Laera tucked a stray lock of amber hair beneath her ears, her father was busy working inside again. The smell of spice and vegetable filled up the autumn air and wafted out to her nostrils, her stomach grumbled in protest as she sighed again and casted her eyes skywards into the sky. Is been three weeks since the approval letter came, three weeks of waiting, tidying and practicing her goddamn manners so she can match up to all those other kids. The school had said a helicopter would come and picked them up, she almost wanted to scoff at the idea. Such ridicule, she'd much rather make her own way there. They were poor, but not so poor they can't even afford a plane ticket. And here she was, looking like some idiot gazing at the solid blue sky.
"Stop scowling, Laera." Her father set down a plate of carefully salad, and two silver forks. "This is a great chance for you."
She sighed, as she seemed to be doing a great deal of it lately and speared a sauce infused lettuce leaf, "Yeah, I know, dad. Is just going to be weird." She stuck the leaf in and chewed thoughtfully, "all those other kids."
Her father's eyes echoed her words as he leaned against the wooden post, up ahead was the grassy plain where she had spent her childhood. Out behind was an endless lustrous greenery that she had spent the better years of her life hunting with her father, her school lies almost two hours journey away, but she won't be going there. Now, it will be far more than two hours to get home, if she will ever get the chance.
It was on this gloomy though, the glaringly loud sound of choppers distracted the pair and they watched as a helicopter descended gracefully onto the grassy plain. A man stepped out, dressed in impeccable suit and gestured to the helicopter.
"Miss Kotara, please aboard."
So she dragged her tiny luggage behind her and stopped aboard the spacious interior and watched with a grim expression as her life slowly leeched out of her eyes.
Welcome to my miserable life. Well, my life isn't as miserable as the orphans in Africa, but it's hard to go by when everybody is either acting like you don't exist, or whispering terrible things about you behind your back. I told my parents that I wanted Bradford Grammar School to be like a brand new life. I went out to buy a whole new set of clothes. Instead of buying from the "Get this look for less" part of the magazine, I looked at the section that tells you exactly where to get what the model's wearing. I knew in my heart it's not the responsible thing to do, but I was desperate. Since I was little I had no choice but to sit in my room doing nothing all day. I looked like a lunatic from an insane asylum, but that's going to change. No more fancy white dresses and pointe shoes, dancing around my room in a dreamlike trance. I am a teenager, and I will dress and act like one.
~
Holding my luggage in a Gucci™ tote bag, I board the helicopter. Swiftly and gracefully, I move into a seat. My ride slowly lifts off the ground, and as it does it begins going faster. I am slightly exited, because this is the school I've always wanted to go to. The helicopter flies through the air at a moderate speed, and it soon arrives at Bradford Grammar School.
Oh, I'm such a fool! I can't be free! No escape from the storm inside of me! I can’t control the curse! Please, you’ll only make it worse! There’s so much fear! You’re not safe here!
“Dad, I’m just goin’ out before I leave,” I said. He didn’t care anyway. My family was glad to have their little delinquent out of the way. I stepped onto the cold stone porch. It was my last time here for a while now, I thought to myself. “Pick up your bags, Addison. Let’s go!” He yelled from the kitchen, about three rooms back.
“IN A MINUTE DAD! Jesus.” Why’d he have to be so annoying? I scowled at the smoky London air. Nice weather for my departure! Slowly, I sauntered back inside and picked up my tattered tote bag.
*** “Addison, I know this is hard, after all we’ve been through, but I just want to say,” Mt father paused while he choked up. “I-I love you Addison.” His sad eyes were painful to look at. “I love you too, dad. You know I do.” We gave each other a big hug before I slid into the limo. I rolled down the window to wave to my father. He was really crying now. Ugh, now I’m going to cry.
I sat in the limo as it slowly moved through the London streets, bawling my eyes out. The ride was short, still, and I found myself at Bradford Grammar School in no time. “Let’s go,” I whispered under my breath. I new adventure. Wonderful.
Last edited by Sylar on Wed Apr 16, 2014 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Frederick Robert Ansell | Without Even Saying Goodbye
She doesn't care.
