Chapter 2: Chapter 2: First Days
First day of school.
The most difficult day of the year by far. Making sure each kid is awake, after sleeping in all summer, and making sure that everyone has everything they need for the school year ahead. I did school supply shopping last week, so everyone is set for the school year.
Ariel slept in my bed last night because she had one of her nightmares, so I didn’t get any sleep. She tossed and turned while wanting me to read her a bedtime story.
Derek and Oliver were already awake and ready for the day when I got downstairs. The two share a room, so they are always up and ready at the same time.
“Lucy, are you taking Ollie and I to school, or Jasper?” Derek asked. “I’m entering the fifth grade and I need to be on time.”
“Jasper is already on his way,” I explained, pouring them both bowls of cereal. “No school until you both eat breakfast, so hurry and eat or you’ll keep Jasper waiting.”
I ran up the stairs to make sure the twins were getting ready. Their bedrooms face one another, so I spread my arms banging on both doors simultaneously. “Jekyll! Hyde! Downstairs in two minutes or you’ll start high school on a sour note!”
If I’m not moving a hundred miles per hour, then I’m not being Lucy Hastings. I should be in better shape than I am, because I’m always running up and down the stairs. I’m making sure that two of the kids are eating, while the other two are upstairs getting ready. I’m running to do last minute laundry, then running back to the kitchen to unload the dishwasher. It’s a never-ending cycle of running back and forth around this house.
I slipped into Ariel’s bedroom, and she was bouncing up and down on her bed. I ran over and caught her in my arms. “Lucy!” Ariel exclaimed, embracing me as I took her in my arms.
“Sweetie, you can’t jump on your bed alone. I don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself,” I said.
“I’m sorry,” she pouted. However, her tune changed the second I smiled at her. “I’m excited to learn things!”
I smiled, thinking of her bubbly personality around other kids. She’ll make friends in no time. I’m not worried about her in school. It’s only preschool, but I’m thankful that I don’t need to pay for a babysitting during the day anymore. It’s money that can be saved on groceries and other things that need to be paid for.
I took Ariel to my bedroom and sat her down in front of my mirror. I redesigned my foster parents’ old bedroom when I took their room.
“So, how should we do your hair for your first day of school?” I asked.
“Just like you!” Ariel squealed.
I started working on two French braids in Ariel’s hair. Her gorgeous red locks should never be bunched together, but I couldn’t deny her what she wanted. She wants to be like me, and it warms my heart to know that.
Ariel and I got dressed for school together. She wore her favorite teal dress with white stockings. She always wants to dress up like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, so we bought her a dress like the character.
I threw on black leggings and one of Eric’s alumni college sweatshirts before doing my hair in French braids as well. It’s my signature hair style because my hair is so long and unmanageable. I hate my natural wavy blonde hair because it bothers me to have it around my arms. A heavy amount of concealer helps to hide the exhaustion under my eyes.
“Knock. Knock.” We heard from my bedroom door. Jasper, my best friend, stood in the doorway looking ecstatic to be alive. How he’s excited about the first day of senior year is beyond me. I’d give anything to not go to school today. “I wanted to wish my little angel good luck on her first day of school.”
Ariel ran into his arms, and she hung from his neck like a sloth. “I don’t need luck. I have Lucy’s necklace as my good luck charm.”
“Well,” Jasper smiled, reaching into his pocket. “I have my lucky guitar pick for you to put in that locket. You’ll have both Lucy and me close to your heart.”
“You’re sweet,” I grinned.
Jasper smiled and whispered something to Ariel. He put her down on the floor and handed her a cup of iced coffee. She stampeded her little legs over to me and squealed, “Present for Lucy!”
“My hero,” I smiled, slurping the contents of the coffee.
Their adorable moment was interrupted by the screams of Derek and Oliver from downstairs. “Jasper! I can’t be late! Let’s go!”
“The human dictionary awaits his chauffeur. I’ll see you at school,” Jasper smiled.
***
Seth and Serena were already in the car when Ariel and I were ready to leave for school. Seth and Serena are starting their freshman year today, so they finally get to carpool with me to the same building. We only have to drop Ariel off at preschool, so we’ll be at school in no time. I strapped Ariel into her car seat, before claiming the driver’s seat next to Serena who won rock, paper, scissors for the passenger’s seat.
“Dios mío!” Serena gasped, as I put the car in drive. “Must you always dress like a homeless runaway.”
“I don’t know. Must you always look like you’re going to a punk concert,” I grinned.
My comment refers to Serena’s latest hairstyle. Her thick and luscious raven black hair has been dyed pink. Seth decides that his summer target of his pranks was going to be his twin sister. He dyed most of her hair pink while she was sleeping, so when she woke up it was completely uneven. I took pity on her when we couldn’t get the dye out. I evenly dyed most of her hair pink, so that it was an ombre style with her dark roots.
No matter the prank, Serena makes the hairstyle look beautiful. She matches her clothing to the hair jewelry that she always wears.
“Next prank is going to be either glue on her piano bench or paint in her ballet slippers!” Seth laughed diabolically from the back seat.
Ariel got settled in her preschool, while Seth and Serena were bouncing out of their seats to start high school. We would be in separate parts of the building, but I still wanted them to be comfortable, so I walked them in through the freshman entrance.
I met Jasper by the courtyard of the senior entrance. We had a decent amount of time before class started. Jasper wanted to stay outside in the fresh air for as long as possible. There are benches and picnic tables out here where seniors enjoy spending their free periods.
“Look, there’s the new kid!” Jasper exclaimed as if that’s the best news he’s ever received in his life. “Word on the street is he moved here from California. Dude’s going to get smacked in the face by the winter if he keeps dressing like that.”
I looked up from my latest book to get a look at the new kid. He looked out of place here in the small town of Fairview, Minnesota. His tousled hairstyle whipped in the wind as he walked over to a bench alone. His ash-brown hair complimented the dark sun-kissed tan of his skin. The short sleeve and shorts were a mistake for the approaching fall season, but he didn’t look too uncomfortable. It’s almost October- long sleeves and pants are necessary for Minnesota. It goes from warm and breezy to freezing and snowing in the blink of an eye.
As the warning bell rang, I gave up on reading. Students were filing into the building for their first classes. The new kid went towards the parking lot instead of going into the school building.
“Too bad he’s going to be late if he heads towards the parking lot,” I said.
“We should help him find his way around,” Jasper suggested.
I looked over and saw the new kid leaning into the window of a dark colored car. I couldn’t see the driver, but the car looked out of place in Fairview. The fancy luxury car roared as it idled in the school parking lot.
“I’m not getting involved with him,” I sighed.
I watched the new kid linger around the car, before Jasper started dragging me towards the building. I don’t know if it was the mysterious nature of the new kid or something about his closed off mannerisms, but I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from his backside. I desperately wanted to know what he was doing at the car. Does he know the driver? Is he doing something interesting or illegal?
“Time for our last first day of school!” Jasper cheered.
I scoffed at his excited attitude. “Your excitement is not making me any less miserable,” I whispered.
“How about this?” Jasper questioned. “Time to start senior year with my best friend in the whole world!”
Too bad I’ll be spending senior year in the shadows. I’ve hid in the shadows of Fairview High School for the last four years. Jasper’s excitement isn’t going to make me any more excited about starting this year. Having a diploma isn’t going to help my home situation. I need to turn eighteen so that I can take more responsibility for the kids.
“Screaming with a frown on your face isn’t helping with the excitement,” I said, lightly smiling at my ridiculous best friend. He’s always there when I need him and that’s all I can ever ask for.
“You’ll be smiling in no time! I have a good feeling about this year!”
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone