Chapter 1
Elena
Approximately sixteen hours. That's how long I have been stuck in this god-forsaken car. I am tired, grumpy, and sore from this ride. After living in Fort Drum for the last eight years, my dad finally got the transfer he wanted to Mystic Falls. No more moves. This is going to be our home. I've never really had a home before. It was always unknown whether we would stay in one place for that long. Growing up in the Army does it to you.
"Welcome to Mystic Falls," my mom says looking over at me with a wide grin. She tucks a strand of her light brown hair behind her ear. "Oh...cheer up Elena, you have the whole world ahead of you. This is good for us."
I take my feet off the dash and reach on the floorboard for my flip-flops. I slip them onto my feet and stretch. I stare out the window as we drive through what seems to be downtown. Mom turns right and we pass a few stores. I look out the driver's side window and see Mav's Groceries. It looks like a nice size grocery store.
Mom slows to a stop and signals, "are you girls hungry?" She asks turning right.
"I could go for a bite," I say running my hand through my hair and Emmaline agrees.
We pull into a parking lot and my mom shuts off the car. She looks around then back at Emma and me. "It looks like we have a couple of options, what do you girls want?"
"That looks good," Emma says pointing to a brick building. The sign above the front door says, Mystic Grill.
"They probably have a good variety," I say in agreement.
Mom agrees with our choice and we get out of the car to cross the road. We get to the front entrance and mom goes in first followed by Emma and me. We follow her into the restaurant, and I get my first glimpse of teen society. Sitting at the bar are a few guys and girls. A toffee skin-colored girl about my age looks up. She looks at me then Emma and goes back to playing on her phone.
"How about here?" Mom asks pulling me out of my daze. I look over to see her and Emma both sitting down in a booth. I follow suit.
The table has a couple of menus on it, so Emma and I share looking for something to eat. "What do you think so far?" Mom asks looking up from her menu.
"I don't know. I'm not really hungry, I'll probably just have a salad." I say pushing the menu towards Emma more.
Mom sighs; "I wasn't asking if you decided on what to order. I was asking what you think of the town so far?"
"Ummm...quaint?" I say but it comes out as a question.
"I like it." Emma chimes in.
"Of course, you like it, you're not the one that has to go to a Private School either." I say playing with the saltshaker.
Mom snatches the salt from my hand; "you're not still upset about this Elena? We discussed why this would be best for you."
"I know, I just don't understand why I have to go to a private school, but Emma gets to go to public," I say playing with a napkin.
"Again, we talked about this. Your father and I decided it would look best on your college applications." Mom says placing her menu down. "Besides, Emma will go to Mystic Prep when she gets into high school. Just be happy they were willing to take you as a transfer student."
I bite my lip and nod. I hear laughter and look over to see the dark skin girl talking with a blonde-haired girl with fair skin and a light-skinned guy with short brown hair. His arms are wrapped securely around the blonde-haired girl. Both are laughing along with the dark-skinned girl.
It's not too late in the year. Maybe, just maybe I can make some new friends. Moving around has always sucked. It's not like it wasn't expected, it just never gets any easier.
An older waitress with light brown hair and warm brown eyes comes up to us and takes our order. I went with a small salad, Emma decided on a burger with a side of fries and mom chose a grilled chicken sandwich. We all got water to go with our meals.
After finishing dinner, mom pays the tab and we head back out to the car. I hop in the passenger seat and flip my hair into a quick messy bun. Mom pulls out of the parking lot and turns right. "It shouldn't be too much longer," mom says turning on her blinker and switching lanes. I hope not. I'm sick of being in this car already.
After another 10 minutes of driving and 10 minutes spent checking in at the gate, we finally pull up to our new home. It's a beautiful white colonial home, with light blue shutters. The door is a light blue as well. It has a decent size front yard, and what I've heard from mom it also has a nice back yard as well. The driveway isn't too large but could probably fit 3 cars if we wanted to.
I climb out of the passenger seat and stretch. I look down the street and see similar looking homes. Different colored shutters and doors is all. "Can you help grab a few things out of the back and bring them into the living room?" Mom asks me; popping the trunk.
"Yeah," I say walking around to the back of the car. I grab two suitcases and throw my backpack on. I place the larger suitcase down and reach in the trunk for Emma's smaller one and hook that with mom's bag on my right hand. I pick up mom's larger suitcase and head to the front door.
Mom and Emma are already inside as I walk in and see a large living room. I look to my right and there sits the kitchen. It has dark cherry cupboards and grey granite countertops. Hardwood floor runs throughout. I set the suitcases down and look over at mom. "Is this good?" I ask pointing to the suitcases.
Mom nods her head and thanks me. I walk around scoping out the downstairs. I go through the kitchen and see a small hall. I open the first door on the right and it's a pantry. Decent size too. I look out the back door and see an attached deck. The yard is big. It will be nice for cookouts when dad gets home.
"Elena and Emma," mom calls out from the living room. I walk back through the kitchen and see mom standing in the living room holding a sheet of paper. Emma comes down the stairs.
"Yeah?" Emma and I both ask at the same time.
"I want you both to make sure you are ready for your first day tomorrow. I know it's not going to be easy at first, but I promise it will get better." Mom gives me a pointed look. "Now Elena, you know that it's uniform dress code only. Follow the code."
