After five hours of being in the air, we were finally back on the ground. I hated planes because I could never get through the ride without feeling nauseous. We were picked up by our new driver, Jeremy Danvers. My father said he was a gift from the Mayor.

He wore a nice ebony suit with a grey tie. He coordinated his tie with his shoes, our old driver never knew how to do that and it drove my mother crazy. Unlike our old driver, he spoke to us as we drove to our new home. I knew my mother liked him because she engaged in his attempt at a conversation.

We arrived at a three-story mansion encircled by a well-manicured lawn and white stoned pavement. This house was bigger, the location was more secluded and more scenic.

I honestly loved it but of course, my mother found something to make a fuss over.

"No one in their right mind would actually choose this colouring," she said about the driveway. I left her with my father and the driver who were unloading our bags.

The house was much more modern, some of our walls were glass and stone patterned in certain areas.

"When is the furniture getting here?" I asked my father who just walked in with the last of our things.

"Soon," he said breathlessly.

"So we have nowhere to sleep?"

"All the bedrooms are furnished, it's just places like the living room that needs to be done," he explained.

"Which room's mine?" I asked.

"There's one on the third floor with your name on it." He grinned and I glared skeptically.

I took the elevator up to the third floor. When I got there I realized he hadn't specified exactly where the room was. I walked the hall until I neared the end and there was a double door with my name on it, literally.

I laughed rolling my eyes. I entered the room and I immediately got why he chose this room for me. I hadn't seen the others but I knew this one was the best.

The first thing I noticed walking in was the breathtaking view of the snow-tipped mountains and the ocean. I couldn't comprehend the possibility of sandy beaches, skyscrapers and mountains in one scene blending so well with one another.

I passed the silk curtains that swayed in response to the breeze that passed through it. Hidden behind the curtain was a sliding door. I pushed it open and stepped onto the balcony. I was speechless and my gaze only prolonged.

"Eden!" My mother yelled as she made her way to my room.

"Yes?" I was exasperated, walking back into my room and closing the glass door behind me.

"Your classmates are having a party, you should go," she suggested.

"Classmates?" I looked at her ridiculously. "I don't start until Monday, I know none of those people."

"You can get to know them at the party," she insisted.

"I just got here...how do you even know about the party?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Benjamin said his son was talking about going and that it'd be good for you to get to know people before your first day," she advised.

"I don't care to get to know anyone. I'm not going." I sat on the bed in defiance.

"Eden, Ben-"

"Mom" -I plastered a smile that didn't reach my eyes- "I don't care what the Mayor said."

"I already RSVP'd."

"Then cancel!" I sputtered. She gawked at me as if doing such a thing was against the law.

I dropped my head into my palms then fell back onto my comforter.

"Eden!"-she continued to annoy me-"You're making this a bigger deal than it needs to be."

I scoffed, shaking my head as I looked up at the ceiling. "That's funny."

She waited a minute before she begged me again, to reconsider. I sat back up and folded my arms, "What do you get out of me going?"

"It's not about me," she claimed.

I held my palm up, pausing her. "Okay. I've done enough laughing for today." I dropped my hand and shook my head.

"Could you just not be so difficult?" She pleaded as she brushed a hand over her chest.

"I'm afraid that's impossible when you're my mother," I said insolently.

After an hour more of back and forth, she dropped her caring mother act and spewed threats. Finally, I agreed to go when I was given the allowance to see my brother.

