The Bully's Princess

Riding in her father’s company car, Dahlia looked out of the window calmly as the bus strolled into their new neighbourhood, where everyone was gay and happy, men and women drove their bikes and several cackles of laughter were heard as the car slid down a market route. Many people came out to look at the newly fashioned car that was entering their neighbourhood, a sight that was not common in their middle class earning environment. The western side was a small neighbourhood in comparison to New York where they were coming from. Her father had lost his job there causing the need to move to a lower income neighbourhood on the other end of the country. Luckily, he got himself a job as well. Dahlia was not sad that they moved she only hoped her parents would give her the wings to fly, instead of keeping her encapsulated. She needed a friend so badly, a friend that would belong to her alone. “Dahlia darling” her father, Mark called her from the driver's seat. He turned his head to look at her adorable face. “Yes, Dad” She replied sweetly, hugging her teddy bear tightly. “Your new school is not far from the house and it has been paid for as well. “ He was looking back at her as he drove. Dahlia saw her mom’s mouth twitch at that in the rearview mirror. “And why would you tell her something like that? Is she supposed to be thankful your company gave her free education? How could they even pay for her school fees? I just hope it is a good school and there is no violence there, you never can tell with these schools these days, foreign students might be bullied” she asked crossly “Of course, the school will be nice. It is going to be a big school as well. I just wanted to relieve her of the stress.“Mark replied calmly, wanting peace at all costs. Her father always obeyed her mother, Marilyn because he felt guilty that she left her job to care for her. Her parents’ lives were deeply wrapped in hers so much that they left no room for her to breathe or exist outside their space. “There is no need for that. I will take her to the school tomorrow myself and have her registered” Marilyn told her husband. Dahlia looked from one parent to the other. She would have none of that; she did not trust her mother to not make a scene about her health issues at the new school. The only thing she wished for was a normal school and she was finally getting that. Her mother’s intrusion at the school would be negating that “Can I please go alone? I think I can do that by myself now. I am old enough, you do not have to babysit me all the time. “ “No,” her father replied, her mother continued, “we are not babysitting you, just ensuring your safety. We are your parent Dahlia and we would always do our very best to protect you, there is no way you are going to school alone. We do not even know this environment yet, it might not be. “I will just like to familiarize myself with the school and staff that’s all. I have to inform the teachers of your health status, so they can be ready for any crises and inform me on time. I would not want any emergency.” Her mother defended. “I thought that information is known to them already, you did fill in my health status, right? So they know about me. Your presence is not required, mom.” Dahlia pressed. Her mother signed heavily” I really do not want us to argue about this Dahlia. Remember what Dr Hudson said right?” she asked playing her winning card Dahlia kept quiet. Her mother had won again. “Dahlia, we are taking all precautions to ensure you are well monitored and no events happened unexpectedly. Okay, Darling. I truly hope you will not debate with us on this.” Her mother said matter-of-factly. Dahlia groaned in silence. She had lost the battle, she felt like an egg yolk placed inside an enclosed eggshell. She just could not breathe fresh air outside her parent's watch. They were too restrictive. She had watched several documentaries about the sickle cell patients and most she saw, had their lives going on for them, and they watch themselves. She knew her parents would never allow her to do anything by herself. She was stuck in a cocoon and they would never let her go. Signing deeply she turned her head to enjoy the scenery of her new neighbourhood, it was really nice, the houses were beautiful, though built parked together, she could see that they were in for a life of quietness, each house had its own gate and was walled in. The compounds had large lawns of flowers and fruits orchard in each one. Dahlia smiled, she enjoyed the fruits that are parents had planted for her in their previous home, her mom was always worried about her health, so she planted her own fruit orchard. She was even gladder now that the fruit orchard would be in their new house. The car they drove kept on moving though, the car drove past the beautiful buildings and moved to a less beautiful environment, though the street was quiet as well, it was not as luxurious as the ones they left behind. “Mark, where is this please?” Her mother asked when the car stopped in front of a most four storey building, it was a modest roll of flats for each floor, she was overwhelmed, she stared at her husband in disbelief. “Calm down. I will explain. I was going to let you know of the slight change, but I feared your reaction.” Her mother was shocked; Dahlia watched the exchange continue between the two. Her father tried to hold her mother but she flipped him off, while the bus driver carrying their loads pressed down the horn incessantly at their back. Her father stuck his hand outside the car frantically and waved him to a stop, his head in a twirl, he turned to face his wife’s angry expression “The company changed this last minute. They said the building we were supposed to stay in was occupied, so they had to rent a house for us outside. It is cozy. It just has that outside appearance. I