She stirred softly, a quiet mewl escaping her petal soft pink lips. Her golden ringlets were spread around her head like a delicate halo. Her room was quiet, peaceful. That peace was shattered by the shrill beeping of her alarm on her bedside table. She peeled open her sleepy soft sky blue eyes and reached to grab her phone. She silenced the alarm and rolled onto her back, grinning widely. That day was going to be a good day, she could sense it. It was her first day attending the QTS, Quileute Tribal School. Her dad, Alexander, had moved them onto the Quileute reservation to take over The River's Edge Restaurant. He had saved it from going under and they'd moved from Bellingham down to La Push. She really loved her dad. He had fought tooth and nail to always give her everything. Her mom had died from complications during her birth. She'd always been told how amazing and incredible her mother was. Myanna Bjørnsson. She wished she could have met her. She loved her father with all her heart but she longed for things only a mother could give her.
She had to admit, it sucked a little having to move schools for her senior year but she couldn't wait to meet new people and make brand new friends. She'd miss her friends but knew she could make new ones easily. She found making friends a breeze, she was naturally extroverted and chatty and just loved hearing about people's special interests.
Her alarm blared again, indicating it really was time to be up and getting ready, so she jumped out of bed, rushing to the bathroom to hop into the shower. She had to try and beat her dad in, as he liked to faff. Showers were by far the best way to start the day and no one could convince her otherwise. A nice warm shower woke her up and added an element of routine to her morning. Once she was done with her quick shower, she stepped out and went to the mirror, cleansing her face and brushing her teeth. She headed back to her room as she heard her dad start to move about in his room.
"Góðan daginn Annie!" He called to her as she walked back into her cozy, beech wood furniture and house plant filled room. She had spent ages over the summer setting it up exactly how she liked it. She felt a real connection to nature and her dad had indulged her love of IKEA, joking it was something to do with their Nordic heritage. Her grandparents had emigrated to the USA from Iceland before her father was born and her mothers Parents had come from Denmark. She spoke both Danish, English and Icelandic as they had insisted she learn all three. It was a cool party trick she busted out and often used other languages to express anger or happiness. She could be talking for minutes and not even realise she wasn't speaking English. She interchanged the three so frequently that she often caught herself speaking the wrong language at the wrong time.
"Góðan daginn pabbi! Ég elska þig!" She called back, opening up her closet. She had no idea what she wanted to wear, she had so so many options. She had a very distinct forest fairy kind of vibe that meant she often busted out her sewing machine to make her own clothes to match pieces she picked up on Depop or from thrift stores.
She rifled through her things, trying to find the perfect first day outfit. She settled on a very autumnal cream, orange, brown and yellow knitted sweater, a brown corduroy dungaree dress with cute autumn flowers in a pot embroidered on it (she had done that herself) and a pair of fishnets with her white embroidered hightop converse, again something she done herself. She accessorised with her Tangled Sun earrings and matching sun necklace. Tangled had to be up there as one of her all time favourite movies. She had a lot of low key tangled merchandise along with other Disney merch. She was a huge Disney fan.
She dried her hair and sat at her dressing table to put on her makeup. The clock on her wall read 7:45. She had about 20 minutes before she needed to leave for school. It started at 8:50 and was only about a 25 minute drive away. She liked to be early. Early bird catches the worm and all that.
She cursed as she smudged her eyeliner and gently wiped it off before fixing any damage and trying again. Once she was satisfied she applied her matte liquid lipstick, pursing her lips together to spread the rust colour around the top and bottom. She gazed at herself in the mirror, long blonde curls falling over her shoulders, makeup just the way she liked it. She was ready. She grinned, picked up her coat and bag and headed downstairs. Her dad was making her a smoothie with frozen strawberries and bananas, almond milk, soya yogurt and a mix of nuts and seeds for protein. She was lactose intolerant so tried to avoid dairy as much as she could, she definitely wasn't as good as she should be with it. She loved smoothies for breakfast and usually had them with some strawberry jam on toast. Which her dad had put on the table ready for her. She quickly ate the toast and took the smoothie in a to-go cup, kissing her dad on cheek.
"Have a great first day Annie, I'm working late tonight but I'll see you in the morning. I've left some leftover roast in the fridge for you to heat up for dinner. Don't forget your lunch." She took her Disney animator lunch box from him and rushed out the door.
"Okay dad! I love you! See you in the morning!" She unlocked her 2005 white Jeep Cherokee and put her bag on the passenger seat, turning up the radio and starting the ignition.
The traffic had been murder and she was running very late. She'd swung by the office to get her schedule and only had a few minutes to get across the building to her Math class. The school catered to kids from K to 12th grade so was absolutely massive and she was ashamed to admit she was a bit lost trying to understand the map she had been given.
