Just A Girl - Chapter 1

 Beep! Beep! Beep! I groan into my pillow and slam my hand on my alarm clock. School. Who invented it? Why can't we all just walk around dumb? It should be a choice! I reluctantly get out of my comfortable bed and throw on some jeans and a T-shirt. Glancing at the clock, its 7:15 and I have to be at school in 10 minutes! I rush down the stairs, hop on my bike, and head for school. 

When I get to first period, Ms. Clark shoots me daggers as I take my seat in the back. "I trust you won't be late again, Carter," She growls, turning back to the board. I mutter some words under my breath and open my notes. I hate her! She's had it out for me since the first day and I have no clue why. Whatever. Getting bored, I twirl my caramel brown ringlets. Its a bad habit I have. The bell finally rings, and I dart out of that classroom as fast as I can.

At lunch, I sit with my few friends. "Hey," Madison says cheerily. "Hey," I reply, getting out my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "What are you doing this weekend?" She asks Taylor and I. "I don't know," I say, taking a bite of my lunch. Taylor shrugs. Madison tells us how we should go see this new movie, blah, blah, blah. I learned to tune her out. Its not that I don't like her, but she talks a lot. I'm pretty much dying to get my notebook out, but I can't in front of them. My biggest secret that nobody knows, except my mom, is I love to sing and write. I write lyrics and stories and stuff. Mom says I'm good, but then again, doesn't she have to? I'm pretty sure its a law, like, written down somewhere saying your family has to support you. 

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When I got home from school, I said hi to my mom and went to my room. Logging into my laptop, I quickly went on Twitter. My idol, Kenzie Sky, is holding a contest. If you win, you get to fly to Los Angeles and hang out with her for a week! I really want to win, of course, but what are the chances? I'm just a stupid, ugly, normal girl. I sign up and close my laptop before I drive myself crazy thinking about it. I need some rest anyway. I have a big soccer game in the morning.

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I wake up to the sound of my laptop making the familiar "ping!" when I get a message on Twitter. I open up the tab to see I have a message from Kenzie Sky. I must be really tired, because I don't realize what I'm doing until a sentence into the message. I GOT A MESSAGE FROM KENZIE FREAKING SKY! MY IDOL! OH MY GOSH! I splash myself with water in the bathroom and try to take deep breaths. You can do this, Carter. I read the message. It says I won the contest and today I get to fly down to L.A. and meet her. After jumping on my bed and screaming for 10 minutes, I tell mom. 

"Honey!" She says, hugging me tight. "That's great! We need to pack, then."
"What?" I ask, taken aback. "Just like that? You'll let me?"
"Of course." She says like I'm dumb. "Now go, go, go!"

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The plane ride was restless. It was only two hours, but I couldn't do anything, I was too excited and nervous. What do I do when I meet her? Act like we're long lost best friends? Surely not scream in her face.

At the airport, there's a guy in a suit holding up a sign that says 'Branson' on it. No way! I thought those guys were only in movies! He escorts us to a limo. "Hello,"a heavy set, black man says to us from the driver's seat. "I'm Rod."
"Hi!" I say, shaking his hand. "I'm Carter. I won the contest to meet Kenzie Sky."
"I know." He smiles at me. "I'm her bodyguard."
"Oh." I say, letting go of his hand. "Nice to meet you, Rod."
He gives me a friendly wink and drives us to wherever we're going. When we step out, we're in front of a sprawling mansion, obviously Kenzie's. Rod speaks into an intercom at the gate and they open up, revealing a pool, garden, and four car garage. Not to mention a huge fountain off to the side. I just gape at it until he tells us to get out.

"Thank you," I say, hopping down.
"My pleasure," he replies, closing the door behind me. "Right this way."
I follow him through a maze of hallways until we get to what looks like a huge living room.

"Hi!" Someone says from behind me, making me jump.
"H-hi," I stutter, because its Kenzie. "I'm-"
"Carter Branson." She finishes, hugging me. "I'm so excited to hang with you!"
I was shocked. Shouldn't it be the other way around? "Me too!" I say, hugging back awkwardly. "I love your music."

She shrugs it off. "I love singing, but its just for fun."
"Yeah, but you make a TON of money!" I gesture around the room.
She shrugs again, her honey blonde hair cascading in waves down her shoulders. Her ocean-blue eyes shine in the light. She's even prettier in real life!

"Here, I'll show you to my room," She says, grabbing my arm.

"Wow," I manage to spit out. "Its amazing." And it is. The walls and ceiling are a bright, calm purple. There's a crystal chandelier hanging over the bed. Two walk in closets are on either side of the room, and there's a master bathroom off to the side with two of everything. Two sinks, jacuzzis, mirrors, you name it. There are two beds. I'm guessing the one without all the stuffed animals on it will be mine for the week.

"Thanks," she says, putting my stuff on the bed. "So, you have some real talent."
I blush. "Not really," I say. "It's just for fun."
She raises a perfectly arched eyebrow. "Oh, fine," I giggle, realizing my own words bit my in the butt. "But I'm not that great, honestly."

"Yeah right," she cries, rolling her eyes. "You're amazing."
"Well, thanks," I say, not knowing what to do.
"So, tomorrow do you wanna go explore L.A.?" She asks.
"Sounds awesome," I reply, falling back onto the bed. "I'm pooped."
"Here, watch this," she smiles, clapping her hands twice. The lights automatically go out, leaving us in the darkness.
"Cool," I gush, looking at the star stickers on the ceiling. "Night, Kenzie."
"Night, Carter."

Okay, my new story :P Please, please, please comment!!!!!!!Don't be afraid to criticize me!