Redemption

By Emily Moore

Clarissa has it all; the looks, smarts, friends, money, humor, family, everything. Never once having to lift a finger for herself, this beauty is living the life we all dream about. At least until a tragedy occurs, and it's all her fault. Now, on a drastic downward spiral from heaven to hell, Clarissa flees in desperation to hopefully clear her mind and get things right again. Of course she only finds herself more lost and broken than before. Alone, broken, desperate and hopeless, she finds herself even more baffled by the charming Garret and his cozy beach home shared with Anne, his adoptive grandmother. Left with no one to trust, and nowhere to go, Clarissa is forced to stop running and face her worst fear...the truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477241349

Emily Moore

Emily Moore is currently living with her parents and two brothers in East Tennessee. When Emily isn’t writing, you can usually find her reading out by the pool, going for a walk at the park with her puppy Maggie Mae, or wreaking havoc around town with her friends. She plans on attending University of Tennessee after she graduates high school. Redemption is her first novel, and she is just getting started.

Book preview

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

About the Author

I would like to dedicate this book to my parents who backed me up and reminded me I could do and be whatever I wanted to. Without your support, I’d still be staring at a blank sheet of paper feeling worthless. Thank you for helping me reach my dream. Also to Heath Ryans; the guy who inspired me to not only follow, but catch my dream. Thank you for helping me to be the best I can be, and changing my life forever. Because of you, this book exists. And lastly to my best friend, Chloe Bledsoe. True friends really can last a lifetime.

Chapter 1

Clarissa rolled over in her bed, yawning as she rubbed her drowsy eyes. A soft knock came at her door—perfect timing as always.

Morning, baby girl, Clarissa’s mother cooed as she poked her head into her room. Clarissa smiled and stretched her arms over her head. Amelia, her mother, waltzed in wearing a form-fitting velvet dress that touched just below her knee with a modest neckline and matching bracelet. Amelia had always pronounced that with a job such as hers, she must always look exquisite every day. Her shoulder-length curly black hair bounced lightly as she perched herself beside Clarissa, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Breakfast is being made by Mercedes today. I’m running late, but I’ll pick you up after school, okay?

Clarissa nodded again, yawning. Showing off her charming smile, Amelia lovingly wished her daughter a good day before bustling from the room. Clarissa sat up and looked around her room with sleepy eyes. Everything was so tidy and clean, courtesy of their maid, Mercedes. Rolling out of her puffy pink bed, she shuddered at the feel of the cold hardwood floor. Slowly she made her way to her bathroom, passing her floor-to-ceiling window on her left, complete with its own plush window seat. Automatically, the lights flickered on as she stepped onto the cold tile, and Clarissa smiled at the memory of her friend thinking that was the coolest thing in the world. Clarissa grimaced at her reflection in the mirror. Her pencil-straight raven hair stuck out at odd angles, and there was a bit of dried drool in the corner of her pouty lips. Cursing Mondays, Clarissa flicked on the shower and cranked the music up on her built-in stereo.

Thirty minutes later, revitalized after her quick, warm shower and finishing the last touches on her makeup, someone else knocked at her door.

Clarissa, a teary-eyed Sophie cried, you used all the warm wader!

Clarissa smiled at her seven-year-old sister’s speech impairment.

Water, with a ‘T,’ Clarissa soothed. Sophie crossed her stout arms and glared up at her older sister with a pouty face.

You ruin everything, the younger girl pouted. "You are so mean, Clarissa!"

Clarissa held back a chuckle of amusement. How about I make up for it somehow?

Sophie merely stuck her button nose in the air.

I’ll do your makeup if you’ll forgive me? Clarissa offered sweetly. Sophie caught the bait.

Sniffling, she asked, You will? Clarissa nodded and let her into her room. After ten minutes of sparkly eye shadow and even sparklier lip gloss, a happy Sophie and bemused Clarissa sat down to a warm breakfast of oatmeal with blueberries, Clarissa’s favorite. Just before she could dig in, the kitchen clock caught her eye. Clarissa was late! Scarfing down her breakfast in record time, Clarissa interrupted Sophie and Mercedes’s conversation about which Barbie was better to thank Mercedes for breakfast. Dashing through her living room and momentarily blocking the plasma screen TV from her father, Clarissa had almost made it out the door when her father called out to her.

Where are you off to in such a hurry? Scott Keys hollered to his daughter as she passed him. Sighing, Clarissa turned to her father who lounged lazily on their expensive burgundy leather couch. She plopped down beside her father, smiled, and replied, Well, it is Monday, so school.

Removing his propped feet from the glass coffee table, Clarissa’s father stood and offered his hand to his beautiful daughter.

