AN- This new story is based off of the story called "This Lullaby" by Sarah Dessen. I'm only using the idea to create into my own story. :) Although I've never read the book, my friends are calling it good and I Wikipedia'd it. I own no one and I changed the original names to my own...well most of them anyways. :) This first chapter is just introducing someof the main characters and what they do and stuff like that.

This Lullaby

Chapter 1

--

This lullaby is only a few words,
A simple run of chords.
Quiet here in this spare room,
But you can hear it, hear it.
Wherever you may go,
I will let you down.
This lullaby plays on...

Eighteen year old Alana Starr poked her head out of her bedroom window as she watched her mom, Kathleen Starr, as she smiled wistfully, her ginger colored hair whipping into her face in the early morning wind. Kathleen Starr believed in every love there was, which was why most of her New York Times Best Sellers, were romantics. Every single novel had similiar plotlines- excotic locations, woman who had everything yet nothing at the same time. Kathleen Starr was just finishing up her latest "The Choice".

Kathleen Starr was waving her fifth husband goodbye as he chugged away in an old Ford pickup truck, he was off to work at his used car lot on the other side of town. It hadn't even been four months when they got married almost three weeks ago in the local church in Lakeview, only a few blocks away from the only used car lot in town. If Alana could take back getting a used car to get whatever filth away, she'd do it. It was her own car that brought her best selling author mom and the annoying, crude based man, together.

Alana could hear the faint whinning voice of Kristen Anne Baker, her fifteen year old brother's perfectionist of a girlfriend. Kristen Anne was almost always over and Chris claimed that Kristen Anne changed him for the better, since he was previously a juvinile delinquent. He met Kristen Anne during his shift at Jify Lube and to add onto the complete bipolar family, he breeds Jackson chamelons in his room. He also managed to learn how to break into houses with credit cards.

The eighteen year old girl with auburn colored hair and sparkling dark blue eyes poked her head out of her room and managed to listen to Chris's and Kristen Anne's conversation. Only one word could describe it- gruesome. Alana rolled her eyes before revealing herself and stepping downstairs as Kathleen Starr stepped inside, whuffling for warmth, her face flushed as she grabbed a coffee cup. "Good morning, Alana," she smiled, pearly white teeth reflecting the fact that Alana was not even close to living up to mom's expectations. "Coffee before work?"

Alana shook her head as she grabbed the white bread, taking a slice and promptly dropping it into the toaster before closing it and grabbing the orange juice from the refrigerator. Alana worked at the beaty salon in town, specializing in anything and everything, but she stuck with hair styling and cuts. "No, I'll just grab something on the way," she said, her voice soft and indecisive. "And I'm going out with Jeremy later anyways."

Kathleen nodded, too much in a daze to possibly care about her daughter's over-protective boyfriend. The toast jumped from the toaster and Alana tossed it onto her plate before sitting down on a wooden stool, taking a thoughtful bite of her mouse-sized breakfast. The food seemed dry and tasteless, which was something Alana had when she felt something was wrong. Really wrong.

Fifteen minutes later Alana calmly buckled the seatbelt of her used 2005 black Toyota and drove to work, which was another thirty to forty five minutes to "Candy Coated Nails & Hair", parking in the Arby's parking lot across the street in the far corner. Sticking the plump of keys in her back pocket, she stepped inside of the salon with a ring of welcome that announced her arrival. "Morning Lola," she nodded at the redhead that was standing at the counter, finishing up with a customer. "Hi Manda," she added at her co-worker, Amanda Walsh, who specialized on nails.

"Morning Alana," the pair chorused, nodding gratefully with her arrival.

Alana grabbed the black apron that all works had to use and threw it over her head before she walked over to her station, where a usual, Marcy Powers. "Two inches and a wash?" Alana asked, her voice bright with enthusiasm as Amanda turned up the radio to accomodate the customers.

"Yes, ma'am," Marcy nodded, smiling cheerfully. "How've you been Lana?"

"I've been here and there," Alana shrugged as she began washing Marcy's short brunette hair, layered and smooth that was shoulder blade length. "How's Mary's braces?"

"She hates them," Marcy giggled at her younger sister, which was a year younger than Alana. "She claims she can't even look at herself in the mirror anymore!"

