Chapter 2.1 ~ Whiplash

So, I'm Dawn Carmody. Dawn Brielle Carmody, to be 100% precise. My Mom told me a few weeks ago that this is my legacy now, and everything is up to me. She also mentioned a curse, but I tuned out at that point, because Joel came by. Who's Joel? Oh, well I suppose I better start at the beginning, because I'm pretty sure My Mom would've just told you about the nerd side of me.

Well, I was just that. A nerd. A geek. A loser. I suppose I still kinda am.. but Life has changed a lot in these few weeks.

See, my brother's really popular. He's in the 'IT' crowd, and on every team you can name.

I'm not. I would spend all day at school alone, studying, or something else along those lines.

Even at home, it was that way. Dusk would bring his team mates home, and hang out at our house. Never once did it cross his mind how uncomfortable it was for me. It was bad enough at school, being worth less then nothing to people, but now at home too? I mean I love the guy, but he just doesn't get how hard life is for me.

Now, one of the more frequent guys at our house was Joel. Dusk and Joel were the male equivalent of the female 'BFF's'. Never really apart, and always doing the same things, thinking the same thoughts, and so on.

I kept to myself when Joel was around, except for when we did homework. Neither my brother, or his friend, were exactly "A+ students. Or B+. Maybe a C+. Okay.. maybe not... you get the idea. So that's where I came in: A tutor. Every time Joel was over, we would do homework together in a three. It was often beyond awkward, but I needed to help my brother.

After a few hours of explaining linear equations four or five times, I would often sneak back to my room to paint.

Painting was my outlet, as well as my personal income. I would throw every emotion I had on the canvas, then sell it to the store down the street. It wasn't exactly bringing in the big bucks, but it was enough for me.

When I was painting, I often lost myself. I'd be dead to the world, until I was ready to come back. That's probably why I didn't hear him come in.

"I like it." said a voice behind me. A voice full of confidence, yet as soft as a feather. A voice I'd learnt to know all too well.

I spun to meet Joel's eyes. He grinned at me, and I immediately got flustered. His smile widened at my burning face, and I only got more embarrassed.

"The words you're looking for are: Thank You."

"Right..uh...ah.. Thanks"

Those eyes.. oh God, those eyes.

"What is it?" He asked, breaking the silence I had created.

I loved being asked about my art. No matter who by. He'd just won himself into my confidence.

"I'm not sure yet. Right now it's a sunset, but it could change"

He chuckled under his breath, and I felt my anger rise.

"What's funny about that?"

"You paint sunsets? Shouldn't it be sunrises?"

It took a while for me to understand.

"Uh... Oh, right. Dawn, sunrise, real funny, you making that a career?"

He laughed with me, and we spent the evening chatting in my room. When he left that night, I wondered what had happened to reality. Jock talking to  a nerd like an equal? No way was this happening.. no way.

Way.

We spent quite a bit of time together after that. Goofing off, mostly. We'd dance in my living room to songs we both loved, and bothered Mom and Dusk into joining us sometimes too.

Other times we would do the exact opposite, and just enjoy each others company, without anyone else around. Those times were the best for me, being able to look into his soul, and realize that he was more then just a jock, that he was a person, that he was Joel.

On weekends, we'd spend more time together. Sometimes at the pool, so I could watch him with no shirt on  practice his laps.

It was around that time that we started to go from friends, to more then that. Being the blind girl that I was, I hadn't really seen it coming, but I never pushed it away.

Our favorite spot? Our special spot? The beach. It was so serene, and beautiful, that we never had to think twice about going. We'd sit and watch the waves roll closer to our place in the sand, watch the crabs scuttle side-ways past our intertwined hands, and listen to the birds high above us call to the world.

It was at the beach that my life really changed.

We were there later then normal. I didn't mind, and neither did he. But something was wrong. He wasn't exactly his normal self, and I couldn't think why. Suddenly, he took my hand, and cleared his throat.

"Uh..Dawn .. I wanted to ask you something."

"Shoot"

"Do you wanna be my.."

"..girlfriend?"

I was shocked to say the least. It was your classic modern day fairy tale, but in real life.

"Of course, silly!"

And so I got my first kiss. M first ever kiss! It was amazing. He was so gentle, yet so skilled. I could tell it wasn't his first, not by a long shot, but I didn't dwell on the fact.

So that's how I live my life now. It all changed pretty fast, and I had no idea it was coming, but it's all turning out okay. I have a feeling the 'curse' Mom mentioned was her excuse for the affair she had back in the day. Can you believe that? My Mom threw away a perfectly good guy for some fireman! I can tell you now, that won't be my mistake. I'll be the best lover a girl could ever be.


A/N: Hey guys. Yea, this chapter took a long time coming, and also wasn't too good. This generation will probably seem a bit rushed, but t has to be that way for the plot line. I hope you don;t mind,and can still enjoy! Ty! ~Zoe