hey guys! so, as some of you may or may not know, the reason why i haven't been posting is because i've been making a book of my own! it's called Raquelle Rocks The House.

it's about a girl who has to save her family from losing her house, and in order to save it, she makes a band. i'll be publishing the first two chapters here! the actual book will be coming out soon for preorder and it will be available on Amazon!

When done reading the first two chapters here, leave a review comment below for a chance to be featured on the book cover! thank you for believing in my writing skills and leaving wonderful comments, i wouldn't have made this book without you all. now without further ado, enjoy!
-

Chapter One: So It Begins

Raquelle Escret was finally leaving her chaotic home and moving to the most prestigious school for the arts, Carmel's School of Performing Arts. Sure, the name was quite bland and lacked creativity, but she didn't care about that. All she truly wanted was a career in music.

"Ella!" Her mother yelled. "Come downstairs please!"
With a slight groan, Raquelle sat her drawing pad down and made her way towards the living room where her mother was.
"Yes, Mom?" She asked, heading over to her baby sister, Reagan-Maye.

"Do you have everything packed and ready to go? Jessica will be dropping you off tomorrow morning and I won't be able to double check your bag." Her mother informed her as she cleaned up some of Reagan's toys.
Raquelle rolled her eyes. What's more important than dropping me off at school? At least pretend you care. With a sigh, she nodded at her mother.
"Okay, will do." She kissed her sister's forehead and made her way towards her bedroom where her sister Sarah was planning different ways to re-decorate their room. Raquelle sat on her bed with her arms crossed.

"What are you doing and why?" She asked. Raquelle was so fed up with everything. She just wanted to leave and never come back... for six months at least. The small blonde turned to her younger sister.
"Why, Raquelle, I'm reorganizing our room! Take the old stuff out, bring the new stuff in!" Sarah said kicking a box of Raquelle's sports trophies to the side.
"Hey!" She exclaimed, heading over to the box. "These are valuable!" She kneeled down to the box and begin digging inside.

Sarah scoffed, shaking her head.
"Yeah, right. Those are trophies from when you did pee-wee soccer. Everyone got those. Even me! All I did was sit on the bench with a sparkly pink costume-"
"Uniform." Raquelle interrupted, glaring at her. "It's a uniform. Not a costume." The disrespect.
Sarah rolled her eyes, waving her sister off as she continued to rearrange the room. "Yeah, yeah."

"Besides, these trophies may mean nothing to you, but they mean something to me..." Raquelle began as she picked up a trophy from the box. "This was when I first met Zack."
Zack was Raquelle's best friend. They met in kindergarten at a pee-wee soccer game. Even though he was on the opposing team, they clicked really well. They were inseparable ever since.

"Oh, Zack! You mean, your boyfriend~" Sarah said in a sing-songy voice, shamelessly teasing Raquelle.
Raquelle gagged. "Ew, no. We're strictly just friends." She placed the trophy back in the box before standing up, carrying the box in her hands.

"Friends," Sarah chuckled, making air quotes. "Sure. Well, your 'friend' is leaving early tomorrow for Ireland. Didn't you want to say one last goodbye?"
Plopping the box on her bed, Raquelle gasped. "Yeah! I almost forgot he was leaving early... I've been so caught up in-"
"Yeah, yeah, I don't care. Leave so I can remodel in peace." Sarah rudely cut her off and shooed her out of the room.
Stumbling as she reached the doorway, Raquelle scoffed. "Some sister."

♬

Raquelle ran down the streets in all hopes Zack would still be at home packing up. If she missed the opportunity to say goodbye to him, she wouldn't know what to do with herself.

Unfortunately for her, she was interrupted by her arch-nemesis, Chloe Shamock. Chloe had a huge crush on Zack and it made Raquelle sick to her stomach.
  "Hey, Raquelle!" Chloe greeted cheerfully. Raquelle groaned silently, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest.

She simply can not stand this girl.

"Hello, Chloe. Do you need anything from me? Is that why you ninterrupted me and my walking?" Raquelle snapped at her. Chloe rolled her eyes and ignored her comment.

"I was wondering if you knew where Zacky is? I've been looking for him all day!" She whined a little, pouting. He probably is hiding from you, right now.
Suppressing her little laugh at her thoughts, Raquelle shrugged. "Sorry, no clue. If you already checked his house and he's not there, I have no clue where'd he be." Pursing her lips to the side, Chloe let out a soft huff and let her arms swing by her side.  "Hmph, thanks anyways, Raquelle."

