"Alexandra?"
I blinked sleepily as light flooded my room and groaned softly rolling over in the bed.
The voice chuckled.
"Alexandra. If you don't get up in the next five minutes you will be late for the first day of school." The voice chided.
My grey eyes shot open.
"OH MY GOODNESS!" I yelled bolting out of bed, not even bothering to look at the clock. "I'm so sorry, dad! I'll be ready in five minutes, I swear!"
The man shook his head with a chuckle as he pulled a brown suit jacket over his blue turtle neck. He could hear her scrambling to get ready in the bathroom as he walked to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee.
She burst out of the bathroom. He turned to take in her appearance. She had chosen to wear a dark grey sweater that came to her wrists, faded skinny blue jeans and her white chuck sneakers. Her black hair was thrown into a pony tail. She grabbed her backpack and said,
"Ok! I'm ready."
Her father looked highly amused.
"What?" She demanded then looked at her clothing. "Is something inside out?"
He then nodded his head to a nearby clock before taking another sip of his black coffee. She blinked owlishly at the time before tossing her bag to the side and groaning,
"Really?!"
Her father shrugged with a playful smile.
"Now I know you really can get ready quickly when you want."
She swatted his arm in mock annoyance as she walked into the kitchen and poured herself some cereal before going to sit beside him at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. She began to eat quickly.
"Slow down. You'll get indigestion." Her father chided as he reviewed some history notes for one of his classes.
"I'm sorry." She muttered with a mouthful of sugary goodness. "I'm nervous is all."
Her father looked her over and noticing the way foot tapped ceaselessly on the bar stool beneath her, he set aside his notes.
"Alexandra, you'll do fine."
"I've-I've never gone to real school. What if I can't cut it?"
"Alexandra Elizabeth Strickler." Her father rebuked. "You are a beautiful, intelligent young lady. I will not tolerate this negative talk any longer. You will succeed. Just relax."
She took a deep breath.
"You're right. Sorry for freaking out."
My father gripped my hand and said,
"Never apologize for being honest with me. Never. If you are ever afraid or need someone to talk to, I'm your father. I care about you, Alex. Never forget that."
I smiled and hugged my father before clearing my dishes and putting them in the sink.
"Alright. I'm ready. Are you?"
My father finished his coffee and put his notes in a brown briefcase before following her outside of the apartment and locking it. They walked down the streets of downtown Arcadia. The sun was still rising and had turned the sky a beautiful shade pink and yellow. I walked alongside her father to the high school. It was about a five minute walk at most. I loved my hometown. As much of the world as I've seen, Arcadia would always be home to me. It was small. The locals were kind and everyone seemed to know everyone. Yet, because I had traveled and was home schooled I didn't know a lot of kids my age, which made me very nervous. Since my father was a teacher I had to be there earlier than some of the other kids. As they walked into the locker area outside of the school, I turned and saw a car pull up and a girl with short brown hair and a blue streak got out.
"Adios, mama! Have a good day!" The girl called to the driver.
"That's Claire Nunez." My father said to me. "Why don't you introduce yourself? I have to go to my office and get some final things prepared for my classes today."
"Alright, dad. I'll see you later." I said with a smile.
My father responded with a warm smile of his own before heading inside.
The girl walked into the locker area and when she noticed me putting some books away, gave me a friendly wave before heading over.
"I don't believe we've met. Claire Nunez." She said sticking out her hand.
I shook her hand.
"Alexandra Strickler."
Her eyes widened.
"Strickler? As in history teacher, Strickler?"
"Yeah. He's my dad. Well, not by birth. I was adopted as a baby..." I said trailing off kinda awkwardly. "Sorry. I'm nervous. I've never gone to public school before."
"No! It's fine!" Claire said quickly with a smile. "There were rumors that he had a daughter but I thought they were just rumors! Where has he been hiding you?"
"Oh! Well, I kinda traveled abroad alot and just kept up with school while on the road. You know, having a history teacher as a parent has it's ups and downs. On one hand, I've seen alot of amazing historical places but I've also never been able to go to a normal school."
"That's so cool! I know Strickler does go on trips quite a bit but when he's here who was with you?" Claire asked with fascination.
"Oh well some family friends would take care of me. My Uncle Otto lives in Germany so sometimes I would stay with him for a few months. Sometimes I would stay with another family friend in Japan." I said putting my backpack back on my shoulder.
"That is so cool! What's been your favorite country to visit? Do you speak any other languages?" Claire asked excitedly as we walked to our home room as more kids arrived.
