Mirror Image

Four

"Who am I riding with this morning?" Lacey yelled from the top of the stairs.

"Me Tiger," her father responded.

"Be right down, just have to grab my gym bag." Lacey stopped in front of the mirror at the top of the stairs to check her reflection. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and she admired the way the two curls she let hang in front of her ears, accented her chin line. All she had for makeup was a bit of mascara to turn her pale eyelashes black and rose lip gloss.

The pink top she'd picked out, left the perfect vee to show off her favorite rose quartz heart pendant on the end of a silver chain. She'd picked out a silver belt made of giant square links to accent her neat waist and stone washed blue jeans echoed the blue grey of her eyes. Perfect.

Bouncing down the stairs, she slung her pack with her laptop and snacks in it over one shoulder. Kneeling down, she checked her gym bag to make sure her cheer uniform and tumbling slippers were in it. Ready, right where she left it last night. The first day of senior year was off to a great start.

"Bye, Mom." She stopped to hug her mother.

"Go, Lacey. You don't want to be late for practice."

"Not to worry, most of the team is coming in on the school buses. We have the early class every morning in the gym. I've got the best schedule ever."

"Good enough, I'll see you at the office after school?"

"Not sure, we might pull another practice on the football field after school. Homecoming is way too soon, and we have to be ready."

"Let me know," her mother called as she slipped through into the garage to meet her Dad.

"We're going to get you a car," Dad said as she stowed her pack and bag in the back seat.

"Really? I don't need one. I mean Terry will have a car most days, and I can catch a ride with you or Mom on the other days."

"We're getting busier at the office. When Sampson Law shut down after William retired, he sent all his clients our way. You've got another job if you want to help with the filing. We'll pay you."

"Like I can fit it in with everything else I'm doing. But I'll help out when I can."

"Thanks, let's get you to school. I want to beat the buses." Dad hit the button on the garage door remote, waiting while it rolled open.

S

The school was on the other side of town, and her father zipped through avoiding Main Street with it's four traffic lights. He didn't quite make it ahead of all the busses, but it was close. Only two made it in before they made the final turn. Joining the line of cars pulling to the curb, her father eased to a stop.

"Look at that poor girl. That's embarrassing," Lacey said, pointing at the blonde who she assumed was with her father, walking up the path to the front doors of her school.

"Don't jump to conclusions. She might be new, and her Dad's concerned about her getting off to a good start. Facing the first day alone isn't easy." James Pemberton idled forward to get a little closer to the main walkway to the front doors.

"Still, everyone's going to stare. I did."

"I suspect you'll run into her soon. Give her a break, okay?"

"Of course. I mean I'm a senior now, but I remember freshman year. I know a lot of the kids, but still, new school, new teachers, it's tough."

"Let your Mom know if you've got another practice, okay?"