You look beautiful, darling, he mumbled, hugging his daughter tightly. Have a lovely day. Maybe when you get home, we can go for a walk?

Pulling back, Clarissa smiled. I’d like that very much, Clarissa replied before kissing him on the cheek and wishing him a good day. Clarissa bustled out the front door and down the sidewalk that ran between the two lush flower beds and onto the yellow school bus that had just pulled up. Clarissa took her seat in the front and popped in her earphones, turning up the music, and pulling down the window. She loved how the wind felt against her sun-kissed skin. Another beautiful day in the life of Clarissa Keys, she thought to herself. As the bus was pulling into school, she smiled warmly to herself. Today seemed to be a promisingly perfect day.

Chapter 2

The first two periods of the day passed with ease. Spanish was a piece of cake; Clarissa was fluent and the teacher’s favorite. Second period was slow. English was her least favorite class, but Joey Zininskii, the class clown, made the class a little more bearable. Five minutes before the lunch bell, in third period, Clarissa’s eyes were beginning to slide shut for a midmorning nap when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Clarissa turned to see Tessa, her best friend. Tessa was a tall, lanky girl blessed with a big chest, a big smile, and an even bigger attitude. She had light brown hair and chocolate brown eyes with a tinge of bronze in them. Smiling, she handed Clarissa a note and winked while mouthing for her to read it. Clarissa rolled her eyes and cast a glance at Mr. Russell’s, their biology teacher, before unfolding the note.

Clarissa, it read, Have you seen the new guy yet? Oh my goodness, sooo to die for!! ;)

Clarissa smiled and shook her head. Tessa was always drooling over guys and never thinking about anything else. She was the opposite of Clarissa, who had never had a boyfriend or cared too much about guys. Clarissa was too focused on her studies and Vanderbilt to care about how cute Chad’s butt looked in football pants or whatever Tessa usually went on about. Clarissa wrote back:

Just another guy for you to gush over, I presume. I’m sure you’ll point him out to me! ;P

Clarissa tossed the note over her shoulder at Tessa carelessly just as the bell rung. Tossing her pink book bag over one shoulder, Clarissa gracefully stood and joined Tessa as they made their way to the lunchroom. Gracie and Todd joined them.

Todd fell in step beside Clarissa. The overwhelming smell of Axe cologne and cigarettes filled her nostrils, and it was all she could do to not gag. Lately, he had been trying to become a badass by smoking and spiking his bleach blonde hair.

Why, don’t you look pretty today, Todd winked at Clarissa, nudging her shoulder. Usually she would shrug off Todd’s compliments with a smirk, but today Todd was looking exceptionally handsome in his designer jeans and American Eagle T-shirt. Clarissa wondered idly why he tried so hard to be something he wasn’t. Trying not to gag, she smiled back.

And you look dashing with your new hair, Clarissa purred back, returning his wink. She silently giggled as Todd’s eyes widened and his smile brightened. Gracie and Tessa tittered, knowing, as Clarissa did, how big of a crush Todd had always had on Clarissa. Gracie cleared her throat.

Clarissa, Gracie asked giddily, what do you think of my new boots?

All three of them looked down at Gracie’s new cowgirl boots, which matched her cute cutoffs and white blouse. Clarissa giggled in admiration.

I applaud you, Tessa chimed in. Classic, yet fresh. I love it.

Other than guys, Tessa obsessed over clothes and the latest fashions. Entering the lunch room, the group tossed their bags to the wall near their table and stood in line.

Ugh, taco salad day, Tessa moaned. Todd threw up a triumphant fist and proclaimed how much he absolutely loved taco salad. As Tessa and Todd bantered about favorite foods, Gracie turned to Clarissa.

How’s the family? she asked politely. Gracie was a short and thin curvy girl with bobbed sandy blonde hair, fair skin, and green eyes. Although shy and quiet sometimes, Gracie was brutally honest and very bright.

Great, Clarissa replied. She didn’t mention that her mother and father barely exchanged a word. Clarissa knew they loved each other, but with their full-time jobs, they never had time to just slow down and talk to one another.

How about yours? Is your brother still going through that rebellious phase? Clarissa asked.

Gracie rolled her eyes and puffed out her cheeks as she added a handful of ketchup packets to her tray. Lately, Gracie’s older brother had been disappearing for long periods of time and returning home either drunk or with a new tattoo. He had recently turned eighteen, so his parents couldn’t do much to control his unruly behavior.

Same old, same old, Gracie chuckled. A squeal from Tessa distracted Clarissa as she paid for her food. She looked over to see Todd harassing her with a spoonful of taco salad, and Clarissa and Gracie