The Promise Path

~ Chapter One ~

"Goodbye my friend!"

"Goodbye!" Lucy shouts back, then enters her house. A small smile stays on Avery's face as she walks home, thinking of the night's events with Lucy. To others, they wouldn't seem like big things, but to Avery, any moment with Lucy is precious.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the morning, Avery quickly gets ready for school. She puts on her school uniform, which consists of a black blazer, long black skirt, black shoes, a white shirt and a black and red tie. Avery likes wearing a uniform, it keeps her from standing out. She then brushes out her black and red hair and brushes her teeth. She avoids looking in the mirror, only knowing she'll feel disappointed in herself. Avery doesn't know why she hates her appearance, all she knows is something always feels wrong. She walks downstairs into the living room. Slipping her leather jacket on, she grabs her backpack and goes to leave when her father suddenly stops her.

"Avery, aren't you going to have breakfast? I can drop you off at school if you want." He says to his daughter, almost pleading for her to stay with the tone of his voice. Avery looks down at herself and her eyes immediately go to her huge waist. As usual, the idea of eating repulses her.

"No thanks Dad, I'm not hungry yet. I'll eat at school, the walk always makes me hungry. Thanks though." Avery replies to her father with fake cheeriness she is sure he can see through. However, he doesn't comment. He just smiles at his daughter, telling her,

"Okay, have a good day at school! I'll be home late today, I have some meetings to attend." Avery's heart leaps. She'll have the house to herself for a few hours. Perfect.

"Okay Dad, see you later!" She rushes out of the door, quickly walking through the forest and to Lucy's house on the other side. Avery knocks on the oak door then anxiously waits for Lucy. Lucy has a tendency to be late, and Avery hates being late to anything. She can't handle a lot of attention being on her, and that's what being late causes.

As Avery's anxiety about being late increases, the door finally swings open to reveal Lucy. She's wearing a similar uniform to Avery, the only difference being their ties. Lucy's is green with brown to represent her elemental powers of controlling the Earth. Lucy has her brown hair tied up in a flawless French plait. Her hair being back makes Avery's attention immediately go to Lucy's bright green eyes that are always filled with warmth. Avery inwardly shakes herself out of her little Lucy appreciation daze, feeling insecure about her feelings and knowing that Lucy doesn't feel the same way.

"Sorry, I know how you feel about being late. I accidentally slept past my alarm so I was rushing around this morning to get everything done. Come on, let's go." Lucy explains, hopping off of the porch step to stand in front of Avery. Lucy walks past Avery and starts walking to school and Avery soon catches up to Lucy, since she has much longer legs than her short friend.

While on the way to school, they simply talk about mindless gossip and their lessons. But when they're closer to school, Avery unconsciously slows down. Lucy looks back at her friend with sadness shining in her eyes as she notices the dread and fear evident in Avery's dark brown eyes.

"I don't know if I can keep doing this." Avery murmurs, desperately trying to fight back tears. Lucy goes back and tightly embraces her friend as she tells Avery,

"Don't listen to what the others say, they're all jealous idiots that wish they could be as beautiful, kind and amazing as you. It doesn't matter to me that you have dark skin, it doesn't matter to me that your dad is a human, your differences don't matter to me. They make you unique, they make you who you are and I like who you are Avery, so don't you ever change because of those idiotic bullies who can't see how amazing you are."