Usually, Erick thinks of many different things all at once. But now, only one thought runs through his mind as he stares down at his brown worn loafers. You're leaving, maybe forever, and your own mother doesn't give a damn.
He doesn't know why this bothers him so much, she never cared about him anyway. Neither one of his parents did.
But there is something about this one time - he isn't sure what - that makes it stand out from all the other times that remind him that they truly don't care.
So as he waits for the limousine, he does what he does best. He thinks. He thinks on and on about why he feels so distraught this time, and why he was so apathetic with the other times.
For what might be an hour, he ponders, until he finally has the answer. He has always wanted to put his parents into a situation to test if they really loved him the way any parent should love their child. And now that it's happened... well, he just wasn't ready for the results. He had the tiniest ripple of hope in the ocean that was his mind, and now it's gone. Now all he has left are tidal waves crashing down on him. And he feels like he is going to drown.
They don't care. And they don't love you. And they never will. It's your fault they split up. They're probably happy you're gone. They don't care.
"Mr. Ansell,"
Erick jumps. He turns his head and finds a tall man in a suit holding open the door to a limousine.
"Come aboard, please."
Erick swallows as he wipes a single tear from his eye. He lifts his luggage and brings it with him into the limousine.
Wow. It's bigger on the inside. The seat is so soft, he nearly sinks into it. His door is closed, and he hears the chauffeur get into the driver's seat. Erick sighs and looks into the window of his mother's apartment.
I'm finally leaving. Are you happy now?
Wait. He squints his near-sighted eyes to get a better view into the window. Is that a tissue? Is she crying?
He snaps his head away.
No. She doesn't care. They never cared.
He gets another glance as the limousine drives away.
Juliet Westmont: Maybe this was all one big mistake
This morning I wake up and shower quickly, then go down for breakfast I packed last night, which is good because I overslept. I discover that my mum made pancakes as a celebratory breakfast. I feel a tinge of guilt in my stomach. They really didn't want me to do the test, but they're celebrating for my sake. They know its my dream to get into that school.
Despite the fact I had felt hungry earlier I don't manage to eat much. My dad comes out his study as I'm trying to eat a few mores bites. His hair is messed up, his glasses are crooked and he has keyboard marks on his cheek. He must have been up late marking assignments again. I'd worry about him, but it's his passion and he honestly wouldn't be happy doing anything else.
Once I finish eating both my parents smile at me. "Happy birthday." Yep that's right, I'm starting a new school on my fifteenth birthday. They pass me a wrapped parcel. I open it to reveal a complete copy of Shakespeare's plays. Despite my nerves I grin brightly. Most teenagers probably wouldn't be as happy as I am, but my dad teaches classical literature and my mum is in a theatre company. I've grown up loving this stuff.
A car horn sounds outside and I hurry out the door with my bags. I get into the limo they sent to get me. As it drives off I lean out the window, waving. My parents look happy and proud, but also concerned. I can feel the guilt coming back. Maybe this is all one big mistake, I think as we continue to drive away.
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Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it and it will never be used to hurt you. Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones
I giggled at myself as I brushed my long blond hair in the mirror. Today was the day I was leaving. No more parents, Mr. Duck, and no more California. I smiled memorizing my dress, the way it landed just above my knees, how the color framed my jawline, and now the green in my eyes reflected the sea foam color of the fabric. Nothing cold ruin today.
"Cate, sweetie," My mothers gentle voice called from the hall. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, just finishing up my makeup." I called back lining my eyes with brown eyeliner.
I heard her scurry down stairs right as I pursed my lips to finish the look with baby pink lipstick. I had to admit, I did look kinda nice. I turned from the mirror and towards my bags, which were lined up on my bed. Green for dresses and jeans, blue for shirts and jackets, and red for everything else.
"Cate now!" My mom said roughly from the kitchen as I dragged all three cases out my bedroom door.
I groaned and pulled harder against the bags. My dad soon swept in, taking both the red and the blue bags from my hands. I smiled gratefully at him and followed him outside and onto our large backyard. There was a luxurious helicopter waiting for me to aboard. My dad placed the bags inside and my mother watched arms crossed over her small chest.
