Elkie's POV:
As Grace and I walked into our Biology, I spotted Leah and her crew sitting atop the desks and gossiping. She cast a "friendly" glance in my direction and I swore under my breath. She strutted over towards us, pink handbag hanging from her tanned arm.
"Hey Grace," She flipped her blonde hair to the side and her brown-eyes flickered briefly to me before resting back on Grace.
"Oh, Hi Leah," Grace replied, her tone blunt.
"There's a free desk over near us," her manicured hand gestured towards the group of girls.
Grace peeked over, "There's only one…"
Leah gave a fake smile, "Exactly, only one." Her voice gave a harsh bite at the last two words as she flipped her hair back into my direction.
Taking in a deep breath, I walked over, sliding into the empty seat.
Leah giggles, "Not you silly!" She stalks over and puts her face in front of mine, "Scat." She spits.
Grace face palmed herself, a look of slight embarrassment crossing her face.
Mustering some of her courage, Elkie retorted, "No thank you, I didn't know I wasn't welcome." Sarcasm dripped from her voice.
"Take your seats, please." The teacher strolled in, picking up a whiteboard marker. People took out their notebooks and started scribbling down notes.
Number 5, Titian Road:
As we walk up the driveway, I spotted Mom sitting on the porch. She was bent over an envelope, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
"What do you think she's looking at?" I whispered
"Definitely not a bill, bills don't make you cry. Unless they're expensive." Grace murmured back, taking the first few steps towards Mom.
"Oh," She lifts up her head and brushes a brief hand over her eyes, "Hello! How was your first day?" Her hand travels behind her back almost immediately. Grace simply sat down across from her, without saying a word.
"Good," I replied.
"That's great how about…" Mom was cut off by Grace.
"What was in it?" Grace asked.
Mom blinked back surprise, "In what?"
"The envelope."
She averted her gaze from Grace, "Just a….bill."
Grace's eyes blaze with anger like in the midst of a hailstorm, "Yeah, right. Bills don't make you cry." She raised herself out of her seat and stormed off into the house.
Mom took a step, as if she would go comfort her.
"No, I got it." I jog after my sister.
Glass shattered all over the kitchen, Grace stared blankly at the remains of Mom's china.
"Hey," I started
"Don't." She walked off upstairs, slamming the door. Curses echoed down the staircase.
I sighed, picking up the ragged pieces left behind. After they were all safely in the garbage, I joined my mother outside.
Her face was buried in her hands and she sniffled before raising it. "I'm a horrible mom," she gave a sigh.
I slid in next to her on the bench and rested my head against her shoulder, "No Grace will get over it." But really, I knew she'd remember this. She'd use it in the future.
Mom pecked me on the forehead and smiled lightly, "Thanks Elkie."
"You're welcome, Mom." I felt a grin pull at the corners of my mouth.
Grace's light footsteps treaded down the stairs, her olive skin giving a glow in the light from the upper windows. Her face was hard set with fury and she breezed past us, heading for the looming treetops on our property.
"Grace," Mom said, "have I told you before that you look like your dad, more than your sister. Almost exactly the same."
Grace sat, her eyes softening a little before returning back to stone.
I contribute, "Mom, what did he look like?"
"It's been 15 years, I'll try to remember. He has your stony stare, Grace, and those grey eyes like the both of you. "She talked fondly at the memories. "His hair was a blonde, so blonde it looked white with age. "
Grace remained silent, her eyes staring at the table in front of her. I got a sense, that she needed an escape.
"Hey, Mom, Grace and I are going to go on a hike." I stood and beckoned for my sister to follow. Reluctantly, she did, and we trudged off into the forest.
I had always loved nature, the earthy scents and the birds twittering above. Grace did as well, and we just walked along the worn-down trail in silence. Admiring what the woods had to offer.
"Look!" Grace exclaimed as she dashed forwards. I gave a questioning look and sprinted behind her to keep up. "Strawberries and Blueberries, Yum." Grace had taken a few handfuls and was now stuffing her face heartily. I gave a chuckle and plucked a plump berry from the bush, popping it into my mouth. Suddenly, I heard something, like hooves. I whirled around and saw a form coming closer…and closer.
"Grace!" I yelped, pointing at the beast now approaching us. It looked like a man, but his body was of a chestnut horse. He had warm brown eyes that gazed down at us.
"Hello, I'm Carter." He introduced, "Welcome to Camp Mix-Blood."
"Camp what?" Grace interrupted, looking at his horse-like body as if checking for a seam.
Carter chuckled, "You'll see. Come," he gestured for us to follow.
"I'm not going with a crazy guy. For all I know he could be an eighty year old wack-job in a pony suit!" Grace insisted, crossing her arms.
"Hmmm, stubborn, got some Ares in yah kid." Carter said with a wink. "Guess we'll have to do this the hard way. Sorry about this, you'll get a mighty head-ache."
"Sorry for…OOF" Before Grace could finish, she was knocked out by a powerful swing of a stick. I opened my mouth to scream but was cast into blackness before I had a chance.
The End…..for now
*written by Cntthinkofaname2 and supervised by Kindlover123*
