AU that I hope y'all will enjoy!
This road is prettiest in the Autumn. You see it in the red and orange leaves scattered along the sidewalks and stuck in the ditches. In the cool air blowing through people's hair, and the way they shiver in response, trying to get warm by snuggling themselves into large coats and scarves. Some are looking for furniture, others for clothes. Though, you've never understood why someone would want to walk down this street, despite its beauty and convenience, the buildings are older looking and the height of them creates a wind tunnel stretching on for miles. Its quiet, lacking the sounds of cars and things people expect, not to mention everyone that lives and works her is a bit strange. You love it though, because from your window you can see the little things. You see the smile that spreads across faces of the visitors at Mrs. Mason's candle shop. The laughter floating through the walls of the of the prank store a few buildings down.
The town my not be necessarily small, but this road is a small part of it. It's the kind of street you rarely ever leave, because everything you need is here. And while the stores are not at all commercial, or even large, they still have everything anyone would want. You yourself have only left a few times, and that was to visit grandma. That fact made leaving the street exciting, because seeing your grandparents is fun, refreshing, they are always kind and loving. It's a break from the bratty baby sister comments and criticizing father punishments you have to live with everyday. Thankfully, though, there are other ways to escape besides Grammy and Pa's house. You find a hiding place in the many corners of this old book shop. Corners far from everyone else's reach but not yours. Corners so deeply hidden that only reason you can ever find them again and again is because of your perfect memory.
You are sitting in one of those secret places now. This is actually your favorite secret place. There are no light bulbs here, no air conditioning- just books and blankets... It's shocks you that an entire room can go forgotten, especially one with a window like this. You doubt your mother ever even knew it was here, you figured that out when you had to start dusting the little place yourself. But you don't love this place for its window, although that doesn't hurt, no you love this place because it's yours. It's your refuge, your space. No matter what the season it's always cozy, always inviting. The books you take up here are ones your father won't notice are gone, ones so far back in the shop he's most likely doesn't know they exist, which makes them yours too. And while your reading level is not that of an adult it's still extremely high for your young age of six, and you can read almost all the novels you have here.
Things will be different soon though, because in two weeks you have your first day of school. Your first day of a whole other routine... And yes you're ready. Ready to learn, ready to be around new people, and especially ready to escape your family, even it's only for eight hours a day...
Suddenly you hear the little bell above the shops front door ring, announcing someone new has entered. You make your way to the main floor, remaining in the shadows as you take part in the enjoyable pass time of observing. The people who enter your parents store are all different. Some are old, others are young. They all dress different, some with bright colors, some with a more subtle approach, but no matter what they're fascinating. But not as fascinating, you realize, as the family that just walked in.
There are six of them, a father with brown hair and a face that looks like your dads, firm and unwavering. A mother that isn't like yours, because her expressions aren't timid, submissive. This woman is just as firm as her husbands, if not firmer. There's a little boy with them probably around your sisters age, his eyes are sporadic darting from shelf to face to ceiling, his hair a bit fairer then his fathers and a bit darker than his mothers. Then there are two older boys standing next to him, they are both at least 3 years older than you, with expressions just like their dads. You can't seen these people being enjoyable company at all. That is until you notice a small figure standing next to the mother... you immediately notice the long, shiny raven hair, so different from the rest of them you wonder for a moment if they are even related. She doesn't see you, your still in the shadows, but somehow you still manage to catch a glimpse of those dark brown eyes and radiant smile. And now you are positive they aren't related.
"Myka!" Your mother yells bringing you out of the trance. "Come down please sweetie!"
You hesitantly walk out of your hiding place and now everyone is looking at you. It's amazing how fast you can go from invisible to center stage.
"Oh Myka, I didn't see you there." Your mother smiles, and it's not fake. She's much more caring when your fathers not around to tense up the whole group.
The girl with black hair smiles at you, and the rest of her family does the same but you don't care. You don't like them, you just like the girl.
"Myka these are the Wells, they just moved in down the street." Your mom says.
"Ok." You shyly look down. Talking to people makes you nervous.
"Helena here is actually going to be in your class at school." Mrs. Wells says scooting the girl- Helena forward. She sounds strange.
