Songbird

Songbird: One

I wake up earlier than the time I've set up on my phone, just as the sun is rising.
Today I'll be driving to school for the first time with my first ever car that I bought with my own money.

My parents insisted they'd buy it for me,, but I wanted it to be completely mine in every aspect.

I'd set my eye on the 2005 Volkswagen new beetle for quite some time.
So last year, right after getting my driver's license, I started doing babysitting work around town and just before summer ended I was able to get the car.

After brushing my teeth, I put on the outfit I chose last night. It could be the lighting,, but I'd swear it looked better on me last night than it does now. My eyes fall on my wardrobe, and I'm tempted to grab a pair of jeans and shirt,, but I don't. I wear the damned outfit because I look great in it.

Unsurprisingly, my parents are already off to their job. They work at an insurance company in Portland, which is an hour away from here. They actually met there as humble employees and now, seventeen years later, they both have high positions and me.

With them gone, it means I have to care for myself as I've been doing for the past three years. So no warm waffles or scrambled eggs in the morning.
I quickly eat breakfast and feed Pepper before locking the house to go get Harper from her place.

She's surprisingly already waiting for me in her front yard, looking as beautiful as ever. Her golden brown complexion, literally glowing in the sun, comes into contrast with the bright yellow romper she has on.

The tight curls framing her sculpted features stop a few inches under her chin. Harper was also tall. Very tall.

She'd already done some modelling a few years back, and it wouldn't surprise me if she ended up in a proper modeling agency by the time the year ended. If only agents roamed the streets of old, humble Wellpegi Valley.

"Morning, baby girl!" She hops in, giving me a deep kiss on the cheek.

"Morning. I thought you'd be late." I say starting the car.

"I'm never late. Everyone else is simply too early." She teases. Her phone is already blowing up, and it's not even eight o clock. With the side of my eye I can tell she's texting someone, biting her lip.

"Let me guess. One of the dudes you met during summer." I take a quick guess. Harper shakes her head negatively.

"Actually. It's someone from school." She says. I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Harper never thought anyone from school grounds was worth her attention or time,, and she was right.

"Are you going to tell me who it is?" I ask impatiently.

"Let me make sure he's worth my time, and you'll be the first to know." She winks. All that secrecy doesn't bother me,, but I really want to know.

I don't have time to make her tell me as I'm searching for a parking spot. One is wide open and ready for me to take. My car is already in when I hear someone honking.

The large Range Rover behind us keeps honking like crazy for several seconds. Harper rolls her eyes.

"Ugh, it's who I think it is?" She asks me with pure disgust on her face. Even that can't make her look unattractive.

"Yeah." I say in a breath. A muffled mess of her voice reaches my ear before I can even open my door.

"Excuse me! This is my parking spot." She rages. Harper gets out faster than me and smiles at the redhead who's made my life a living hell since I met her. Katherine Chapman.

"What are you going to do, Karen? Call the manager? There's a spot right behind you." Harper says giving her the middle finger.

Katherine scoffs in anger and then her gaze falls on me. She squints her eyes, probably trying to figure out if I'm who she thinks I am.