Heathen Chronicles - Changed

Chapter 1 - Return to Alpha Dorm

January 10, 2017

Raven's POV

"Mommy... where are my school shoes? I can't find them, and I don't want to get a detention on my first day as a senior! That would just be embarrassing."

"Look under your bed, in that jungle you call a room!"

"Oh. Never mind, I found them! And I prefer to think of it as a more 'free-flowing' living experience! Now I just need to figure out where to get all my school info, and then everything will sort itself out... I hope."

"Raven!"

"Yeah, Ma!"

"Don't forget to pack your suitcase properly. I'm not dropping anything off for you if you forget it here!"

"Yes, Mom! I've got it!"

I rolled my big brown eyes and looked around, making sure I hadn't left anything behind. I'd miss my room; it felt like all of me was packed into this one space, left behind every year to wait for my return. I realized then that I was finally in the grade where I had to share a room at school—it wouldn't be just me anymore. The anxiety set in, and I painfully hoped—prayed—that I'd be paired with my friends and not any of the other people in my grade. Oh God, now I was really nervous.

A chill ran over my skin. The thought of sharing a room with the Barbies, the jocks, or worse... them.

Great.

I daydreamed about my friends for a moment to calm down. I was so excited to see them. I wondered what they had been up to over the holidays; they no doubt had interesting stories to tell. I hadn't been able to keep in contact as much as I wanted to. Unfortunately, I had accidentally broken my phone while taking an amazing swim in an amazingly deep pool. I loved swimming—it was one of the few things I loved doing every single day.

My mom had refused to buy me a new one because of my "negligence," so I'd had to suffer in silence. I sent emails, video-called, or messaged via my laptop whenever I had enough money to buy data, which was almost never. We didn't live a rich life, and I couldn't get a job because I didn't have transport and I wasn't allowed to use the local taxis. Not safe, my mom had said. Even so, we managed to get by on our own.

Suddenly, I heard it. Rain. Thunder. Lightning.

"FINALLY!"

I loved listening to the rain as it pounded new dents into the already-dented roof of the car parked outside our small apartment. We hadn't had the opportunity to go out much lately because of stressed finances, which always made me worry about how it would affect my studies. My mom always found a way to reassure me, helping me focus. Still, I wished she would let me help more, to take some of the burden off her shoulders.

I adored her. Even when we didn't have much, she always did her best for me. She helped me reach for the sky while my mind and heart anchored me to the floor. We were incredibly close. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for her.

And then, at school, I had my friends. Despite my financial status, my heart swelled with happiness at the thought of seeing them again. They accepted me as I was and never threw my bank balance in my face. In fact, they adored my mother even more than I did, if that was possible.

I was even excited to see the other students—even the irritating jocks who pranced around the school, proud and arrogant. Even the Barbies who thought they were the best of the best because of their looks. They all provided humor and entertainment in one way or another.

I couldn't believe I just thought that.

My eyes started to grow heavy. I made my way to the bed, letting them close, only opening them forcefully to switch off the lights before I let sleep entomb me in dreams as sweet and terrifying as the cursed hidden treasures I read about in my books.