Native To Love

Cold School Days

I was awoken by my bedroom door slamming into the wall. "Mademoiselle!" my butler rushed, "you need to get up! It is time for school." His French accent was thick.

I groaned, "Cinq minutes. 5 more minutes, Vladimir."

Vlad ripped the covers off my bed. He shook my shoulders, "No! No more minutes! Leve toi! Get up! I have breakfast ready and i will eat it if you don't get up!"

He bustled to the door and flipped the light on as he left. I yelled in agony, my eyes adjusting to the sudden burst of light.

I put my glasses on and stepped into the hallway, stretching. My arms dropped to my sides limply and i walked down the cold wooden stairs. I REALLY SHOULD HAVE PUT ON SOCKS, i thought to myself. Hopping quickly down the stairs, i wondered how many toes i needed to lose just to have breakfast for this one moment.

Finally reaching my destination, i plopped myself on a barstool next to my brother, Chad, and addressed Vladimir. "I thought we had heated floors in this house?"

"We do..." He said, vaguely confused.

I opened my mouth to reply but was cut off. "Then why are my feet numb from the cold floors," Chad retorted.

I chuckled and nodded my head in agreement. Vlad shook his head and paged the maid, Penny. A few minutes later she bounced into the kitchen carrying a basket of sheets. Her hair was going in all directions, telling me she didn't bother to brush it when she woke up this morning. Chad must've noticed too because he was chucking at her untidy appearance.

"You paged me, oui?"

I nodded, "Oui, turn the heat up in the floor please."

She nodded and scurried away to fulfill my command. I turned to face Chad while Vladimir set a plate of food down in front of me. "Have you spoken to Mama and Papa lately? They said they're coming down for a several weeks to work on business here."

He feigned shock, "They have time for their children?! Who knew!" He looked back at his food, his jaw set.

"Chad, don't be like this..." I started.

"No, Ludivine! You know what'll happen. They'll get here and we'll have their attention for about 3 days. Then they will spend about two weeks, devoted to the company here. Then we'll host parties at the house for all their 'friends', but as soon as everyone leaves Mama bashes them. Then after about a week or two of this, they'll say 'Chad, Ludivine. We need to go back to France, something's come up and it needs dealt with. But we promise we'll be back as soon as everything is settled. But the 'problem' doesn't get settled until 4 months after they left. Then we start the cycle all over again!" Chad ranted, his voice rising at the end.

His words held so much truth, although painful to admit. I beckoned the tears not to burst from their dams. The food in front of me no longer seemed appetizing. I glanced over at Chad who wore a remorseful expression. He reached over to comfort me but as soon as he touched my shoulder, i shoot out of the seat.

"I'm not hungry anymore Vladimir. But thank you." I said through a horse voice. I heard him talk to himself, switching between French and Russian. Probably wanting to make me feel better, but knowing i needed space.

~~~~~

I stepped into the shower and did a quick scrub, then i jumped out. I blowdried my waist-long black hair. HEAVENS, COULD MY HAIR GET ANY THICKER? I questioned as i continued to dry it. Once that was out of the way, i throughly brushed my teeth then exited the bathroom. Walking over to my vanity, i applied minimal make-up, just enough to enhance but not enough to look cheap.

Clothing was the next order of business. I settled on a designer pair of skinny jeans, a purple crop-top, and my purple Chucks. My parents despised my Chucks, but that didn't stop me from have every color of the rainbow and then some.

I bounded down the stairs, bid a French goodbye to Vlad, than raced to my car. My car was my baby, he'd been with me since sophomore year. I was now a senior and Richard, my car, was still the love of my life. Throwing my stuff into the back, i jumped in the driver's seat. "Bonjour," I said as i patted the steering wheel.

I pulled out of the drive way, not ready, but rather forced to face the day. Stoping at a red light, i took the opportunity to turn on my favorite station.

I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splendid. Tell me, princess, now when did you last last let your heart decide?

I sang with every fiber i had in me. Disney was the one thing that has always lifted my mood. Pulling away from the extensively long red light, i receive many confused looks from bystanders. Not that i cared, they could think what they wanted, i had Disney and that was enough for me.

I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder. Over sideways and under on a magic carpet ride. A whole new world.

The song continued in a wonderful, uplifting way. Jasmine and Aladdin's duet ended as i arrived at school. Barely did i have a chance to park the car before my best friend, Quinn, ripped open the driver's side door.

"Divvy!" She squealed. The sound piercing my fragile eardrums. "Divvy! We have no classes together! I grabbed my schedule and then went back for yours because what kind of friend would i be if i didn't get your schedule. But when i compared them, we don't have any of the same classes!" I left her rant while i silently counted how many times she inhaled deeply during her moment. It was twice, once when she started and once when she ended.

I shook my head at her, "Quinn," i said gently, "it's okay. You're acting like we're never going i see each other again," she chuckled lightly. I took this as my cue to continue, "We still have lunch together and our lockers are right next to each other. Everything will be fine, yeah?"

She nodded and mumbled an almost incoherent "yeah". I yanked my stuff from the passenger side and fell in step with Quinn. I'm a senior now. This is my last year of high school, this is my last first day, my last of everything. However, the memories i'm going to make this year will last me a lifetime.