So this is the first part(Of a two part chapter) I just wanted it to be a decent size to capture people's attention... All others to come will be longer. This book will also switch POV's from time to time, dont worry there will be a break in between each switch. Well... Here goes nothing! It may seem a bit... um. Bland right now, but this is just part 1, part 2 will have more detail on whats really going to go on, promise! And for some reason I couldn't get the italics to work for the flashback with her dad....
Enjoy!
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She was going to die.
Ronnie was absolutely sure of it. She sat with her back pressed firmly against the cold seats as she watched the scenery whip by at a lightening speed. The old car tilted left and right as it made its way down the curving mountain roads, the brakes whined as they were pressed each time, even if it was gently. The roads dipped down into the valleys that tucked inside the sides of smaller mountains, making an overcast- and making the road shadowed. She bit her bottom lip ready for a sudden impact, and kept her right hand secured tightly to the 'Oh-shit' handle just inches from her head.
"You ok? You look like you might be sick." Her gruff voice of Michael, her uncle, came as a sudden intrusion on her prayers. She glanced over at him to see that he was also glancing over at her. Not paying as close attention to the road ahead of them as she would have liked. "You don't get car sick do you?" He asked screwing his face up at her.
"No, I-I'm just a little worried about these roads...." She mumbled trying to keep her eyes on the road as if a hint to him. Although just as the words left her mouth they broke through the twin fortress and the road opened up to rolling fields on either side, the road itself also seemed to straighten out.
"Nothing to worry about there, I know my way around them." He said and gave a half smile, trying to reassure her. It didn't.
Ronnie looked out her passenger window at the new scenery before her. The land seemed to roll on for ages until finally being cut off by large mountains covered with browning trees. Well that wasn't true, all sorts of color filtered onto those large rocks: Orange, red, yellow, and even some scarce vibrant green still remained. She had been informed earlier that they were some sort of pine- though the exact name she would never be able to think of again. Houses were even more scarce then the green trees, they were what intrigued her more. A old farm house here and there, light green or off white silos close to them as well. Just about every inch was either covered by dying out corn fields or cows. Where were the houses and yards she was so accustomed to?
Where were the townhouses with a foot of grass? Or the houses that lined a cul-de-sac with their pretty new cars? Not to be found here. All the cars she had seen so far had been older, rusted and dented- or of course the hunting truck, complete with confederate flag either plastered on the back window or license plate.
She seriously wanted to go home.
A twinge of guilt flowed through her as she thought of her home. Or what was left of it. She could still see the flames as they licked up the floral wallpaper at an incredible speed. Shaking off that image her sub-conscious conjured up a second- equally painful.
"Veronica, with all the bills... I'm going to have to stay at Roger's." Her father's voice came in hushed tones as they sat in the hospital cafeteria only days ago, yet it seemed like such a long time ago. She had looked at him with confusion she was sure he could read clearly on her face... if he had been looking at her. The tears were still making their way down her face to her chin from the latest update on her mothers condition; but she looked at her father for some sort of explanation. What did he really mean by that statement?
"I don't understand..." She said softly when he realized he was lost again in his own thoughts. He looked up at her, his eyes red rimmed like hers, but his lost expression is what tore at her more. She had never seen him look like this. He had always been the strongest person she knew- her great big protector. He had no fight left in him, not with her mother tied up to so many machines...
"I can't afford that motel room much longer... Roger said he would let me stay with him. Give me rides to work too..." He said, not really looking at her, but past to something to couldn't make out. Ronnie knew Roger, but what didn't make sense to her. She had been to his place more than once... and he only had a one bedroom apartment. There was no way they could both stay there. But...
"Dad, what-"
"I've already called Michael. He's glad to have you. Says he needs a little extra help at the store anyway. So you see? It's perfect, you'll even get paid for it..."
That had been the end of the conversation. She hadn't wanted to upset him anymore, and his eyes had taken on that defeated look once again. It broke her heart to leave her parents, especially at a time her mother needed them most. Ronnie was just ready to do whatever it took to not hurt them anymore.