Raquelle just gave her a simple nod. She wanted this conversation to be over ASAP!

As if Chloe read her mind, she skipped away to her own house where she could bother someone else.
"Finally!" Raquelle exclaimed slightly, turning on her heels to start walking again. "I thought she'd never leave!"
"Thought, who'd would never leave?" A too familiar voice asked her. Raquelle had a booming smile on her face as she hugged the blue-eyed male.
"Zack! You're still here!" Raquelle exclaimed as he chuckled.

"Of course I'm still here. We didn't get to have our, 'Last Day of Summer Lunch', silly goose." He hugged her back, matching the smile on her face. Pulling away after a short while, the two of them walked inside, greeted by Zack's grandmother and brother.
"Morning, Mrs.Smith! 'Sup Jack!" Raquelle greeted happily, waving.
Jack, Zack's older brother, gave him a simple wave and a nod before continuing to pack and load boxes.

While Mrs.Smith went over to Raquelle and gave her a huge hug. Raquelle was always treated like family at the Smith's household. Unlike at home where her stuff is tossed and thrown around everywhere. She hated it.

"What are you doing here?" Zack's grandma asked her. "Should you be at school?" She pointed at her before turning to Zack. "Shouldn't she be in school?" Granny Smith was very confused. Zack shook his head with a smile on his face. "Granny, it's summer, well, last day. And she doesn't have to go till morning, 'member? She leaves after we do." Zack informed her. Granny Smith stood there in utter confusion.

Both Raquelle and Zack exchanged glances. "Do you think she remembers?..." Raquelle whispered to Zack.
"I mean, she outta... How can she not? You're all I talk about-" As soon as those words rolled off of Zack's tongue, the two of them quickly moved away from each other.

"I-I didn't mean it--"

"I know, Zack, I know." Raquelle sighed quietly. What Sarah said earlier kept running through Raquelle's brain. Does he like me? Do I like him? What'll happen- Before she could think of anything else, Granny Smith finally remembered.

"OH! Yes, I remember now! Let me grab you two's 'Last Day of Summer' Lunches!" She went off to grab them. The two tweens stood there rocking on their heels awkwardly. They couldn't find anything to say to each other. Raquelle couldn't stand this awkwardness any longer.

"A-Actually Zack, I think I'm going to head back home. Sarah's remodeling our room without me and I still need to make sure I have everything for school." She said as she walked over to the front door. Zack nodded. 

"Sounds..." He tilted his head to the side in search of a proper word.
"Idiotic, stressful, annoying, like Sarah?" Raquelle answered for him. He laughed, looking back at her and putting his hands in his jean pockets.
"All of the above. I'll call you tomorrow, okay? Try not to forget me while you're off partying with celebrities." He walked over to her.

She laughed.

"How could I forget you? You've been my neighbor for seven years. I can barely get rid of you!" She teased. "Also, what parties? I'm going to school for kids who didn't fit in and are now at a performing arts school." She remarked. He shrugged, hiding his small smirk...
"Sounds like you'll fit in just fine~" Raquelle scoffed, playfully hitting his shoulder."Rude!" She laughed.
"Says the girl that hit me!" Zack declared. Raquelle playfully stuck her tongue out at him.
"Whatcha gonna do about it? Lock me up? I'm so scared~" She said teasingly and started to walk out the door.
Shaking his head,  he softly chuckled as he followed her.

"Goodbye, Raquelle." She cringed. Goodbye... it sounded so formal. She'll see him sometime soon, right? I mean, he's just Ireland for... the rest of his life. Her smile turned into a small frown.
"Bye, Zack." She waved at him sadly before turning on her heels and heading back to her place. Granny Smith came back from the kitchen with two lunch pails.

"Huh? Where'd she go?" She asked, looking around the area for her.
Zack closed the door and turned towards his grandmother. "Oh, she had to go finish packing up... so, she left." He shrugged a little. Granny Smith frowned.
"Well, that's sad. You and your brother go eat these then. Don't want them going to waste." She handed him the two lunch pails. Zack gladly took them with a smile and a nod.
"Yes, ma'am."

♬

"Jessica!" Raquelle exclaimed, running into the house and slipping her shoes off. She called for her eldest sister Jessica, someone in the family who she can go to for help and can trust to keep a secret. Peeking out from her room, she answered.
"Yes, Rocky?" Jessica asked her while combing out her long brown hair. Raquelle threw her shoes into her bedroom, almost hitting Sarah if she didn't move quick enough and went into Jessica's room.

