Amy's POV
The rest of the day was filled with class after class of awkward introductions, staring teachers, whispering and snickering students, and I counted down every second until the final bell rang. The day was almost exactly as I figured it would be...almost.
What I hadn't counted on was the kid from history. Sure he talked to me during class but that was just because he had to. But all through the day he would say hi to me in the halls, he would smile if I walked into a class we happened to have together, he was constantly trying to make conversation. He even invited me to sit at his table with four other kids from history during lunch. I didn't stay long, their cheerful smiles and curious questions made me uncomfortable. Try as I might through the day I couldn't pinpoint the reason for his keen interest in me. By the end of the day I just decided that he must be really serious about his homework.
But I couldn't dwell on the intentions of kids I barely knew, I had much more pressing things on my mind. Immediately after school I walked about four blocks to the nearest elementary school, which also happened to be named John Quincy Addams, someone really needs to think of some new names.
Inside the school was almost overly bright, colorful posters hung along the cream colored walls, and the floors were waxed so thoroughly that they reflected the fluorescent lights above them. I sighed. No matter how much I already hated my new school, it was beyond worth it if Lily and Colin got to go to an elementary school that wasn't nearly run into the ground.
I walked into the secretary's office where a middle-aged woman with bottle blonde hair, hard eyes, and pursed lips sat behind a desk. She didn't smile when I entered, but she watched my every move. I approached the desk with the most polite smile I could muster.
"Is there anyway you could tell Lily and Colin Stevens that their sister is here to get them?"
"Are you a parent or guardian?" She asked sharply, still unsmiling. I suppressed and eye roll. "In a manner of speaking," I replied my own smile fading. "It was arranged that I would be allowed to pick them up everyday." She turned to the phone on the desk, and I distinctly heard her mutter something about 'Those kids'. I leaned against the desk and bit back the words I longed to throw at her.
A few minutes of tense silence later the door of the office was thrown open in an excited rush.
Lily and Colin practically jumped on me, both of them talking very fast, trying to tell me all about their day. I was sheparding them out the door when the secretary interjected almost angrily. "You have to sign them out."
I returned to the desk and took the clipboard she handed to me. If I can get through the school year without strangling her, it'll be a miracle. I thought as I signed mine and my siblings names.
The second we were out of the school they both began to talk again. I held up a hand to quiet them, not bothering to hide my smile. At least they had a good day. "Lily first." I said. "She's the youngest."
Lily instantly rushed into a long winded tale of how the teacher was so much nicer, and how the kids had played with her and how she had already made so many friends. I was grateful that Lily was still so young, only eight years old, third-graders were a lot less judgemental. But it was hard to dislike Lily anyway. She was small for her age, with long curly reddish hair like our mother's, and she had deep brown eyes just like hers. She was friendly and creative, and she loved everyone, she really did. She was just so innocent. She was in every way, just like my mom. Oblivious to the world, lost in her own, an optimist, and a dreamer.
Colin, on the other hand, was more like me. Realistic, maybe a bit too much for being just ten years old. My mom says it's because he spends too much time with me, in response I would always ask, 'Well who else is there?', she never has an answer. It's true sometimes I admit, it's almost like he forgets he's just a kid, he wants to help out more. But even though I understand where he's coming from probably better than anybody I refused to let him give up the last of his childish ignorance and innocence. He didn't look like my mom either, his hair was darker, and his eyes were blue, and spattering of freckles decorated the bridge of his nose. I assumed he looked like out father, but I couldn't be totally sure.
Colin waited patiently as Lily talked about her day and when she was done he launched into an account of his own.
A comfortable silence fell as we continued walking. I kept a firm hold of both my siblings the entire way through the neighborhood. Now don't get me wrong, Lily, Colin, and I live in a pretty rough part of the city, but even though it was definitely safer at our new schools it was unfamiliar, and I would feel much better once we were home.
Our old and slightly formidable apartment building was located at the outermost edges of queens. As the kids rushed past me and into the building, I eyed an old turquoise station wagon parked in the resident's lot
wearily...Mom's home.
By the time I got to the apartment Lily was already reliving her school day for our mother, she threw me a questioning look over Lily's shoulder when I walked in.
"And when was this school switch set up?" She asked me as I headed for our minuscule kitchen to look for something to make for dinner. I rolled my eyes. "Remember that forgiveness project I told you about? Well I made a deal with them, I'd go along with and say whatever they needed me to say as long as Lily and Colin got to go to a better school too."
She pursed her lips and I had a feeling this conversation was going to be continued later. "Get started on your homework." I told the kids, and I disappeared into the kitchen. Lily and Colin rushed off to their rooms and I started dinner. Mom sat in the livingroom, and for a while I could pretend she wasn't there...It's better that way. I couldn't help but think bitterly.
After dinner, while Lily and Colin were watching Cinderella (Lily's choice) in the livingroom, Mom approached me in the kitchen while I was doing dishes. She didn't say anything for a minute choosing instead to help with the pans, but then I heard her mumble low to me. "I don't need to tell you I think it was stupid that you took the fall for that boy at school."
"What boy at school?" I asked, pretending I had no idea what she was talking about.
"The one who lit your science room on fire, the one you took the blame for." She replied quietly. "Oh so now you remember." I hissed, washing a plate a bit more aggressively than what was needed. "Remember you getting expelled? Yes!" She shot back. "Nevermind that you could've been arrested. What made you think it was a good idea to say you did it?"
"Because, unlike you, I stay and I protect the people I care about!" I tossed the pate back into the sink and turned to face her, neither of us bothered whispering anymore.
"And what if you had been arrested, huh? Who would've taken care of Colin and Lily?" She yelled.
"I figured you'd have at least enough maternal instinct to at least try to raise your own kids but I see now that was never gonna happen!"
She looked like I just slapped her, and try as I might to squash it, I felt pretty guilty about what I'd just said. "You know everything I do is to protect you." She was whispering again, her voice slightly shakier than before. "Yeah, I know." I mumbled, turning back to the sink. She grabbed my chin and turned my face back towards her, "It scared me half to death, when I found out that you were expelled..." She trailed off then took a deep breath. "Please just try to lay low at this new school alright?" I nodded. But I couldn't help adding a little bitterly, "It'd be easier to lay low if you told me what I'm supposed to be avoiding." She just smiled sadly. "Not, yet when you're-"
"Older and ready." I finished for her. "I know."
"So," She started with the dishes again. I joined her. "You never told me anything about your new school. Any cute guys?"
"Mom." I groaned, nudging her shoulder. She simply laughed.
I remember when I was little that I used to dream about this, having normal conversations with me mom, being a normal girl who doesn't have to be paranoid about some unknown evil in my mother's life. But those dreams ended years ago.
Suddenly Cinderella's voice floated into the kitchen from the TV,
A dream is a wish your heart makes; when you're fast asleep; In dreams you will lose your heartaches; Whatever you wish for you keep; Have faith in your dreams and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through; No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing a dream that you wish will come true.
I'm not a princess, I told myself firmly. My wishes won't come true just because I really want them to. I spirits dropped through the floor when I reminded myself, your heart stopped dreaming years ago.
AN:
Roserucas: The ships will be mainly Lucas x OC with side mentions of Rucas, Lucaya, some Joshaya, and even very little Smarkle.
