The Burning

Chapter One.

Welcome to Chance Harbor, Washington. The sign was merely a blur through the rain that seemed to be coming down steadily. Though I had to admit the pitter patter of the rain on the roof was peaceful, nice. I pressed my forehead against the coolness of the window and let out a soft sigh. I could feel Jules eyes on me, my grandmother's friend that had been sent to get me from the airport. She was a nice older lady with heap of bright red hair piled high on her head.

"Are you okay, love? I know it must be hard. But it's not so bad here." She tried to reassure me with a smile.

"No, I'm sure it isn't," I agreed. "I'm looking forward to living with Grandma Cecilia." That last part at least, was true. I'd met Grandma Cecilia once when I was very young. I had vague memories, but they were good ones. With me being terribly shying, moving to not only a new school, but state completely, didn't entirely thrill me though. The fact why I was moving was even harder.

"I'm sorry about your mother," Jules said softly, not taking her eyes off of the road. I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. I blink back the stinging in my eyes quickly, I peered out the window.

"Thank you, she would've liked you." My voice was barely above a whisper. But it was true. My mother was the sweetest women I'd ever met, and I'm not saying that because she was my mom. She put others before herself, always. And you couldn't help but to love her back. Jules smiled again.

"She was a good woman, Aria. We met once, way long away, when she was just young." She seemed to trail off in her thought, and I let her. Thinking about her was too difficult. Then she continued suddenly, and I turned my attention back to her. "It was tragic, the way she passed."

It was tragic. My mother, Aria, was thirty six years old. It'd been about a month since she passed. That's how long it took me to get settled and move all my stuff, then myself, to Chance Harbor, Washington where my long lost Grandmother Cecilia lived. She was my mother's mother, my dad was out of the picture even before I was born. Aria and Cecilia had gotten into a fight when I was very little, and they hadn't talked much since. Therefore, visiting my Grandma had usually been out of the question.

She had died in a fire, my mother. She was in the abandoned barn at our old house in California. We'd had one horse, Athena. She was in there with her, Athena and my mother had both seemed to be sick lately. I myself was at a party with my best friend Cassie, whom I'd been forced to leave behind. The barn was set on fire. How, they weren't entirely sure. But she'd been trapped, along with our horse.

"Well, here we are." We stopped in front of an old looking, but large, house. It was stone on the bottom and the rest was painted white; with a wrap-a-round porch, and several large bay windows. The street we were on had thirteen houses. Six on one side, and seven on mine. They were all similar, varying in colors slightly, and how old it was. There were bushes lining the walk and several trees in the back yard. It looked homey, I had to admit. I pushed open my door, stepping out into what had turned into just a light drizzle.

Jules got out coming around to the trunk. She grabbed a few of my bags, and I grabbed the others. We started up the front walk where Jules knocked on the large dark oak door with a brass handle. My Grandma Cecilia answered the door and Jules rushes inside dropping the bags to give her a hug.

I stopped outside the door, there was a tingling on the back of my neck. I turned and looked around me. There was a girl in the house directly across the little street, looking out what must've been there front window. She was grinning, staring straight at me.

"Morgan, dear! Come on in!" I glanced back at Grams, then back to the girl again, she was gone. Pushing away the weird feeling I stepped out of the drizzle and met her in a hug. Grams was tall and incredibly young looking for her age. Her pale smooth face was unlined and she had warm brown eyes, with no makeup. She had long, once blonde, now silver hair that she had french braided smoothly down her back. She smelled safe, like lavender and vanilla.

"Hi Grandma," I smiled at her. The house smelled like oatmeal, and I noticed a candle on the end table by the door which also held her phone and keys. All in the house was made of dark wood, the doors, the stair railing, and the kitchen and hallway floors. There was a twirling staircase off to the left and a large archway leading into a comfy looing living room to my right.

"Why don't you go in the kitchen, I've made some tea. I'll be right there once I see Jules out."

"Alright," I dropped my bags and walked into the kitchen. I plopped down, totally exhausted, onto the dining room table. There was a cup of steaming tea which smelled delicious. Blowing on it gingerly I took a sip, letting the warmth trail down my throat. I heard the soft click of the door and Grams calling goodbye.

