Nori stood at the train station a little distance from her so called family. Alicia was wrapping her mini clone, or daughter, in a tight hug. Dustin was given a peck on the head. Her father gave both of them a hug, before striding over to Nori. He smiled at her as she continued to stare at the ground. This was one time that Nori doubted whether her anger would fade or not.
"Nori," her father began. "I know your angry, but it is best. Look at Dustin and Natasha."
"Oh, wow, now I'm excited," Nori responded dryly.
"I'll see you at break," Rick finished. He gave her a quick kiss on the head and a tight hug before walking away.
Nori grabbed her bags and headed for the train. She walked between the cars until reaching one that was almost empty. She quickly slid in, setting her bags next to her, blocking any socializing. Her eyes wandered around not staying on anything for more than a second or two. She finally pulled out her Newface backpack. Christmas had been dull. There was no sense of family like it had been when she was with her mom. She slowly unwrapped gift after gift. She got a lot of red, black and white, but she had scored some more useful things as well. Her backpack was one, and the ton of books in it was another.
Nori could remember loving to read sense she was very young, mostly mystery and fantasy. Nothing that sucked her back into real life. Her backpack now contained some of her favorites as well as some new ones. Reaching in for the first one she slowly pulled it out. Classical Fairy Tales. Nori began to read the book from front to back. It included some of her favorites, but there was one she had never heard of, or at least read. It was a tale of a girl, names Cinderella. It caught Nori's imagination, and the story seemed to be over before it properly began. That was okay, because Nori reread the story again, and again, and again. It seemed that the story of Cinderella was very similar to her very own. Also it was the first time she had read a fairy tale with a fairy godmother in it.
Nori slowly pushed the book away. I really am too childish, Nori thought to herself. Looking out the window next to her, Nori closed her eyes to sleep. Her eyelids fell as she nodded off.
Nori's head banged against the train window as it slowly pulled to a halt. The sky was beginning to lighten up, but you could still see the stars shining here and there. The speaker on the train fizzed before a crackling voice echoed over it.
"West Redding," a male voice announced.
Nori pulled out her ticket and looked at the printed name on it. Her stop was here. She slowly stretched her sore mucsles, before pushing her bags on the floor. She dragged herself to a standing position, groaning. Grabbing her bags she headed to the nearest exit.
After carefully getting off the train in one piece, Nori began looking for Natasha and Dustin. As much as she despised having to rely on those two she knew it was the only way she would make it to the school. Nori slowly turned around in a circle. She spotted an old lady with a girl in bright red and a boy looking at the ground. Well, I found them she thought to herself. As she slowly walked up she looked at her new head mistress. Her lips were pursed, and her eyes cold. She gave Nori a look up and down before rolling her eyes.
"You were right," she said, looking directly at Natasha. "Come along. We don't have all day," she told Nori in a cold, clipped voice.
Nori stared at the old woman, before slowly beginning to follow. They were led to a Ford escort, where Nori was pushed into the back with Dustin. They took a long drive, out of the small city, to the country. They passed the snow covered country quickly. An hour outside of the nearest village they pulled up to a brick building.
There were two tall chimney in the three story house. It was covered with windows and there was a small pond. The whole place was surrounded by a tall steal fence. They drove through the main gate, and into a circular driveway. Everyone clambered out of the car and headed inside.
A short, balding man was waiting in the entry way. He nodded his head at Dustin, who immediately followed him up the right stair case. Natasha and Nori, on the other hand, followed the old woman. They were led up two sets of stairs on the left, before stopping outside of a beautifully decorated room. A girl was sleeping quietly.
"Natasha," the old woman said warmly, letting Natasha in.
Natasha smiled, going inside. She set her bags down before coming over to Nori.
"Welcome to my world," she whispered maliciously in Nori's ear.
The old woman quickly grabbed Nori's wrist before she responded and led her up to the third floor. She opened the door at the end of the hall to reveal a very bare bedroom. There was a blonde haired girl sleeping close to the door. The old woman shoved Nori in before shutting the door.
As Nori set down her bags on the far bed, she heard the old woman crackle as her heals clicked down the stairs.
Nori sighed as she began to put her things away. Half way through a bell rang. The other girl slowly pulled herself out of bed. She groaned, before noticing Nori. She stared at her coldly.
"Let me begin," she started coldly. "I am not a loser who is stuck in this room, my room is just being repainted for today. I am Melissa, and better than you. Don't even try to talk to me."
With that she quickly turned around. Nori simply raised her eyes. Melissa stomped off, muttering under her breath. Nori caught the words however.
"Natasha's right, this will be fun,"
She stomped out. Nori changed quickly, and headed out the door. Well this ought to be the best time of my life she thought, as she headed down the stairs.