I laughed.
"You know for as much time as I've spent in other countries you would think I would have picked up some more languages but really the only one I can say that I've gotten down alright is American Sign Language. I can speak bits and pieces of Japenese and German and French but not enough that I can say I can speak it with confidence. Don't get me started on Spanish! I can't roll my R's at all!"
"I can help you with Spanish if you would like." Claire said kindly. "My family is from Mexico, and if you take Spanish with Senor Uhl it will be brutal."
I winced.
"Yeah, I heard he can be a strict teacher. I appreciate the offer, I might take you up on it sometime. I already have my two years of foreign language done though."
"Really? This is tenth grade and you've already got those credits?" Claire asked in amazement.
"American Sign Language, remember?" I said with a smirk. "It counts as a foreign language and I don't have to worry about rolling my R's."
We both laughed at that as we took our seats.
"Hey, C-Bomb!" A voice called.
"Hey, Mare!" Claire greeted back.
"Who's this?" The girl asked.
"This is Alexandra Strickler. She's new here at the school." Claire explained as I shook hands with the girl. "This is Mary."
The girl looked me up and down and I couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable under her scrutiny.
"You're Strickler's kid? You don't look like him." Mary said bluntly.
"Yeah, I was adopted." I said rubbing my neck awkardly.
"Oh! That makes sense." Mary agreed. "I've never heard of any tragic love story or anything regarding him so that totally checks out. Nice shoes by the way! Are those Chuck Taylor All Start High Top Sneakers?!"
I chuckled.
"Yeah, my dad didn't understand why I wanted them so badly but I saved up and got them. Pretty cool, right?"
"Are you kidding? Those are AWESOME! You can really pull off that geeky, retro look!"
"Ummm...thank you?" I stammered unsure what to do with the backhanded compliment.
"You're welcome!" She said chipperly as she took her seat.
"Don't mind her." Claire said with a side smile. "She means well, sometimes her mouth goes faster than her brain."
I giggled at that.
"No worries. I understand."
"I'll introduce you to Darci later." Claire said as more kids filed in. "You'll love her."
"Alright." I nodded. I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had already made a couple of acquaintances and when the bell rung for class I observed the class full of students. We stood for the pledge of allegiance and then sat down.
"Hello, students! Welcome to another year of learning at Arcardia Oaks High. We have a new student joining us this year. Alexandra? Can you stand up and introduce yourself?" The curly black haired teacher said sharply.
All eyes turned to me and I wanted nothing more than to sink through the floor and melt in the core of the earth. I was never good at this much attention. I stood up and could feel my palms sweating.
"Ummmm...Hi. I'm Alexandra. Alexandra Strickler."
Gasps and murmurs erupted across the classroom at my last name.
"Can you tell us something interesting about yourself, my dear?" Miss Janeth spoke over the drone of the students.
"I-uh-I have traveled abroad quite a bit. I've lived in Germany and Japan for a time. I think France, Greece and Italy are my three favorite places I've been."
"Are you really Strickler's kid?!" A kid shouted at me standing up.
"Mr. Palchuk! Sit down!" Miss Janeth instructed.
"Umm-yeah. Y-yeah I am." I said my cheeks flaming from everyone looking at me.
"Alright, Alexandra. You may sit down now." Miss Janeth instructed.
I sat down with a huff and took a deep breath as Miss Janeth turned to the board and began writing down instructions for Algebra.
"You did good." Claire encouraged in a whisper.
"Thanks." I whispered back. "I think I'd rather eat glass than introduce myself again though."
Claire choked on a laugh before regaining control of herself as the teacher turned back around.
The rest of the morning seemed to go down alright. I took notes and payed attention during the classes and when lunch finally rolled around I was starving. I sat down with Claire, Mary and the girl who I met later in the classes whose name was Darci.
"So, girl. Spill. France?! Have you been to Paris?" Mary asked excitedly as we unpacked our lunches.
I pulled out my lunch and took a piece off of my bread to eat.
"Oh yeah. Lots of times. The desserts there are to DIE for." I said with a soft groan remembering the fresh breads and pastries just down the street from where I would stay.
"I've always wanted to go to Paris." Darci said dreamily. "It looks so romantic."
"Well, it's just like any city. There's good parts and bad parts. Some parts are really dirty. If you get a good tour guide and you go with a group and prioritize what sites you want to see, you're usually alright. Eat the local food. It's so good."
"You've seen the eiffel tower then?" Claire asked.
