She knew that they were staring; she could feel their eyes burning holes into her back. She hitched her green two toned backpack higher on her shoulders. She looked down at her outfit, a light blue t-shirt, a darker blue skirt, that wasn't tight enough to be a pencil skirt yet not loose enough to be a circle skirt, white knee socks and her black high top sneakers. It was her favorite outfit. She tugged her socks up higher and brushed her blonde hair off her hot neck. "Where is that darn bus?" she thought the sun beat down on her and she felt like she was melting. Finally the rusty yellow bus wheezed up to the curve and she was the first one on. She took a seat in the front and slid her thighs across the hot, blue pleather seat; she leaned her head against the glass and could feel the rumble of the engine vibrating through her body making her teeth rattle. She gave a sigh of relief; it was their last day at this horrible school. She looked over the prison like brick building called Norton Senior High School. The buzz of her classmates filled the bus and soon the bus doors shut closed. The bus lurched forward and they were soon off. She listened to the drone of her classmates and the buzz of the fan that kept blowing the hot air in her face. She watched as the country sides whip by and she checked her watch. Only five more minutes and she would be free for a whole two months. She was giddy with excitement, a whole two months all to herself, to explore the woods behind her house, to lie in the sun and eat cupcakes with her best friend Cake and all the unread books in her library. She finally saw her long winding drive way coming in to view. She felt the bus shudder to a stop and she unstuck her thighs from the seat and ran out the doors towards her home. She gave a hurried "Have a good day" to the bus driver and ran up her long drive way. She always said why would someone walk when you could run and get there so much faster?
She saw the big mansion of her home come into view. She waved at the gardeners slaving away in her mother's proudest achievements, her roses. She pushed open the large white doors and felt the cool air blow her hair off her sticky neck. Her mother always seemed to keep it sub-zero in the home even in the winter. But today the coolness was a blessing. She felt something warm and soft brush around her ankles; she smiled and picked up her best friend and cat Cake. She kissed the top of her head and said "Hey honey where's mom?" The cat seemed to roll her eyes and Fionna sighed. She knew where, in her office buried under piles of work. She placed Cake down and quickly dashed up the stairs; she dumped her books on her bed and hopped on the dumbwaiter. Cake jumped up and curled in her lap and Fionna shut the door. She slid down and ended in the kitchen, none of the servants blinked an eye when she climbed out, they were used to her coming and going like this. She slapped her favorite waiter on the back and said "What's up Gunter?" he shrugged and said "Cupcakes are over there." She nodded Mom was probably being even more hard-assed than usual. She grabbed the small plastic container and placed it in her back pack. She waved at Gunter and he gave a small smile. She quickly ran back up the stairs Cake hot on her heels. She went into the library and ran her fingers over the spines of the books. She finally made it to her favorite sections, the Adventure section. She breathed in the musty smell of these books and she grabbed a new one which she hadn't read before and she stuffed in her bag. She petted Cake and ran to the back door. Cake and Fionna ran towards the back door when suddenly their mom came into view. "Fionna!" She said in a sing song voice "Dear be back in time for supper! And no grass stains this time! I need you to look decent." Fionna rolled her eyes, first day out of school and her mom was already springing these dinners on her? Fiona called back "Yes mom!" she saw her mom smile and descended back up the stairs.
Fionna took a deep breath and reopened the door. She inhaled the fresh summer air and started to walk along the familiar path through the woods. Fionna watched as Cake would duck in and out of bushes, running ahead and disappearing only to pop her head out causing Fionna to giggle. Fionna never worried about Cake leaving or going too far ahead. She had had this kitten since birth and they would both be lost without each other. Fionna walked along thinking out loud to herself. "Why did mother have to keep bringing these guys home? I mean they are way too young for her and she would have a zero chance with them ever! She just so forceful and…I dunno, sometimes I'm afraid that she is going to one day snap and just loc them all in a cell and just sit there and look at them. Which is kinda weird that someone nicknamed the 'Ice Queen' would be so desperate for love. I mean I'm right here! I could love her if she wasn't so...Ugh…Cake what do you think?" She watched as her cat poked her head out of a bush and she meowed at her. Fionna bent down and scooped her up "I knew you would agree." They finally arrived at their favorite meadow and Fionna stretched herself out on the soft grass, closing her eyes and just letting the sun rays wash over her. A few cup cakes and one okay novel later, Fionna felt her falling into a drowsy slumber. She watched as Cakes ears prick up and her back arch back. She sat up propping herself with one elbow "What's up girl?" she watched as the hairs on her back stood on end "Cake what's going on?" Cake looked around and her ears turning eyes wide. She stood bolt upright and speed off into the woods. Fionna stood up and yelled "Cake! Wait up!" she quickly grabbed her bag and tore off forgetting the book that was in her lap. She ran through the woods watching for the streak of cream and orange fur that would flash in front of her. She ducked under a branch and came to a halting stop.
There standing in front of her was…well…She didn't know. If anything she would have called it a portal, it was tall and oval and shimmered purple around the edges. She walked around it and peered into the strange land it showed. She looked in awe at the awesome tree house the portal showed. She reached her hand out and was about two inches away from it when she drew her hand back. She had no idea what the heck this was or why Cake had brought her to it. Fionna drew back and called out "Cake?!" she heard a familiar cry and looked in the portal. Cake was running away from her but she didn't seem right. She was too large and her legs seemed way to long. She turned behind her and looked into the forest. Her cat seemed okay so Fionna did what she always did. She dove head first in.