I'm not me.

Being nine was great, Trixy Towers decided as her gloved hands adjusted the stiff straps against her shoulders. Her backpack was heavy, filled to the brim with new books from school. She had just started her fourth year of school and she was already pumped, despite the weight of books pulling her backward.

She couldnt wait to tell her dad all about today. 'I can tell him about how I met Kelsie and Ana. .He'll be so proud!' , the thought made her small chest swell with joy. Her dad was always happy when she made new friends. Probably because she would usually shy away from people. But she wasn't thinking of that now.

Her breath clouded infront of her nose as she sighed, grasping the straps firmly. She looked around, curious, as the other kids played and tumbled in the snow.

"That looks fun. ." , she murmured quietly to herself as a boy tossed a clump of snow at another. Trixy forced herself to face the parking lot again. Kelsie and Ana both rode the early bus so there was no use in trying to play as well.

She heard a happy scream and let out a surprised yelp as a boy landed at her feet. Trixy rapidly retreated backwards. Her large winter boots making the quick movement difficult, she stumbled. The boy obviously didnt notice and picked himself up, smirking.

"Ya' better run Tony!" , he barked, picking up a clump of snow and running off again. Trixy straightned herself up and tucked her chin into the high collar of her jacket. She glanced around the icy lot, looking for her father. Sure enough she saw the familer pick-up round the corner, coming to a stop at the curb.

"Heya' Kiddo! Hop in." , came his voice from the rolled down window.

"Okay, daddy!" , she smiled, jogging forward and opening the door. She half climbed, half stepped into the large truck and pulled her small body onto the seat. The car smelled of warm leather as she reached out and swung the door shut.

"How'd your day go?" , he asked, moving the shift into drive with a click and pulling out of the parking lot.

"Good, good!" , Trixy replied happily, sliding her backpack off and placing it in her lap. "I made two new friends! Kelsie and Ana!"

"Oh yeah?" , he smiled, driving out onto the road. She loved that smile of his. His mouth was surrounded by tiny little hairs. He always called it his 'warrior beard'. Just thinking of it made her giggle.

"Hehe, Yeah! They're really nice! Kelsie has really long blonde hair! Its sooo long! I want my hair as long as hers, Daddy!" , she continued, running her fingers through her hair thoughtfully. It reached right to the middle of her neck and she hated that. She always wanted her hair to be longer.

"Your hair is perfect just the way it is." , he mused kindly.

"Yeah, yeah but hers is even better!" , she waved it off, looking at him. "Oh! Oh, then, then, Ana has awwwsome brown eyes!"

"Whats so awesome about brown eyes?" , her dad laughed. 'Probably because he has them' , she figured enviously. She despised her hazel eyes. They could never decide when to be green or when to be blue or when to be jbrown!

"Becauuuse, they're just pretty! And everyone else has brown eyes. .they fit in." , she added, muttering.

Her dad sighed, making a turn on the road. "Sometimes being different from the crowd is the better choise, Trixy. Be who you are and believe in who you are. Normality is what people build themselves on. Build yourself on diversity. You know what diversity is?"

"I think so. .it means different stuff right?"

"Right." , he smiled down at her. Trixy smiled back at him, feeling accomplished. "Alrightie then, lets stop by your mother's and drop of your stuff. Okay?"

Trixy could feel the color drain from her face. "Mom's. .?" , she whispered. She tucked her hands under her legs to keep them from trembling slightly.

"Yeah Mommy's." Her dad kept his eyes on the road. "Why, is there a problem with Mommy's house?"

It took all that she had to keep the nervousness out of her voice. "No. . .its okay. . ." , she answered softly. Trixy felt her hands go to fists under her legs.

She would not let her daddy find out what went on at that house. 'Never. ' , she promised silently. Never.

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*Thank you for reading the first chapter!

*The next chapter will be published on July 11!

*I look forward to seeing you then! Chaio~<3