"HG, Mum- I'm going as HG now." Helena pipes up, talking in the same way her mom did, with weird pronunciation.
You see a look pass on her parents face, and you can tell there is a constant battle going on between the three of them. You admire her for that, you'll never have the courage to say something like that to your father.
"Right well..." Mrs. Wells begins, turning her glare away from her daughter. "Mrs. Bering I actually have a few questions about the town, if you have the time."
"Of course, of course." Your mom smiles warmly "I'd be happy to help." She turns to you and you know what's coming. "Myka why don't you take the Wells children upstairs to play."
Your eyes go wide and you notice that Helena looks at you curiously.
People are intimidating, they're hard to talk to and hard to relate to. These people aren't going to be any different.
"Actually." Mr. Wells interrupts, somehow with charm. "I have to take the boys to football try outs."
"Oh that's fine." Mrs. Wells says, seeming actually bit happier "You four can go, Helena and I will just stay and talk with Mrs. Bering."
Your heart stops. The only thing worse than being in a group of strangers is having to be one on one with a stranger. Especially with a stranger who is so much... cooler than you.
"Father may I try out for football also?" Helena asks.
"Girls are too girly to play football." The younger of her older brothers says and he couldn't sound more bratty.
"I saw a whole bunch of girls playing it in the park!" Helena tells him trying to support her case.
"What?" Your mother says confused.
You know what's going on though, you read in one of your books that some people call soccer, football, you just don't understand why. Football is supposed to be when boys tackle each other and throw that brown ball around. Soccer is almost the exact opposite, nobody tackles or throws anything- they just kick the round, black and white ball around.
"Mommy they call soccer something different." You say politely, finally finding your voice.
"Of course, we sometimes forget about the terms here." Mr. Wells says shortly looking at you pointedly before turning to his daughter "Helena we have discussed this- your time is better spent with piano lessons."
You watch as Helena crosses her arms and mutters a yes sir. You want to laugh at the face she's making. Her nose is all scrunched up, with her eyebrows furrowed, and that black hair falling in her face. You literally have to put a hand over your mouth to smother the giggles.
When she hears the laughter she looks at you once again curious and confused. But then she smiles and laughs a little with you.
"Myka why don't you take Helena up so you two can play." Your mother suggests and all of a sudden you don't have to think twice about nodding in agreement.
You wait till Helena is next to you before heading into the maze of books. You see her head turn in almost every directions as you walk, in awe of all the wonderful works of literature. She almost gets lost once or twice and eventually she decides on simply standing closer to you just so she doesn't lose her way again. You almost forget a moment that the path you two are walking is meant to be a secret path. The path no one would ever be able to follow you through or find you in. And it's really not like you to forget your secrets so quickly, but Helena is nice, and you trust her to keep quiet.
You come to the entrance of your hiding place. Nervous and at the same time excited about having a guest.
"You can't tell anyone where this is alright." You whisper still afraid she'll think of betraying your trust.
Helena shakes her head quickly. "I wont."
You bite your lip and smile. Quietly you push open the small door, it creaks just a bit but you don't pay any attention, you're used to it by now. But Helena is not and she quickly she grabs your arm, frightened and on alert. "Don't be afraid." You say softly and she looks at you. "I'm not."
The steps to your hiding place don't creak, which is surprising because they are wooden and not to mention old. You both make it to the top and the entire time she holds onto you, but when you open the second little door you feel her fear slip away.
This room has always been magical to you. But you know that to your family it would be just another room, except with dust and an odd attic smell. Your mom would probably think it unsafe and your sister would make fun of you for it.
But Helena sees the magic.
She tentatively runs her fingers over your many piles of books and admires the window at the other end of the small space. She is paying attention to how the sunlight somehow bounces of the walls, how it ricochets to fill the room. She comes to the fluffy corner of blankets and pillows, and all you can do is watch, smiling, as she jumps onto the pile with a laugh.
"This place is amazing." She says still looking around from her laid out position.
You don't speak, you don't move, just stare. You didn't think it was possible, that someone could understand the space like you do. She sits her head up and pats the spot next to her. "Come on." Her tone is bright and adventurous.
