could even decide on giving me an early curfew of coming home before it strikes 12, because then that would be stupid.
“Name?” the big bald security guy wearing sunglasses and an earpiece asked me. I stared at him, wondering why someone would even bother wearing sunglasses at night.
“Callie,” I said. “Mc-McKenzie. What’s your’s?” I asked nicely.
He grunted and shook his head as he looked down on his long list. He flipped one page to the next, letting his index finger run along the names of people. After a long minute, he finally looked up and shook his head.
“What? My name’s not there?” I asked feeling gutted.
“Sorry, kid. Move it, there are people waiting.” He said pushing me gently aside.
I looked back at the teen scenester kids laughing about and having easy access to get into Mosh. My jaw dropped and I tapped the big guy by his shoulder. I had to tiptoe just to reach him. He turned to look down on me.
“Excuse me, err, kind sir. But could you please double check for—“
“Nope.” And with that he turned back to face another set of kids who wanted to get into the club. And like the last group, they easily got in.
I stomped my foot on the rugged pavement and controlled myself from getting into an immature hissy fit. I decided to walk around for a bit and to come back later and maybe he’ll finally let me in out of the goodness of his heart. After all, it is New Year’s Eve.
I walked to the side alley of the pub and quickly noticed a boy leaning by the brick wall, his right foot firmly propped up against the wall and a cigarette loosely place between his lips. His eyes we’re closed, but you couldn’t really notice with all the hair covering it. He looked so peaceful.
“Are you alright?” he spoke and I didn’t even notice I was still staring at him.
“Hey you alright, luv?” He asked once more. I finally got my brain cells to start working and mustered a reply in return.
“Oh, uhm, yes I’m peachy, just peachy.”
Cor blimey! Did I really just say that?
He chuckled and gave me a smile. I could have melted with his adorable smile. I walked a few inches closer, thinking of what to say to him next.
“Aren’t you going to ask me if I fancy a fag?” I asked coyly. He looked down on his cigarette then chuckled.
“Aren’t you too young for smoking? And don’t you think it’s a bit dangerous of you to talk to a total stranger in a darkened alley? For all you know I’m some serial killer or psycho rapist.”
Well, if he puts it that way.
“Are you, then?” I asked stepping back a bit. He gave another chortle and smirked in a mysterious way. I don’t know what it was about him but he made me blush from head to toe. I just had to look away and at the same time, he looked down on his frayed black Chuck Taylor shoes. I looked back at him and he was shaking his head.
“Are you, then?” I repeated the question. He still didn’t answer.
“So why aren’t you inside?” He asked answering my question with another question. I placed my freezing hands inside my hoodie pockets, trying to keep them warm.
“They wouldn’t let me in, said my name wasn’t on the list.”
“Oh,” he said taking a puff from his cigarette before dropping it on the floor and grinded it down with his foot.
He broke apart from the wall he was leaning on and walked towards me. I just stood there, unsure of what I should do until he walked passed me.
Okay, right. Can’t get into the party, been ditched by a stranger in an alley way, freezing to death… I might as well just head home.
I started to walk away until I heard someone say, “Where do you think you’re going?”
I twirled around, and that may not sounds as girly as you think because I spun around so quick I nearly got tangled in my own two feet but was able to balance myself from falling flat on my arse in front of a very attractive boy with messy hair, that I mostly had to resist from reaching up and fixing it a bit. I looked at him and he had that mysterious smirk on his face again. I swallowed hard.
“I’m heading home, what do you think? I have no reason to hang around…”
“Right. So you don’t want to come in anymore?” He asked shrugging a bit.
I frowned. I just told him my name wasn’t on the list, has he not fully understood that? Is he hearing impaired or something?
Before I knew what was happening, he was right beside me and he had went to grab my wrist and dragged me to the front of the pub doors. He gave a nod to the security guard, who hesitated for a moment but then agreed to let me in when he muttered something. The pub doors opened and music blasted from inside, kids dancing, drinking, having a laugh and basically just having a good time. A big glittery sign in the middle of the room had read, “Happy New Year!” and there were tons and tons of balloons around.
“Hey—“ I turned and saw no one beside me, just a few couple of kids drinking and talking loudly over the music.
The guy had ditched me, left me all alone in a sea of teenagers I never knew even existed. I had no choice to head over to the bar, bopping along to the music trying to blend in. I kept my eye open for Mysterious Smirk Boy, but I couldn’t even see him anywhere. He freaking ditched me!