"Yeah, I love traveling but it's always nice to come back to Arcadia." I said as I took a bite of my cheese sandwich.
"Really? This boring, old town?" Mary scoffed. "You like it here?"
I shrugged.
"Yeah. There's no surprises. It's pretty quiet politically, locally. It's safe, you know? I've been in some countries where it's not like that and it makes me so thankful for what I have here in the states."
The girls seemed to soak in what I was saying.
The bell rung and we quickly packed up our stuff and headed to our next class. I turned into another hallway than the girls.
"Are you not coming with us?" Mary asked curiously.
"No. I have a study hall this period. I've completed my second language credits already." I answered.
"Lucky!" Darci groaned. "We have Senor Uhl to deal with."
I waved goodbye to them as I headed to study hall. After study hall was gym. I groaned. I hated working out, but my dad had always been insistent on being physically fit. I got in my gym gear and headed to the auditorium. I met up with the girls and noticed a boy staring at us...more specifically Claire. I smiled mischievously at her. When Claire turned around, the boy promptly looked the other way.
"I think you have an admirer, Claire." I said cheekily.
"What? Who?!" Mary whispered loudly, her eyes sparkling in excitement.
I hushed her and as we huddled I said,
"That boy over there. Dark hair, blue eyes."
The girls tried to look subtly over there and failed.
"What's his name? Jake? John?" Darci said squinting trying to remember.
"No. You guys are too much. He wasn't staring at me." Claire denied her cheeks turning pink.
"Keep telling yourself that, Claire." I said nudging her playfully.
I sneaked another glance.
"He isn't too shabby. I could see it." Mary said looking up from her phone.
"A little skinny." Darci observed.
"Alright you bunch of pansies! Listen up! It may be your first day of school but don't think that means I will go easy on you!" The Coach said as he walked in front of us back and forth like an army sergeant. "You'll be running laps today and I don't wanna hear any complaining! LET'S MOVE!"
Coach then blew his whistle and everyone started their laps.
After gym, I changed from my sweaty clothes and my nose crinkled at the smell as I walked out of the changing room, Darci high fived me.
"Nice job out there, girl! I think you may have even impressed Coach Lawrence!"
"Really?" I said shouldering my bag with my gym clothes.
"Heck yeah!" Claire joined in. "You were making the boys look like weaklings!"
"Oh, it's nothing." I said my cheeks blushing.
"Seriously though, you're in great shape! How do you do it? I would kill to have a body like yours." Mary said reapplying her makeup.
"My dad has trained me in martial arts since I was pretty young and fitness has always been important to him so maybe that's why?" I guessed as tied my shoes.
"Martial arts? What kind?" Darci asked.
"Well, I do canne de combat with my dad. He's really, really good at it. He can also use a Bo staff though. He's starting to teach me but I'm not that good yet."
"Girl! You have to show us your moves sometime!" Mary said.
"Yeah, maybe I will." I said smiling as we walked out together to where the cars were waiting for carpool. A horn honked.
"That's my cue! See you, Alex!" Darci said waving as she ran off.
Not too long after, Mary left. Then another car rolled up.
"Alright, that's my ride! It was nice meeting you, Alex. Look forward to seeing you again tomorrow!" Claire said kindly before heading to her vehicle.
I waved and began to head inside before a boy called,
"Hey! Strickler! You did pretty good during gym today!"
I turned to see a shorter, rounder boy and the dark haired boy from gym.
"Thanks! It was nothing though...really." I said humbly.
"Are you kidding?!" The dark haired one exclaimed. "You were lapping everyone and Steve looked like he was going to lose his mind!"
"Steve? Is he the one that asked if I was Strickler's kid in homeroom?"
"Yeah that's him." The chubby one said nervously. "He's the school bully. Try to avoid him if you can, though you kinda pissed him off by out pacing him today. I don't know how much of an option it is for you anymore."
I quirked an eyebrow already unimpressed with this Palchuk kid.
"Sounds like his ego could be taken down a notch or two."
"Or five." The brown hair boy joked.
We all laughed.
"Sorry, I don't think I ever caught your names. I'm Alex."
"I'm Toby and this is Jim." The chubby one said gesturing to his friend.
"Well, hopefully we will get to know each other more as the school year goes on." I said kindly.
"Yeah! That would be great!" Toby said a little over enthusiastic.
"Well, I'd better go see if my dad is ready to go." I said pointing back to inside the building.
"Oh, right! Well we won't keep you. We just wanted to congratulate you on being the first student in Arcadia history to impress Coach Lawrence." Toby joked.
