Chapter 1

The teacher's voice in the front of the class was fading away as my wish for sleep overtook my brain. Suddenly, the bell brought be back from my sleepiness and into my classroom.

Stressed about completing a history assignment that is due today, I went to sleep late last night and could fall asleep any minute. I am hoping I get a good grade on it, because I worked too hard on it to get anything below an "A." I do everything I can do to maintain all "A's and I was planning to keep it that way until I graduate.

Everyone in the room started to rush out the classroom door, leaving me behind while I shove all my books into my bag. I zip up my bag, and head out the class, walking to my locker to grab my things and head home.

I hear my phone start ringing from in my pocket. Mentally scolding myself for not putting it on silent, I take it out and read the caller ID.

Rosilla.

Rosilla has been my parent's secretary since I was little, if she was calling than it must be something related to my parents. Whenever they need to contact me, they ask Rosilla to do it. I tapped the green button on my phone screen to attend the call, then raise my phone to my ear.

"Hello?" I say through the mic, and lean against the locker next to me.

"Gabbi, are you busy?" She asks me.

"Not really, why?" I reply to her.

"Your parents are going to have a special guest tonight at eight, so be on time. They've told me to tell your it's an important dinner."

Important dinner? Special guest? Sounds interesting, but also kind of weird since my parents have never invited me to an important dinner before.

"What about Gio and Bianca?" Gio is my older brother, and Bianca is his wife. They've been happily married for almost a year.

"They're invited too," she confirms.

"Okay then. Thanks Rosilla," I say before ending the call.

I put my stuff into my bag and shut my locker to see my friends, Selina Ravis and Frankie Thus, were already standing next to my locker. We had been friends since freshman year. Both of them are dating two of the most popular guys in school.

Selina, the sweetest girls I know, is dating Lloyd Williams. He is incredible, he can play any instrument and his voice was beautiful. They both try to stay out of drama, and have been together for a few years. Franki, the sassiest person I know, is the captain of the cheer team. She's been dating Enrico Brooks since junior year. There was a lot of drama in their relationship, but a lot of was caused by misunderstandings.

"Hey babe, are you ready for Game Day?" Franki asked me, she was leaning against the locket next to mine.

Every first Monday in a month our school does something called "Game Day," where we have a lot of different competitions, related to sports. For example, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, and the cheerleaders are going to cheer for most of the games. Especially for the football players.

"So ready," I smirk at her.

I am a runner, but there isn't going to be any running competition today, so I am just going to play volleyball. I am pretty good at it so I'm excited for game day.

"So are you guys going to the party tonight?" Franki askes us. She is a party girl, she loves partying around. You could find that girl drunk on the dance floor at any party, just like Enrico.

"No, I can't," I replied.

"Oh, why not, Gabbi? Selina is going to go but she's probably going to sit on the sofa with Lloyd eating snacks while watching everyone else get drunk," Franki tries to convince me.

Selina is the innocent one, she doesn't like to drink or get wild. She prefers to stay at home with her boyfriend and watch movie all night.

"Important family dinner," I say to them while walking through the hall.

"When is the last time you had dinner with your family, Gabbi?" Sarah asked me.

"I don't even remember," I reply rolling my eyes.

"Oh, okay. Then it's okay for you not to come," Franki said.

They knew how my dad acts towards me. He always forces me to do anything and never cares about my feelings. He's a control freak and a heartless person.

We walked out of the school doors, both Selina and Franki ran to their boyfriends who were standing with the rest of their friends.

"Hey Gabbi, how are you doing?" Jacob greets before hugging me.

"Good, how are you?" I ask and he puts his arm around my shoulder.

"As good as the weather," He referred to the LA weather, which was great.

Justin began to talk about the party that is going to be held at his house tonight. Everyone is so excited. I stay silents while they're talking about their plans for tonight. I wish I could go with them, but it was my dad's plan and I couldn't change or complain about anything when it comes to him.