Alana smiled and nodded politely. "That's tough."

Alana immediately noticed the gleaming cherry red Porche that Jeremy pulled up in, parking next to the used Toyota before briefly knocking on the door of the Starr residence, a lazy "jock-smirk" plastered to his face as he held out a simple rose that looked to have been picked up from someone's lawn. Alana opened the door and slid out, quietly closing the door behind her with a smile as Jeremy kissed her cheek. It was an act until they got off of the Starr's porch and started towards their destination. "Ready to go, babe?"

Alana nodded quickly before gratefully accepting the rose and linking his hand with hers and trotting to follow her boyfriend to his Porche, which was parked next to her Toyota and stepped inside. Her low riding, hip hugging jeans made the leather in his front seat squeak that jolted Jeremy from trying to jump her bones there, he smiled like the polite, protective boyfriend he was and closed the door, walking to the other side and jumping in. He honked the horn at Kathleen Starr, who had stepped into the porch to wave them goodbye before pulling slowly out of the driveway. Also an act.

Jeremy asked her out almost a month ago and Alana reminded herself that it was almost that time. Alana made sure her relationships lasted six weeks exactly. No more, no less. Her moves were becoming automatic, she didn't want to get hurt. She didn't want to get hurt just like her mom. It was simple. Six weeks and then it was done with. Over.

Jeremy pulled over a few houses down and leaned over and gripped Alana in a forceful kiss that lasted heartbeats longer than usual, the passion flared in his eyes, sparking something unknown to Alana. His colonge suffocated Alana as he kept her in his tight grip, his lips were hard and chaped, and his arms made it nearly impossible for Alana to wriggle free. Alana jerked backwards, her eyes sparkled with disbelief. "What do you think you're doing?" She whispered, unable to think.

"I've missed you," his voice was as smooth as honey as he cupped her face.

"I saw you the other day," Alana snorted, her back pressed against the window with a shaking apprehension. "Can we please just go?" Her voice shook as she glanced in the sideview mirror, trying to compose herself.

--

"Just drop me off at Luke's," Alana shook her head as she saw the used car lot in her sight. There was something about Jeremy that was truthfully scaring the shit out of her. Something wasn't right, or it was the complete opposite by the way Jeremy's eyes burned with a loving passion and a twinge of lust and Alana was positive that none of it was directed towards her. "I need to ask him a question about my car," she lied.

Jeremy simply gruned, annoyed, before he nodded and switched lanes and turned into the lot, basically shoving her out of the car and onto the pavement with a gruff farewell before he revved up and sped away. "Jackass," Alana muttered as grit splashed onto her clothes, she brushed it quickly before stepping into the office. "Hey Sherri." Sherri was the blonde bimbo that was a pathetic excuse for a secretary and Alana wouldn't be too surprised if Luke and Sherri were going at it when the days are slower.

"Oh, hello Alana!" Her voice was always high pitched and cheerful. She smiled and waved her into Luke's office, being the bimbo she was, she forgot that there was a customer with Lukke.

"Hey L--" Alana paused, unsure if she should finish her intruding sentence or not. But she had a quick moment to scan the boy sitting in the seat across from Luke's. Chocolate brown hair (spiked), eyes to match, and Alana certainly wasn't oblivious to the outline of the guy's forearms. He either worked out or had a lot of time on his hands and did crazy things to get those. What surprised Alana the most was the skinny jeans, red and white striped t-shirt, and the vest that completed his outfit.

"Yes?" Luke questioned, dragging Alana out of her thoughts.

"Oh, um, I just wanted to know if you were coming for dinner tonight," Alana stammered, well aware of the lie she had just thrown out into the open, she truthfully had no idea why she stepped into his office.

"Yes," Luke nodding, sighing impatiently. "This is my step-daughter Alana," he added, his voice lazy with regret that he had gotten such an odd step-daughter, who was nowhere near perfect nor beauty.

"The name's Kevin Jonas."

AN- I won't update this story until I've finished my roadblocking 4 Minutes, it's been giving me trouble lately. :) So I want to finish the 8th chapter before I go anywhere. I can't seem to get more than a thousand words on it. It's got a solid nine-hundred, but no more...