Innocence - Chapter 3

I slipped into my pajamas and went back to my room. I had no idea where to find paper so I went to go out the main doors and saw an amazingly beautiful L shaped desk.

I ran to it and saw a computer, a laptop, and a printer sitting on top of it. I rummaged through the drawers and found notebooks, pads of lined papers, pens, pencils and finally stationary paper. I took a blue pen, went and sat down on my bed, and started to write.


Mike,
How are you? I am fine and arrived on time. My dad’s house is amazing, but I still wish I was there with you. I tried to call you. I went to your house before I left, but your mom said you weren’t feeling well. I wish I didn’t have to leave. If I could I would come back. My dad is trying to act like nothing has happened so he can carry on with the life he had before. I blew up at him today and he seemed like he expected it. I hate it here so much and I wish I could just leave. I start school in a couple of days. I know I will hate it because you aren’t here. I still wish you would have talked to me. I was going to explain myself to you. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid. I was afraid of, well, what you did. You shut me out. I know you too well. I knew you would shut me out so when I left it would be easier for you. I didn’t want to be alone for a month, waiting to never see you again. Please forgive me. If you don’t reply I understand. If you get over your technology handicap, my email is CandyCane@hotmail.com. I miss you.
Your best friend,
Candace

P.S. I love the ring; haven’t taken it off.


I woke up the next morning to Gloria ripping the blankets off me. “Good morning Miss. You want to take a bath or get dressed? School starts in two hours Miss.”

“Wh… What?” I said, startled by being awaken in such a normal motherly way.

“School Miss.” said Gloria.

“I go today?”

“Yes Miss. Mr. Heart said to wake you.”

“Oh….”

“Do you want a bath Miss?”

“Sure, thanks Gloria.”

I got out of the bed and went to the closet. I had no idea what I was going to wear but I knew I had time. I decided a very light blue shirt and simple jeans. It took me awhile to find my underwear drawer, but I found it.

“Miss?” Gloria called from the bathroom, “Your bath is ready.”

“Okay!” I called back. I walked to the bathroom and shut the door. I looked in the mirror and realized I didn’t look like I usually did. My skin was paler, my face was clammy, and my hair was in a rats nest at the back of my head.

I shook thoughts of Mike out of my head, and soaked in the steaming water.

When I emerged from the bathroom, I had a half hour to spare. I walked down the stairs listening for Nathan, but I didn’t hear him so I walked through that glass door he pointed out yesterday. I entered a hallway with two doors. I tried the first one and saw a kitchen.

I went through the second one and there in front of me was my mom and Nathan.

“Good Morning Candace!” said my mother, looking very pleased. She was sitting very close to my father. There was a huge table filled with fruit, bagels, toast, eggs and an assortment of juices.

“Come eat before you go.” said Nathan.

I walked to the table and sat across from my mom. “I didn’t get to see you before you went to bed last night. Did you have fun? Do you like the place?” asked my mom, with her eyebrows raised.

“Yeah, it’s great!" I said enthusiastic. My mom looked surprised by my reaction. I too was surprised by how sincere it sounded.

“That’s great. I love it too. Are you excited about school?” Nathan asked.

“No.” I said, scowling.

“I’m sure you will make lots of friends, honey.” said my mom.

“I don’t care if I make friends or not!” I said to Nathan. I knew he didn’t say anything, but I wanted to show him how much I hated him. “I’m going to school. Where’s my book bag?”

“In the limo.” Nathan said. I got up without touching any of my food and stormed out. When I was leaving I heard my mom say, “She is having a hard time with the move. Don’t take in personally.”

"You better take it personally" I said to myself as I stepped outside and closed the door a little harder than I intended.

I went to the limo in the front of the house and there Charles was waiting.

“Ma’am” he said, as I got into the back. I rode with no TV or radio on, I just wanted to think.

Why am I doing this? They didn’t force me to go to school. So why was I going? Too late now. The door opened and I stepped out while grabbing my book bag. The front of the school was glass and like every school there was a flagpole in front. The school looked three times bigger than the one I went to in Georgia.

“Thanks Charles.” I said over my shoulder. He tipped his hat and went back in the limo. I looked back at the school and a sudden wave of dread came over me. I realized I wouldn’t see Mike here. I knew this before, but this feeling was different somehow.

I eventually found my way to the office and got my schedule along with a map. My first class was History and in room A237. I had no idea where that was so I wandered around the halls trying to find it. The map was no help because it was so confusing.

Ten minutes later, I found it. The teacher said it was okay I was late because I was new. She put me in the only empty seat, way in the back surrounded by boys. I didn’t mind because they were all cute.

The guy to my immediate right smiled at me and winked.

That surprised me because I never got that much attention from a boy before; not including Mike. The teacher continued with her lecture about World War II. I already did this in Georgia, so I let my mind wander.

If I was in Georgia right now, I would be in gym with Mike playing golf. Even though I hated golf, I would be anywhere but here.

I noticed that the guy in front of me was on the edge of his seat. So were the guys to my left. They all kept glancing at me, like I was doing something to them. They were really tense and were aware of everything. I was getting a little freaked, so I pretended not to notice them.

When the teacher gave us free time to work on a project she assigned the class a week ago, the guy to my right turned toward me and said, “Hey, I’m Trevor. You new here?”

“Yes. I’m Candace.” I said. I didn’t know why he was talking to me. I suppose he was just nice.

“Cool. So where are you from?”

“Georgia.”

“That’s sweet, peaches.” At that comment, I looked at him. He had short black hair, and dull grey eyes.

“What?” I asked with a little laugh.

He smiled at my reaction and said, “Don’t they have peaches there?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with it?” I was still smiling, so he knew I was joking.

“Do you live around here?” he asked trying to make conversation.

“I think so, I live on Heart Road. I’m the only one on that street, I think.”

“Heart road?” he asked, looking stunned.

“Yeah, that’s my last name.” I didn’t see why he was so surprised. Was that road bad or something?

“You mean Nathanial Heart?”

“That’s my dad.”

“No way!” he yelled.

“Trevor! Keep it down.” said the teacher from her desk.

“Way cool! Way cool!” he said, shaking his head.

“What?” I said, not seeing how it could be so cool living with a jerk.

“Your dad is amazing!”

“Why?” I asked. I didn’t really know how Nathan got that much money, but I was going to find out.

“I love all his movies!”

“Which ones?” I didn’t want to seem like I was clueless about my own father, so I played along.

“My ultimate favorite was the one he did last year. Silent Night. It was amazing!”

“Oh… that one.” I said plainly. I had no idea my dad produced that one. Silent Night was one of my favorite movies. . .

The bell rang, and before I could look up the three boys that were on the edges of their seats were leaving. Trevor was also getting up.

“See you later Candace.” He said with a little wave. It reminded me so much of Mike that I didn’t wave back.

I hitched up my book bag and headed for the door. I reached in my book bag and found my schedule.

“English.” I said aloud to myself. I decided to go back into the History classroom and ask if she knew where the English room was.

“Um, do you know where the English room is?” I said to her back.

She turned around to look at me and said, “English 11? Yes, right next door.”

“Oh, thanks.” I said, and walked out of the classroom.

One class down, six to go.