Time passed uneventfully as the Wilson clan settled into their new lives. Before Lyra knew it the first day of school was upon her. It was the same old routine with just a new setting. Lyra sat down at the kitchen table eating breakfast while her mother prepared her lunch.
"Now remember," Her mother started in on her little pep talk. "just stay calm. It's the first day for everyone." Ariel herded her daughter to the front door. "Everyone is going to be a bit nervous." Lyra looked around expectantly. "Sorry sweetie your dad had a rough time last night at work. He needs his sleep. But I'm sure he wishes you luck and all the love in the world." She kissed Lyra in the forehead. "Warren will be waiting for you st the bus stop. Now go and have fun."
Like her mom promised Warren was waiting at the stop by himself. Lyra took a deep breath and walked straight up to him.
"Hiya" She smiled cheerfully The smile was only met with silence. "Excited for the first day of school?" She tried to start a conversation. But silence was her only companion.
Lucky The bus showed up shortly. Warren climbed on with Lyra behind him. Looking around the packed bus she wasn't ready to sit with someone she didn't know just yet. So heading to the back Lyra smoothed out her sundress and took the seat next to Warren. She nervously hummed while they drove.
"Will you stop that." Warren hissed. "So annoying."
Lyra looked around the bus. Almost everyone was fidgeting in their seats. They were all feeling the same anxiety their first day.
Lyra fanned herself with her hand. The heat was three times worse in the cramped bus. "Do you mind opening the window?" She asked turning to Warren. "I can't stand this heat."
Warren glared at her comment. "If you don't like it sit somewhere else."
He pushed Lyra off her seat and onto the floor. The whole bus busted out in in laughter. Another boy high fived Warren as Lyra laid there in shock. That shock expression turned to an angry glare ans she stood up and smoothed out her dress.
"Jerk" Lyra muttered under her breath as she walked up the rows to find a new seat.
Grumbling in frustration she flopped down in an empty seat. The bus became more routy with the kids shoving and yelling at each other as tempers rised.
"HEY" Everyone froze int there tracks as the bus driver yelled from the front. "Quiet down back there or I will this bus over right now. Wanna be late your first day?" Everyone settled down the rest of the drive.
When they arrived at their destination the group piled out. Lyra swallowed hard and walked into her new adventure. For being a new school in a new town the day was ordinary. It was like any first day of school. Lyra went to her classes where she could already see the groups and cliques of friends sitting with each other. No one really talked to her for the first half of the day.
Lunch time was the worst. Lyra grabbed her food and looked out into the masses. Everyone was either paired up or in a group at their tables. Spotting Warren even he was surrounded by a small group talking around him as he read a book. Lyra quickly averted her gaze before he could catch him staring and headed outside. There were fewer people because of the head so she settled down under a tree and ate her food.
After finishing her lunch Lyra leaned against the tree and hummed to herself while she people watched. Everyone she noticed had someone to talk to or laugh with while she sat there alone with her thoughts.
Lyra's mind drifted to her home town. She wondered what her friends were doing right now. Were they sitting around missing her as much as she missed them? Did she come up in conversation? They all had promised to write her frequently. But Lyra wondered how long that would last. How long would it take them to forget about her. Her tune turned more depressing as a tear slowly descended her cheek.
The sound of a sobbing girl pulled Lyra out of her thoughts. She watched as another girl comforted her crying friend. Her soft words whispered encouragement.
""Everyone has it rough the first day back. But it will be better tomorrow"
Lyra got off the ground and headed back to class.
"Yeah right" She snorted to herself.
The very last class was math. Lyra had lost her way and slipped inside before the last bell rang. She muttered an apology and took a seat off to the side. Once situated she pulled out her books while the teacher took attendance.
"Peace" The teacher called out.
"Here" A cold voice came from behind her.
Lyra pencil dropped sliding behind her seat. When she turned around she was met with a pencil dangling in front of her face held up by her hostel neighbor. Lyra only smiled and nodded before turning around. She forced her body to look straight even after hearing the huff of annoyance behind her. School could not end soon enough.
Lyra jumped out of the bus and into the house. Slamming the door she felt instantly relaxed when the air conditioned air hit her.
"Hey there song bird. What's shaking?" Her dad called out from the kitchen.
"Nothing" Lyra flopped in the kitchen chair as her father gathered a few snacked.
"How was school?" He sat next to his daughter opening a root beer and slid it her way.
"Depressing" Lyra took a sip of her soda.