“What’s it gonna be, sweetie?” A boy, with beautiful hazel eyes, behind the bar asked me.
“I don’t know, I think I should just leave. I mean, I don’t know anyone in here. Well, I do actually but I don’t know his name. He just sort of helped me get in here and—“ I cut myself short, noticing that he wasn’t asking me what my decision would be. He was asking me what drink I wanted.
“Will you make me a Shirley Temple?” I asked nicely. He smiled and was happy to oblige.
“So, you were saying?” He asked as he handed me my drink.
I took a sip before answering, and then decided to take a big long gulp because I was starting to stall around.
“I just, I don’t know anyone in here. But apparently I’ve got cousins in here, but I haven’t met them so I don’t really know how they even look like.”
“Well, my names David,” he said sticking out his hand for me to shake. I took it and shook it in a proper manner and said, “And I’m Callie, very pleased to meet you.”
“Same,” He smiled. “Now you know someone…”
“My very first friend, David. I like that.”
“So I take it that you’re new here?” He asked me, pushing himself up and over the bar, and settling down on a stool beside me. Another bar tender came to take his place.
“Dave, thanks man.” The older looking guy said and David gave him a nod in return.
“I don’t really work here. I just took over for a while because he had some girlfriend issues to deal with…” David whispered over to me like it was some big secret.
“Oh. Well, to answer your questions earlier, yes I’m new here. Moved just yesterday from Manchester.” I replied.
“How do you like it so far?” He asked me, keeping eye contact, his hazel eyes grinding down on my own. I shrugged and shook my head.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen much of the places.”
“But the people?”
“The people,” I started out. “I don’t know. Can’t judge yet, can I?”
“Okay then, well now that we’re friends, maybe I can show you a bit of the town tomorrow?” He asked me. I felt my cheeks flushing.
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“Maybe.” He said grinning. “Though if I were to take you out on a date, it wouldn’t be during the afternoon just showing you around museums and different galleries. It would be something much cooler.”
“Okay, so it’s not a date then?” I asked, a small smile lingering on my lips. I couldn’t help it, my smile just wouldn’t disappear. But before David could answer, a tall blonde girl with black and pink hair highlights came prancing along our side. She stopped when she saw David and touched him on his arm.
“Oh there you are! Stephen’s looking for you.” She said in a somewhat sing-song voice. David looked at me then back at her.
“Did he say why?”
“Something about starting your set. He’s really pissed off. Something about you leaving your bass right in the middle of the room, without its stand… or something…” Her voice trailed off in response. She looked at me and smiled. I had no choice but to smile back.
“Hi,” She said smiling. “I’m Ashley.”
“Callie,” I replied nodding my head.
“Hope you don’t mind but I really need to borrow David from you, or Stephen’s going to lose it.” She said giggling. I wondered to myself who was Stephen, but I figured that maybe David would introduce me to him later. I mean, I really do need the friends.
“Okay then,” David said getting up from the stool beside me. “Callie, do you want to come along?”
“Come along where?”
“Backstage. We need to get ready for our set and all that band stuff.”
“Oh,” I answered and then took my time to decide. “I think I’ll just stay here and wait until your set’s over.”
“Are you sure?” He asked reassuringly. “Because I’d really like it if you come along with me…”
“I’ll stay here and wait… You go do your band stuff, play your music, I’ll sit here and listen and when you’re done, you can come back and we’ll hang-out some more.” I said in a suggesting tone. I could see Ashley from the corner of my eye, watching us both with a teasing look on her face.
David nodded and then grinned, saying, “Alright then. Don’t go anywhere…” before turning around and heading off into the darkness of the pub.
“You like him, don’t you?” Ashley ragged. I stared at her, unsure of what to say.
“I just met him.” I said, trying not to be too transparent.
“So? Doesn’t mean you can’t like him.” She pointed out, “Besides, I think he fancies you. I mean, the way he didn’t want to leave you all alone here and he wanted you to come with him backstage. I’ve known David since, ever, and he doesn’t usually do that to girls.”
“Oh,” I said feeling hot and bothered all of the sudden.
“I’d be careful if I were you,” She said warningly. “He eats up little girls like you for breakfast.”
As well as being a little over the top, it doesn't add anything to the story either, so I'd either change or remove it.
Change at least one or two to 'relatives' and you should be all right. ('Kinsmen' or something might be all right, in true Georgia fashion.)
Gender:
Points: 890
Reviews: 1