chapter one.

"Honey, I promise you're going to love Jack just as much as I do." My mother said, folding the last of my clothes and placing it in the luggage bag. I turned away so she couldn't see me roll my eyes. I probably wouldn't, because she no longer loved my father, so she could very well replace him. I couldn't because he was a)alive and b)still a great dad. I made a promise to myself, though, that I would try my best to like Jack and his daughter Camilla, both of which I had yet to meet, and the wedding was in less the a week. I hadn't even known they were dating until three months ago, when she told me they were getting serious. Of course I'd heard of Camilla Belle, model, actress, but most popular for her all too famous younger boyfriend, Joe Jonas. I'd never been into disney much, but the Jonas Brothers' music wasn't all too bad. I could stand to listen too it.

"I'm sure I will, mom." I lied, grabbing my nerf gun and super soakers, placing them into the bag. My mom shot me a disaproving look but I continued to zip up the bag. I had to give up everything I'd ever known in my entire life. No way was I giving up fun, too. I grabbed my oversized Pen State sweatshirt and pulled it on over my head. It was a gift from my older brother, Seth. He'd been accepted into the school on a basketball scholarship. He was the top scorer of the team, and expected to be a top draft pick into the NBA a few years from now. "You ready to go?" I asked her, hoisting the bag onto my shoulder and looking at my stripped down room. All that was left was the furniture I'd had since I was alittle girl. Jack told my mother not to sell the house, it was 'cute and cozy.' We could use it as a summer house, when we wanted to get away. I personnally took offense to it. I mean, yeah, he's like mega rich, but our house wasn't even that small. It was one of the biggest in our neighbourhood.

"Riley!" I heard my exboyfriend, Danny call as he ran down the street, arms flailing. I smiled and gave him a slight wave, tapping my foot until he finally reached me, panting and out of breath. "I know we kind of broke up last night, what with you going away, but I figured we could still be friends? Stay in touch?" He asked, extending his hand for me to shake. I dropped the bag and pulled him into a bear hug, never wanting to let go. I'd known Jack all my life. We'd been friends since kindergarten and only a few months ago had he gotten up the courage to admitt he liked me as more then a friend. I felt the same way and we'd been going strong ever since. But neither of us were stupid enough to know the seperation wouldn't tear us apart, so to make it easier, we called it quits now. It hurt, but it was better this way.

"Dan,I'm going to miss you so much." I told him, pulling back and giving him a kiss on the cheek. He squeezed my hand and sighed in defeat, knowing this was the end. "Call me anytime, Riles." He said, turning to leave. I stood their motionless, starring at the ground. Then I felt my mom's hand on my shoulder. I'd cried myself dry last night, now I was just ready to get going. She didn't say anything, and I was glad. I climbed into the car and we headed off to the airport.

"TMZ had an exclusive interview with Camilla Belle last night," The radio said and I fought the urge to gag. I couldn't believe I'd be living with a big celebrity. I was a laid back, casual girl who didn't see the point in dressing up everytime you stepped out of the house. I'm sure Camilla would want me looking perfect every second so her new step sis wouldn't embarras her. My mom turned up the radio just as I reached to turn in off. She shot me a smile. "Well, if you could call it an interview. Mostly, she just threw a hissy diva fit when the camera man asked about the age difference between her and her beau, Joe Jonas. She threatened the man, saying she'd sue him if he ever trashed talked her again. Sorry to tell you, Camilla, but insulting a celebrity is not a crime. Good luck to the young couple. Also big news between Jon and Kate Gosselin..." I tuned out the rest, turning to my mother with arched eyebrows.

"Riley, don't judge, it's probably hard, having people always in your business." She said, making a lame attempt at an excuse. Mom had met Camilla and just loved her. I knew she would. My mom had always wanted a girly girl, someone she could help with fashion, do their hair and makeup. I was the exact opposite. I wore plain, average clothes like everyone else, wore little to no makeup and spent all my time at the gym, working on my three pointer so some day I could be half as good as my brother. She was constiantly shaking her head at me when I'd shoot her white terrior, Shiloh with my nerf gun. I loved dogs, but big ones, not little. I had a golden retriever pup named MJ, after Michael Jordan, not Jackson.

"Yeah, thats it. Has nothing to do with the fact that's she's an egotistical ditz who's never heard of a set of tweezers." I gritted my teeth. "Riley Elizabeth Mcdonald! Don't you say something so cruel! I raised you better then that!" My mother gasped, completly outraged. But of course it was fine for her to talk about the ladies in her book club when they'd left, discussing which had the "operation". Mothers were all so typical.

"Sorry." I muttered, without meaning it. Battles were easier with my mother if you just gave in. She really had a talent for being stubborn. That's where I got it, actually, and my scarcasm, too. She just wasn't willing to admit it. "And sweetie, before you meet them could you clean up alittle?" She gave me a glance from the corner of her eye and frowned. "I mean, put on that cute little top I got for you, with the white skinny jeans? You look so good in that." She tried but it fell flat.