"Can't be that bad." He took a sip of his own drink. "It's all about how you perceive things. If you meet things head on and with a positive attitude you can accomplish anything, even junior high."
"How would you know?" Lyra snapped. "You weren't there. You Weren't even here to see me off. Maybe if you would pay a little more attention to your kid instead of your job maybe you might know how I feel."
"Watch your tone young lady." Her father ordered. "We taught you better than that." Clint blinked a couple times now looking at his daughter with concern. "You know my job is demanding."
"Yeah I just thought with a new city...There are other people here to take some of the weight off you."
Both were quiet not knowing where to go from here. It's not like anything either of them could say would change anything.
"Come on." Clint stood and headed out to the back yard. "I want to show you something."
Lyra reluctantly followed her father outside. They traveled through the yard and into the woods behind it. After twenty minutes silent walking they came up on a clearing with a very small, one room cabin. Inside there was a workstation with some tools scattered on the walls.
"What do you think?"Clint spun around displaying the room.
"Impressive." Lyra rolled her eyes sarcastically.
She walked around the room inspecting the items. She reached for a glass box on a shelf with a small flimsy bow inside.
Clint took the box form her hands. "That was the first box I ever bought you" He put it back on the shelf. "I was thinking maybe it's time I teach ya how to hunt."
"I think I prefer the fishing we did last year." Lyra smiled at the fond memory.
"Aww come on Lyra. It would be fun." Her father flashed that infectious smile her way.
"But it's sOoO hot outside." She whined at the idea.
"We can hunt in the winter time." Her father countered.
"But then it will be too cold." She argued faking a shiver.
"Come on Lyra. I'm trying here. You're gonna have to meet me half way"
Lyra swayed her head to the side to glance at her dad. He had those big goofy puppy dog eyes and pouty face. She almost lost her reserve and busted out in laughter right then and there.
Lyra roller her eyes and smiled. "So If I did agree what exactly would we be hunting?"
That pathetic pout switched to a dorky grin. "We can hunt all kinds of animal. We got deer, turkey, pheasant. You will have to get a license first." He dashed around the room collecting supplies. "We can start this weekend."
"Dad" Lyra waved her arms around trying to get her father's attention. "DAD it's suppose to be like a hundred degrees this weekend. Besides I don't think I'll be ready to shot bambi by this weekend."
Clint shrugged. "Training will start this weekend. I'll stay off the grid, no communication, and we can camp out for a few nights."
"Mom will never go for that." Lyra snorted. "Classes started last week at the university. Mom has come home late everyday talking down anxiety flooded students during office hours."
"Well then I guess it's just you and me." Clint wrapped him arms around his daughter in a big ol' bear hug lifting her off her feet and squeezing the air out of her lungs.
"Sounds great." Lyra wheezed.
Once back in the house Lyra ran up to her room while her father cooked dinner, both lighter in their steps. Sitting at her desk, organizing her binder, rereading her syllabi for the different classes Lyra hummed a happy tune.
The desk was against the wall facing right out the window. The only view she got was of her neighbor's siding and a window that led into the bedroom of her least favorite person. But nothing could darken her mood.
After dinner Lyra stayed in her room leaning into her seat, propping her feet up on her desk and settled into reading. The peaceful moment was ruined with the slamming of a door and muffled yelling. She glanced away from the page to the open window. She nonchalantly watched as the angry boy stomped around his room yelling at someone through the closed door. After a few minutes the boy was tuckered out, breathing heavily, while standing in the middle of the room. Sensing her presence Warren snapped his head to the side glaring straight at her. Lyra swallowed her discomfort, plastered a smile, and gave him a light wave. Warren stormed over to the window and shut the blinds.
Even these out burst were apart of this neighborhood's routine. The Peace family were some of the best neighbors. Warren's father was almost never home. Sounded like he worked in one of the bigger cities and it was just easier for him to just stay in the city three or four days then come home for a couple of days. Sooner or later Mr Peace and and Warren come to some disagreement which ended in Warren secluding himself in his room for a few hours. Lyra had no idea what they would fight about over there. Mr. and Mrs. Peace never fought with each other when he was home. On the contrary, The couple seemed to cherished every moment they had together. She would rank them the second most in love couple she had ever met. First place would always and forever go to her parents.
Lyra stretched in her seat and gave one last glance at her neighbor's window. She noticed a light streak of smoke escaping between the blinds.
"Underage smoking." Lyra tisked as she got ready for bed. "Maybe the next fight will be about lung cancer."