was going to tell you but I know how you can be about these matters so I…“ “And this is what they got? Do you expect me to believe that Mark? How do you expect our daughter to stay in this building? I do not even think it has a water heating system. You know she cannot take her bath with just anyhow water. It needs to be at a certain degree. It…. It” She stammered looking here and there. “In fact, forget about it, I will just check us into a nice hotel, while you stay in your ‘cozy’ apartment.” She shouted and opened the car door, but her father was faster. He took her hands and locked the door back, staring straight into her eyes “ I promise to get us into a new house, in less than a year” “A year!!!?” She exclaimed “Less than” He emphasized, caressing her hands “I can’t use up our funds anyhow. Remember they have to be handled just in case she has an emergency.” “Does your workplace not have a health outfit?” “They do” He corrected himself, “I will just like to have an extra cash handy in case.” Her mother nodded and got out of the car. Mark turned to look at Dahlia apologetically “I am fine, Dad. I am a big girl; you do not have to worry about me anymore. I can cope just fine. “Dahlia tried to assure him, she really hoped her parents would stop worrying about her too much, they seemed to stop their life for her. She felt guilty. “But you deserve the best” her father stated. He sighed, “Come on, get out of the car, let’s get you warm. We do not know the environment well enough yet. We can’t risk it.” Dahlia complied. Her mother wrapped her up in a large coat and led her inside the house. Taking tentative steps as much as her heavy coat could allow, Dahlia was shoved into the lift that came down to take them to their floor. Her mother adjusted the neck cloth on Dahlia’s shoulder and covered her body with hers as soon as the lift stopped The lift glided open gently, ushering in a young boy of about 16 years; He was rowdy and rugged. She admired his broad shoulder, loving the way they looked in his shirt, he was handsome and he knew it. Dahlia raised her eyes quickly assessing the specimen before her, he was handsome without being cocky, and there was evidence of a faint smile on his face. Her eyes lingered on his arms; they looked strong and muscled for his age. He must have noticed her stare on his person as his eyes met hers in question, Dahlia quickly removed her eyes from him. It was her first time being in close proximity with a boy of her age, well her father made sure of that. His own gaze turned to her now, taking in all her coats and her mother’s protective arm around her, the paleness of her skin, her yellowish eyes and the lack of colour in her face. He smirked and turned away, punching in the ground floor button. Her mother's curt remark soon punctured the enticing atmosphere ” People here, surely do not have manners, “ She said loudly ” Aren’t you supposed to ask if I was going up or down before pressing the button?” The boy mouthed ‘sorry’. While Marilyn was enraged at his nonchalance, Dahlia was mesmerized at the sweetness of the voice; it was so cool and attractive. She yearned to listen to it more. However, the look he had given her earlier was surely going to be a hindrance to that thought. It was clear she disgusted him. The way she looks would definitely put him off. The lift got to the ground floor, Dahlia hoped he would look back at her, but he did not. Immediately he stepped off the lift, an older man accosted him and one could see the slight resemblance between the two. They both have that ridiculously handsome look just that the man’s handsomeness has been washed away by age and he looked extremely haggard in addition to his potbelly. He staggered on his feet, his steps wobbly. “You bastard, you kept me waiting for so long, you are just like that useless mother of yours” He screamed, extremely fluent for a man who was drunk. “Pa, don’t talk about Ma like that, and it was not my fault you went to the bar without your wallet. You are lucky Richie was temperate about it. If not he would not have released you.” The boy answered equally cross, though he still attempted to hold his struggling father as he swayed on wobbling feet. His father shoved him off. “Don’t lecture me, just go pay for the damn drinks.” His eyes turned to look at Marilyn and Dahlia who were still in the lift. Too dumbfounded to close the elevator door. Dahlia’s eyes flickered to the boy who picked himself up from the floor in a hurry casting a hateful glare in Dahlia’s direction. “Ohhh, who are these?” He asked his son. He turned to look at Marilyn who stood shocked at the strange behaviour of the man who was to become her neighbour. “What are you looking at?” He growled at the both of them, the anger in his voice made her mother act quickly pressing the lift button in a hurry. As the door shut close, Dahlia could see his father giving him a slap on the cheeks. She gasped just as the lift door shut close. Fear was written on her face. “You are to stay away from people like that alright” Her mother warned a shocked Dahlia, who had never witnessed such a scene in her life. “I do not ever want that boy around you. Well, do not worry about that. You will not be going to the same school. I do not want a boy exposed to violence anywhere around you. Is that clear?” “Alright” Dahlia answered obediently. But all she could think of was a particular handsome boy, who was roguish handsome, she earnestly wanted to be his friend. It was clear he was getting no love from his parents. She also looked forward to the new school she would be attending, she would make sure to make as many friends as possible and despite her mother’s bragging she truly wished the handsome boy she saw earlier attended her school. She could share all the love she receives from her parents; she has more than enough to share.