Thε Spαrklε Tooƒus (ACT I: Fall Term) ✓

thirteen

Package Deals I Hate

"Good morning darling."

I groaned weakly and my dad raised an eyebrow at my reaction as I plopped down onto the chair with a murderous expression on my face.

"Don't say that word," I muttered.

"Wh-"

"Don't ask." 

Now it was my dad's turn to grumble at me, frowning, "What can I do?"

I hated to be rude to my dad but I was still peeved about the events of yesterday. And as much as I resented him inside for the divorce being the reason of our moving here, I decided not to take out the brunt of my frustration on the one man in my life who didn't annoy me as much.

"Well, for starters, you can tell me how work was," I said with a forced smile, fetching myself a quick bowl of warm milk and cereal. 

My dad's frown deepened as inklings of doubt appeared on his face. "Are you actually interested in knowing?"

"No," I said in a perfectly honest voice. "Your borrowing financial adventures don't interest me one bit but it's polite to ask, yes?"

Rolling his eyes at me, my father murmured something to himself under his breath and walked out of the kitchen with a mug of coffee in hand. Oh well, if he didn't want to share, that was quite alright. He can suit himself. 

After finishing my breakfast (and making sure I took my time with it), I yelled goodbye to my father who replied from his in-home office room and left the house. Today, I took my phone with me because I just might be going to dad's office after school instead of back home. 

Dad had mentioned something about us hanging out and having a 'fatherly-daughterly' date after he finished working. And if we were still following the same schedule he'd set out a few days back, that would be today. 

Nevertheless, I'd rather take my phone to school anyways. Listening to some music while doing work in class might help calm my mind, and also avoid chances of talking to Damien. If he knew I was occupied, he might not bother me (though the chances are quite slim).

The walk to school was prolonged. I took very slow and measured steps as I didn't quite look forward to starting school this Thursday. I didn't know what to expect from 'stable boy'. Sometimes, he didn't seem so bad. Like yesterday, just for a split second there I'd seen a different side to him and I considered the possibility that maybe he was just putting up an act.

But then he starts acting all "Johnny-Bravo" like and it's just so frustrating. Who should I believe he is? 

The sun beat down on my back, beads of sweat clenching uncomfortably against the back of my tee. Its' rays didn't hide as the heat of the day conveniently blared down on me, causing me to squint against the sudden sunny climate that had appeared.

Maybe I should reconsider walking to school everyday if the weather turned out be like this on a regular routine.  I was only a few minutes away from the school yet it felt like I'd die by the time I got there.

Forcing myself to power-walk, I strutted into the campus within a few minutes. I was late. Glancing at my watch, I knew better than to start out my second day of school like this. First days are alright. If a new student shows up late on the first day, all the teachers would say is 'ah, poor girl, must have gotten lost on her way to class'. But by the second day, they'd expect me to know my way around.

And additionally, this morning I had Literature first period. And we hadn't had that class yesterday, so yet again, I was the lost (and late) girl for the second day in a row.