I laughed.
"Hopefully I can keep it up! See you both later!"
They both waved good bye and as the door closed I heard Toby excitedly exclaim,
"A girl actually talked to us, Jimbo!"
I shook my head in amusement before heading towards my father's office. As I approached, I could hear him talking exasperatedly into the phone behind the door.
"Yes, of course this plan will work. The museum is the perfect place for it. No, it's Arcadia. No one cares about the museum."
I knocked on the door.
"Just a moment!" He called.
I couldn't make out the rest of what he said on the phone before he hung up but then he said, "Come in!"
I entered slowly and my father's countenance turned from frustrated to relaxed.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't realize what time it was."
I shrugged.
"You're a teacher. I figure there will be days where I stay longer."
He smiled appreciatively before grabbing his pen and a few extra books and heading out with me.
"So, how did your day go?"
"It was good." I said with a bounce in my step as we walked. "I made a few friends."
"Friends? You've known them not even a day." My father interrupted with a raised eyebrow. "They'd better not be potential suitors."
I laughed.
"Yeah, I'm sorry dad but I am leaving you to wed the love of my life who I met this morning."
"Who?" He demanded playing along.
"Steve Palchuk. His overall aggressive demeanor and intolerance for anything better than him just makes me swoon."
My father barked out a laugh.
"I'm assuming he didn't make a favorable impression then?"
"Not at all." I said scrunching my nose in disgust. "I hung out with three girls most of the day. Claire, Darci and Mary. I also very quickly met two boys at the end of the day. Toby and Jim I think it was?"
"Sounds like you had a productive day." My father said approvingly before his expression darkened slightly. "That Mary girl though. She is obsessed with dating the young men of Arcadia, if I see that such nonsense is rubbing off on you-"
"Dad, relax. I'm not getting married anytime soon. I'm fifteen for crying out loud." I said rolling my eyes.
"Not even a hundred years ago girls your age were being married off." He snorted. "I am glad to see that you have higher ambitions in your mind right now."
"Well, yeah. I mean, if a guy comes along and he's a good fit than maybe I'll date him."
My father stiffened.
"Absolutely not!"
"Dad-" I started.
"Don't 'dad' me, young lady." He said walking more briskly like he did when he wanted to avoid a conversation.
"I'll have to date someday." I insisted as I tried to keep up.
"Not in high school. There is no one worthy of you there." He stated firmly.
I chuckled softly. He was so overprotective. I really hoped internally that it would lessen when I was old enough to date.
After dinner, I quickly finished dishes and headed to my room to do my homework.
"I'll be in my room, dad!" I called as I shut the door. I flopped onto my bed with a soft groan. I put on my headphones and played some Beethoven before sighing as I pulled out my math book and pulled out paper and a calculator. I hate math.
Walter Strickler watched as the girl shut the door behind her. The day seemed to have gone well. Aside from the questions of dating of course. Walt shook his head, no, she was destined for much greater things than the human world had to offer. His phone ringed and he when he saw the caller ID he answered quickly,
"Otto?"
"Stricklander, we have collected the first few pieces of zhe bridge and zhey are en route to America now."
"Excellent. Bular should be pleased. If this progress continues we will have the bridge built in no time."
"With the freedom of Gunmar, comes zhe plan for Alex." Otto reminded.
Walter sighed wearily,
"I know."
Otto tsked softly.
"You've grown too attached to your charge, mein freund."
Walter stiffened at the implication.
"Are you suggesting I'm weak, Otto?"
"Not at all, mein freund. Merely reminding you zhat your first duty is to Gunmar and the Pale lady." Otto said slyly.
"I was given charge over Alex. I have protected and guided her as I've been instructed. Nothing more." Walter insisted. "When the time comes to reveal all to her, I will not falter. She has never been mine."
"Zhat is tall order. Especially vith you being so close to her." Otto goaded. "Will you be able to let her go to achieve the plans set before her since her birth?"
Walt's grip tightened on the phone.
"As I said Otto, she is my charge. My responsibility. I will not fail our people when the time comes."
There was a pause on the other end before Otto chuckled and said,
"Good. I vas beginning to believe you had gone soft."
Walter chuckled darkly and said,
"We changelings have spent our whole lives trying to get what is rightfully ours. Alex is important to those plans. I am her chosen guardian but that will not interfere with her future."
"I am glad to hear it, mein freund."
Author's note: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed my first chapter of my first trollhunter's fanfiction! Please let me know what you think! Much love!