Finding Phoenix

chap 3

Phoenix, it’s time to get up for school. You don't want to be late" mum says knocking on

my door as she walks past my room. Mum has always been an early bird, as has dad. They

are always up way before I ever am, cooking or doing something around the house.

Sometimes I don’t even think they go to bed.

"Where are my jeans? The ones with the crystals on the back pocket. " I yell as I run down

the stairs in to the laundry. "Why is it I can never find anything when I need it" I mumble as

go through the clothes in the basket.

"Found them" I yell as I dart back upstairs, two at a time, muttering to myself about what I

will wear with them. Settling for my cobalt ballet flats, my black printed lace singlet top, black

shoulder bag and my black cropped hoddie jacket, which could cover my scare if I needed it

to.

“Perfect" I say as I look at myself the mirror. I have never had great self esteem but for

some reason today I felt good and I looked good. I wasn't worried about the way I looked, I

just felt good about myself. My hair......oh...Crap what I am going to do with my hair, I grab

my brush and pull it through my sandy blonde hair. Letting my hair fall back down on my

back.

"Brekkie is ready" mum yells as the smell of pancakes waft up the stairs

" I’ll be down in a sec" I yell as I check I have everything pens, books iPod, sunnies and hair

ties just in case wearing my hair down was a mistake.

"Morning" I say sitting down at the kitchen bench as mum puts a pancake straight from the

pan onto my plate. The smell so strong that it makes my stomach grumble in anticipation.

"So are you ready for school?" Mum asks as she places another one on my plate" You

know you don't have to go if you don’t feel ready yet, the school will under..."

But I stop her before she can continue." Mum, I have to go it is the first day of my final year,

and I’m starting at a new school.” I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. ” I will be

fine if it is too much I will come home I promise. Ok?"

"OK" My mum said knowing that I probably wouldn't call. "Are you ready to go?"

"Ready as I will ever be. Where is dad? I thought he would want to see me off" I say

putting my lunch in my bag and walking to the door.

"He is outside" mum said closing the door behind us. Mum worked at an art gallery, so we

always left the house at the same time, but I would always be the first home. It has been

that way since I started high school.

As we walked around to the garage the sun shining down, I could hear the sound of the

waves crashing on the beach and the seagulls overhead.

"Surprise" mum and dad yell scaring me half to death. Due to the fact I was in my own little

world admiring my new surroundings.

"Oh my god" I say as I take in the shine red mustang convertible. "Mum, Dad, thank you so

much. It is amazing" I say dropping my bag on the garage floor and running over, to give

them a hug.

"We thought as you are starting at a new school, that you would like to be a bit more independent." Dad says as he walks over and unlocks the car. "But if you don't want to drive

I’m more than happy to take the car off your hands"

"No way, dad but if you're nice I might take you for a drive" I say taking the keys out of his

hands and sliding in to the driver's seat.

"Have a great day at school, and drive carefully" mum and dad say as I pull out of the drive

way.

* * * * * * * * * * *

I set of down the sun parched road, which weaved its way along the coastline. I begin to

think that maybe living here wasn't going to be the worst thing that's ever happened to me.

After all I have a new car, well new to me any way, and the kids here might not be so bad. I

just hope no one knows about the plane crash, but what if they did. What will they think of

me? A cold shiver run through my body, as a tightness grow in my chest. I quickly found

the shoulder in the road where I could pull over. "Breath" I tell myself, as I take slow deep

breaths. A tear rolled down my right cheek. I tried to convince myself that it was going to be

ok, that I could do this one day at a time.

It’s a fresh start I reminded myself. New Haven was my fresh start. It wasn't like I was

popular at my last school, I spent most of the last 5 years at school on my own. No one here

had seen me grow up and go through all the dorky and embarrassing changes that teens go

through. From bad haircut to braces. I can be whoever I want to be here and no one will

know any embarrassing stories or even have photos.

It’s not that I wasn't happy with who I was or who I am now, but I have always struggled

with friends. I always seem to manage to say or do the wrong thing that sees me on my own

. But not here. I hope. After a few minutes, I pulled out and continued along the coast to

New Haven High School.