"We have a problem..." Raquelle closed the door behind her as Jessica plopped onto her bed with a brow raised.
"We? Who's we?"
"You and I, Jess. Try to keep up."
Jessica let out a little laugh and put her brush down. "Okay, what's up baby sister?"
Raquelle then went on and on about what happened at Zack's place. How she wasn't ready for him to leave and everything to change. She needed him in Carmel, not someplace else.

"And then we said goodbye." Raquelle finished her rant as she laid on the ground and huffed.  Jessica looked up from her phone and down at Raquelle.
"You done?" She asked. Raquelle gave out a really loud groan of frustration and ended with a sigh, and nodded.
"Done. Fill me with your wisdom." Raquelle told her.

Jessica snorted a little. "I'm not that wise, but, whatever you say. I think you're scared of change. You've been friends for so long, you don't remember life without him. I say don't stress about it. You're both twelve. You'll meet up eventually."
Raquelle nodded, with a slight smile on her face. She was feeling better about this whole situation.

"Thanks for your help." Raquelle got up and hugged her older sister. The hug endearing, something Raquelle barely gives. All this talk about leaving almost made Jessica tear up.
All she kept thinking about was how Raquelle was going to be gone and she would only get to see her around the holidays.

"Any time, kiddo. Now, go pack for tomorrow. We have an early morning and a long night ahead of us so I recommend you start that now." Jessica pulled away from the hug, smiling a bit at her. Raquelle sighed softly.
"Only if you help!" Raquelle gave her older sister pleading eyes and a small pout. Jessica shook her head.
"Nope, not happening. You're twelve. You got this!" She gave her some words of encouragement.

"You're right. I'm twelve now, I can do this on my own!" She grinned.
"That you can, now, go get 'em, tiger!" Jessica giggled a bit at her choice of words. Raquelle just shook her head.
Once in her bedroom, she played her music using her speaker. Sarah wasn't in the room thankfully and went to work. As she danced and sang while skipping around the room, packing.

"Aha! Found you~" Her first ever pee-wee soccer trophy. The tournament where she met Zack. It's one of her prized possessions.
Packing for Raquelle didn't take very long, at least, it didn't feel long. By the time she finished, dinner was ready and was being served.
"DINNER!" Her mom hollered throughout the whole house.

Throwing her headphones and phone onto the bed, Raquelle sprinted down the stairs with her brother Josh close behind. The two of them were racing for the last chair at the table.
There used to be enough for all of them but their Dad transformed one of them into a high chair for Reagan-Maye that she's going to grow out of in a year or two tops. This is what bugged Raquelle.
Dad had time to put a whole high chair together, but couldn't buy another chair for her or Josh? She thought that was messed up.

"Aha!! I win!" Josh taunted as he sat down in the last available chair. Raquelle rolled her eyes.
"You always win. It's not fair." She crossed her arms and looked at him with a pout.
"It's not my fault you always lose~." Josh  remarked.

"Why I outta-"

"Kids! Come on, let's not fight. I've had a long day at work and I don't want it to feel any longer thanks to your bickering." Their Dad scolded them. "Josh, you pull yourself up a chair and Raquelle you take that one."

Raquelle smirked up at her brother as he got out of the chair with a groan. She sat down with a smile. Ugh, sweet satisfaction. Josh pulled up a Hello Kitty chair next to her.
"This is ridiculous." He muttered under his breath. Raquelle couldn't resist chuckling.
"No, my dear brother. This is beauty and grace in all the same place." She whispered to him with a wink. Josh playfully rolled his eyes.

Soon, everyone grabbed hands and closed their eyes, blessing their food and safe travels for Jessica- Wait, Jessica? Just Jessica? What about me? I have to travel and stay there alone without my friends and family!  She scoffed, shaking her head.
"Bogus." She muttered to herself. Luckily, her family didn't hear her say that otherwise she'd get in trouble. But they all seemed too interested in their own conversations. This was normal for Raquelle.

Every time she sits at this dinner table, she feels left behind. No matter what meal it is or what time of day, she's never included and usually has to include herself in things.

♬

The next morning was crazy for Raquelle.

