Prologue
Walking down these familiar corridors gave me the same panic it did five days a week. My breathing kicked up a notch, and I hugged my books closer to my chest. I focused on the beat of my footsteps rather than the snide comments coming from a percentage of the student body. I put my head down, so my chin rested on my chest and continued to walk until I reached the exit door. I pretty much sprinted across the car park until I reached my car. I got inside, locked the door and turned on the radio. I turned the volume dial to its highest so the sounds blurred out all my thoughts.
New
The car swerved down the windy bends of the highway. The road was washed in rain and oil, and it splattered against the wheels and body of the car. The radio was on low, and my mum was humming softly to herself along with the tune of the current song. I looked out my window at the constant green forests I saw around me. The outdoors never really held any interest for me. America wasn't terrible though, or at least it didn't look terrible. I much preferred to be in England though; in the safeness of my own home, without the constant bickering ringing in my ears. I broke off that train of thought, knowing it would send me into a fit of hysterics.
My mum placed her hand on my knee, and rubbed it soothingly. I glanced at her, and smiled timidly. "Don't worry honey. Things will be different here. I can almost feel it." She spoke with such confidence, but of course she didn't have to face the numerous amounts of snide comments constantly sent my way. I tried to put a convincing smile on my face as I said "Yes. I hope so." In all honestly, I was fed up of hoping for change.
While we drove down the highway, I closed my eyes and ran through the past week. I started off with Monday. I parked in the car park, and locked my car. I didn't want anyone breaking in there. Again. I dawdled across to the main building. I seriously despised the walls that held me prisoner here. I went straight to form, and took my seat at the back of the class. No one seemed to bother me in form. Everyone had grown bored of irritating me, so just left me to my self. After form we had PE. I wasn't fond of sport. I was clumsy, and I hated the cold. I put on my PE kit, and as I was about to leave the changing rooms a hand grabbed the hood of my jumper. I whirled around to see it was Liz. Liz Timmins was part of the popular clique. "Well Jones, don't we look weird today?" The girls around her giggled, and whispered to one another. No one called me by my first name. If I was truthful, I was glad for this. I didn't like my first name; it just made me more of a prime target for abuse. I just shrugged, and headed out of the changing room doors. "Bye freak, see you in netball." When I got into the hall I looked around for anyone else willing to ruin my day. I felt adrenalin cursing through my veins. I started to walk to the entrance of the corridor. Without looking back I ran into the corridor and headed for the nearest toilet. I locked myself in one of the cubicles and wrapped my arms around my knees. Tears started streaming down my face, and sobs broke out from my chest. I was hoping no one would find me in here. My whole year was doing PE right now, so I doubted anyone would. If someone did find me in here, things would be so much worse.
I had to stop. Thinking about this week was a mistake. I tried to focus less on the details. My mum had come home and found me in the foetal position on our couch. I told her what had happened, and she was furious. She has constantly phoned up my school and told them what happened to me. They never seemed to do anything. So when she received a letter in the post saying a hospital in America needed a new nurse, she jumped at the chance. She said a new start for us would be a good idea. A way to leave the bullies behind and start a fresh. At first, I was happy. I was happy that I would never have to walk into school and be called a freak ever again. The happiness soon faded when I realised I'd be a girl with an English accent in an American school. As well as the English accent, I'd be the girl who dressed different and listened to heavy music while she sat at home and painted.
Our rented car wheezed its way around another bend, and suddenly the scenery changed. Forestry was still surrounding the road side, but they weren't as green. The road became sandy, dusty and in some areas muddy. The trees thinned in certain places, and in the breaks I could see the ocean and a wide stretch of beach. I felt my stomach do a small back flip. We drove into a small road that was mostly pavement. Each side was lined with small wooden houses. Actually, they were more like huts than houses. Some were only one floor and some were very bright colours. We turned another corner and saw a supermarket. It was small and didn't seem very busy. The area didn't seem very busy either. I saw a few girls walking around. A lot of them were copper skinned or at least olive. I looked down at my pale arms and knew that I was going to be the laughing stock here as well. We stopped behind the supermarket outside of a small, one floored house. It had dark wooden panels and the window frames were a dark yellow. It looked very cosy. We parked in the garage and stepped out of the car. Most of our things had already arrived, as a friend we knew here had picked them up from the airport a day earlier. We came out of the garage and onto the gravel path leading up to the yellow, wooden panelled door. I opened the door and it creaked open slowly. I stepped into the living room that was joined onto a kitchen. The colours of the walls were very warm. A mixture of reds and browns. Oddly our furniture seemed to fit in well. I walked over and stroked the top of the couch that was set up in front of a small wooden fire place. As I looked around I realised that I felt comfortable here. The furniture brought our smell to the new rooms. I walked past the kitchen, and saw the cupboards where also yellow panelled. I carried on up the small hall into the smallest bedroom there. My bed was pushed up against the small, square window at the far end of the room. My desk was on the right hand side of the door, and it had my laptop and lamp on top of it. My wardrobe was on my left of my door, and when I opened it all my clothes were hung up neatly and my shoes were lined a long the bottom. There was a box next to my bed full of paints, brushes, pencils, sketchbooks and some artwork I'd already done.
I lay across my bed, and looked up at the ceiling. I took a deep breath and kicked off my Dr Martin boots. The window was cracked open and a warm breeze blew in, warming my face. I swung my legs round and started unpacking the box. I put my paints and equipment in one of my desk draws. My sketchbooks and a pack of pencils went on my bedside table and I started picking places for the paintings, I'd already done, to hang. I stood in the middle of my room and looked around. The walls were an off wide colour. I would have to find the nearest town to get some paint. This room needed my own signature on it.
That night I went to bed with a full stomach. My mum had cooked us spaghetti bolognaise, knowing it was my favourite meal. We sat in our small, but cosy, dining room and ate quietly. We chatted now and again about the house and whether it would need redecorating. I tried to persuade her not too. This house had its own originality. I knew a lot about originality so this house was kind of like me. She smiled and finished eating. After we had ice cream, and I then decided to go to bed early. School was tomorrow, and I knew I had a big day ahead. I laid out clothes for tomorrow across my computer chair. I picked red tartan skinny jeans, with a small black vest. The weather forecast said warm, seasonal weather tomorrow. I got my Dr Martins from the foot of my bed and placed them next to the chair. I pulled out a small, black cardigan. I changed into my pyjamas. I don't know why I called them that, because really they were men's boxers and a baggy t-shirt. I climbed into bed, and turned on my CD player. A familiar tune was playing from the mixed CD I put in earlier. I fell asleep smiling.