When I first step out of the car, I am struck by just how cold it seems for a September day. Moving to Chicago would certainly be an adjustment, but Caleb wanted to be here and he says I can start over here. He doesn't know much, but not much is more than enough to understand just how deep in it I was back in Orlando.
"Beatrice, can you grab the last boxes?" He yells to me from the lobby of our new apartment complex, breaking my thoughts. The sun is beginning to set behind his car, so I grab the last few boxes of my things and begin the trek to the fifth floor. Our apartment is small, but big enough for the two of us to have our own space; the front walkway opens into the living room and the kitchen awaits through an open doorway to the left. On the right is another hallway, which leads to our rooms, each with separate bathrooms attached and nearly identical in size and shape. My room is plain and only has one window overlooking the parking lot behind the apartment complex. I sigh and look at the boxes surrounding me, beginning to unpack my clothes first.
"Beatrice, I'll give you some time to unpack," he says, walking into my room. "But then I would appreciate you joining me in the kitchen for dinner."
"Okay," I say softly, not turning to look at him. His voice reminds me of our father's, and I know that the tears will resurface if I think of him.
"I know, Beatrice," he says soothingly, stroking my hair and pulling me into a hug. "I miss them too, but what happened was a terrible accident and we have to move on. This is our life now and we are going to make it great. I promise."
Caleb leaves the room and I allow myself to linger for a moment on how quickly he grew up when our parents died in the car accident two years ago. We stayed with our mom's friend, Tori, in Florida until Caleb turned 18 and took custody of me. Since he graduated high school early and has been taking college classes, he decided to move us to Chicago so he could finish a proper pre-med degree at DePaul University. Tomorrow, I will be starting school at Dauntless Academy, a college prep school that Caleb thinks will be helpful for me since I'm starting my junior year and "need to start seriously considering my future."
When I finish putting away my clothes, I move on to my bathroom and carefully hide things where even a genius like Caleb would never look. He may be intelligent, but he's still a boy and would never be caught dead touching tampons or a bottle of Midol.
"Beatrice, dinner!" He yells to me.
"Coming!" I say, as I hastily put my shampoo in the shower and flatten the cardboard box I have just emptied. When I walk into the kitchen, I am surprised to see he has prepared food and not just ordered pizza or some other takeout. He motions for me to sit at our small table and lays a plate of food in front of me, which I eagerly begin eating.
"So, Beatrice," he says cautiously, blowing on a piece of chicken before chewing it methodically. "You'll be starting school tomorrow at Dauntless Academy. It's a five minute walk from here, but I'm going to drive you so that I can sign some paperwork and pay your fees in person. You'll need to walk home though and I won't be back until after 5. I asked Tori to call you around 4 and check in, but I know you can take care of yourself."
"Thanks, Caleb. That means a lot."
"Don't make me regret it. Now, rules. I don't want you hanging out with your friends here when I'm not home, bu-"
"Pfft," I interrupt him. "Like I'm going to have any better luck making friends here than I did in Florida."
"Beatrice, please try to meet some people. This is a nice school. The Chicago mayor's son is actually going there as well, you two are the same age."
I roll my eyes. Like I'd make friends with some pretentious asshole who thinks daddy's money will get him anyone and anything he wants in life. These kids are all just rich snobs and the only reason I get to go to the same school as them is because Caleb got me a scholarship. I don't intend on playing nice with these kids, I just have to get along with them for seven hours a day, nothing more.
"The counselor at this school would also like to meet with you and talk about how you're handling things." He says. So that's what this whole thing is about, I have to see a school shrink because Caleb's worried I'm an alcoholic or something ever since mom died because I like to party.
"Caleb that's ridicu-"
"Beatrice, this is not up for discussion. You passed out at random houses on more than one occasion last year. Just talk to her." He says this so sternly that I know he won't budge on it, so I sigh heavily but give in.
"Whatever, I'm done." I say and push my plate to the center of the table. The legs of my chair scrape across the hardwood floor and I turn to walk to my room.
"Remember, Beatrice. We can start over here. Let yourself."