She was awoken by her sister's annoying music on full blast. Immediately, this made Raquelle grumpy throughout the day. Then the boys, Konner and Josh, Raquelle's older brothers, complained about the noise and told Sarah to turn it down. Of course, she didn't listen. And because she didn't listen, she and the boys immediately began bickering.

Raquelle decided to ignore their childish behavior and get ready for her shower. At this point, the bickering was growing louder and louder. The whole situation became worse when Jessica walked in with screaming and hollering Reagan-Maye. Apparently, they all woke her up. They didn't even apologize!  Once again, wrapped up in their own conversations.
She balled her fists as she got out of bed, taking small breaths as she grabbed her shower items. Just a couple more hours and I'm outta here.

By the time Raquelle got in and out of the shower, it stopped.

"Oh, thank the Lord." She let out a small sigh. "Everything is calm and quiet now..."
Raquelle went to her bedroom and grabbed her luggage. Picking up the suitcase and struggling to carry everything else that couldn't fit in the suitcase, she made her way towards the family minivan. Humming to herself, Raquelle felt at ease, and couldn't wait to hop in the car and not look back at seeing the house again for  9-10 months!

"Okay, sorry about that, Ellie..." Jessica started saying as she got in the car also. "Did you eat breakfast? Wash your teeth, brush your face?" Raquelle snickered a little.
"I think you mean, brush my teeth and wash my face. If so, I did so. I had a blueberry muffin for breakfast. What did you have?" She politely asked her.
"Oh, I actually didn't eat." Jessica put her seatbelt on and pulled out of the garage, making their way towards the school.

"Oh," Was all that Raquelle said. She never recalled Jessica not eating breakfast. Jessica was the one who always told Raquelle to never skip breakfast because it's the most important meal of the day. Maybe she was just overreacting.
She's been told that she does that a lot. I'm sure she'll eat a little something when she drops me off...

♬

"Finally!" Raquelle ran into her new bedroom that she shared with two other girls. "A clean room, a clean window... Ah, this is the life!" She threw her stuff to the side and immediately went to jumping on a bed she claimed her own, happily jumping on the bed and doing her favorite dance moves.
Something she wasn't allowed to do at home.
"Um, excuse me." Someone said. Raquelle stopped jumping and looked at the voice.

"Um, hello?" Raquelle quickly stopped her actions and looked towards the girl who was standing at the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. She had curly, dark, long hair and medium toned skin.
"Your stuff is in the way. Please move it." She practically demanded. Her sharp tone made Raquelle uneasy. The girl walked over Raquelle's items and made her way towards her side of the room.

"Okay, sorry..." Raquelle said quietly, getting off the bed and cleaning up her bags to set them aside. She couldn't help but wonder, Who spit in her extra chai latte this morning? She snickered at her own joke but quickly cut the laughter once the girl heard her. The girl just scoffed and rolled her eyes before continuing whatever she was doing before.

♬

Two days after Raquelle settled in, she was having the best time of her life! She had two roommates, Rachel and Zoe. Rachel was the girl from earlier. She was known to be very nice, but not to Raquelle for some reason. Maybe they got off on the wrong foot.
Zoe was an absolute joy to be around. She was always happy and uplifting other's spirits. But, to Raquelle, that was starting to get annoying very quickly. She tries her best to be nice to Zoe, but she can't tell when the dragon is going to be released from its cage. While doing homework in her room, Raquelle was called to the main office.

"Oo~ What you'd do?" Rachel asked after hearing Raquelle's name on the intercom. Rolling her eyes, she closed her book and looked at Rachel.
"Nothing..." I think.
Rachel laughed, rolling her eyes softly. "Sure~ Have fun!"
Raquelle scowled. That girl always knew how to get underneath her scales. Raquelle wouldn't be surprised if her dragon released all its fire on her someday.

Once she reached the office door, she took a couple of breaths before opening it. What if Rachel was right? Did I do something wrong? I couldn't have. It's only been two days!
She took one last breath before opening the door, revealing her mother and father.
"Raquelle, we have some news..." Her father began to say to her. Raquelle was confused. What are they doing here?
"Okay... but you're scaring me." She told them as she fully walked into the room.

"Raquelle, sweetie, you have to come home."

-

Chapter Two: Double Trouble

"Can't believe I have to leave this stupid place." She scowled as she threw her suitcase onto the bed and began to pack.
"If this place is so stupid, then why aren't you ecstatic about leaving?" Zoe asked, but Raquelle was too angry to answer. Instead, she continued packing her things as her mind raced with negative thoughts. All she wanted was to leave her family. She couldn't stand the bickering and nagging. All she wanted was for it to stop. This school was the perfect escape.

