River Falls: The Wolves, стр. 2
After a five hour drive in a rented car, because Aunt Sara had flown in when she heard the news, we were finally in my new home town. River Falls. A place where I could start again. A place where people wouldn’t look at me with pity in their eyes, and keep asking me how I’m doing. I lost count of the amount of food that we threw away because people obviously think that when your parents die, you forget how to cook.
I have to admit though that it is beautiful here. Driving past huge forest trees, it’s just green everywhere, I’ve never seen so much green. There’s not a beach in sight though, that is the only problem I can see so. I love the beach, having it right outside your front door for the past sixteen years, it’s going to be strange now to not smell or hear the ocean.
In the distance above the trees there are the most majestic looking mountains, if I was an artist like Aunt Sara I would want a blank canvas to paint those mountains every day, and I’m sure I wouldn’t get bored of painting them.
Driving further into town Aunt Sara points out little restaurants and a café, a bookshop, hardware shop, convenience store and a boutique. That pretty much makes up the whole town. Apart from the bookshop I can’t really see a reason for me to ever make a trip into town.
Aunt Sara’s house is a little further outside of town, if I was driving myself I’m sure I would have missed the turning for her drive, a small bumpy dirt road leads the way through more trees and then comes to a stop outside a cute little two storey, white and sage green painted house. It looks like it belongs next to the beach, so I guess that maybe Aunt Sara and I actually do have something in common. Aunt Sara’s truck is parked next to the house, it’s a stick shift she told me on the way here, so I’m going to have to learn how to drive it before I can use it to drive myself to school. That’s if I can make myself drive it. It’s not as new as the rental but I actually prefer it. It has character.
The house has a wrap around porch that I could imagine myself sitting out on one of the sofas, wrapped in a blanket at night, reading a book or just thinking, you know ‘clearing my head’.
Aunt Sara looks at me.
“Home sweet home.” She gives me a half smile, Not really reaching her eyes. I know she is struggling with her sisters death, I’ve heard her crying a few times at night. But she never cries in front of me. I think she thinks she has to be strong for me, now she is my legal guardian.
I give her a half smile back and for the first time since those officers came and knocked on my front door, I feel like I could actually, maybe start to think about living a life again and not just continue being the shell of a person I am right now.
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Today is that day.
First day in a new school, I can’t wait. Note sarcasm. Getting up from the comfort and warmth of my new bed I go over to the bathroom and go through my morning routine.
I do my makeup, just a light dusting of foundation over my natural olive skin, thanks to my mum. Some eyeliner to outline my big almond shaped blue eyes and a small amount of mascara. Done. Don’t want to overdo it. Looking at my reflection I give myself a mental pep talk. I’ve never really struggled to make friends, but living in one place all my life, I’ve never actually been the ‘new girl’. The friends I had in high school were my friends in elementary and we all just grew up together.
However today I am the new girl and I’m slightly nervous. Taking a final glance at my make up to check everything is as it should, I shake my damp hair out. It reaches half way down my back in dark brown waves. I’ve always had long hair, I never let my mum cut it when I was younger as I thought it was going to make me look like a boy. My best friend back home, Tammy was always jealous of my hair. In a teasing way though, I knew she never really meant it. She had straight hair that had a tendency to frizz in certain weather. She always said I was the whole package. Beauty and brains.
I miss being back home. But I suppose this is my home now.
Without being vain, I know from the looks and attention I get from guys that I’m good looking. I never like to flaunt it though. I’m just not that type of girl to go from guy to guy. I’ve only really ever had one serious boyfriend and we ended it two years ago when we realised we were better as friends, but let’s be honest here, how serious can you be at fourteen?
I’ve never actually gotten past about three dates with a guy since then, as soon as they realise they aren’t going to ‘get any’ after three dates they back off and move on to the next girl. Hopefully she’s as smart as I am. I mean I’m not saving my self for marriage or anything but my virginity is something I want to keep until I know I’m ready and it’s the right guy. I’m only 16, and high school guys really are jerks sometimes.
Moving out of the bathroom to my wardrobe I try to decide what look I want