Title: Ariah
Book 1: Secrets
Chapter 1: Ariah
Today is the first day of the rest of your life, I thought moodily to myself. America was so different to England. There was no way I was ever going to get used to it! And, oh my god, what was I going to wear to school? In England I had worn a school uniform, but at Widow's Vale High, you didn't. I selected a funky silver blouse from my wardrobe and put it on underneath my new black tank top. Retro. Then I wriggled into my flared black trousers that I got from Miss Selfridge. They are so cool.
Finally, I crimped the top parts of my naturally straight auburn hair. The end result was quite striking. With my big green eyes, olive skin and fab clothes, I was considered as a major high school babe. But, then again, that was in England. It would be different in America.
"Ariah?" My Dad yelled from the bottom of the stairs. "Come on! You don't want to be late on your first day!"
Yah think? I silently challenged him as I sauntered over to the car. I hated Dad. It was his fault that we had to go to America. Just because his stupid company offered him a job in New York, he thought it was perfectly alright to yank me away from my home, my friends, my school, even my god damn country! This may sound cruel, but I wish he had died instead of Mum. Oh, Mum. I couldn't even think about her without bawling. I loved my mother so much. She was so soft, sweet, kind and beautiful. And then she died in a car crash when I was only six. She was driving to my grandparents' house when her car suddenly went into a ditch. Dad blamed her parents and hasn't spoken to them since.
"So, are you looking forward to your first day at school?" He asked brightly, trying to get me to say something. I didn't reply. "Honey, I know you're upset, but I couldn't pass on a fabulous opportunity like this! You always used to say you wanted to go to America," He continued. I still didn't open my mouth. "Ariah," Dad said, getting angry. "Talk to me. I'm sorry that I took you away from your friends, but I thought it was for the best!"
Thankfully, he shut up and carried on driving until we reached the school. It was a large building, red-bricked and old looking with kids rushing around everywhere. One girl caught my eye. She was tall and thin with hair the same colour as mine and big hazel eyes. There was something about her...I could feel these waves of...I don't know. This may sound stupid, but I could feel power coming off her. It was so...intense.
Dragging my eyes away from her, I said to Dad, "Thanks for the lift and dived out of the car, feeling lonely and sad.