Chapter One:

“Oh that’s such a sweet story Roxan,” my best friend, Hannah, told me. My face started to turn a little pink.

“You really think so?” I asked as she nodded her head. I hated the fact that the truth was that story was a revision of my original. The original was too sad for anyone of my friends so I guess they’re never to know.

“I can’t believe this is the last day of our sophomore year. Can you believe next year we’re going to be juniors?” Hannah said overjoyed.

I smiled at her joyous face and then looked away for today was the last day of another unproductive school year. The summer breeze slightly blew my black curls and made my emerald green eyes water. Maybe next year my life will be a little easier. For I am the girl who doesn’t think she’ll ever find love at all in her life.

I guess it’s just because I’m afraid of what I’ll find when I search but hopefully if I do I’ll find the one. I walked home quietly, by myself as always, but when I got home I had no idea that something horrible was awaiting me. I slowly opened the door to my modern home.

“Mom I’m home!” I yelled inside. I walked in and found my parents on the couch being extremely quiet, even for them.

“Roxan, we have some bad news,” my father said with a serious tone.

“What?” I asked afraid of what the bad news might be.

“Well, you know how we’ve had some financial trouble?” he asked as I nodded. “Well to get out of that financial trouble we had to take drastic measures.”

“What kind of drastic measures?”

“We had to… well to put it bluntly, Roxan, you are now engaged to the Crims’ son Kiro Crims,” he said. My jaw dropped like I’ve just been slapped and somehow I was in shock all the way to the airport for my parents said that before I marry him I must get to know him… And he lives in Japan.

When I heard that the first thing that came to mind was, ‘are you kidding? Japan?!’ But unfortunately, he does live in Japan and I have no choice but to become his wife.

I knew my family was having financial problems, but not so much they borrowed money in exchange for my hand in marriage. My father is the owner of Jones Corp. he’s connected to many different companies, including the biggest, Crims Corp.

I’ve never met Kiro but I have met his parents, Mary and John Crims, sophisticated rich people. Hours passed on my flight to Japan, it was lucky that I know 8 different languages, which includes Japanese, am in ballet, take violin and piano lessons and have been to charm school or the Crims might have never excepted me.

But still, I’ve never been a “prissy” rich kid before. I wear lots of red and black clothes, have red highlights in my black hair and wear some emo make-up. I’ve been stereo-typed as a rejected emo, but then again what do they know?

Today I’m wearing my straight legged black pants with a white tank top and my favorite black Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ sweater. My hair was tied up in a ponytail with my rock star bangs in my face. The plane had finally landed, and now it was time to meet the Crims, and holy crow! It’s already midnight?!

The airport was still crowded when I walked off the plane, but it didn’t bother me, what did though was the man holding the sign with my name on it was John Crims. You would expect, because he’s such a big business man, that he wouldn’t come himself to pick up his future daughter-in-law with his wife. But he did, and he had the most serene smile on his face. Almost happy… almost.

“Roxan!” I heard the beautiful Mary Crims call my name. She was gorgeous, with waist length blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. She came up to me and gave me a big hug, the kind moms give their children after not seeing them in a long time.

“Roxan,” John said. John was a very handsome man, with brown hair and a goatee and hazel eyes. I nodded in return. Together the three of us walked to a chauffeured car and drove to their giant mansion.

It was huge, like forever long huge. I couldn’t even take my eyes away from it, that’s how big it was. I mean it would’ve made the Tacoma Dome look small!!! We finally parked and walked into the mansion of gigantic size.

“I know you just got here and all sweetie but it’s late and your first day of school is in the morning,” Mary smiled.

“Okay,” I replied.

“Dave will show you to your room,” John said gesturing to the young boy beside him. The boy was about my age and had light brown hair and brown eyes; he was dressed in a tux with the tails. It made me want to giggle, for a boy his age shouldn’t be a butler.

He smiled at me and started to walk up the main stairs with my bags in his hands. We walked quietly through my new home to my new room, when he opened the door I was amazed that the room was so big.

The walls were a crème color and the bed covers were beige, the back of my room had a big balcony. Not only that I had a huge, and I mean HUGE, walk in closet and a bathroom.

“Miss Roxan, I will see you in the morning,” Dave smiled at my awed face. I looked back at him and gave my sweetest smile.

“Yeah, can’t wait!” I said. He left with a smile on his face and I decided it would be best if I wait for a shower until the morning and just flopped on the bed and slept.

6:00 a.m.

I was awoken by a nudge on my shoulder, after a few more nudges I finally got up. Mary had waked me up with a bright smile on her face.

“Morning!” she exclaimed with enthusiasm.

“Morning…” I grumbled getting off the bed.

The first thing I needed was a shower, because I still smelled like I’ve been on a 12 hour plane flight. I turned the shower on cold, nothing to wake you up like a cold shower. When I was sure I wouldn’t fall asleep I turned the shower to warm.

I had to get done fast because I was already running late. When I got done I threw on my new school uniform of a navy blue and white plaid skirt and white shirt with a navy blue blazer. On no! It was already 6:40, if I didn’t leave now I’d be late so I knew I had to book it.

I grabbed my breakfast, a map to the school and ran out with toast hanging from my mouth.

“Have a nice day!” I could hear Mary yell as I ran out the door. “She sure is a fast one,” she mumbled to herself.

School:

“So Kiro I hear you’ve got a fiancé,” a girl with dark brown hair and brown eyes said.

“Yes Dani, I have a fiancé,” a boy replied with black hair that covered his right eye and light blue eyes.

“What’s she like?” Dani asked.

“I don’t know,” Kiro said bluntly.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” she demanded.

“She came in really late last night. I don’t even know her name, what she looks like, or even which class she’s in,” he said.