Shyly you make your way to sit down next to her. She's stares at the ceiling as you get comfy and once you stop moving she glances back to you. She leans over to pull lightly on one of your curls and laughs again as it bounces back into place. "How do you get your hair to do that?"
"To do what?" You ask.
"To look like that, all swirly and pretty." She plays with another curl.
"It's always been this way."
She studies your head for another couple of seconds and you can't control the question that comes out "Where are you from? You sound different."
She removes her hand and says with a proud smile "England."
You prop yourself up excitedly "Really? I've read stories about there, is it fun?"
She shrugs. "I don't know, I suppose... It is very different from here."
"Like how people here don't sound like you?"
"Yes." She nods. "But my brother said that we won't sound different for much longer. He said that soon we'll sound just like you."
You gasp and sit up even more, shaking your head furiously "No! You can't! Your voice sounds so pretty, I'd hate it if you started to sound like us."
She shrugs again "I don't think I get to choose. My brother said you sound like whoever you're around, that they influ-influences your talk." She stumbles over the word.
You sink back down sadly "I'm sorry."
"It's ok...Wait!" She stands up swiftly. "Did you say you read stories about England?"
You nod slowly.
"You can read!?"
"Yes." It's weak and you think you've done something wrong. You think she'll think your weird, that she'll call you names, that she'll... leave.
Then she says "That's amazing!" and relief fills you.
"Can't you read?" You ask.
She shakes her head not necessarily sad but not happy either "My father said that learning to read before I start school is a waste of time."
Your jaw drops and you jump up "That's not true! I love to read- it's not a waste of time!"
She just looks at you for a moment. You can't believe she's not allowed to read yet, it's so sad and unfair and you want her to know how to read. You want to show her your books and talk with her about the stories in them. "What if I teach you how." You suggest with a quieter tone, it lacks the confidence she somehow has.
Her eyes go wide, and so does her smile "You'd do that?"
She's excited and happy and you don't know why that makes you excited and happy but it does and you know now you have to teach her. Not just so that you two can talk about books, but so that she can keep that light in her eyes forever. "Yes, I'll teach you."
She throws her arms around you with a giggle "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She squeals and the two of you go tumbling onto the blankets. "You're the bestest friend ever!"
You swallow. "Friend?"
"Well of course!" She leans back to look you in the eye "We're friends now."
You can't help the smile that spreads on your face, or the blush that rises in your checks. You cast your gaze down a little embarrassed "I've never had a friend before." You say.
Her smile changes and her eyes brighten even more. "Would you like to know a secret?"
You nod and she leans back down to whisper in your ear "I've never had a friend before either."
You can't remember ever being happier. Not even when you are at Grammy and Pa's house.
Bravely you make your voice firm and say "If I'm going to teach you to read, then you have to promise me something."
She tilts her head "What is it?"
"If I teach you to read you have to promise to never stop talking the way you talk." You state firmly. "No matter what."
"I promise." She agrees without a second thought.
"Pinky promise." You say holding out you pinky.
She readily wraps her finger around yours. "I promise." You smile and she grins back.
"You know what this means?" Her voice fills with wonder.
You shake your head.
"Since we pink sweared, we're best friends now." She says seriously.
"Ok." is all you think to say.
Then she's standing up, pulling you along with her. "My brother says that to make something official you have to write it on wood."
"I read about these people who carved stuff into trees." You offer.
"Does carved mean write?" She asks a little confused.
"Kinda."
"Ok then." She bends down and pulls a nail from the floorboard.
She leads you to one of the wooden posts in you secret room and without hesitation carves her name. Then she hands you the nail. You take it nervously, you don't want to get in trouble, but you don't want to look like a wimp in front of Helena either so you scratch in your name in next to hers.
"Do you know how to spell best friends?" She asks.
You nod.
"Do it." She points to the spot under your names. A strange feeling spreads through you as you write the words. A feeling you've never felt before. You think it might be friendship, if that's even a feeling.
"There." She smiles at it satisfied. "Now we are officially best friends."
You bite your lip and look at her hesitantly "Forever?" You ask so quiet you don't think she heard you.
That is until she grabs your hand and squeezes it. "Forever and Ever." She confirms.
And you add that to the carving also.
I'm debating on whether to make this multi-chapter or just a one-shot so tell me what to do!