"How's the tea?" She sat down next to me, sipping her own and letting out a mmm. She rested her cold hand on my warm one that was lying on the table. "And how about you? How are you doing?" She turned serious and her brown eyes bore into mine. And I realized where my mother got all her warmth from.

I was being completely honest when I answered. I already trusted her and loved her dearly. I'd always been one to keep my feelings to myself, but I knew I could count on her. "Not so good," I nearly whispered. I dashed away a day with the back of my hand, embarassed

"Hey, no need to be embarassed. We all cry Morgan, and you have good reasons too." She gave me a sad smile. I saw where my mother also had gotten her strength. I didn't even realize until then how hard it must be for her. It was her daughter.

"I'm really sorry Grandma. She was your daughter, and I'm acting like it never even hurt you." She patted my hand, smiled, and got up and went to the fridge.

"And she was your mother, dear. It's alright. I'll imagine you're tired. Why don't you go unpack and I'll make some dinner," I just nodded, sniffed and wiped the last of my tears.

I left her chopping something on a cutting board and grabbed my bags. My room was upstairs the third door on the right. My room was very large, and very beautiful. I dropped my bags by the door, leaning against it to take it all in. It had been my mother's room as a kid, the room she grew up in.

It had the same dark wood flooring and door as the kitchen. The walls were painted a soft pinkish cream color, and there was a large circle rug that matched on the ground. The bed was a huge king size and the headboard had the same dark wood with swirling patterns in it. The bedding was a huge thick down comforter, floral sheets and pillowcases, and an incredibly soft light pink blanket laying on the end. The dresser matched everything else and had a large mirror hanging over it. There were hooks hanging by the door where a large fuzzy white bathrobe hung on. There were a few lamps, an end table and a large vanity. There was a white fireplace directly across from the bed, and a large book case built into the wall. It was perfect.

Too top it all off there was one of those windows that stick out of the house that you can sit on. After grabbing the pink blanket off the bed I sat down on the coushin. I propped the pillows against the wall and leaned back. I pushed back the thick floral curtains and took a look at the view.

There was another house right next to ours, with a few trees off the side. I saw straight into someone else's bedroom window. Great. The rain had started more heavily again. I wasn't sure how long I sat there, but the rain gently lulled me into a sleep.

I woke up with a stiff neck and when I looked outside it was just getting dark and the rain had stopped. I looked at the little alarm clock on the end table next to my bed that read 6:45. I guess I'd been asleep for a few hours. I got up and stretched and padded down stairs. I found my grandma in the living room curled up with a book on the couch, a fireplace going. She looked up and smiled when I came in and I sat down next to her.

"Oh dear your awake. I have dinner in the fridge for you."

"You couldn't woke me up," I said. "We were going to eat together."

"Oh don't worry about it. I'm sure you were exhausted. We have every other day to eat together," She patted my knee, returning her attention to her book. I went to the kitchen and pulled out a tray with seran wrap over it. I realized how starving I was as I was heating it up, the smell wafted over to me. I leaned against the counter.

I had a dull headache and I was still tired after a few hour nap. I was dreading tomorrow, going to a new school with new people. I hated being the new kid. Me and my mom had moved a few times but our home in California was where we had finally settled, planning on making it permanent. I pushed away the thought of it, not wanting to cry again.

I ate quickly and went up too unpack. I had the lamps on in my room and it let off a soft glow of light. I had finished unpacking and was putting the last of my stuff up, a picture of me and my mom, on my end table. I looked at it, a small sad smile forming on my lips. I missed her.

"Knock knock," Grams said softly pushing the door open. I sat down on my bed. "I'm going to go to bed. Are you all unpacked?" I nodded.

"Yeah I was just going to go shower," I said guesturing towards the connecting bathroom. She came over and hugged me tightly, stroking my hair.

"My sweet girl…" She murmured. "You can drive my car to school tomorrow. I've got you all signed up. I'll see you at breakfast."

"Night Grandma. I- I love you," I hesitated there but it felt right. She smiled, pausing at the door.

"Goodnight Morgan. I love you too."