Chapter 1

I have lived in Paris France my entire life, and never even began to think about moving. My father was the famous creator of the Herve Chapelier bags, my mother a well known French actress and lawyer (on the side), and I had a pretty famous family background.

I have an older brother Peter who is one and a half years older than me, and a little sister Adrienne who is two years younger than me.

My parents are very happily married, and have been since they graduated from college. They were college sweethearts.

I was born on April 22, 1987. Peter was born on October 17, Adrienne on February 27, Mom on January 1, and Dad on July 4.

My life has always been great. My family has always had more than enough money, I have always been popular at school and had a boyfriend, we have always lived in an amazing and beautiful house, and had other luxuries. We all speak fluent French, my parents are fluent in a couple of others, and my brother, sister, and I are taking a few in school. We are very bilingual.

Everything in my life was perfect, until my parents made the announcement.

"Kids, your mother and I have some very good news for you."

"We're getting a pet?" Adrienne almost jumps out of her seat.

"Are you pregnant?" Peter asks, sounding as far from enthusiastic as possible.

"No, no. Neither one. Kids, you father has decided that he wants to promote his bags to other places in America and not just in New York. So we are moving to Beverly Hills, California!" Mom looks so excited and so happy, that I almost have to smile. But I can't.

"What? When?"

"We are moving sometime during the summer, but enough in advance so that you kids can get ready for school and everything, and we can all get settled in."

"Are you serious?" Peter asks.

"More than ever," Dad smiles.

I frown. "Mom, Dad, how can you do this to us? Just pick us up and move us to a whole new country without even asking? What do you think we are, dogs? We do have feelings you know, you are asking us to leave and pick up a whole new life in such a short time! And you expect us to be happy about this?!" By the time I finish, I am screaming.

"Darling, sit." Mom commands. I sit. "Your father and I have thought this over a lot, and we have decided that this would be best."

"Be best? We are leaving our home to go to some unknown place in stupid America!"

My mother starts screaming, I hate when she curses in other languages I don't know, it sounds horrible.

I end up running to my room and slamming the door.