FRESH START

"So, what do you think of our new home Anna?" she looked down at the sixteen year old next to her.

"Ah like it a lot Auntie Irene." she said, not taking her eyes off of the beautiful house before her.

"Good, because we are going to be staying here for a very long time."

"Really! Wow."

"Why don't you run upstairs and pick yourself a room." Just as Anna went to run off into the house, Irene called out to her, "Anna! Aren't you forgetting something?" as she tapped her cheek. The little girl came back running towards her and then coming to a dead stop, placing a kiss on her aunt's cheek.

"How could Ah forget." she smiled, and in a mere instance, ran back towards the house.

The next morning, Anna was up and ready for her first day at a new school. She wasn't normally excited to start school, but this was different. It was a fresh start, in a place she was going to be for a long time. Sure, that made her nervous, but that only added to her excitement. After all of the paperwork was ready, they finally sent her to class. She was to be in Mrs. Anderson's art class this period.

As soon as little Anna opened the door, she had what felt like a million faces staring at her. There wasn't a person in the room who wasn't. Not even the student aides would stop staring. She gulped and slowly walked into the classroom, creeping her way to the teacher and handing her a small note. After Mrs. Anderson read the note, she smiled reassuringly at the little girl and stood up.

"Class, it looks as if we have a new student today. This is Anna Adler." Then she looked back down at the little girl beside her and said, "Anna, why don't you go and have a seat. There is a seat next to Betsy near the door." The girl nodded and nearly ran to her seat, hoping that everyone would quit staring at her. The teacher came to her a few minutes later with some art supplies. "Today, we are making collages about what is important to us. You can create it anyway you wish." Anna nodded in understanding. Just as she was about to start, in the corner of her eye she saw a girl with purple hair next to her trying to get her attention. She looked up at her, as the girl smiled at her.

"Hi, I'm Betsy."

"Hi." Anna smiled back.

"So your new."

"Yeah." She nodded, trying not to make it obvious to the teacher.

"I haven't been here long either."

"Really?"

"Yeah, just got here last month."

"Is it nice here? It seems like it is." Betsy looked up at the clock.

"Yeah, it is. If you want, you can eat lunch with me. It's in thirty minutes."

"Sure." They both noticed that the teacher saw them whispering, and stifled a giggle.

When lunch came, Anna followed Betsy to the cafeteria as she gave her a small tour along the way. Betsy talked a lot, but Anna didn't mind it. As they made their way to the line in the cafeteria Anna noticed that some boy was holding up the line. He was talking to the cafeteria lady about something and wouldn't move until she had given him extra dessert. She laughed at this, so Betsy turned to see what she was laughing at.

"He's always up to something."

"Who is he?"

"You are better not knowing. Believe me." She smiled at her and was about to reply when the line starting actually moving.

Classes were boring, most of the things they were doing, the teachers had excused her for because she hadn't been there sooner and they were almost through with the assignments. She didn't want to have Anna start something she couldn't finish, even as much as Anna had insisted. She did, however enjoy her walk home. Everything was so new to her. It was very nice, and everybody's grass was so green. But then she had this feeling that somebody was following her, so she turned around and saw that nobody was there. When she turned back around to head home she nearly bumped into the person in front of her.

"Noticed ya starin' at me in line today chere." She was in shock. 'How did he? When did he? Wait starring?'

"Ah was not starrin'." He smirked at her.

"Den what do ya call it?"

"Tryin' ta figure out what ya were up ta."

"You new?" she sighed. 'How many people are gonna ask meh that taday.'

"Yeah, what's it ta ya?"

"Une belle fille should not walk home alone."

"Well Ah don't see one of those 'round here, so whay don't ya get outta mah way and let meh get home 'fore dinner." she told him quite sternly and proceeded to try and walk around him. He blocked each attempt, so she stood there crossing her arms waiting for him to move, lightly tapping her foot.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Ya gonna move, or am Ah gonna have ta move ya?"

"Love ta see you try chere." he told her in a low voice. She was so angry she didn't know what to do with herself. She didn't even realize that she had pushed him down, so opted for walking past him. Of course, she was smiling at herself after seeing the look of total and utter shock on his face for doing it. But, of course, that didn't last long as he jumped back up and caught up to her, walking next to her.

"So what be de belle fille nom?"

"Ah don't talk ta strangers." He jumped in front of her path again as she sighed.

"Didn't we get past this point already?" He grabbed her hand and kissed it as he said, "Name's Remy LeBeau." She just raised an eyebrow towards him and then looked at him as if he had grown a second head. He smirked at this, even though it wasn't the reaction he was looking for.

"What do ya want swamp rat?"

"Swamp rat?"

"Just answer the question. Ah would like ta get home 'fore dinner."

"Oui. Like Remy said earlier, a belle fille shouldn't walk home alone."

"That's it. Ah let ya walk meh home and ya leave meh alone."

"Oui."

"But then ya know where Ah live."

"Oui." he smirked.

"Well Ah s'pose so, the benefits certainly out way the costs."

"Den it's settled den."

"Alright." He took some of her books from her and stood next to her as they started walking. He never took his eyes off her.

"So, Remy never get ya name chere."

"Anna."

"Anna, ya got a last name, or is it just one like Cher or Madonna?"

"Anna Adler." she growled out at him.

"Dat's funny." She stopped abruptly.

"What?"

"Your initial's are AA. You got any problems, chere?" he told her smiling.

"Like Ah haven't heard that before cajun." then she continued walking.

"Sorry, just tryin' ta lighten da mood."

"Well don't. Ya not that funny." he put his hand over his chest, with a painful look in his eyes.

"Ya wound Remy."

"Good." she said smiling. "Now could ya go away?"

"Non, we have an agreement, and Remy keepin' to it."

"Then will ya quit starrin' at meh?"

"What's wrong wit dat?"

"Everybody's been doin' it since Ah got here. It's creepin' meh out."

"You ever think dat maybe it's 'cause of da fact dat ya belle?"

"Have ya evah stopped and listened ta yahself?"

"Non, why?"

"Ya really should. Then maybe ya would quit with all those stupid lines. What exactly do ya want anyway? What's the point in followin' meh home? Ah just don't get it."

"Remy not usin' any lines. Just da truth."

"Right."

"Oui, and you ever think dat da world not revolve 'round you? Dat maybe Remy pesterin' you on his way home, in da same direction." he told her, but the smirk never left his face.

"Really?"

"Oui."

"So where do ya live then?"

"Just down dis street here." he said gesturing towards the street that they had just turned down.

"Ya kiddin' right?"

"Non, why? Remy all of sudden become amusin' ta ya?"

"Ah'm sorry, it's just ya came on a bit strong. Not exactly a great day, ya know?"

"Oui, first day always boring."

"Yeah." she smiled.

"You should do dat more often."

"What?"

"Smile, ya look even more belle." her smiled dropped into a frown.

"That's exactly what Ah'm talkin' 'bout. Stop doin' that."

"Doin' what?"

"Talkin' ta meh like that."

"Like what?"

"Ugh." she grunted out. "Look, this is mah house. Agreements fulfilled, so leave meh in peace."

"Oui." she stomped to the front door and was about to open it when she heard.

"Anna!" she turned to see him running up towards her.

"What now?" he smiled.

"Ya forgot ya books." she smiled back, "Thanks." took them and ran back into the house.