Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!

Ember rolled over, groaning as she slapped her alarm clock. She turned back, snuggling underneath her blankets. She finally got comfortable under the warm sheets again when suddenly the door burst open. "Em," a voice chided. "Ember! Wake up!"

Ember forced her eyes to open. "What?" She mumbled, exhausted. It was already six- thirty, but the high schooler didn't want to get up. She could be late. Again.

"Do you really want to be tardy for the third time this week?" The female voice rang in Ember's ears. "Because I don't want to write another slip saying you were sleeping in. Come on, stop slacking!" The commanding voice was owned to the strictest person Ember had ever met, her mother.

Mrs. Faxton sighed impatiently and strutted to her daughter's bed, pulling the covers off. Ember immediately curled into a ball, reaching for her soft blankets. With no avail, Ember sat up. Her long brown hair was still wet from last night's shower. She stood up, wobbling a little. She stumbled to the bathroom and shut the door.

Ember stared at herself in the mirror, happy with the image. Her brown hair was messy, but beautiful and glossy. Her green eyes shined like emeralds. Her rounded breasts fit her seventeen year old body perfectly. She was pretty skinny, but she wasn't scary thin. And she had a pleasant face that most boys thought was pretty, though none of them had ever asked her out... She was normal height and had an adorable laugh. Everything a high school girl would want, Ember had, body wise.

Ember yawned and went to her closet and looked at her choices for today's clothing. Suddenly, not caring about her appearance, she grabbed the first thing she saw: a short, tight fitted lavender dress. She threw it on, and headed to the bathroom again to do her hair. She walked down the hallway, looking at the family pictures as she went. One picture had her mother, father, brother, and herself in it. Then the next picture had her mother, brother, and her. No more father. Ember shut her eyes, shuddering at the memory of the tragic day he died. The house fire... he never made it out...

Ember shook her head, getting rid of it. Today was going to be a good day. She smiled and stopped at the bathroom door. She twisted the knob, but it wouldn't open. After trying many times, she gave up. "Asher!" She cried loudly.

"What?" An annoyed voice responded.

"Hurry up!" Ember snapped. "I've got to get ready too!"

"Wait you're turn!" The boy voice retorted. Sometimes the fifteen year old really got on her nerves.

So Ember waited. And waited. And waited.

Ember looked at the old grandfather clock. Seven- nineteen. "ASHER!" She screamed. "COME OUT NOW!" She stomped her foot. Being late again would dampen her record for homeroom!

The door knob wiggled. Then a figure stepped out; her obnoxious brother. Asher wasn't ugly. In fact, he was the complete opposite. He had bright blue eyes, and light brown hair. His face was like it was chiseled from granite, distinct and handsome. No wonder he already had a girlfriend. "The King of Bathroomland has finally stepped out of the throne room," Ember bowed, mocking him.

"Huh," Asher answered. "It's not like you take any less time, prettying yourself up with fifty layers of mascara!" He blinked rapidly, reaching for his eyelashes. Ember slapped him, and he laughed, running to his room. Her gaze followed after him, full of amusement. She stepped into the bathroom and got started on her hair.

*|•|*|•|*

When she exited the makeup room, it was seven- forty five. Time to go. Ember went back to her room, put on some white high heels, and picked up her Kate Spade purse and her small backpack. She walked down stairs and picked up a blue berry muffin, taking a huge bite. "Love you, Mom!" She called into the kitchen. Her mother met her at the door, wiping her hands on a towel. "See you after school, baby," she kissed her daughter's forehead. "Remember to pick Asher up from soccer practice at four,"

Ember nodded, hugging her mother back. "Okay," then she angled her head upstairs. "Asher, let's go!" She yelled. In a moment, there were footsteps on the old stairs, and then the teenager stopped next to them, smiling.

"Bye, Mom," he said as Mrs. Faxton hugged and kissed him as well. Asher tried to shrug her off but he didn't succeed. With his backpack, he walked out of the door and waited on his older sister in the car. Ember grinned and went to join him. She started the car and they were on the way to school.

"Any matches lately?" Asher asked when they were five minutes down the road. He knew about Ember's role at the school.

Ember shook her head, eyes trained on the road. "Not lately. But a couple weeks ago I set up Duke and Lily. They're happy as larks now," she was a little confused about how no one had questioned her about being set up with someone. But she was sure someone was going to do it soon.

"Oh, okay," Asher replied. He had something on his mind, Ember could tell.

"What are you thinking about?"

Asher watched the cats go by our of the window. "Nothin'" he lied.

Ember knew that trick already. "What?" She pestered. "What, what, what?" She poked him, keeping one hand on the wheel. They giggled and Asher pushed her hands off.

"Well," he began. "I just don't think Marley likes me anymore. I think she's going to break up with me soon, and I don't won't that," he finished, looking at Ember. "What do I do?"

Ember thought for a moment. "I would just wait until she does break up with you. And then I could finally set you up with Hallie!"

Asher cringed. "Um, definitely not. She's popular and I'm not. That will never work,"

Ember smirked. "I have my ways," Asher shook his head, bewildered at his sister's magic.