Author note: I do not own any story related to the disney.
Perception
Ch. 1 The Empty Lot
The air was close and sticky. Our clothes clung to us as sweat trickled down our foreheads.
'C'mon, try her out!' called Cameron. His dark brown hair melted and stuck to his face despite the amount of product he put in his hair. I looked around at Emily. She eyed the red convertible and to Cameron's dismay I suggested that Emily come along.
We got in the car, Cameron hurried around to make sure I got in the front seat with him.
Oh wow, I thought, opening up the door for me…what a gentleman! My eyes rolled violently with sarcasm. The boy hardly did anything in thought of another human being, so I guess I must be special.
'But he is cute,' Emily had told me only an hour before, as we sat on our beds in the dorm room we were sharing. Her cropped short hair framed her sharp, skinny face well and became her. She was quite pretty, with a prominent nose, sweet blue eyes, and a thin smile.
'A relationship can't be built on just looks.' I had insisted, trying to get back into the long dark hallways of Thornfield Hall, where the monster of a mad lady was kept in the attic.
'I'll go with you' Emily said. 'Just, Julie, you need to get out of this room sometimes! I don't think you ever go beyond this campus.'
It was true. With dad's business on the brink of bankruptcy, I had to study. I had to keep my scholarship and do well so that way I could get a decent job and help support my family, should something happen. And those moments when I wasn't studying, Moments I had all to myself, were spent traversing the world and time periods through the limited library I had brought with me and the books I borrowed from the school library.
My precious little spare time was NOT spent hanging out with the likes of Cameron Fitz, the handsome jerk who still thought he was the highschool socialite. He was all looks and very little brains. I always attempted to see the good in people, but Cameron's list of good qualities were all but non-existent.
Emily persuaded me to go outside for a little while, and I instantly regretted ever agreeing. The semester was only a month gone, and the weather was hanging on to every bit of summer it could have. Hopefully within the next week or two it would transition into fall, but for now I stood in the hot, sticky, September day.
We got into the car and drove to the nearest ice cream place. I sighed as I watched the strange buildings go by. For years. Perhaps three and a half if I did well. A long time in a new city-perhaps anything could happen. My mind drifted onto adventures in this new city I hadn't yet explored. I barely went anywhere beyond our school and dormitory area.
I noticed that Cameron had been talking. About himself, I'm sure. I think he was telling me the play by play of the football game last weekend. How well he had done, how much the success of the game rode on him. He combed through his hair with his hands then looked over at me and winked at me-his white teeth strength and perfect next to his tanned complexion. I tried to turn away as if I didn't notice. Emily leaned over as close as she could, listening to Cameron. I believed she wished his attention would be directed to someone who could appreciate…his…um…charms.
I kept looking outside, pushing curls back into my bun that slapped me in the face from time to time. We passed by an empty lot covered completely in roses. I had never seen anything quite so beautiful before. It also sent shivers down me, butterflies swam in my stomach and my fingers and hands shook. How strange! Why should an empty lot give me such strong feelings? It took mere seconds to pass it by, but the feeling remained and stayed with me for the rest of the day.
The chocolate ice cream seemed almost as bland as the shallow conversation I was forced to share with my companions. Emily seemed to be enjoying her time, and I smiled in satisfaction for her, although I wished she would have higher standards for herself.
We finally made our way back to the dorms, where I sunk down in my bed and allowed my thoughts to wander. They were interrupted by Emily who was still speaking about Cameron this, Cameron that. I liked Emily, I really did! I just wished her taste in men wasn't so questionable. She didn't understand why I wouldn't jump at the chance to go out with someone as wonderful, and as good looking, as he. I said something along the lines of:
Not my type. And then told her I needed to study my chemistry homework.
I fell asleep studying and dreamed of roses climbing up old dilapidated houses, destroying them until they were nothing but empty lots covered in roses.
Author note: As you can see, I am veering away from the traditional story, however, the outline will be there, I promise! If you would like to comment, let me know what you think and if you can guess the book Julie is currently reading!