Aim High, Never Rest

Honestly, what is so great about California? All I see is a bunch of stuck up kids, just like Cassie, strutting around like they are THE shit. Well reality check, they are all stupid to think that talent agents would give them the time of day.

My mother, father, Cassie, and I just arrived at our hotel room in the renowned Palm Woods. Why are we here at the hotel for future wannabe stars? Well, let me answer it in the only sane point of view around here: Cassie wants to be famous.

I mean, I should be used to it by now. Cassie ALWAYS gets what she wants because she has it all. She has the face and the body. Oh, and don't forget the confidence. Okay, so she has more than enough confidence for her modeling dreams to come true. 

I mean it's a good thing to have a dream and motivate yourself to make it come true but not when you're a bitch about it. So Cassie Roberts, my older sister of one year, is the biggest plastic barbie doll in the world.

She manipulates people so she could get what she wanted. I'm constantly put down so she can make herself look better. Cassie will do anything just to be more superior than anyone else who gets in her way to a perfect reputation. 

"Hannah?" my mother knocked on my open door to get my attention. 

"Yeah?"

"You should go down to the pool and make some friends" she sat beside me on my new hotel bed.

"But I don't like the kids in this town" 

"Hannah, not everyone is like your sister" she rubbed the sides of my arms in comfort.

Let's just say that my mother could identify the shallowness of my older sister. The problem? She can't stand up to my sister for her life. Oh and my father? He's clueless. What's wrong with me? I don't complain. Reason? I never found the guts to stand up for myself either.

My mother really do feel bad about the move. She knew that I'd be leaving my friends behind. My whole life is back in West Palm Beach, Florida.

So should I trust my mother on this one and attempt to make new friends? I looked at her closely, trying to get a clue from her face expression. She looked genuine and carried a soft, encouraging smile on her face. Maybe trying to find new friends wouldn't be so bad. What's the worst thing that could happen anyways? I just moved here.

"Okay mom, I'm going down to the pool" she hugged me before letting me get off my bed. 

I lived on the second floor so it didn't take long until I got to the lobby. The first thing I saw when the elevator door opened to the lobby was the lonely hotel manager, Mr. Bitters (I read his name tag). I feel slightly bad for him and I know how he feels being all alone and lonely. Besides my selection of two best friends, no one really talked to me back home.

"Hey, Mr. Bitters!" I waved at him as I got off the elevator. 

He looked at me confused. Probably no one even bothers to say hi to this poor man. All these residents care about is fame and fortune. They are so driven by their selfish motivation to be rich and famous that they never thought about making conversation with the man that service them everyday. Los Angeles contains many self-centered brats and I can't take it here anymore. Sadly, I haven't even been here for a day.

"See you later!" I called to him. He shot me another confused look. I returned a smile, hoping it would brighten up his day somehow. 

Turning to the entrance to the pool, someone screamed "cannonball" and the next thing I knew, water flew everywhere in the area. I was one of the victims that got splashed (even though I was standing by the entrance door).

"Carlos!" was the response from the other residents. 

At least someone around here is not afraid to let loose and play around. People are seriously too tense here. There's some more conversation going on and everyone went back to what they were doing. 

I walked over to the pool, slipping off my slippers and sat down by the edge. My feet relaxed in the warm water. I took this time to look around the setting. 

A guy in some kind of hockey uniform was facing the balcony with the closed window above. His back was turned to me so I couldn't examine any further. 

Before I could look around the other side of the pool, I feel movement underwater near me. Seeing that it was the guy who dramatically jumped into the pool, I stuck my hand inside to help pull him up. He took my hand as he got up and sat down beside me by the edge.

"That was pretty good" I commented.

He stared at me, speechlessly. Maybe I scared him?

"Uh... Hello?" I waved my hands in front of his face. He snapped out of his daydream and jumped up from his seating position. 

"Hi, I'm Carlos" he held a hand out and I took it. Carlos helped me up. And I'm relieved that I at least met someone who wasn't spoiled or stuck-up. 

"Hannah, and I'm new here" 

"Oh cool, I can totally show you around here" he flashed the biggest grin I've ever seen since I got here.

"Sure"

"Okay, so that's Logan and Kandi. The ones with the books" he pointed. I followed his finger to the girl and the guy. 

"Kandi just moved here a month ago with a celebrity obsessed mom. Logan is one of my best friends from back in Minnesota"

"You're from Minnesota?"

"Yep. And the guy massaging lotion on the girl's back is my other friend, James. Oh and I don't really know the chick's name. She must be new too." 

I smiled admiringly at the guy, James. He's a handsome looking guy and it wouldn't hurt to stare right?

"Hannah?" Carlos snapped his fingers in my face.

"Oh, oops sorry"

"Now there's Guitar Dude and his female posse" a guy with shoulder length dark curly hair played peacefully with his guitar. Girls are surrounding that lucky guy. 

"Hey Carlos... And uh... His female friend?" we both snapped our head to the owner of the voice. I gasped at the hockey uniform wearing guy, who finally decided to show his face (instead of his back).

"You're... Dar.. La... Gah!" I slapped my forehead. Carlos laughed loudly as I looked up.

"Uh, nice to meet you too. Um..."

"Hannah" I stuck my hand out, trying to bring myself to look up at the beautiful face. 

"I'm Kendall" he shook my hand. 

Then I found the courage to look up at his face. He's really cute in my opinion. With that smile, I know there isn't an inch of shallowness in him.

He has gorgeous hazel eyes, brown eyebrows, and dirty blonde hair, a similar shade of mine.

"Guys!" the three of us turned. Logan and Kandi walked over to us. 

"Hey Logan, this is Hannah" Carlos introduced. 

"Hi Hannah" he waved, turning back to his friends, "I thought we agreed to split up"

"Get out of the pool then" Carlos fought.

"Hey, Kandi and I need this serene atmosphere to work on our Biology!" 

"Well, go somewhere else. Kendall, you too!" Carlos turned to his other friend.

"No way, Bitters kicked me out of the lobby" 

"Guys, what's going on here?" all heads turned to the beautiful tan-skinned guy. 

"I called the pool first!" Carlos whined.

"You can't just call it. I was clearly here first. Even before James" Logan pointed out.

"Hey, that's not fair..." the four guys blabbered, probably arguing about who should leave the pool. 

"So..." I moved away awkwardly from the conflicting guys. 

"Hey" the other girl greeted.

"I'm Hannah and you're Kandi, am I right?" she nodded.

"So what do we do about this?" she pointed at the four guys.

"I'll get Carlos and Kendall out of the pool. You keep Logan on that bench over there. And what do we do with James?" I asked.

"We could just leave him here. Logan won't mind" 

"Perfect" I let out a breath, turning to the guys.

"Hey!" I yelled. They immediately stop arguing, staring at me confused.

"Logan, let's go back to studying" the guy agreed, following Kandi to the bench.

"Nice meeting you, Kandi!" I called out.

"You too!"

"So who wants to show me around Palm Woods?" I turned to the other three. 

"I would love to but I have things to do" James saluted and walked off, back to the girl that Carlos claimed was new here as well.

"So that leaves to you guys" I shrugged.

"Let's go then!" Carlos dragged me to the lobby, Kendall following close behind.

"You!" Mr. Bitters pointed at Kendall.

"Hi, Mr. Bitters!" I waved, causing Kendall to cover my mouth.

"Are you crazy?" Carlos hissed. Before I could respond, Kendall held his hand up.

"Guys, let's go upstairs" he suggested.

The two literally pulled me into the elevator on an unexpected journey to my new life.