A soft knock was heard on the door. Raquelle sat down on her bed with a pout on her face with crossed arms and legs. "Aren't you going to get that?" Zoe asked her.
"Nope." She responded coldly. "If she wants to take this away from me, she's going to have to come in-" Raquelle's sentence was interrupted by Rachel opening the door.
"Sweetie..." Her mother spoke with a soft voice as she entered the room. "Let us explain."

Raquelle looked over her mother's shoulder. She didn't see a person behind her. "What us? Dad isn't there."
She sighed. "Then let me explain."
"No, I don't need or want an explanation. You just don't want to admit to the fact that you don't want me here!" Raquelle said, losing her temper. Rowan sighed, looking down at the floor a little.
Rachel and Zoe quickly hurried out of the room to avoid such an awkward situation. She knew the way she was acting wasn't normal and was just an act on her emotions. So, she let the sassiness slide this once.

"Raquelle," She crouched down to her bedside and held her daughter's hands. "You know that's not the reason. I would never take you away from something you love." She spoke to her.
Her mom wasn't the type of mom who didn't care what her children wanted and fulfilled their dreams through them. She was soft, caring, and understanding. Something Raquelle isn't.
Raquelle is so headstrong that she didn't pay attention to a single word her mother has said to her.
"It's whatever, Mom. Can we just go home? I don't want to be here anymore."

Rowan nodded, grabbing her daughters suitcase. "Sure, are you forgetting anything?" Raquelle hopped off the bed and looked around the dorm.
"Nope, nothing I need or want is in this room. My books are in my locker and my guitar is in the music room." She looked up at her mother with a soft, sad smile.
"Alright, let's go grab those things then." As they made their way towards the areas, Rachel and Zoe came back into the room. Rachel was laughing ever-so-slightly while Zoe was worried and scared.

"Rach, did you hear that? Raquelle is leaving! As in, never coming back." She whispered to her. Rachel shrugged, closing the door that led to the room.
"So what? We weren't friends with her in the first place and now she's out of our hair."
"That's not a nice thing to say about someone. It could've been serious and we could've been friends with her if you weren't so stubborn and mean!" Zoe stuck up for Raquelle.
"You don't even know her, yet, you're sticking up for her. What nice thing did she do to you? Why are you sticking up for her?" Rachel asked confused.
She couldn't simply grasp the fact that Raquelle has done nothing but moan and whine around for the past two days. It was gruesome in Rachel's eyes.

"Does she have to do something nice for me to say something nice about her?" Zoe asked.
"Uh, cha." Rachel said in a 'duh' tone. "It's called returning the favor. Someone does something for you, and you do something back. It's the secret of life!" She flopped happily onto her bed and threw her shoes off.
"Actually..." Zoe started to say.
"Sh, sh, sh, listen. Do you hear that?" Rachel sat up and put her hand behind her ear. "Silence. Something we never had with Raquelle in the room."
"Oh, come on, Rachel! This is so not like you! You're cruel and mean to this girl you don't even know!" Zoe exclaimed.
"What did she do to deserve such hate? Kick you? Pulled your hair? Called you a pig monkey mixed with an orangutan?" She stood by her. Rachel looked up at Zoe.

"She- people call me that?" Rachel asked. Zoe giggled, shaking her head.
"No, of course not. I made it up and was just teasing. Relax Rachel~" She headed to her bed and started on her work. Rachel sighed a bit, rolling her eyes.
"I'll try."

♬

While back home, Raquelle didn't say a word to anyone. She still doesn't know why she's back! Entering her room, she found herself flabbergasted. All her stuff was gone! Every last drop of Raquelle Escret did not exist in this bedroom.
"Sarah!" She screeched on the top of her lungs. Sarah came into the room with the biggest grin on her face.
"Yes?~" Sarah peeked her head through the doorway. Raquelle turned to face her. "My stuff! Where did it go?" She asked in a panic. Sarah gave her a coy smile.

"As I told you before, I moved your stuff out!"

