Chapter one
The white lines on the grey road drifted behind the car as I stared through the back window.
“Sit straight in your seat!” my step father ordered.
I slouched around and face the correct direction. “Why do we have to move to this bore of a town anyway?” I questioned.
“Because Rick got his job transfer here,” mum stated in a monotone voice.
I scowled at where her head was in the seat in front of me. “Yeah right, Rick’s job lets him be anywhere. As long as there is internet he can live there. He works from home.”
“Well maybe some people move to towns like this for peace and quiet Cecelia!” Rick snapped. “And bratty teenagers like you should shut your trap before you’re forced into the world to live on your own. Respect the fact that you’ll have a home you selfish, spoiled, little worthless piece of―”
“That’ll do Rick,” mum interrupted in the same monotone voice.
“You’ve sucked the life out of my mother,” I muttered.
He slammed on the breaks and got out of the car. He yanked open my car door and pulled me out onto the road.
“You’re nothing but a speck of dirt on my shoe. You mean nothing to me. I can chuck you out whatever I want. So you start showing some respect!” he spat into my face.
I glared at him resulting with him taking a blow to my face causing me to collapse to the ground.
“Worthless,” he spat again.
I struggled to my feet again and clambered into the car, my mouth shut this time.
Mum glanced at me in her mirror, her grey eyes looking at mine in a disapproved matter.
I hate her... with every single bone in my body.
I hated my mother so much. I hated her weedy grey eyes, her Botox tight skin, her big full lips, mountains of make up on her flakily tanned skin, and her puffy brown hair and her silicon chest.
Rick has dark brown hair and square glasses that cover his dark brown eyes. He was rather fond of lots of cigars and always reeked of alcohol. He calls himself a writer but I call him an alcoholic.
He was as pathetic as my mother.
I on the other hand have long messy dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. I always covered my eyes in dark make up. My nails were always painted black. And the only shoes I wore were my combat boots.
“This is your room,” mum announced as we walked through the house. It was an old Queenslander home that looked like it was on the edge of falling apart. The floorboards were so old and squeaky, the walls were so dusty and grey, and the windows either didn’t open or didn’t close.
“Home sweet home,” I whispered as I slumped onto the mattress of the ground.
I slowly shut my eyes and let the darkness take me into a deep slumber.
“Get up!” mum shrieked into my room.
Of course my immediate response was to lay there. Why would I do what she says? She’s never shown me any kindness so I see no use showing her any kindness in return. Treat people how they treat you I always say.
I slowly started to drift back to sleep till I was yanked out of bed by the hair. “When your mother says gets up, you get the #### up!”
He shoved me into the bathroom and slammed the door closed. “School starts in an hour. Don’t be late or you won’t see food for a week.”
I sighed and thought to myself, ungrateful pig...
I rinsed off my face and released my hair from its braid. I didn’t have time to do anything else. I walked back to my room chucked on some skinny jeans that were covered in rips, put on a shirt that was way too big for me and tied it up with one of my mum’s belts and put on my boots.
I picked up my side bag that only contained one book and one pen, then I walked out the door not bothering to say good bye to my parents.
Lake Gloria.
It’s the town that always looks like it’s in a state of Autumn.
Situated in the middle of nowhere.
Don’t bother even looking up because you’ll never find it.
Population? Oh about 5 000. 100 of them are attending high school. 200 in primary school. 300 maybe are in their younger years. The rest? Well they’re mostly farmers or people who run their small convenient stores. It was worse than a jail. And I was stuck here, in the confinements in the land of nothing.
You want to go to the movies? Oh they’re playing the same movie on the projector from back in 1960. You want to get some new clothes? How about blue jeans and a flannel shirt? You want to get your hair done? A five dollar dodgy hair cut at the only hair dresser will do it. I hope you like the one hair style, a bob.
There was literally nothing to do here. So I had to find some task to entertain me... something to keep me occupied. Or else I’ll go insane.
So I walked up the dusty dirt road over the hill and into the main part of the town. I stopped quickly at the grocery store and bought myself an apple to munch on. Then I continued making my way to school, oh fun.
Finished with my apple I threw it to the ground and walked over to the front office. The receptionist in the office glanced over me in a look of disgust. Just by looking at her you could tell she’s one of those pristine farmer’s wife. Always gets up early, makes the kids breakfast, makes sure there is lunch for her husband, goes to work and takes care of other business, does the shopping on the way home, lets her husband have his ‘fun’ time with her then fall asleep. Then she becomes a machine and repeatedly does these actions day to day, slowly stealing her life from her, as she slowly decays in a life of nothing, becoming merely one of the farmer’s tools, her life going the way he pleases.
“Hi there!” she said through a tightly fake smile of pearly whites. Her smile indicated that she really did not like me and couldn’t wait till I was expelled.
“I need my class schedule,” I stated, not bothering with any greetings.
“Of course, are you Cecelia Bloom?”
“Are there any other new students in this bore of a town?”
Her smile faltered a bit and she plastered it on tighter. “You’re a funny one aren’t you?”
I continued to stare at her, my face clearly stating that she did not amuse me.
“Grade twelve is attending science right now. It’s the block just down the path. You should see the sign.”
“What, no class room numbers in this minuscule town?”
“Have a good day,” her smile finally dropped.
I gave her a ‘yes, I pissed you off’ smile and walked out the door.
“Glad you can finally make it,” the teacher said giving me a wary look.
“Well at least one of us is glad because honestly I’d rather be sleeping away in my bed,” I responded.
A few people in class laughed at my sassy remark.
“Very nice, now take a seat Miss Bloom.”
“Ahh, he knows my name! We’re getting somewhere.”
He put down his pen and walked over to me. “We’re not going to have any problems on your first day here are we?”
“Of course not, sir! I shall most definitely behave.”
“I hope so.”
I kept my mouth shut this time and made my way to the back of the classroom, pulling up a chair in an abandoned corner.
A girl with a tight pony tail turned around and scowled at me. She showed much resemblance to the machine receptionist in the office. Ah, I see much potential in this girl in front of me. She’ll turn out to be much like her mother. Oh pride.
“What are you looking at Blondie?” I snapped.
She scowled at me again and turned back in her seat resulting in a smirk creeping on my face.
That’s what I thought.
As class ended I slowly made my way out ignoring the stares I got from people.
“Someone has a bit of an attitude,” a guy with shaggy brown hair stated.
“Oh really? And someone looks like a sheep that hasn’t been shaved in years.”
“Oh touché. But this is the style mademoiselle. I’m sorry if it does not please you.”
“Apology not accepted.”
He smirked.
My eyes wondered over him, trying to take in what role he plays in this small town. Along with his long shaggy brown hair he had bright green eyes, a cheeky smile, and he was covered in tattoos.
“How many tattoo’s do you have?” I asked him, lost at the sight.
“Fourty. Still going.”
“Is there a reason to them?” I questioned, glancing over the bands around his arms, odd Greek symbols, the anchors on his hands...
“Yes.”
“And what might that be.”
“Oh that’s a secret.”
I rolled my eyes. “So what, you’re the town rebel?”
“No, I’m quite smart actually. I just like tattoos.”
I cocked my head to the side, that took me by surprised.
“Catch you in the next class princess,” he said and walked off.
“Hey!” I called out after him.
He stopped walking and turned back to look at me. “Yes?” he asked.
“What’s your name?”
“Oliver,” he said and walked away.