There once was a beautiful princess by the name of Freya. She had flowing blonde hair and soft sky eyes. Her skin was that of porcelain. Everything that she wanted she received, but still she was not happy. She was surrounded by people who loved her, but still she was lonely.
Alice didn't understand how Jenna could be more than an hour late. She knew to be there as usual. Every Wednesday, there was a friend meeting at the little cafe not too far from the school. They would usually get ice cream or other little treats. There is where they discussed buzzing gossip and rumors that they couldn't say while in the middle of school.
"I guess something must have just come up," Tori said, dismissing the dreaded thought they were both considering.
"But this isn't like her at all," Alice reassured, "Maybe we should go check on her."
"No," Tori replied, "You know how her parents are. We should just leave it alone, Alice. It's really none of our business."
"Alright," Alice said, "Let's just go home now then I guess. We've waited quite a while."
"Okay," Tori said as she stood up from the red cafe booth. "Tomorrow morning, we're asking her right away why she wasn't here." They walked on the checkered tile, making little tip taps noises like water dripping. The noise of chimes banging against the door corrupted the peace. "Let's just hope she's at school tomorrow," Tori said as she held the door open for Alice, "Try not to worry about it too much."
"Alright," Alice said, "I'll see you tomorrow at school."
Tori and Alice's houses were in the complete opposite directions. Although most girls wouldn't walk home in the dark alone, the townspeople in this village were different. All citizens were comfortable with everyone, for the population was low. Most families within Lawliette had lived there all their life, following their ancestors. They were not accustomed to normal life and were very trusting of some things that they should not have been. Lawliette was a very peaceful village. Nothing ever went wrong, and nothing ever would.
The gravel beneath her feet crunched with every step. She could hear the waves tumble over each other, each of their time to stay colliding. The sound was like a lullaby's chimes. The air was wet with salty water. The full moon reflected on the ocean's surface.
She walked past the few shops, becoming closer to her destination.
She noticed that something had seemed different that day. Everything went just as usual, but something stood out. Something special happened, but the news had not reached her yet. Thinking of this as she approached closer to her home, she realized that the house next to hers was different than usual. The eerie feel was not present, and the howling of the wind through its abandoned chimney was not accurate. Such imbalances and difference some what frightened Alice. Then, suddenly, a light on the second story turned on and quickly back off. It started flashing continuously, quitting a few seconds later. She quickly ran toward her own house, the gravel crunching even more quickly beneath her feet. She opened the door quickly, some what slamming it behind her.
"Mom," she called, taking her shoes off at the door, "I'm home!" No reply. "Mom?" She called again. She walked past the stairs and turned the corner. She saw her mother and a man sitting at the kitchen table. It was a man her mother didn't know. It was a stranger to the town. It was some one she had never seen before; some one that shouldn't be trusted so easily.
"Oh hello," he mother said, "This is Mr. Jeremy, our new next door neighbor." The man just looked down at the table, not saying a word or introducing himself. "He's been through some hard things recently, so just try to be kind to him. Apparently he may start teaching at your school soon." Alice felt very uneasy about him. Flashing lights usually meant help. Who was in his house, creating the entire racket? What was going on, and was the person in danger? She decided that if there was some one who needed help, bringing it up with him wasn't a good idea. It could endanger the person even more, and maybe even herself.
Jeremy didn't look up at any of them. His posture was of stone, and aura of depression. His face was unknown to Alice, while she wondered if he would ever say anything to him. To break the uneasiness and silence, she decided to kindly introduce herself. It would test him and possibly what kind of person he is.
"My name is Al-" a sudden acknowledgement, "-ice." Her mother seemed to not have noticed his reaction to her name. All she saw was the top of his head and broad shoulders. He was a grown man, but still young. His hair was a medium brown. Was this man really capable of anything? At first sight he seemed too conserved to commit anything horrible.
"Why did you move to this town?" Although the question may have seemed rude, Alice believed she had the right to ask such a question. Alice felt that he had intruded into her and her mother's life and house. Her mother looked up at her, making a face to show her that the question was not acceptable. Alice looked away from her, concentrating directly at the man.
"I've been wanting," he stammered, "To be a teacher." She realized by the discomfort in his voice that he had been crying. His voice was mature, but gentle and conserved.
"Why here?" She demanded.
"Alice," the man took acknowledgment again, "Don't ask such questions of our new neighbor. That's his own business." Her mother wasn't very pleased.
"Didn't he tell you about himself, Mom," she questioned, not understanding her mothers reasoning.
"I used to visit here," he said. "I've always felt compelled to this town."
"Why? There's nothing really special here. We're just a little town, and we don't have new people move here a lot." She stopped a moment, but then said, "Let me see you." Why would she believe or trust a person she had never even seen?
His movements faltered a moment, but then he slowly raised his head.