Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Flightless Bird
Chapter 3
We pulled into a gravel driveway and parked just outside our new home. It was quaint – a 2 story home set off an almost deserted street and surrounded by woods. The house was white with a faded gray trim; it had a small porch off the front and a one car garage off to the side. Dad walked over to the garage and lifted the door pushing it above his head as it slowly settled in the open position rocking slightly back and forth.
I pulled my duffel bag out of the back and grabbed my beat up back pack from the front seat. I sat and waited patiently on the step of the front porch as Dad parked the car in the garage before retrieving his own bags and returning the garage door to its original closed position. He glanced around out of habit as he walked towards me nodding to the front door.
I picked myself up, grabbing my bags once again, and followed as he passed by me and opened the front door. Once inside we set our bags down and canvassed our new abode. It was small, which was perfect for the two of us. Off the front entrance was the living room – it housed a long green couch with a matching oversized recliner, two end tables with matching lamps, a basic TV stand with a moderate flat screen television in the center and bookshelves on either side. I could already see my dad eyeing up the recliner.
Shaking my head a little I continued further into the house, down a small hallway with a bathroom on the right and finally into the only other room on the first floor, the kitchen. It was bigger than the living room and held a wooden kitchen table with four matching chairs, there was a small island in the center of the room and an L-shaped counter with a stove on one end and refrigerator on the other. Besides the wooden table and chairs, everything else in the room was white – cabinets, appliances, even the curtain around the window above the sink.
"You can have which ever room you want Kiddo." Dad said as he leaned on the door frame to the kitchen. He looked beyond tired and as if he had aged ten years overnight. My dad was always handsome, but shy like me. His hair was a little shorter now and I noticed more gray than black. We shared the same chocolate brown eyes and would look more alike if it weren't for his black, bushy mustache.
"Thanks," I said as I brushed past him to head towards the stair case. "I think I am going to take a shower and settle in, maybe even catch a nap."
I grabbed my bags by the door and headed to the second floor. It was almost identical to the first – two rooms and a bathroom in the hallway. I rolled my eyes at the thought of sharing a bathroom, but there was no use voicing my complaints. I peered into the first room – it was rather large and sparsely decorated; a full size bed with burgundy bedding, a night stand and a dresser. Deciding to leave that room to dad I ventured further down the hall to the other bedroom. This one was smaller; had a twin sized bed with light purple bedding, a night stand, dresser, and a small desk.
Walking in I dropped my bag next to the bed and sat down, the mattress bouncing slightly from the added weight. After a few deep breaths I leaned down, opened my bag and began putting my things away.
Dad didn't allow any personal items to be kept with us. They just 'slowed us down'. If you walked into our house you wouldn't even know we lived there. It made it easy to pack up with a moments notice, and it also kept identities safe.
As I hung my clothes on hangers and placed them in my closet I went over my mantra.
"My name is Bella Swan, I am from Portland Oregon, I am a senior in high school, my dad is named Charlie, and he is an independent contractor... My name is Bella Swan, I am from Portland Oregon, I am a senior in high school, my dad is named Charlie, and he is an independent contractor. My name is ..."
By the time the sun is fully raised I will be showered and ready to start my day as Bella Swan.
Sorry for the short chapter. Send me a review and the next one will be longer!