Eden

I was woken up by our family's maid, Carla, just like every other day I'd ever lived. Somehow I was always able to convince myself the night before that maybe my mother or father would wake me, smiling happily at their daughter, but that never happened. They were always too busy for me.

I don't know when I'd realized I wasn't their first priority anymore. Maybe it was when my father had started his election campaign. I was only 9 then. At first family dinners and breakfasts were down to two, just my mom and I, but eventually she left too to help dad with his campaign.

This was finally his last year as governor with two terms successfully under his belt. Maybe then he would pay attention to me and we could be a family again.

Maybe.

"Would you like some tea, Miss?" The maid asked in her heavy Spanish accent. I hadn't had a sip of coffee in my entire life. Both of my parents were absolutely addicted to coffee. There was no talking to them in the morning before they've had a cup. Seeing their coffee addictions, I'd decided maybe coffee was a no go for me. I liked tea better anyways.

"Sí Señora," I answered her, taking the cup from her hands. I couldn't help but smile softly when I did this. I was happy to be able to speak to her in Spanish once in a while. Anything to make her more comfortable, especially when dealing with a family as crazy as mine and it's moody 17 year old.

"Gracias," I smiled.

"De nada," she smiled in return.

I sipped my tea down quickly, not wanting to make her wait any longer. Before she left with my empty teacup she left three letters on my vanity. I thanked her again, as she closed the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Taking the letters in my hands, I read over the names and addresses, seeing none that looked familiar. Fan mail. God, I hated receiving it. I'd done nothing in my entire life to deserve something like it, but it seemed I got some every week. Perks of being the governors daughter. Nothing in my life was a secret, especially not my address.

I wasn't even allowed to post anything on my few existing social media accounts without it being approved first. I tried to keep my posts as authentic to who I was, but my mom's is a whole different story. Her Instagram and Facebook are the epitome of fake. There are no silly, tongue sticking out and cross eyed pictures, or anything of the sort, on there. Just hundreds of staged photos. Anything to make my father look good.

Glancing back at the letters, I decided I was not in the mood to read another long letter of "thank you's" and "you are amazing's" from strangers, so I shoved them all away in a drawer to read later, or never.

Looking toward my clock, I nearly had a heart attack. I had only 15 minutes to be ready for school! How long had I been standing there thinking? The warm covers of my bed looked so amazing right now. Oh, how I wished I could skip school for once.

Rushing to my closet I got out my usual school uniform, tan dress pants and a red, button down dress shirt. It wasn't as bad as some school uniforms, but I had to admit I envied all the girls who went to public school and could wear whatever style they chose. I'd always wanted to try and give a grunge style a try, but I hardly ever wore my own clothes. It was always school uniforms and press appropriate outfits. And though I wished with all my heart to go to a public school, I know my parents would never let me.

Putting on my clothes, I slipped into my black flats and ran to my bathroom. I applied a thin layer of mascara and eyeliner before putting on a barely noticeable lipstick. I didn't really care for makeup, but in my family and school it was a standard. If you weren't wearing makeup at school you were considered a looser, which is about the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

"Miss, I made you breakfast."

I peaked my head out of my bathroom to see the maid, Carla, standing in my doorway.

"I'm coming. Un minuto!"

I washed my hands, dried them and ran out of the bathroom. I had five minutes to eat. Following Carla, she lead me to the dining room where an extensive plate of eggs, bacon and sausages sat.

"Gracias!" I thanked Carla.

"Make sure you thank Cook later too!"

We didn't know cooks name, she never told us, so we just called her Cook. She's been working for my family for five years now, and holy cow was her cooking amazing.

"Sí, I will!" I promised.

Carla left me to eat my breakfast, which I was already horsing down. Thankfully my parents weren't here to judge how I was eating. Note to self: thank Cook for breakfast after school.

The dining room door slammed open and my mom ran in, obviously frantically looking for me. I stopped mid chew, hoping there weren't eggs on my face or anything she would comment on.

"There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere! I almost forgot to tell you, your father and I are having a very important dinner tonight, and we need you to come along. Make sure you are ready and by the door at 5 o'clock."

My mouth full of eggs, she nodded and scampered back out of the room before I could protest. There was no asking, it was a demand, let alone a "thank you" or "I love you." I had already agreed to hang out with Amelia, my best friend, after school, but now I would have to cancel on account of dinner.

Before I could take my plate back to the kitchen Carla ran in, taking it from me.

"Go go! You'll be late!"

I left the dinning room and headed to the front of our home where our driver Maximus was waiting to take me to school. I had kind of wished my mom would drive me to school when she ran in, but I guess, as usual, she was too busy.

"Hi Max," I greeted stepping into the car, throwing my bag to the other side.

"Good morning Eden. I'm afraid we are three minutes behind schedule, so would it be alright if I drove quickly?"

"Yes, that's alright. Just no sharp turns. We know what happened last time."

Max and I both cringed. The last time he had turned so sharply I flew across the car, bruising my forehead on the door. Because I liked Max so much, I told my parents I'd run into a pole. I was worried they would fire him otherwise.

"I'm still terribly sorry about that."

"No worries. Let's go."

He nodded and drove down the driveway to the main road. In a short ten minutes I was at school. It was a private school, made entirely out of brick, with large windows and vines growing up the side. Very picturesque. It was very small, but had its faire share of rich and obnoxious students.

Max bid me farewell before I walked inside. Today was just another day of school. Another day I would have to cancel hanging out with my friend for my parents. The parents I rarely ever saw. My life would never change.

I was so incredibly wrong.