As she turned another corner, head buried in her map, she slammed into a firm warm chest. She tumbled towards the ground but the person she had hit caught her effortlessly, lifting her up and stopping her from falling.
"I am so so sorry, it's my first day, I'm lost and wasn't looking where I was… going…" she trailed off as she looked up at him. He was tall, really tall. Like he had an entire foot or more on her. She figured he must be about 6 foot 6. He had long black hair that was messily held up behind his head with a patterned leather hair tie. He had smooth russet skin that had almost bronze undertones, his left arm bore a black tribal tattoo that was intricate and what it depicted she couldn't quite tell. As she looked up further, she saw a strong chiseled jaw, full soft sepia coloured lips that were curved up with amusement and as she passed his hooked nose, she met his deep rich dark chocolate eyes. They had tiny little topaz flecks in them that caught the, usually horrendous, fluorescent lighting in the halls. As the pair held one another's attention with wild abandon, it felt as though the world had suddenly shifted. She definitely did not believe in love at first sight and she was in no way saying this was that but she couldn't deny the way her heart swelled at the sight of him. As he managed to shake off the shock, he gave her a reassuring look.
"It's fine, honestly. This place can be a total labyrinth. Where are you trying to get too….?" She furrowed her brow for a second before slapping herself on the forehead.
"Oh Annaliese. My name's Annaliese Bjørnsson, most people call me Anna or Annie, and I'm trying to get to Mrs Littlesea's Math Class." He picked up her dropped Math book, she hadn't even realised she'd dropped it, and handed it to her. She really was having a bit of a nightmare start to her school day.
"Well, Annaliese, let's get you to Math. I'm Seth by the way. Seth Clearwater. You've managed to get yourself a bit turned around huh? You're in the wrong building. This is K-4." He chuckled loudly, his whole chest vibrating as he did and she felt heat rush to her cheeks with embarrassment.
"Awh I thought I was nearly there." He started leading her the right way, back the way she had come and through the halls covered in drawings, little coat hooks and lockers.
"I was so buried in my map. Didn't even realise I was near the kindergarten." She laughed softly, brushing her errant curls from her face.
"It's fine to get lost on your first day, Annaliese. We've all done it. I've got English this period but how about afterwards I'll grab some of my friends and we can show you around?" She grinned as the left the building and started towards the one next door.
"I'd really appreciate that." They started up the stairs and he dropped her off at room 4. The door said Math, Mrs Littlesea. He knocked loudly and a kind woman's voice called out.
"Come in!" He opened the door and ushered her inside.
"Hi Mrs Littlesea. I found Annie wandering the halls down in Elementary. She's gotten a bit lost." She was embarrassed, stood at the front of the class, all eyes on her. She liked to be early to find a good seat and get settled. She couldn't have that today.
"Ah Miss…" Mrs Littlesea was looking at the paper and at Anna but she looked a bit lost.
"It's Bjørnsson Miss. You can just call me Anna. It's a bit of a mouthful I know." She laughed softly as the small Quileute woman still looked mortified at the thought of pronouncing it.
"Is that Norwegian?" She tentatively enquired as if she was trying not to cause any great offense. Anna just smiled reassuringly, she was never offended by people asking about her heritage.
"It's Icelandic Miss but the languages are similar enough. Icelandic, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian have similar roots. They say Icelandic is the closest to old Norse like the vikings spoke though." She grinned. She was very proud of her heritage and where her family came from. She knew a lot about it, her grandad, Bjørn, loved to talk to her about it. Loved to teach her legends of their people and Norse paganism.
"Oh wow. Seems we have a Viking in our midst's everyone. Thanks Seth for bringing Anna along. Off to class now." Seth looked conflicted for a moment, almost as if he didn't want to leave her. She shook her head as he left, she was definitely imagining things.
"Take a seat next to Brady and we'll get to Math!" Everyone groaned, everyone except her. She loved school and learning. Many would say she was a bit of an odd one but she didn't mind.
"Hi, I'm Brady Fuller. I'm actually one of Seth's friends. It's nice to meet you Anna… Annie?" She smiled softly, shaking his outstretched hand.
"I much prefer Annie, a lot less formal and a bit less Anna from frozen." She tittered quietly and he grinned, chuckling softly.
"Right, I'd like to welcome you all back to your senior year and say a big hello to our newest edition Annaliese Bjørnsson!" Everyone cheered a little and she ducked her head embarrassedly.
"So everyone open your books to page one and let's get started." She grabbed out her book and pencil case and started taking notes.
"Wow you write fast." She grinned at Brady and continued to use her one shorthand to take notes.
"It's a gift. I have my own shorthand."
"Woah…. Teach me?"
"Sure!" She started to slowly show Brady how to take notes in shorthand as the lesson went on and noted how nice Brady seemed. How nice everyone she'd met so far had seemed. She knew she was going to like it there.