Okay, here's chapter 2! The next chapter will be better-at least in my opinion. Lol. Please review! It makes me write and update faster!
Chapter 2
Lea entered the house, taking care to shut the front door as silently as possible before locking it and heading up the stairs. Halfway up the steps, a light came on on the first story, making her freeze in her tracks. Squeezing her eyes shut in frustration, Lea turned around slowly, bracing herself for another lecture.
"I'm not going to deal with this anymore, Lea." Her father said flatly, "You have tomorrow to pack up. You're leaving the day after tomorrow."
"And to where, exactly?" she demanded, one hand on her hip.
"I guess you'll find out." Was all he said before closing his door behind him, bathing the house in complete darkness again. Lea only stood for a moment, possibilities flashing through her mind. Shaking her head to clear it, she turned and walked slowly up the stairs.
Lea slept later then usual the next morning, having stayed up after getting home, unable to keep her mind from racing. Where on earth would her dad send her? Nothing came to mind no matter how long she laid and thought about it.
Tossing articles of clothing violently into her suitcase, Lea grumbled to herself a fierce scowl not leaving her face for a moment. Well, it looked like her possible plans for the summer weren't going to happen. Her dad had ideas of his own.
"We leave at nine tomorrow." Her dad stated firmly from her doorway, "Be ready." Then he walked off, and Lea bit her lip harshly. She wanted to run and demand where he was sending her, but that'd be a sign of weakness and quite unlike her.
He wanted to send her to some stupid boot camp, maybe? Fine. She'd tough it out without a single word to anyone. He wanted to ship her off to some juvenile delinquents recovery camp, maybe? Fine. She'd take it.
Either way Lea figured she'd probably get to have more time alone. Which is what she wanted so desperately-to sink into her own world. If her father didn't want her around, that was fine with her. It wasn't as if she was clinging to him or anything.
"You bet I'll be ready. Ready and waiting." Lea mumbled to herself, slapping more clothes into her suitcase fiercely. She wasn't going to be intimidated by her dad's plan. She'd been through street fights more terrifying than anything her father could come up with.
Just as she had planned, Lea was up, packed, and prepared to leave at the appointed time, not letting the bored look fall from her face as she sat in the car watching her dad lock the house before getting in the vehicle and starting the engine without a word.
"You sure you have everything?" he asked her as he set the car in reverse. Lea shrugged then nodded, "For the whole summer? You aren't coming back until fall." She simply raised her eyebrows in plain disinterest as he started along their neighborhood street.
The trip was long. So long. Lea just wanted it to be over-no matter where he was taking her. Anywhere was better then trapped in the car with her boring dad. If she didn't have her ipod, Lea was sure she would have died of boredom.
The city eventually thinned out, and by mid afternoon the only thing they were passing was fields. Empty fields with patches of trees here and there, and the occasional herd of cows or horses. The terrain began to change, much to Lea's interest. There were small, sloping hills that reminded Lea of something out of a movie. She had to admit silently that it was gorgeous.
"Don't you want to ask where I'm taking you?" her dad spoke for the first time since beginning the trip that morning.
"Nope." Lea said simply, not taking her eyes of the landscape. Although she had never been there, Lea couldn't help but think the place they were driving through looked a lot like Tennessee. But she'd only seen pictures. It was a beautiful countryside though.
She eventually tired of watching the hills roll by, and Lea rested her head on the window, drifting in and out of a light slumber. Apparently her dad wasn't staying wherever he was taking her-he hadn't brought anything with him.
"We're here." Her dad's gruff voice woke her. Lea stretched her stiff muscles without even saying a word to him as he got out. It was pitch black, and annoyed her that she couldn't take in her surroundings yet, but would have to wait until morning came.
Lea silently carried the bags that her father wasn't, following him to a small building that looked somewhat like a farm house- from what she could tell in the pressing dark.
"Robert Harper, we've been expecting you." a brunette lady about her father's height spoke friendly as she met them at the door. She stepped aside to let them in, and Lea squinted in the brightness of the large room.
They seemed to be standing in the front of the house which appeared to be a large living room with several couches lining the walls. As her eyes adjusted to the light, Lea took in details carefully, not missing the fact that her father was talking quietly to the lady.
"Okay, Lea, I'm headed off." Her father said as he approached her, "Be good. And please behave and avoid fights."
And then he was gone.
Lea stood a moment, stunned at her father's abrupt disappearance but disguising her surprise as she turned to the lady with the over sized smile. She scowled and waited impatiently for an explanation.
"I'll show you where your room is." The lady said shortly, but friendly, gesturing for Lea to follow her through a door in the back of the room. Much to her surprise, Lea stepped through the door and was enveloped by darkness again, and the sweet smell of the countryside.
She didn't speak a word as she followed blindly behind the lady, who seemed to know where she was going without the need for a light. Lea was eventually able to make out a larger building not too far away.
When they entered this new building, Lea noticed that all was silent-which made sense since it was near midnight. The inside looked like a hotel- with the halls, stairs, doors and windows every now and then. No other furniture.
"Here's your room!" the lady announced cheerfully, although Lea suddenly noticed she looked tired, "Room number 203." Lea was glad she had a room on the second story-just like she was used to.
"Thanks." She managed to mutter, taking the key that was offered and fumbling with unlocking it before stepping into the dark room.
"Everything you'll need will be in there. Breakfast is at 9 in the main building. Sleep well, and make yourself at home." The lady said briskly before leaving briskly, before Lea even had a chance to turn the light on.
The sudden silence seemed almost deafening, but Lea didn't let it phase her as she flipped the light switch and shut the door behind her. The room was quite square, with a single bed directly in front of her, with the headboard against the wall. There was a window on either side of the bed, and one to Lea's right where there also sat a dresser and desk.
She let all her belongings fall to the ground with a thud, and looked to her left. She had small, but reasonably sized closet and there was also a door where she assumed her bathroom lay behind.
"Well, this sucks." Lea muttered, wishing now that she knew where she was and what kind of place she was stuck at for the rest of the summer.
After a few moments of thoughtful worry, she stood up straighter and began to unpack her things, putting them each where she decided would be most convenient for herself. Lea locked her door on second thought before entering her small bathroom and feeling satisfied with it's size.
Finally.
She didn't know where she was, or what she was to do there, but for now at least she was alone. In only a few moments, Lea opened all her windows widely, breathing in the country air and savoring it, detecting a hint of a foreign smell. It smelt and nearly tasted different from the city air she was used to.
Not five minutes later, Lea had changed, showered and tucked herself underneath the smooth sheets in her comfortable bed. Maybe this place wouldn't be too bad. She really wished she could see what was around her, or have a hint as to what she would be doing to occupy herself all summer.