Chapter One –Arrival :
It was a pretty sucky thing when I had to move. There I was, finally feeling what every human craves: belonging. But my parents thought it would be best to send me off to live with my aunt after my yearlong depression. Fortunately, it's old waters now, and I can finally say with gusto that I am a lot happier.
The still frost clamped onto the thick windows, gripping the glass in the midst of the frozen fog. All my thoughts seemed to be merged into one big buddle of endless pandemonium.
Aunt Agatha didn't actually live that far from where I used to live, but the ride seemed to take countless hours, although it was really only a four hour distance from New York to Sweet Amoris.
As though my prayers had been answered, the train halted to my final stop. Before I stood, my eyes had already swept over to Aunt Agatha through the window. She stood casually by a few benches. Her long hair was tinted pink this time.
Every time I saw Aunt Agatha her hair was dyed in another bright and unusual color. That was one of the little things that made her ten times more awesome.
As I stood from my seat, our eyes meet. Her face grew bright, and she promptly waved at me, one of her dress's straps falling on one side. I waved back, smiling through the window.
All right, perhaps the situation wasn't so bad after all. I really loved Aunt Agatha, despite the fact that she could be completely insane more times than I could count. Not to mention she had an ancient and slightly unhealthy obsession with my literally nonexistent love life.
As I tugged my earphones off I descended the train's steps, skipping the last one to avoid the narrow gap. The air was sweet here. Actually sweet. I suppose the town's name has its valid reasoning.
"Sweetie!" Aunt Agatha's wholesome, sugary voice approached from behind. "My, look at how much of a woman you've become!"
I halted my single suitcase to a stop beside me before replying, "I don't think a 5''6, size B-cup, 16 year old could be viewed as a grown woman, Auntie."
I chuckled. She laughed.
"Oh, come here you snarky little cuddle-wubby!"
Agatha's slim arms pulled me into a tight embrace before I could utter a single response to her cringe worthy nickname. Even so, I returned her gesture fondly.
We lingered, her soft hands drawing consistent circles on my back. After a few moments, she said, "I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you when you needed me the most, Valerie. But, now that we're together, I swear I will. Always."
Part of me wanted to protest, to say that my depression was long dead and gone. The other part of me, however, was realistic enough to see that I wasn't sure. It could see I wasn't sure if I would ever be happy here. Even with Auntie here to pick up the broken shards of my chest's insides and swiftly puzzle them back together one by one, and finally kissing the wound well. Even with all that, I just didn't know.
Two stories, quite narrow, pastel colored. Those were the words that best described my aunt's house. Though through vague memories, I still remembered skidding along the front yard as a child. The hem of my dress torn from all the scraping against the various rose bushes, my brunette ponytail limp and tousled from all the running around and my chubby cheeks flustered with adrenaline.
I think that was the first time I saw that house without a smile on, and in turn, a frown.
Once settled in, Aunt Agatha decided it would be best if I walked around town for a while. After all, it was still early and school only officially began for me on Monday. I accepted, mostly out of boredom rather than curiosity.
The streets were different from what I expected. Yet, they were exactly how the name suggested. They were sweet and lovely.
Giggling little children ran around wildly through the parks, old couples nuzzled against each other lovingly as they watched, while other people… just seemed genuinely happy to be alive, I guess.
This whole town was so unlike New York. The streets there were flooding with rushing people who never even thought of smiling, just of how late they were to their monotonous meetings. It was like all life was drained out of them. An open tap with no water to spill.
I decided to text Vicktor as I sat beneath the shadows of a tall oak tree near the park.
From: Valerie
To: Contact name: "Vicky"
"forgot to text when I arrived. sorry. been here for a few hours."
A few moments later, a reply:
From: Vicktor
To: Contact Name: "Val-Val~"
"Val! Hey! how was the the travelling? is it cool there? met any1 yet?"
From: "Val-Val~"
"wow there, vic haha. I said I arrived a few hours back, not years! but yeah, it's actually very pretty and full of life."
From: "Vicky"
"sooooo the exact opposite of NY?"
I stifled a laugh. Vicktor has been my best friend since kindergarten. He had always defended me from obnoxious kids who would pick on me. In return, I would do the same for him.
After texting him for a while, my phone ran out og battery. I decided then was a good time to head back to Agatha's. Only… I got hopelessly lost in a town the size of a pea. Worse, I couldn't find a bright pastel house. Well, actually, many houses were bright here, little were dark colored.
The late afternoon sun slowly sank down the tall hills bordering the town, a single drop of sweat trickled down my neck as I found myself not being able to find the street Aunt Agatha lived in.
My breaths quickened, and my lips felt raw from all the chewing I've been doing on them. How did I even manage to get lost here?
What felt like hours passed by. I kicked a near trash can in defeat, cursing under my breath.
"Hey! Get out the way, girl."
A rough voice came from behind me. Raising my head, I found that it was a boy. A pretty peculiar looking boy, but a boy nonetheless. He had thin red hair reaching his jawline, a shirt of a band (that I actually quite enjoyed) with a black leather jacket over it.
He was quite attractive, not going to lie here. But, then my eyes landed on his.
I never quite understood what authors meant with stone cold eyes before (and, admittedly, I still sort of don't) but if I had to guess, I'd say his fit the exact definition. In that moment, his eyes were so dark they seemed to have no pupils at all.
"Didn't you hear me? Move!" He spat, crossed arms falling to his sides.
I was afraid he was going to kick me out of the way like a helpless little pebble, so like the dimwit I am I tried to ease him with humor.
"You see, I would, but your overwhelming presence just has my feeble little self on my knees." I said, instantly regretting each word as it worked its way from my mouth. Yup, he was definitely going to kick me out the way like a pebble if he didn't want to before.
I thought I saw his lips twitch and his tensed up shoulders relax slightly.
"Who are you?" He asked, almost mumbling.
"Valerie Archwood."
I was about to ask his name when his gaze left mine. Without another sound, he sidestepped me, making his way forward.
I stared at his fading figure, not knowing quite what to do.
A mosquito circled around me and I frantically swept it away. When I looked up again, he was out of sight.