I nod, "yes mom."
"Also, your uniform should be upstairs hanging already in your closet. Shoes are dress only. No Tom's and no flip flops." she says for what seems like the millionth time. So, I just nod. I already know all this.
"Lights out at 9. No, if, ands or buts. I want you both up and ready to go by 7 am." mom says looking down at her watch then back at us.
Emma and I both agree, and she excuses us. I check out the living room and peek in mom and dad's bedroom directly off the living room. I shut their door and head upstairs.
I get to the top of the stairs and see my bedroom door. It's the first door on the right. I open the door and get my first, real glimpse of my room. I've only seen pictures online so far. The dark hardwood seems to run throughout the entire house except for in the bathrooms, which are white tiled. I have a large off-white area rug with different-sized circles on it. My queen-sized four-poster bed is covered with my baby blue bedding. Above is an off-white canopy. To the left and right of the head of my bed are small end stands. On the wall to my right is a door and my dresser. I open the door and see it's my closet. Hanging on the inside of the door, staring me in the face is my school uniform. I internally cringe at it.
I shut the closet door and go over to the left side of my room, opening another door. I walk into a bright white bathroom. There is a decent-sized bathtub and light granite countertop with a single sink. I turn off the light and shut the door just enough, so it's cracked.
I walk over to my bed and pull back my blanket and toss a couple throw pillows to the floor. I take off my shorts and racerback tank, tossing them into the laundry basket near my bedroom door. I slip off my bra and toss that in the basket as well. Missing the basket. I groan and walk over picking it up, I place it in the basket. I open the top drawer of my dresser and take out my dad's tee. I slip the t-shirt over my head and shut the drawer. I walk over to my bed and climb in.
I connect my phone to my charger and place it down on the nightstand. Changing my mind, I pick up my phone and swipe to unlock it. I look at the time and see it's not even 8:30 pm yet. Clicking on Instagram, I decide to upload the photos I took from the trip down here. I see my dad must've been on because he loved some of my pictures from right before we moved. I wipe my eyes and yawn. I am worn out. I finish uploading the pics and labeled them as New Beginning. That's what mom says this is. A new beginning for all of us.
I've decided that I've spent enough time on my phone for the night and place it down on the stand. I roll over and fluff my pillow. Covering myself up, I start to drift off to sleep.
I awake the next morning to my alarm ringing on my phone. I dismiss it and roll back over facing my dresser. I rub my eyes and sit up. Lazily, I climb out of bed and walk over to my dresser. I grab a black pushup bra and matching boy shorts out of the top drawer and I shut it. I walk over to my closet and open it. There sits the dreaded uniform. Like I thought it would magically disappear overnight. Shaking my head; I take the uniform out of the garment bag and get my first real look at it. It is a has a dark blue blazer, long sleeved white button up dress shirt and a dark blue plaid skirt. At least it's not super tacky. I bring the outfit into the bathroom with me and start the shower. Stripping out of my tee and slipping off my red panties, I step into the shower.
After about a 20-minute shower to wake me up and get me energized for the day, I climb out and dry off. I slip on my bra and panties, then pump some leave-in conditioner into the palm of my hand and massage it through my hair. I comb my straight brown hair and add a little mouse for texture. I slip on my skirt and shirt. Buttoning it up and tucking it in I look at myself in the mirror. My eyes seem to reflect the mood I'm already in this morning. Kind of gloomy. Honey brown eyes staring back at me in the mirror. I add a light coat of mascara to my top and bottom lashes, then finish off with my favorite strawberry lip balm. I slip on my blazer and look at myself once more in the mirror. I'm not conceited in the least bit, but this uniform doesn't look like the worst thing in the world.
I exit my bathroom and throw on my white low-rise Under Armour socks. I grab my phone off my stand and hook my backpack on my shoulder, then leave my bedroom making sure to shut the door on my way out.
I get downstairs and enter the kitchen. Emma is sitting at the island and mom looks up as I walk in. "I made you both a smoothie to start your day," she says placing a cup on the island. I sit down beside Emma and smile at mom.
"Ready for today kiddo?" I ask Emma taking a drink of my smoothie. Mhmmm. It's delicious. Mangos and bananas.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Emma says standing up and placing her cup in the sink.
"You'll both do great. Just wait and see." Mom says pouring herself a cup of coffee.
I finish my smoothie and get up to put my cup in the sink as well. I check the time and see it's 5 of. Not too bad on timing. Although growing up like I have, you better be on time. I push in my stool and grab my backpack off the floor. Hooking it on my shoulder, I head towards the living room.
I'm slipping on my black ankle boots when mom enters the living room. "You both ready?" she asks coming to stand in front of us.
Emma says "yes." and I mutter out a "sure."
"Have a good day. Here's some lunch money for today, and I'll make sure both your school accounts have the funds set up before tomorrow." Mom says handing us both a $10.
I place the money in my pocket and follow Emma out the door. We both get to the end of the walkway, and I nudge her with my elbow. "You know the way, right?" I ask adjusting my bag.
"Mmhmm," Emma says.
"Okay squirt, I'll see you after school," I say giving her hair a tussle. She goes left and I go right. Her school is just down the road right off base. Mine however is a 15-minute walk give or take. I look once more in the direction Emma went, and headed off on my own way to school.
