I snapped back to where I was now-in the car, with my mother. It had been a long flight but smooth flight to Paris, our bags were given to us after our arrival, and a small sleek car waited for us at the airport. It was usual for me to have some people stare at us as we go, and when one of them came up to ask for an autograph from my mother, I waited next to her to finish.
After we drove out of Paris, the clouds began to gather and then it rained. Mother tried to act as if I wanted to move, she gushed over many things, most of it mindless chatter. When she noticed I didn't try to respond enthusiastically, she gave up and we drove in silence.
The landscape looked mostly the same, very woodland-almost as if every Grimm fairytale took place here. The signs turned from French and English to just French. I could understand some of it, in school back home, I had taken a few years of French. I took a glimpse at my mother in the corner of my eye.
She looked straight ahead, lost in her own thoughts. Although her side looked flat from her Chinese heritage, she had a noble and strong countenance. Her hair was slightly limp but it was usually very shiny and smooth. Her skin looked slightly dull, no doubt, from the flight. The circles under her eyes were more pronounced.
I was half Chinese from her side. My face was more heart-shaped than hers, but I had inherited her full lips. My nose had the prominence of my father's but its shape was like hers. My brows were the same as my fathers, very strong but feminine. I had her doll-like eyes fringed with lush dark lashes, but instead of the brown color, I had more of a violet hue. My hair was exactly like hers, but even more smoother and richer. I was slim yet athletic from years of playing volleyball.
I felt mother turn her attention towards me, I looked away outside again. The road was bare with the occasional car passing by us, driving the other way.
"You haven't asked about your new school," Her tone was accusing, yet with a depth of hurt. I felt bad,
"Okay, fine. Tell me about my new school,"
"I'm glad you asked! You'll be going to Dix's lycee or their high school. You'll be in year two, which is the equivalent of junior year of high school back home," I noticed her voice lingered on the last word, did she miss home too? Why did she choose to move here? She continued,
"Of course, because of its ideal landscape and proximity to Paris, there are some non natives living among the native French. Dix's lycee is split in half, half in English and half in French. It's like an English Immersion program. I granted you a spot in the English Immersion program-it's astounding how competitive it is to get in!"
I sighed. These things weren't much interest to me. Mother noticed it and tried,
"The lycee starts in about a week, good time for you to get adjusted. I'll be commuting to Paris after this weekend is over, but our house has a caretaker or gardener. He'll be around when I'm gone to supervise you." Caretaker? Supervise me? The house must be pretty special…
I slinked back into my silence while mother began to focus more on the road. Some wildflowers grew along the road. While passing an intersect, I saw a couple in the distance on their bikes together. I longed to hear something comforting, on an impulse I rolled down the window.
"Please close it. I don't want the interior to get wet."
"No, please? I'll try the interior after I close the window-it'll be soon. Please?" Mother didn't try to respond, her own signal to that it was fine.
The gentle wind blew on my face. It carried some raindrops on it, cooling my tired face. I smelled the wood, musk, and grass scents it carried. I listened to the sound of the tires on the wet road. A bird chirped its song when we passed by under it. I felt my spirits lift. It was all comforting.
I placed my arm outside with my palm facing upwards to cup the slightest drop of rain.
"Okay, time's up. Now, will you please close the window?"
I sighed. Then I noticed not a single drop of rain even touched the interior.
"Hey, the interior didn't even get the slightest drop of rain! I'm still going to have the window down, it makes me happy for once," I grumbled at the last part. I heard an exasperated sigh next to me, a signal of defeat.
I stuck my head out this time. My limp hair began to swirl around me, I felt it grow cooler as it stayed longer in the wind. It was so peaceful, I even gave a wave at a cow.
Yet, as peaceful as it was, I grew tired. I pressed for the window to close.
The rolling hills we traveled on began to grow more leveled. A sign announced we were officially in Dix. Mother drove a little more slowly, made a turn, and after a few more minutes of driving, the car stopped.