So here she sat, in her uncles beat up black Toyota, watching as any semblance of her life whizzed by at mach-two. She'd better get used to this, it would be her life for who knew how long?
The landscape outside changed once more, smaller worn looking houses lined the streets, as well as tiny house looking shops. It reminded her of the first time she had visited Richmond; so many little shops pressed next to each other that it only made sense to walk up and down the streets. Although here they weren't nearly as close together, and nowhere near as inviting. A shudder ran threw her as she thought of walking into one alone. A stranger in their closed community- how would that go over?
Her appearance probably wouldn't help too much. She had always had a light bronze skin tone, as if she tanned constantly, which she had never really done. Her hair was a dark brown, highlighted everywhere with tiny blonde streaks, that made it almost look natural... almost. Ronnie's hair was also cropped short, curling naturally around her head, mostly falling into her light blue eyes, which seemed to stand out more than anything on her earthy features. Body wise she was normal, with a slight athletic build from having taken six years of dance when she was younger, it still hadn't grown out of her yet to which she was thankful. It would be her clothing that gave her away as an outsider more over than her body. She liked her jeans to ride low on her hips and frankly she was a girl so she liked to show off her upper assets once in awhile as well.
While gazing in the side mirror at herself she hadn't noticed Michael slowing down, sliding into a stop. With a tiny jerk of her head at the force of stopping Ronnie was able to see they had reached his home. Her new home. It was a simple little white house with brown shutters, she knew the inside had three bedrooms, a large living room and tiny kitchen.
They sat in silence for a few moments as they both just gazed at the house; Michael never had a wife so the only time he had another person live in his home was when her family had come to visit during the summer, it must be a new thing for him as well. "Well, guess there's no time like the present, eh?" He said finally, shoving a shoulder into the driver side door to get it to creak open. Taking a deep breath Ronnie followed suit, exiting the truck into the cool autumn air, clutching her thin jacket around her body and leaning over the bed of the truck to reach her duffel bag. Michael had already grabbed her two other suitcases and was already trudged his way up to the front door. Following she couldn't help but notice just how much her father and Michael looked alike- she wasn't sure if she had ever truly noticed before now.
They really could pass for twins; the same unkempt black hair that hung over tired brown eyes, same body that showed years of hard work when they moved. Both were well over six foot and the only difference she could think of that separated them was the deep scar on her uncles cheek from a hunting accident that occurred in his teens.
Pushing the door open with one of her suitcases he lead the way through the barely lit living room to the farthest room, just beyond the kitchen. The room she had had since she was just a baby. The walls were a off white and the double bed was dead center, an old quilt lay on top it, to the right was an equally old dresser and next to it a desk. The thing she loved most about the room was the large bay windows that were on the opposite wall. They looked out over the backyard, which meant more rolling fields and mountains in the distance. She could remember looking out those windows and watching deer practically graze next to them.
They both set down her luggage and after a short awkward silence he turned to her and gaze her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Well welcome home Veronica, I hope you'll like it here." He said and gave her a hug that did better justice than his smile. With that he left her to unpack.
Ronnie sat on the bed and pulled her duffel bag closer, unzipping it and pulling out a few of its contents. Her laptop in its slim case, a couple books and her picture of her parents. Sighing she left the other sitting next to her as she held the picture with delicate hands. The picture had been taken on a trip to Virginia Beach, her parents were smiling at the camera when she had taken it. The happy smile that played across her mothers face pained her more than anything. She hadn't seen her smile in so long... Hugging the picture to her chest she laid back on the comforter and let slip the first silent tears in her new home.
Welcome home Veronica Saunders.
The only problem that I can find is the word "chocking" it is written like that twice in the second part and it is actually spelled "choking" so you should probably fix that. I at first did not like the name Ronnie but it seems to really fit since her full first name is Veronica; the few Veronica's I do know do not have nicknames so that you used Ronnie seems very unique to me. I really do hope you continue on with this story and keep posting, it's wonderful!
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