"If you started with that this wouldn't have taken so long." I smiled, suddenly eager to go to this ridiculous party.

~~~

I was expecting a lot more from these stuck ups.

When I got there everyone entered the house so gracefully like princesses and princes in their semi-formal suits and gowns.

When I entered the building I realized that was all for the paparazzi outside.

It was similar to the ones back home; a typical high school party with ear-bleeding music, drugs, drugs and more drugs. Only these guys got stupid drunk in custom made Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

The sun only just set and some were already stuffing shit up their noses.

I wouldn't say this wasn't my scene. I used to party all the time so I didn't have to be home, but right now that was the only place I wanted to be. River better make my trip worthwhile.

"Omg! You're Arthur Ellison's daughter!" A girl and her friends squealed as they approached me.

"Your father's a genius!" The one in blue said.

I had heard people say this more times than I cared to know. The sad honest truth was, I didn't even know what my father did for a living. All I knew was he made enough money to own mansions and private jets.

I don't aspire to be the daughter of the year.

"Yes, thank you." I flashed a hurried smile.

"I'm Val, this is Avery"-she pointed to the freckled redhead-"and Maya"-she pointed to the girl in blue.

"I'm Eden," I told them.

"You're the new girl!" One of them pointed out.

"Yes, I start on Monday," I said.

"Everybody's been talking about you."

"Oh-"

"We always hear about our transfers before they get here," she informed me.

"Good to know," I said, pursing my lips.

The girl in blue opened her mouth to talk again but I didn't give her the chance.

"Well, I guess I'll see you three there," I said, ending the conversation and walking away.

I walked over to the bar they had set up. "The most expensive drink you have here," I requested as I lifted myself onto a bar stool.

The bar was in the hidden back part of the room. The countertops were colourless granite, the stools leather. Above the serving area was a circular shaped chandelier.

I eyed the bartender's outfit-graphic tee, corduroy pants and a pair of white Nike's- feeling a little more overdressed as I got to his feet.

"How old are you?" He stopped what he was doing and looked up at me.

"Same age as you," I assumed. He didn't look much older than me or anyone else here.

"Seventeen?" He cocked his head.

"Yes," I nodded.

"That's under the legal age." He folded his arms.

"Look around," I said, gesturing to the other kids popping pills and playing beer pong. "I'm pretty sure that means nothing."

"You're right." He dropped his arms. "1869 Lafite coming up." He reached behind him for the bottle then poured the crimson liquid into a traditional wine glass.

"Here you go." He placed the glass in front of me. I picked it up and took a sip.

"Enjoying the party?" I fiddled with the trim of the glass.

He shrugged. "It's like this every time Val hosts, not much to enjoy. The only great thing is we all get to get drunk without getting in trouble," he snorted.

"And I was expecting glitz and glamour hell," I laughed.

"Don't worry you'll get there soon enough," he jeered. "I'm Rowen."

"I'm Eden," I introduced myself.

"The new girl," he took into account.

"Unfortunately," I said, then downed the rest of my drink. I scanned the room before I got up and spotted a familiar face.

"Who's that?" I pointed to what could be anyone but he knew right away.

"Leighton Wylder," he said.

Leighton, I mouthed to myself trying to remember where I had heard the name.

"He's the Mayor's son," he added and I turned my attention back to him in shock.

"The Mayor's son?" My brows perked.

"Yeah, he's a good guy but if you're thinking of getting involved with him you shouldn't," he warned.

I laughed. "You automatically assume that that's the case."

I hopped down from my seat and left that room and entered the one where a lot more people were dancing.

I began dancing myself, feeling more willing to enjoy this not so horrible night. I made the music swerve my hips, raise my arms and flow through my hair.

My breath hitched when I felt brisk hands on my thighs that made their way up to my hips. I spun around and it was him. He raised his eyebrows at me, his eyes were wanting.

"You," I said.

"Me." He smiled smugly.

"You're the Mayor's son!" I declared.

"That I am," he said.

I cocked my head to the side with a coy smile and lowered my eyes at him."You knew who I was when we met."

He took a step towards me, "I knew of you from meeting your dad, I just didn't know what you looked like."

"Hmm." I nodded. He smiled and took another step.

My heart quickened the same and my palms began to sweat like when he came close to me on the stairwell.

When my mind became corrupted with thoughts I would've acted on if I was a person who acted on impulse.

There was something magnetic about him.

His slight touch set my body on fire. I wondered how it would be if he were to do more.

I turned away from him as if to resume what I was doing and ignore him.

As expected he stepped up and pulled me into him. I melted completely, fully smiling now as he breathed on my neck, with his hands on my hips.

"You've lost another point with this approach," I reluctantly removed his hands from around me and faced him.

"First you were being a creep and now you're a perv," I teased with a laugh.

"I am highly disappointed," I shook my head.

He stared deeply. His eyes were captivating, they were jade. He wore a midnight blue shirt that looked black when the lights turned away from him.

He stood assertively, and from his smug expression, I knew he carried an enormous ego.

"I don't disappoint most people," he smirked amusedly.

His voice was so alluring.

"I'm sure you don't," I rolled my eyes.

The way he kept eye contact was intense, even for me. It didn't take me long to revert my eyes to something else.

It was not easy to rattle me but he did it. At that moment he won, he was the one in control.

"I'll see you at school," I said lastly and his smile grew. I rolled my eyes and walked away.

I stayed only an hour after our encounter. There was nothing more that piqued my interest so I went home and took the bartender with me.

"I'm home!" I announced with Rowen trailing behind me.

"Mother...Father!" I sang.

"We're in the kitchen," Mother shouted back.

Rowen and I walked through the foyer into the kitchen. The only appliance apparent was our coffee machine.

She was leaning, elbows on the counter with a glass of her favourite white wine in hand. My father was standing in the corner resting against the kitchen sink with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Who's this?" My father eased off the counter and began to slowly make his way towards us. Rowen glanced at me worriedly.

"My new friend. He's sleeping over," I informed them.

"What do you mean he's sleeping over?" My father began to raise his voice and Rowen stepped back.

My mother held up a finger shushing my father. "That's Daniel Hayes' son," she whispered. Then stood up plastering on a smile.

"Hello," she said to Rowen then turned to me.

"Let's talk in the other room." I shrugged delightedly as we exited, leaving Rowen alone in the kitchen.

"Ede! You will not-" My father began and I lifted a hand pausing him.

"We're doing better, remember?" I grinned triumphantly.

"New home. New us. New you."

My father bit his tongue with a deep exhale. "Okay."

"Okay?" My mother whipped around astonished.

"Okay!" I clasped my hands together.

"Cheer up mom," I pouted, rubbing her shoulder. "This is me getting to know my classmate as you suggested." I finished and left the room.

I meet Rowen in the kitchen and take him up to my room.

"Welcome to be humble abode," I gleed, flopping down onto my comforter. Rowen placed a small bag with his things on the ground next to my closet that we stopped to get before we came here.