Gifted

ii

Hazy morning fog rolled through the quiet streets of the tiny town, tucked into the hillside. Only one soul seemed to be awake at the early hour, which was fourteen year old Audrey Franklin, who had her nose buried in The Great Gatsby, which had brought her mother to tears. Puffing out her cheeks, Audrey marked her page and placed the book lovingly on her nightstand before swinging her legs off of her bed and hopping into her slippers. The morning air drifting through her cracked window was fresh and smelled faintly of the impending summertime, which caused Audrey's stomach to flip again with excitement. Her parents were taking her to Rome for two weeks staring immediately after her school let out in a mere three days.

Audrey scuttled towards her closet and yanked out her green and plaid school uniform, tucking in the blouse to the skirt just as she was supposed to. After washing up her face in the sink and running a brush through her straight blonde locks, she bounced out of the bathroom and into the mostly silent hallway, pausing to examine a new painting hung up beside the bathroom door. Her mom was an art freak, and since a fair had been held the previous night, a new collections of paintings and sketches were expected. Tipping her head to the side, Audrey ran her slim fingers over the smooth surface, the peaceful scene soothing her bundle of excited nerves. It was a lakeside view, two people perched on the sandy beach, a mass of swirling warm color the sky above them. The lake itself was a deep blue with hints of purple, the sinking orange sun reflected on the surface.

"Aud? Are you awake already?" A drowsy voice snapped Audrey out of her dreamy inspection, and she whirled around, face to face with her exhausted mom. A small grin bloomed on her face, and she gestured to the painting.

"I like this new one," Audrey commented. Her mother glanced unseeingly at it and bobbed her head in agreement, stifling a yawn with her hand.

"I need some coffee. You up for an early morning drive to Starbucks, and then I'll drop you off at school?" Kathleen suggested, and Audrey nodded excitedly, skipping down the stairs and out the door, Kathleen in tow, clutching Audrey's forgotten backpack in her left hand, car keys in the other.

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Starbucks was surprisingly packed for six thirty on a Tuesday morning. A handful of people were clicking busily away at laptops, red-rimmed eyes cluing that they had been there nearly all night, sending e-mails or typing up spreadsheets. Audrey wandered towards the line, peering at the delicacies in the glass case. Kathleen suggested a croissant, which Audrey gladly agreed to, and placed an order for Audrey's favorite hot chocolate and a strong cup of coffee for herself.

When the duo sat down at the table, Audrey noticed a blonde couple shooting her fervent, surreptitious glances from a nearby table. Audrey felt heat rise to her face and she inspected herself quickly, making sure her shirt wasn't popping out in awkward places or that she had left a button undone on her blouse. By the time she had made sure everything about her appearance was just as it should be, the woman was openly gawking at her, as if she had never seen a child before and wasn't sure if she should stare or hug it. Audrey ducked her head in embarrassment and slipped into the seat beside her mother, taking a swig of the burning hot chocolate, the liquid momentarily distracting her from the mysterious stalker a few tables over.

"You have that assembly on bullying today, don't you?" Kathleen commented, snapping Audrey out of her daze.

"What? Oh, uh, yeah, I think so," Audrey hastily replied, stuffing the croissant in her face to avoid other conversation.

When Kathleen suggested they leave so Audrey would get to school on time, Audrey quickly agreed, the gazes of the two strangers like weights placed on her tiny shoulders. She wanted to mention it to her mother, but just as she was leaning in to whisper about it, they rose to their feet and tossed their full coffees into the trash. Gulping, Audrey scurried beside her mother out of the Starbucks and towards the car. She practically threw herself in the front seat and peered at the rear view mirror.