Below The Stars

I'm Lisa Ackerman

Chapter 1

I'm Lisa Ackerman

And as I let the memories roll down my cheeks after they break the walls I put around them, I finally realized exactly what I lost.

You never know what you have until you let it go. But I could still feel the lightness in my heart. I felt happier. Which is all it took to convince me that what I did was right.

But nothing in the world could stop me from playing it over and over in my head.

***

The best feeling on Earth is sleeping in. At least, in my opinion.

And today is going to be the last day that I can sleep in for a long long time.

At midday, I woke up to a knock on my door. It was probably Ryan, my brother, because who else would knock on my door?

"What do you want?" I asked annoyed.

"Oi Lisa, get up. Lunch is in the kitchen." Ryan said "And you better take a bloody shower before coming down"

I had no intention of getting up from my bed. This was the last day of my summer vacation, my last day of freedom. I wanted to spend this day snuggled up in bed listening to music. But I guess some people had other ideas.

"I don't give a , 'kay?" I said into my pillow in response.

"Well I don't give a either, but mum's coming, so you have to get dressed and eat. She's coming early today"

When I didn't reply, he said "you better be downstairs in 30 minutes or consider yourself dead" and then I heard his footsteps going downstairs.

Siblings are unbelievably annoying.

I got up, took a shower and got dressed in jeans and a plain black shirt. I had to get to work at two so I thought I'll first kill some time at April's, my best friend's house and go to the diner, where I worked, with her.

I left my room and saw that Ryan's room door, which was opposite mine on the third floor, half open. I went down the stairs to the laundry room, which was on the second floor with dad's work room which was now the storage room and Risa's room, which had been left untouched.

I put my dirty clothes in the washing machine and went to the kitchen where Ryan was waiting for me with bacon and eggs, our favourite breakfast, other than cereal.

Our kitchen and dining room is one. The living room and kitchen is divided by just a wall. Not a door or anything.

I went in and sat down opposite Ryan on one of the stools around the kitchen island and started gulping down my breakfast. I felt glad that we cooked breakfast in turns since I could barley keep my eyes open. Thank God it was Ryan's tun to cook.

"Why do you look like you haven't gotten any sleep?" Ryan asked.

I almost choked on my food since I hadn't prepared a lie to tell him. It's not as if I could just tell him I'd been talking with a random stranger I didn't even know the name of till 2 am.

"I'm just tired. It's the condition"

Ah the condition. The lie no one will question.

And as I hoped, Ryan didn't question it. We went on eating for a while before Ryan broke the silence.

"Hey Liz, um, my girlfriend, Charlotte is coming, you mind going early today?"

Well that was out of the blue. I almost chocked on my bacon for the second time. I would've spat it out but I'm not one to waste food.

"Say what now? Since when did you have a girlfriend? When's she coming? How long have you two been together? What does she look like?" I said all in one breath.

Ryan laughed and said "calm the **** down bugger, she's coming in like 10 minutes. We've been together for a month. Happy? So now can you please leave early?"

"Hell no" I said. This is a once in life time chance to embarrass Ryan in front of someone he likes. No way in hell I'm gonna miss it.

Ryan was about to protest but the bell rang.

"Shit. She came early" he said and got up and ran towards the door, almost tripping a couple of times, while I was trying really hard to not laugh.

He went and opened the door and invited her in. Of course I was getting late so I only had like a minute to see her.

Ryan introduced us. Her name was Charlotte Baker. She had dark hair and brown eyes and olive skin. she didn't seem that nice but I was getting late so after a quick hi and an introduction, I left for April's house, reminding myself to embarrass Ryan in front of Charlotte when I meet her again.

I was at April's house In a few minutes because she lives just a few blocks away. Mrs Williams, or Camilla as I'm instructed to call her, opened the door and let me in.

I went straight to April's room. Just as I opened the door, without knocking, because I was in a hurry, her two 8 year old sisters, June and Julie saw me and hugged my waist. "Hi girls!" I said

April looked at us and said "come on, leave her alone" and shooed them away.

April and her sisters are both brunettes with grey eyes. But the twins didn't have April's olive skin tone because they took after their father instead, unlike April, who took after their mother.

April is almost like the total opposite of me. I have long platinum blonde hair with bangs and dark brown, almost pure black eyes but people have always said I have persian blue eyes so I decided to go along with it since questioning it haven't gotten me anywhere, so far . While she likes to hang around and make out with guys, I mostly end up punching them for trying to make a move on me. She's a cheerleader and her boyfriend is the soccer captain. She seems like the type to be a bitch, sometimes she is, but it's good to have her as a friend.

I'm not not talented, if that's what you were thinking. I'm a straight A student and a great athlete. But I don't play any sports at school, except for swimming, which is only because we have to do at least one sport. School rules. I'm a very good football and volleyball player as well as a fast runner. But after what happened at my last school I've given sports a break.

We may be opposites but we are still best friends.

Although the only thing we have in common is that we both like anime and spend half our time on social media.

April got dressed and we went to the diner, in her Toyota Corolla with 10 minutes to spare.

We both work in a diner just 15 minutes away from April's house. It's a small place with like 10 workers. But the amount they pay is good and its close by. The only annoying thing is that we have to change into a black tee with STAFF written in white letters. It doesn't matter if we wear anything else. We can wear a butt short and no one would give a shit.

At the diner after putting on my tee and apron, I went to Instagram to see if AW is online. AW is only his initials. To be honest, I don't know his name since we swore never to tell each other our actual names. So as a nickname, I call him AW, like he calls me LA. We've been talking to each other for about 2-3 months now. I've grown a sort of crush on him but never acknowledged it since I wasn't sure. And I also have a boyfriend who I love so I don't think I have a crush on him.

I guess.

Maybe I just enjoy having him around. He, like me, is a book worm and we could talk all day without getting bored. I've never seen his face or heard his voice. But I love his personality and dirty jokes and wicked sense of humor.

I would go on but...

He's active.

Lizzy : hey

After a few secs I got a reply.

We talked for a while but then he said he had to go because he was going to eat, and so did I, because a customer came.

He was tall.

Like really tall. Even I'm a 5 foot 8 but he seems like 6 feet tall maybe 6'2. He had broad shoulders and lean legs. His light brown hair was cut neatly, with some locks falling on his forehead.

He was wearing a mid sleeved black shirt and jeans. I don't know why I'm describing him like this, because I never do, to our customers at least. Or to any human of the opposite gender. I just don't appreciate boys.

April saw me looking at him and said "Oh my God. Lisa Ackerman is finally interested in someone" grinning.

"Oh shut up" I said rolling my eyes.

He came over to me and stood opposite me. I didn't even bother looking at his face, doing my best not to let my curiosity get the best of me and look at him, letting him know I acknowledged him.

Why am I like this?

"He's all yours" April said and left smirking.

I rolled my eyes again and took his order. After I gave him the bill I saw him looking at me for quite a while.

"What?" I asked not even caring that I might sound rude.

"Do you have a name? Or can I call you mine?" He said.

That was the cheesiest pick up line. Ever.

"I do, but you can call me Ackerman. And I don't like guys who try to flirt with me, usually they leave with a bloody nose"

I said with a glare.

He looked surprised that I said that. "Well ok. But can I still ask you out?"

I can't believe he was still trying.

Oh I know these type of guys. I know you can't judge a book by its cover but I've met plenty like him.

"No, I'm taken" and I wasn't lying either.