"I love you," My father whispered pulling me into a tight hug.
I kissed his cheek and walked over to my mother doing the same without any conversation. I climbed into the helicopter waving goodbye to my tear fulled father and stern mother not even worrying about missing them. This is where I belonged, I just knew it.
How the hell are we suppose to look forward to the future if we aren't sure if we will be alive in the next 20 seconds?
I glared at the mirror. It was 6 am and I wanted to sleep. But nooo, I just had to look absolutely perfect when the limo got here to pick me up. Fine then. I yanked the comb through my hair angrily, cursing my mom for being so worried about our family's reputation. "Zachary! Hurry up!" Geez. I thought. Turning back to my room, I began to get dressed. -- "Zachary! Come on!" I sauntered downstairs to find a man dressed in a suit waiting with my mom. "When you're ready, Mr. Kelly." He said.
As I stepped out of the limo, an immense monster of a building stood in front of me. “This is gonna be pretty cool,” I thought.
Inside, a doorman showed me to my room. The walls were a light blue-grey, my favorite color. It always reminded me of the sea near my home. A large four-poster bed sat in the center of the room, with a TV across from it. This was amazing! It was like my own hotel!
I stood for a few moments, dumbfounded. This place was the most wonderfully extravagant thing I’d ever seen. The doorman left the room and slowly closed the door. “Wow,” is all I could manage to get out.
***
After I had unpacked my few outfits and toiletries, I decided to take a small tour of all the activities at Bradford Grammar School. Maybe there was a nice place to set something on fire, because I would certainly feel at home once a crime was committed.
The pool was on the same floor as my room, so I decided to check it out first. It was large, clean, and lit from the inside. Spooky. I didn’t have a swimsuit with me at the time, but I dipped my fingers in. A perfect temperature.
The tennis courts were outside along with the garden. I’m not a fan of tennis, but I guess they looked nice. Maybe I’d learn. The gardens, on the other hand, were AMAZING. I could not believe how many species of flowers and trees and bushes grew in their perfect places. “Man,” I thought to myself, “My friends would think I was so stupid if they saw me now.”
Coming back to my room, I felt a sense of calm rush over me. Maybe I’d try to relax and stop my unjust ways while I was here. Maybe. The word blurred out of my mind as a drifted to sleep.
Well, that was awkward...I thought as I climbed out the the limo. "May I show you to your room?" I turned around to see another man in a suit waiting for me. "Oh, yes of course." I replied, grabbing my bags. "Please, allow me." Someone said, relieving me of my burden. "Thanks."
Wow. I looked around my room, the rich green walls a home-like welcome. "So, what to do?"
The sports fields seemed the perfect place to start. I stood on the tennis courts and looked around. "How did I end up here?" I asked myself. "This place is so perfect."
"Yes, mother. I arrived safely." I rolled my eyes as she continued to ask me questions. "No, I haven't walked around." I tried to think of an excuse to get off the phone. "Oh, hey I'm going to go talk to uh this teacher." I ended the call and slipped my phone into the waistband of my skirt.
She was always nagging on me, my mother. Of course she'd be worried about me, I was in fact her only daughter. I slowly walked out of my room and down the hall, I wanted to explore the grounds. I walked outside and felt the cool air brush against my legs. I took off the jacket I had wore outside and set it on the ground and sat upon it. I tossed myself backwards so I was laying down and laughed to myself.
"Life is good." I said as I closed my eyes and relaxed.
Used to be: IAlreadyDied But that doesn't mean I'm still the same person.
My eye twitched as my mother tried to re-do my hair. Today was the day I departed for Bradford Grammar School. It was the first time I would be away from my overbearing parents for more than two weeks in my life. A white limousine pulled up in front of our large house. The window rolled down. "Ms. Lake?" a well-dressed man called. I escaped my mothers grasp and grabbed my suitcase. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sound of a gate buzzing woke me from my slumber a few hours later. The gate swung open and we drove down the paved driveway. I glanced in the mirror. Ick. I combed my hair with my fingers and wiped drool off my chin. A few minutes later I was being escorted into Bradford.
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