A/N: I don't know exactly when I'll get to ride more, but I will. :)
I.
New York City, 2003...
The skies cast their violent rains from the heavens above as a girl wearing an over-sized rain slicker and carrying a button-covered shoulder bag raced into toward a big brick building. Thunder clashed overhead just as she managed to pull open the water streaked glass doors and hurry inside. The twelve-year-old removed her yellow hood.
"Have a nice day, dear!" Chihiro's mother called out to her.
She smiled back at the medium-sized woman through her stringy bangs and waved at her, that was how Chihiro always was. Even in the worst of circumstances she found at least one good thing to appreciate. Confidently, the girl strolled into the crowded halls.
It had been sad to learn that her father's business was sending him over to the United States of America, but Chihiro's comfort came with the relatively easy time she had had with making new friends several years ago. She wasn't sure how it had been so simple but over time life had just gotten simplier for her, even her parents had seen a change.
"It's interesting, Chihiro." Her mother had said once. "You use to jump when you heard a strange noise or saw your shadow, but now you're just so mellow. I'm proud of you."
Pre-teens chattered in different groups while some were off to themselves. It was a bit strange to her, normally 'some' people would greet newcomers like they were already a part of their world. Chihiro spotted a couple of girls wearing dark clothing over by some lockers and started over toward them; she wondered why they both dressed so grimly.
"Hi," she spoke to one girl with spikey pink hair, making sure the red tie to her blue suit was well adjusted. "I don't mean to pry, but was there a death recently in your family?"
Both girls looked at one another and the other one burst out in a snort of laughter. The one Chihiro felt mistakened to ask simply gave her a withering look. "And you would be the third know-it-all to try that one on me." She glanced down at the girl's formal attire and scoffed with some amusement. "Let me guess, you're a freaking 'Hokemon fanatic."
Chihiro shook her head and felt her cheeks flush rose-red. "Well, no. I mean- I like the show but I'm in to more mature anime-" Before Chihiro knew it, there were others who were around her and laughing their heads off. She took an awkward step back and felt her zōri slipping from under her. With a flail of her arms, Chihiro fell down onto her butt.
"Nice flip-flops," A guy laughed.
The piercing of a bell ruptured all other noises and filled the girl's ears with a small, fast headache in a single surge. Kids began talking in panickying voices and Chihiro sensed them streaming away from her. Humiliaton cut deeply into her as she sat up and gave her eyes a rub, this hadn't been how she had planned things to go. A hand gave hers a tap and she glanced up to see a bespeckled girl with straw-colored hair inspecting her.
"You shouldn't have gotten involved with Tamber Jackson." The girl warned her as if it were life or death before taking Chihiro's elbow and pulling her to her feet. "My name is Samantha, by the way." she began walking forward but noticed Chihiro lingered behind her. "Well, come on. I don't bite." They both travelled together. "I'm into Manga myself."
"Really?" Chihiro ventured, brushing her wet hair behind an ear. "I've been for the last year or so." Samantha gave her another critical look. "If you want to make friends, than you'll be better off not being seen around with me." With that, she rushed into an open door. Chihiro was left without a clue, as per usual, to see the open door across from it.
The girl gave a willing breath and boldly entered it.
She would have to show them what she was about.
To be continued...