“Well that’s no-” Dani was cut off by the teacher.

“Morning class,” she smiled.

“Please stand!” a boy sitting up front said. “Bow!” every student bowed and you could hear the chorus of “Good morning sensei” through the class.

“Yes, yes. Please be seated. Today we have a new student with us,” the teacher gestured to me at the door. “Her name is Roxan so be nice. Now would you like to introduce yourself?”

“Thank you Mrs. Wilson,” I smiled. I walked in front of the class.

“Hi, my name is Roxan,” I started. “I’m from the states, Washington to be specific. My parents decided to send me here for who knows what reason. But here I am so that’s all there is to it,” I finished.

“Do any of you have any questions?” Mrs. Wilson asked.

“I do,” a boy with neatly spiked blonde hair and ebony eyes stood up. “What are your hobbies, and can I get your number?” The class burst out into laughter.

“Derik!” Mrs. Wilson exclaimed.

“No, no. It’s alright Mrs. Wilson,” I interrupted her laughing myself.

“Well I have a lot of hobbies. A few would be playing the piano and violin, and ballet. But my favorite would have to be writing,” I said. “And about that number, we’ll see.”

The room was full of “ooos” when Mrs. Wilson told me to sit down. I was sitting in between twins, names Kiera and Kaylee. That seemed a little strange, but that made me like them more.

I always new first days went by fast, but this one was quicker than usual. It was already lunch and I was sitting alone in the cafeteria. Since I didn’t pack a lunch and didn’t have money I was going hungry. My stomach growled and I cursed myself for not having a lunch with me.

Soon enough more people started walking into the lunchroom and I was surrounded by a few kids from class. There was the boy named Derik and Kiera and Kaylee and a few others. They were being nice enough to let me into their conversation.


Then I felt a tap on my shoulder, it surprised me so I jumped. I turned around and Mary was standing behind me with a glowing smile.

“Mary!” I said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“You forgot your lunch so I brought it to you,” she smiled handing me a box wrapped in a cloth. “It’s a bento box.”

“Ooooh, that explains the box shape,” I said sarcastically.

“Oh!” she said looking at the clock. “I have to get going, but I’ll see you at home!” she smiled.

“Yeah, sure!” I said as she left. I sat back down and was surprised by all the faces staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Do you know who that was?” Derik asked.

“Ummm, yeah. Mary Crims,” I replied.

“Exactly. Mary Crims,” a girl said with emphasis on Crims.

“How do you know her?” Kiera and Kaylee asked. After a few seconds of not answering the kids at the table took sharp intake of breath of realization.

“You’re her?” a boy asked.

“Who?” was my answer.

“Kiro’s fiancé!” a girl, I think named Reno, said.

“Oh… yeah,” I mumbled.

“No way!” another person said.

“Have you two met yet?” Derik asked.

“No, I think his parents are waiting until after school for that,” I said.

“Oh,” the whole table chorused.

“Well that means we can’t tell him,” the twins sighed.

“Either way you wouldn’t want to tell him,” another person said. “And I’ll tell you exactly why. Roxan take a look at that guy right there with emoish hair.”

I saw the boy and looked back confused. “Okay, what about him?” I asked.

“That’s Kiro Crims, now look at the girl he’s with,” he pointed at the girl. “That’s Dani. She and Kiro have been best friends for a long time. But she thinks it’s time to change that.”

“And what does that have to do with me?” I asked.

“She’s a trouble maker. If she wants it she’ll cause Hell until she gets it,” he smiled.

“So she won’t like me,” I stated.

“Bingo! She doesn’t like anyone out of their secluded group except for a few guys,” he said.

“Oh yeah! I heard last year Kiro was flirting with some girl he liked and Dani one day cut her hair real short. Then burned right in front of her,” Reno said with an evil glint in her eyes.

I gulped because I didn’t want that happening to me. The rest of the day was shorter than the first half. Right when the bell rang I was out the door.

“Hey Roxan, wait up!” Derik tan up behind me.

“Oh hey!” I greeted.

“Man you walk hecka fast,” he said. “Me and the gang were wondering if you’d like to hang out today.”

“I can’t, I’m sorry!” I said. “I have to get back to the Crims’ house. We haven’t really set up a whole ‘call and you can go’ or anything yet.”

“Oh okay,” he said.

“Thanks for the offer though. Just not tonight,” I said.

“Then we’ll make plans for another time,” he said. “See ya!”

“Bye!” I yelled after him.

Right when I walked through the door I was ambushed by a very happy Mary.

“Roxan how was your first day? Did you have fun? Were kids making fun of you? Did you like lunch?” I laughed at all the different expressions Mary had during her interrogation.

“Everything went fine. No need to worry,” I said still smiling.

“Well good! Now to get you ready,” she smiled.

“Ready for what?” I asked.

“Ready to meet Kiro you silly goose. You have to look pretty for when he comes home,” Mary led me up the stairs.

I was nervous when some maids stripped me down and pushed me into the bath. Outside of the bathroom they were arguing on which dress I should wear. Then the same maids that pushed me in pulled me out of the bath, then wrapped a robe around me and sat me down at a make-up desk.

A maid was doing my make-up and another was working on my hair. After hours of make-up, hairdo, and outfit changes, Mary decided I looked perfect.

This wasn’t a moment I was looking forward to, but it had to happen. My hair had been straightened and then re-curled, my make-up was light skin tones, and my dress was a lavender, knee-length. It may have seemed normal but it made feel a little too girly for me.

At the top of the stairs Mary stopped and cleared her throat for the few people at the bottom of the stairs to hear. They all looked up but the only one that caught my attention was Kiro Crims in a tux. His light blue eyes gaze was upon me, and it was nerve-wracking!