"I've never even worn that, mom." I told her with an edge in my voice. I hated when she insulted my appereance. At my old school I'd been considered pretty enough, guys flirted with me and stuff. I knew that was all about to change in LA, though. The girls would have silky, boucny blonde hair with bright blue eyes as opposed to my flat golden hair and deep green eyes. I had never been one to show off the curves I had either, I'd wear plain t-shirts. Whereas here, they'd be flaunting every bit of skin to attract the boys. Just the kind of world I wanted to live in.

"Please?" She begged and I could tell how important Jack was to her. "Fine." I huffed. "I'll change on the plane."

"Thanks, sweetie." She squeezed my knee with an appreciating smile."Whatever." I snapped, leaning my head against my window and taking a nap. This was going to be a long trip, and the stop was going to be much much worse. So fasten your seatbelt, Riley. I told myself. This will be one bumpy ride.

-

I slipped on the orange halter top, form fitting white skinny jeans and strappy teal heels. I stumbled out of the stall, trying to keep my balance. The girl looking back at me from the mirror looked so pretty, but she wasn't me. I didn't like her one bit. My mom rushed towards me, running her fingers through my waves in order to tousel them, then spraying them with hairspray. She dug through her purse, pulling out her makeup bag and began blotting conclear on my perfectly clear skin. Next came blush, bronzer, eyeshadow, liner and mascara. Something inside of me snapped, though, when she began twisting opened a tube of bright red lipstick.

"Mom!" I shrieked, pushing away the hand that was coming at me. "No way in hell am I wearing that! Because I'm not some forty eight year old trying to look twenty, and I'm not friggin' Edward Cullen. So no," I gave one last look in the mirror, hating ever ounce of my being. I looked like I belonged here, I wasn't myself to say the least. It made me angry, and also very hurt, that the old me wasn't good enough for my mom's new life. I blinked away the tears, afraid that I might mess up the makeup and look like a tramp.

"Honey, I'm just trying to-" She began but I was quick to cut her off. "Just trying to make sure I don't screw up your new life, right? God forbid I be myself and embarras you. Oh no, maybe Jack won't like me and he'll take away the life you've been working so hard to get. The big house, the shopping spree's, the spa days. Poof. Gone. Maybe you need to know what it feels like to have your life stripped from your very hands." I wiped my bangs from my eyes and took in a deep breath.

"I didn't realize I was such a bother to you." She said in a hurt voice, gathering up her things and shoving them into her purse, stomping towards the door. I was quick to follow, not wanting to make us late and possibly hurt her more. As much as I hated everything she was doing, I loved her, and I would never want to take the man she loved away from her.

-

"Lorretta!" A man in levi jeans, suede shoes and a red button down shirt tucked into those jeans. He had a nice smile, and reminded me a lot of Camilla. He pulled my mom into his arms and laid a kiss on her lips, she let him carry all her weight and I saw how much she loved him. "Jack, I've missed you." She told him. He set her upright and turned to met with a gracious smile.

"Well hello there, you must be Riley. Welcome to my - our home. It's so nice to finally meet you, I've heard great things. My daughter, Camilla, will be down soon with her boyfriend." Just as he said it, a beautiful girl walked down the stairs, looking like she just came off the cover of Vogue. She was wearing a loose fitted red, strapless dress and black high heels nearly double the height of mine. Her dark brown hair was in loose, perfect curls and her eyes heavily made up. My mom and Jack went to another room, leaving Camilla and I alone. That was until her boyfriend, Joe Jonas made his way down after, his hair slightly wet, wearing loose fitted jeans, a plain t-shirt and bare feet.

"Listen here you little bitch," She said, her eyes narrowing as they searched me. I flinched back in alarm. She continued, her voice dripping with anger. "I don't want you here, so I'm going to make your life a living hell until you finally pack up and leave. So the sooner, the better for us both." I swallowed, unsure of what I'd ever done to her. "My father and I were doing just fine before your slut of a mother." She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot, her perfectly glossed lips pursed.

"Cam," Joe sighed, irritation clear in his voice. "Don't be so mean, she hasn't done anything to you. I'm sure she's having a tough time with the remarriage, just as you are." He smiled at me, climbing down the stairs and making his way towards me, extending his hand to shake mine. "I'm Joe, we'll get to know each other well, because I'm here a lot." He flashed a smile at Camilla, admiration clear in his eyes, which I didn't quite get. She rolled her eyes, turning to stomp up the stairs in anger. Joe chuckled.

"Thanks," I mutterd. "For sticking up for me." My voice came out weak and petrified. "Notta problem, let me show you around. I know this place like my own." He held up his arm so I could link mine through and began the tour.