Prologue

I stretched my long, toned legs. It was the night to shine. I didn't understand why Alexandra dragged me here, but now I understood. I remembered the rush, the high, of my old Ballet school: the Minaret Castle Of Ballet.

Chapter One: The Note

I fell out of my bed, not knowing who exactly put me there. All I knew is that I was passed out on the couch, or, as I call it, the comfiest thing in the universe…when I'm dead to the world, that is. The floor was freezing; it was concrete with no carpet over it. OK, so it wasn't exactly concrete but it was, like, marble or something.

I pulled myself off of the floor and looked at my alarm clock. It was only 8:01 A.M. on a SATURDAY! People just hate me.

The desk drawer in my room was opened, exposing an unopened cigarette case; it was my mothers. She gave it to me. My arm made its way over to the cigarette case and opened it up revealing a note, and cigarettes. My fingers were shaking with anticipation of what it said, while I found a lighter and I lit one. I put it in my mouth, inhaling (sp?) the badness of the smoke, the taste, and the smoke twirling around my head.

"That's a bad habit. You need to break it," said an unexpected, deep voice. I jumped, turning to see who it was.

"Yeah, well, habits don't break. Especially the bad ones. And you personally know that, Jake," I answered, sighing. My older brother. He went to jail for…well, I cant exactly say.

"I know." He sat down on the hard marble, groaning as he felt the cold.

"I found a note in the case. Its from mom."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I was about to read it before you came in and scared me." I turned around to him. He was shaking his head at me.

"Well, read it. And, are you sure that its not from Alexandra?"

"I'm positive. It says KELSEY AMBRIDGE on it, NOT Alexandra Mayenera!" I threw my hands up in disgust at my twins name. She was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I hated it. But I love Alexandra…even though she was in Britain with father. Living near him in luxury. I was jealous, and I told her that.

"Well, get on with it Kelsey Marie Ambridge!"

Dear Kelsey,

I am dead if you are reading this. I miss you, and I wish that you never had to drop out of Minaret Castle Of Ballet. We never would have made you, except it was necessary. You were the best out of all of them. Everyone said so, Kelsey. I love you, and Alexandra is not perfect. Your father and her deserve each other, they truly do. Two selfish people living in Britain. Two Italian-born Americans living in Britain. They disgust me. And Jake will take care of you, not matter what.

Kelsey, you need to understand that people need you. That I needed you when I was living. I never would have died if you didn't need that transplant when you were ten. That was a year ago. I hope to not see you soon.

I don't know why I put this note in a cigarette box, I just did. It felt like it made sense.

I hope Jake hasn't tried to teach you about sex or anything, since that is a mothers job. That is why Carey Anne will come as soon as I am sick enough. I miss you.

I love you, Kelsey.

Remember that.

Love,

Mother.

"What does it say?" Jake asked, curious.

"Here," I handed him the note, "you can read it." I got off the floor and went to the bathroom.

"Wow…that is…wow. I never knew mom had a deeps side to her. Did you?"

I walked back in, fully clothed, makeup done, and hair in a Ballet-style bun. "No, I didn't know that."

"This is wow."

"I know. Mom was just a whole bunch of surprises, wasn't she?"

He shrugged his shoulders. I didn't want to know what his expression was. I turned around, biting my pointer finger till the pain left every inch of my body. Tears slid down my face in remembrance of that unfortunate night. I just pushed the memory away.

I felt Jake hug me. I cried onto his shirt smearing my mascara and eyeliner.

"I think we should take a tour of a certain ballet school…maybe Minaret Castle Of Ballet?" he asked, pulling me away. I looked up at him, nodding my head.

"Yeah. When can we go?" I pulled my side bangs behind in a hair-thingy…BOBBY PIN! That is it! Yeah…sure…I think that is what it is.

"Right now. I made, well you know, reservations to go to there and see your old friends." I sighed, I didn't want to see them. They would see me and think, "Wow, she is different! I don't like her. She looks like a model! Who is she!"

"OK! Lets go."