I decide to excuse myself to head home earlier because they aren't talking about anything that I can relate to anyway. I walked toward the parking lot and straight to my car. I turned on the engine, and started to drive away. All I could think about is the dinner. It must be important if dad invited Gio and Bianca too.

**

My mom and dad weren't home until six, and when they got home they told me to dress well because of the special guests that were coming.

I walked to my closet to look for a simple formal dress, and after looking around my closet, I found a basic white dress. It's not too formal nor too casual. I then sit in front of my makeup table and applied a thin layer of makeup. I curled my dark brown hair and sprayed my favorite perfume on my dress and my wrists. To finish off my look, I put on some white heels.

I start to head out of my room and into the living room where I find my parents sitting on the sofa, watching news on the TV. I walked in and sat next to them, getting a strange look from my dad.

"What happened to your dress?" My dad asks me. My mom gives me a look that I can't even understand.

Is this to casual for them?

"Tatjana, can you help her to dress more appropriate?" He asked my mother.

My mom gets up from the couch and heads towards my room, I start to follow her. She walks into my closet and looks for another dress. Finally, she found a navy blue dress with mid-length sleeves.

"Next time you should choose carefully, especially when you're around your dad okay?" My mom said, then gives me a kiss on the forehead before leaving me alone to let me get changed.

They are always like this, they always destroy my confidence. I'm used to it thought, because they never gave me compliments. I have never heard of a single 'proud' word from them, especially my dad.

Every time I watched a movie, or a show that had a beautiful family, it always made me feel like I wanted to be in a family that is full of love, not just money. They looked happy to be together.

It made me sad everytime I watched a movie with a happy family, it gave me high expectations for my parents to pay more attention to me.

I should probably stop dreaming about having a perfect family who gave me lots of love.

Gio and Bianca have finally arrived, and Bianca greets me with a warm hug. She is like my own sister and I am so glad Gio found a sweet girl like her because she is the only person that feels like home in the family.

My mom, Bianca, and I were talking when suddenly my dad called Gio and I to his office, Bianca stayed with my mom in the living room, most likely talking about her pregnancy since Gio knocked her up.

Gio walk in the office, and I follow him inside. I close the door behind me then sit next to Gio, in front of our dad.

"Gabrielle, there's something we need to tell you," my dad starts.I feel my heart beating so fast, and I don't know why, but I feel like this was going to be a bad news.

"I made a promise with my good friend, while we were in college," My dad starts. "We promised each other that our children would get married."

What the hell?

He isn't trying to tell me to get married to a guy right now, right? I'm still seventeen, I barely know how to do housework. I don't know how to be a mom. I don't even know what love is! I definitely don't plan on having a relationship with anyone.

"No," I reply, "you're not going to force me to marry someone right now right?" I start to panic.

"No, I'm not," He says, I let out a relieved sigh.

"I just want you to be engaged," he finishes.

That's almost the same thing! I'm not going to marry a guy that I don't even know!

"No dad, this time I will say no! This is about my future and I have to decide my future on my own," this is the first time I have ever stood up for myself.

"Gabbi, you have too."

"No!"

"How could you?" My dad screams at my face.

Tears started to fill my eyes, and I can't hold it anymore. He has been controlling me for my whole life and I don't want him to crush my future just like that.

"Dad, I think you should give her some space," Gio speaks up.

"The family is on their way Gabbi, I want you to behave," My dad tells me.

I get up from my seat, and open the door to walk out of the room. I suddenly get greeted by my mom. She hugs me while I cry on her shoulder.

Why do I have to be born in this cruel family that didn't know anything about love?

"Sir, they're here," One of the security say to my dad.

"Bring them into the dining room," My dad says to him.

"Listen Gabbi, I want you to be good," My dad says before heading to the dining room.

I feel like my heart broke into tiny pieces. Why can't he understand and give me a little freedom.