"Hey mom! Do you know where my homework is?". I ask whilst scraping the crusts of my toast in the bin. She replies once I put my plate on the counter then I make my way to an empty but full room.
Inside the room, completes the detail of boxes and torn poster marks. Mainly trophies of dads skiing competitions and memories of his life. Mom gave his clothes to a charity shop last year, i guess the scent reminded her far too much of him.
walls painted creamy white and a room no bigger than our downstairs bathroom. The only open thing that appears un- touched is dads office desk.
I check the desk for my work but it's not there. A thought clicks and makes me wonder if it was knocked down to the floor. I crouch to my knees to only notice a box. flashing and confusing my memory I've been here a thousand times and never noticed such a shiny box. My curiosity gets the best of me. My hands wrap around the tiny safe, slowly indulging in its reveal. I steadily open the book and discover something unreal.
My eyes skim the paper, making contact with the date written in ink. State of New York 1905. My wonder fills me up and if I didn't read more I'd explode. birth certificate, name: Adaline Rose Montgomery, Mother: Josephine Beryl Montgomery, Father:
Just before I could read more mom calls me. hurry up! You're going to make you and your brother late"
." coming mom!", I quickly put the paper in my pocket and find my work, rush to the hallway and get in the car with my brother.
I struggle to think, processing the information I just took in, not being aware of my surroundings. Nathan drives off and before I knew it we were at school.
I get out of the car and say goodbye to my brother. As soon as he drove off someone shouts my name "Adaline", it was my friends. "AHHH WE'VE MISSED YOU!" screeched one of them...I was too slow, by the time I turned around, my arms were pulled into two enormous hugs.I let out a massive smile and they let go. I amble myself inside with them.
First, we have math, this lesson is that unbearable I start to daydream. When will we ever need most of this stuff in life! Gabrielle gently nudges me...I almost yell at her, although manage to keep it to myself. "hey you ok Adaline? You seem tense", she whispers. I sigh and reply almost faking a smile. "yea... I'm okay"
After that unpleasant lesson, we both head to the cafeteria. Brooke had saved a seat for us at our usual table. Following that long class, I was too excited to see her. We both sat down and began to babble. Gabrielle pulls out her lunchbox from her school bag and takes a tiny bite out of her chocolate caramel." so what class did you have Blaire?", I ask in curiosity. "I had maths with Mr-say-no-more". She always has all these funny nicknames for people. Gabrielle and I laugh." yea he is quite boring, we can all agree on that", I laugh.
The bell scolds us to let us know we have five minutes left of recess so we all stand up. "don't we have pe next, Gabrielle", Brielle nods so we walk to pe together. "urgh I hate p.e, why do we always do competitive things", I spoke in a bored voice, "I know right". adds Bree while frowning. The teacher takes the register and we all head inside to get changed.
Bree and I pair up to find two more people to be in our group of 4. "right now, run up and down five times and then do some stretches", Our teacher demands. So we all did it." Want to go to the store after school?", I ask Brielle while stretching." sure Adaline", she happily, responds
After a while we start to play basketball, it wasn't very satisfying for me, I'm not that good at competitive things even so I'm not that bad either. The lesson goes by everlastingly. "head inside guys!, you three put the stuff in the storage cupboard please", Mrs Raven asks.
Bree and I head inside and start to change out of our p.e kit. We only have 5 minutes, that's not long enough. The loud bell rang Everyone but I, Bree and a few other girls left. "hurry up ladies!, or we will have to lock you in here", I sigh in annoyance and whisper to my friend, "does she have to say that every time, I can't change any faster...".Annie agrees. "it's so irritating", spoke Annie Me, Annie and Bree laugh. We finally finish getting changed.
Later on, Bree and I walk to our regular shop. As we stroll through the aisles, I pick up a small bar of chocolate and Bree skips to a different shelf. "yay they have candy floss!", She exclaims in excitement. Brielle and I walk over to the counter. I smile and we both pay for our things. I pull out my tiny, phone from my blazer while stepping out of the shop. Bree looks to her right where I was- and asks, me for the time."3:02" I reply, "I need to pick my sister up from nursery at 5 past. so I need to hurry", she explains.
We are now at the crossing, so we say our goodbyes and depart, walking opposite ways. My house wasn't so far away so I get home in minutes. "I'm home!", I shout, as soon as I enter the building. Nobody seems to be home, I went up to my room and text Blaire.
"you home B?", I text. In almost a second she responds "yea, is Gabs?", I shake my head even though I know she can't see me and reply with another message, "not sure, might need to ask her",
As soon as I put my phone down it starts to go off, so I answer it like anyone with their phone ringing would do-. Nathan was on the other end, "hey Nathan what's up?", He answers.
"sorry Adaline, I'm going to be home late again. I sigh in disappointment and start to speak. "let me guess?...another party?", Nathan laughs nervously and says goodbye." see you later sis", I suddenly get confused, "wait! Where ar-", before I could finish my sentence he hung up."Dammit! Nathan!. i", scream to myself. He always goes to parties, I thought college was about studying not, I sigh, partying.
A few hours later, my mom's car pulls up into the driveway. I rush to my feet and run downstairs. Before Mom could get her keys out of her bag, I open the door. "mom!" I howl in excitement while giving her a hug. She laughs and starts to speak, "what's this for? it doesn't happen very often.", My mom walks into the living room, putting her things down, and I explain to her that my brother has ditched me for a party again. She sighs. "if that boy doesn't stop partying then I'm going to stop paying for him to go to college!", Yells my mom. She slowly gets up from her seat and asks me what I want for dinner. I tell her what I want and leap upstairs.
The next morning, I wake up to find Nathan staring me right in the face. He looks quite worried, for some reason. "morning?", I yawn in confusion. "morning Adaline...", he softly replies," umm were you there all night?", the room goes silent. "your friends told me to talk to you because they noticed you were different at school", he explains. I sigh, "it was just one of those days", I reply with a gauging, anxious laugh. Nathan sits on the bed next to me and peacefully, denotes, "look, you're my baby sister. I'm always going to care about you, Don't lie...I can tell when somethings up ".I was just too tired to argue, so I gave in.
I pull out the certificate from my draw and show My brother. "I found this while I was in mom's room", Nathan looks at it in shock. "I'm sorry Adaline...mom and dad were going to tell you on your 18th birthday." Nathan discerns, I start to raise my voice. "why wait so long to tell me, I would have loved to have known earlier!", As soon as I speak my mom walks in yawning. "what is all this screaming about!, it's 7 in the morning!", I get out of bed and show her the certificate, with a frown on my face. "were you going to tell me about this?!", I cry. Katie's eyes widen as she starts to word a sentence, "Ad, I didn't mean for you to find out this way...i-", I interrupt her. "well from the looks of it, I wasn't meant to find out at all", mom gently perches herself down on my bed, "darling I'm sor-", just before she could continue, I yell, "sorry doesn't cut it!" And storm out my bedroom slamming the door behind me.
