Terrible Things?

Chapter 2

"Ugh," I groan as blinding light enters my room waking me from a deep slumber.

"It's time to wake up and unpack Grace," I hear my mum cheer from the window where I'm guessing she just opened my curtains. I turn on my side to face her briefly glancing at my alarm clock to notice it is 8am, my mother has a bright smile on her face and is fully dressed neither, in my opinion, should be humanly possible so early on a Sunday morning.

"But it's early," I complain mushing my face into my pillow.

"No arguments today please Grace, it's our first day here and I won't have you ruin it. If you hurry up and unpack your things I'm sure you'll be able to go for a walk to the beach or something later," she said sternly whilst narrowing her eyes at me.

"Fine," I mumbled emerging from my burrow in my pillow, there was no use arguing with her today it would just get me nowhere. Even though I wasn't happy moving here I was quite excited to explore my new surroundings, I had decided I would make the most of this opportunity I could and not allow Paul to turn this into the most boring city on the planet.

"Good girl," she praised me. I internally groaned. Why does she have to be so condescending all the time?

My stomach gurgled embarrassingly loud as I crawled out of bed, breakfast would have to come first and then and only then I would start to unpack.

"Why must you always look so miserable Grace, you're supposed to be happy here," Paul smirked his tone as usual sugary and false as he walked into the kitchen. When he first moved in with us back home he would always make comments in hope to provoke me and make me look like an evil child but I'd figured him out now and there was no way I was going to give him the satisfaction of an argumentative response.

"Me, miserable? I was just a little disappointed at the musili, there's no raisins in it," I mimicked his sickly tone whilst holding up the cereal box. I didn't even bother to complain how much I hated musili, such the angelic child I was. I saw his face drop, definitely not the response he'd hoped for, he was obviously irritated. I knew now that every time I answered back to him that I was only giving him another reason to fix my 'bad' behaviour. I'd decided that since we were in a new country, fresh start and all, I would play him at his own game.

"Hmm, well there's nothing we can do about that," he attempted to counter but I just shrugged knowing I had won.

"Of course not," I smirked taking an apple from the fruit bowl and skipping upstairs to sort my stuff.

_

Later that day after being such a good girl, as my mother would say, Paul allowed me to go for a walk around the neighbourhood. As much as I had wanted to point out the fact I was almost seventeen and should not need permission to go for a walk in broad daylight I had bit my tongue knowing it would only make him more likely to say no.

The air was warm outside, much hotter than it was at home even though it was still summer there. I regretted my choice of skinny jeans and a baggy band T-Shirt as soon as I reached the bottom of our new street I tied my tee up in a knot around my stomach.

It didn't really make much difference, I was still boiling but there was no way I was going back to the house just yet.

I still refuse to call it home.

I walked for around five minutes before I arrived at the beach, I hadn't realised it would be so close.

I gasped as I took in the turquoise water, the clean sand and the swimwear clad locals who were either sunbathing or playing in the ocean. It was beautiful.

"Hello, are you okay?" A female voice asked making me realise just how long I had been gawking at the ocean view.

I turned my attention to the petite brunette standing in front of me, she was smiling and by her accent I guessed she was a local.

"Sorry, I'm fine thank you. The view is kinda breathtaking," I said awkwardly a little embarrassed.

"You look like you've never seen the ocean," she laughed.

"That's because I haven't, erm I just moved here from England," I explained.

"Ahh I thought I noticed an accent. Anyways welcome to Panama City! I'm Ally, it's nice to meet you," she grinned.

"Thank you, I'm Grace, it's nice to meet you too," I smiled back relieved that the first local I had bumped into was nice

"So will you be going to Panama High?" She wondered, I recognised the name of the school despite not really paying any attention to the details of our move.

"Yes I think so, do you go there?"

"Yeah I do, I'll show round if you like?" She suggested making me smile widely, at least I'd know someone at school now.

"Would you? I really wouldn't want to bother you, it'll be your first day back, won't you want to see your friends?" I questioned not wanting to impose.

"Of course I will, most of my friends go to the private school further up the road and not to put you off Panama high but it's full of idiots," she chuckled, I immediately went back to dreading my first day of school.

"Oh well thanks, I'll see you Monday?"

"Yep I'll meet you in the parking lot," she nodded.

After saying my goodbyes to Ally I rolled up my jeans as much as I could before walking along the shoreline, the perfect water that splashed at my feet was surprisingly warm compared to the ice cold British seawater. I now realised how beautiful this place was, in a way I was extremely lucky to live somewhere this nice. I silently wished I had the perfect family to match it, not that it would ever come true. Not with Paul around.

I stayed at the beach for a while not wanting to venture too far, I've got a habit of getting lost way too easily. I felt at peace here, the sound of the soft waves was relaxing and gave me space to think. Soon enough the only thing that I could think about was food so I decided to head back to the house, it was 6pm and I was sure my mum would have something delicious cooking.

On arrival I was severely disappointed to find a note.

Notes were never good.

I sighed somehow managing to resemble Darth Vader as I read the note:

Paul has been asked to go to a conference last minute in Georgia, I know it's our first day here but he needs to make a good impression. We'll be back on Wednesday, there's plenty of food in the cupboards and I left $100 on your bed for emergencies. Please wash my car while we're gone.

Mum

I was so angry I could have punched a wall, luckily I was smart enough to realise that punching a wall would hurt. A lot.

I couldn't believe they'd left me to fend myself for our first few days in Florida. They could have at least told me in person. As much as I hated them, mostly just Paul, I really had wanted them to make an effort to help me settle in here. Looks like I'd just been kidding myself that they actually cared about more than my behaviour.

Angry and frustrated I went to bed still jet lagged from yesterday's flight. I couldn't help the tears from falling as I fell asleep hungry, one day here and I was already homesick.

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