Raquelle couldn't believe it. "You were serious about that?" Sarah snorted, laughing at Rauqelle slightly. "Of course I was serious about that."
Raquelle ran her fingers through her hair frustratedly. "O-Okay, this is fine. This is totally fine." Sarah nodded with a sly grin on her face.
"You're right. This is fine!" She skipped into their bedroom and flopped on her bed that was now in the middle of the room instead of the left side.
Raquelle let out a shaky breath before going downstairs. Maybe my stuff is in the garage...Opening the door to the garage, she found herself relieved. There were boxes upon boxes of Raquelle's stuff.

One was labeled Raquelle's Junk.
"As if my stuff is junk." She scoffed as she walked over to the box and opened it up. "Seriously?" She shouted. "My clothes are not junk!" She exclaimed. She let out a low growl, seeting with rage. First, she had to leave school, and now this. Sarah sure did know how to get under her skin.
"Kids! Family meeting!" Her mother exclaimed through the house. Raquelle raised her eyebrow confused. Family meeting? We never do family meetings. She went up to the living room and sat down on the couch next to Regan-Maye.
"At least you're here." Raquelle picked her up and sat her on her lap.

Regan was happy to see Raquelle. Even though she was quite young, she has lots of fond memories with her. "Elle... You leave?" She asked with a confused look on her face. Raquelle looked at her.
"Yeah, Regan, I left for a bit. But I'm back now. So, no need to worry." She smiled sweetly at her.
"Oh, yay!" Regan-Maye cheered as everyone sat down in the living room.
"Okay, Raquelle, what did you do?" Konner asked her. Scoffing, she looked at him.

"I didn't do anything!" Raquelle claimed, putting her arms up in defense.
"So, why are you here?" Konner snapped back at her, playfully.
"That's what I would like to know!" She made a face at him, causing him to laugh. Oh, that's not why I made that face... but if you think it's funny. Go right ahead. Shrugging off her thoughts, she looked around for her mother.
"Who calls a family meeting and then is late to it?" Raquelle muttered under her breath.

As if she could hear her from across the house. Their mother came into the room with her father. "Okay, kids. Now, I've asked your father to come home early for work because this is a very important business." Rowan began.
"How so?" Jessica asked with a slight tilt of her head.
"If you let your mother speak," Their father started, glaring at Jessica slightly. "You would know."
"Sorry, continue..." Jessica spoke quietly as her mom nodded.

"Thank you, now you all know Raquelle is going to Carmel's School of the Arts," Rowan said to them. The kids nodded.
"Yeah, of course. It's not exactly rocket science." Sarah said rolling her eyes.
"Okay, well, going to a school like that costs a lot of money..." Rowan trailed off at the end of her sentence.
"Mom, where are you going with this?" Raquelle asked. Rowan couldn't take it anymore. Her eyes began to fill with tears as she hung her head low. Jon, their father, rubbed her back out of sympathy.
"Kids, we don't have enough money to keep the house." He ripped off the bandage. The kids exclaimed in protest.

"What?"

"What do you mean we don't have enough money to keep the house?"

"This is all Raquelle's fault!"

Raquelle rolled her eyes. "Sarah, shut-"
Jessica pinched Raquelle's thighs lightly. "Not around the baby." She warned. Rolling her eyes again, she took a small breath.
"Sarah, please shut thy mouth. Thank you." Rauqelle  said with a sweet, and fake, smile. Sarah poked her tongue out at her.
"Okay, kids, settle down. This isn't Raquelle's fault. It's no ones." Jon began. Jessica shook her head.

"There has to be a reason, Dad. You can't just say, 'We can't keep the house', and not point fingers! It was someone's fault." She protested.
Jessica was right. It was someone's fault. Highlander Real Estate. One of the biggest real estate companies in Carmel.
They sell great houses for amazing prices. They know how to get the job done, cover you for any holes in the walls, cracked windows, and broken door frames. Which is quite handy when you have six children of different age groups in the house. They managed to buy out multiple houses in the neighborhood and flip them for double what they got for them.
Giving in, Jon let out a sigh.

"You're right, Jessica. Something did happen." He started, looking at his eldest daughter who was suddenly worried about the situation.
"You see, the real estate company raised our rent to something we can't afford. And with all the money for Konner's soccer games, Sarah's design classes, your college tuition, Josh's football games, Raquelle's music school and now, Regan-Maye's preschool... Those activities alone cost us a lot ."
"Dad, I'm so sorry..." Raquelle sighed a little, looking down at her hands, trying to ignore the burning in her eyes. Their dad shook his head.
"Don't be sorry. But, guys and girls, because we are short on money, your mother and I need your help." Jon looked at them as he spoke.

Konner nodded. "Of course. What do you need?" He asked. "To start off with..." Their Dad began. "You guys have to cut your extracurricular activities. Meaning, soccer, football, design class, and..."
Please don't say it! Please don't say it! Raquelle thought as she tightly crossed her fingers.

"Music school."

She groaned loudly. "Oh, come on! I go to music school for two days and now you want me back?! I don't get a break from anyone! I want to go back!" She angrily exclaimed.
"Raquelle, I'm sorry, but you can't go. It costs too much." Jon claimed. He felt bad for the girl. He knew how badly she wanted to go to this school. It sucked seeing her like this. 
"Okay, but what if I pitch in? I have 20 dollars USD!" Sarah stood up happily, pointing her pointer finger the sky.
"USD?" Raquelle covered her mouth as she snickered.
"Who in the world says USD out loud in a sentence?" She teased Sarah. Sarah wasn't having it, instead, she gave Raquelle a nasty look. In a snap, Raquelle returned the look.
"I do. Got a problem?" Sarah sassed as

Raquelle shrugged. "You just sound weird, so, by all means, please keep doing it!" She grinned. Sarah scoffed, rolling her eyes as she sat back down. Younger siblings. They're so last year.  Sarah thought.
"Anyways, I'm afraid 20 dollars... USD," Jon chuckled lightly. "Isn't enough to keep her there. She'll have to stay home."
"It's not fair." Sarah protested.
"It will be because neither of you are going to stay here eating bonbons. Your mother and I are going to be working a lot more. We expect you to do the same." Jon said to them in a stern tone. The kids began to take this thing more seriously. Maybe they should actually listen and help around the house some more...

Sarah gasped in disgust. "You mean, I have to work?!" Her father nodded.
"That or find a creative way to make money. This way, we'll get to our goal quicker." Sarah gagged in disgust. They want Sarah.. To work... For free?
Konner laughed. "Boo-hoo, the princess has to get her hands dirty!" Sarah ignored his childish behavior and stuck her hand out as if she wanted him to talk to it...

"You're right, I am a princess." She began. Raquelle rolled her eyes. How much longer was she going to talk for? She seemed to go on and on...
"And as the princess of the Escret family, I shall save my kingdom!" Sarah hopped up from her place on the couch and scrambled to her room.
"Bring Raquelle's stuff back upstairs please!" Rowan spoke. Oh, good. Mom stopped crying. She was crying for a while...

A groan was heard from her room. Sarah obviously wasn't happy about Raquelle moving back in. She wanted her out and out for good. Looking back at her kids, Rowan spoke again.
"We expect you all to pitch in and help out. This isn't just a Mom and Dad thing, it's an all of us thing." She said to them.
The kids nodded in agreement. "We got it," Jessica said with a simple nod.
"Good, now, let's go ahead and brainstorm some ideas on how to save the house. Let's share our ideas at dinner."

"Sounds like a plan," Jessica answered for the kids again.
"Great." Rowan and Jon headed to their room as the boys went to the backyard. Jessica took Regan-Maye out of Raquelle's lap.
"It's nap time for her. After she's asleep, I'll come down and we can go over ideas together, okay?" Raquelle gave her a thumbs up.
"Okay..." Jessica gave her a soft smile before heading up to Regan's room.
Raquelle flopped on the couch.

She didn't want to save the house. All she wanted to do was go to music school. Was that too much to ask for the 12-year-old girl? Maybe she can make money off a fundraising website. She sees people do it all the time!
What if I secretly go back into the school, without them noticing and go there for free!

Shaking her head, she giggled a little at her thoughts. Nah, that sounds criminal. I don't think they would really care if I helped or not.
She put a pillow over her head and screamed into it. It was hard coming up with ideas to save the house when you don't want to. Deep down, she didn't have a choice whether she wanted to or not.

Why was this so hard for her? It was frustrating and exhausting to come up with not only good but great ideas.
"Jess has been upstairs for a while. Did she forget about me?" Raquelle wondered out loud.
"Jessica!" She called out. Jessica came down the stairs with a small groan.
"Quiet, Raquelle. Regan-Maye was just about to go to sleep! Keep brainstorming!" She told her before going back up. Raquelle threw her pillow to the loveseat.
"This is so annoying!" She complained.
"I'm too mad to even think of anything right now." She huffed, getting up off the couch and stomped into the kitchen.

"That's it. I'm not helping."

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