I'm doing a thing. And I think this is the thing to crown all things. Okay bye now, enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~
Alinta's day started out normally enough, except it didn't really start out normally at all. Oh sure, she fell out of bed at her regular time and she did trudge into the bathroom in the same caveman esque way she did everyday, complete with the paleolithic grunts and head scratching. The strange didn't start until she stepped into the shower, and cranked up the water to the hottest heat setting. Alinta didn't notice the puffs of steam that came of her body as the scalding water met her skin. She wasn't all that observant so she continued singing happily.
It looked to be another sweltering day in Melbourne so Alinta pulled on a tank top and slipped into a pair of shorts, then attempted to tame her unruly hair. She lost the fight, and placed it into a messy ponytail. Hopping happily down the stairs, she tossed her backpack at the door and wandered into the kitchen.
"Morning mum! Morning Jax!" Her mother and little brother, Jaxon, were in the kitchen, her mom making breakfast, and Jaxon doing... Whatever. It was actually strange that Jaxon was up this early, but Alinta brushed it off as a mere coincidence.
"Morning love, Happy Birthday!" "Happy Birthday Ali!" She grinned at her mom and her brother, both beamed back, just as widely. Sitting down at the kitchen island she observed the only two members of her family awake.
Merindah Dural was a slight thing, barely clearing five feet three inches. Her chocolate brown skin and light green eyes usually made people think of her as meek, that is until you saw her flaming red hair.
It was a little unnerving, a woman of obvious aboriginal descent with hair in that shade, but somehow it worked for her. She was beautiful, just as her name said. In fact, all the female members of her line had the same color hair, and she obviously passed on the trait to her daughter.
Alinta was almost the spitting image of her mother. She had the crimson hair color and her mother's brown skin. The differences were numerous though, she towered over her mom at five feet eight inches, her eyes were a peculiar gold color, and she was shy, no maybe quiet is the word? She didn't talk to many people, they were always put off by her strange looks and her only real friend was an intrinsic bird, definitely not native to Australia, and she spent many a day trying to figure out whatever the heck was up with it.
So into her musings, she didn't notice the looks that Jaxon and her mom were exchanging until Jaxon tapped her shoulder hesitantly.
"Yeah, what is it Jax?" She said smiling softly. Said boy dallied a little before saying quietly, "You know I love you Ali, right?" She frowned, wondering where this had come from.
"Yeah? Why?" Jax worried his bottom lip and shot a glance back at his mom, who shooed him along.
"Well... Whatever happens know that I'll always be there!!" He dropped a small kiss on her cheek and rushed up the stairs while Alinta stared incredulously after him.
"Mom what the hell."
"Language young lady!" Her mom snapped, then paused as if considering what to say next.
"Its just, Jax is worried that something will happen to you, not that anything would of course," she added hurriedly, "You're finally fifteen, and you've grown into a wonderful young lady, and I'm proud of you, yeah?" Merindah affirmed.
"Get to school love, and happy birthday, I'll take care of the little ankle biter." She finished smiling tenderly at her.
Alinta eyed her suspiciously then shrugged, and grabbed her backpack. Slipping on her sneakers at the door, she yelled a "Love ya mum!" And muttered, "God my family is weird," before slamming the door. Merindah stood smiling for a while longer, before drooping over the counter, shaking slightly. She stayed that way until Jaxon came down again and found her crying.
"Mom, its okay!" He said as he squeezed her hard, "You know it had to be done!"
"I know Max, its just so much is riding on her... I've jut sent my only daughter to her probable death!" She cried out, those words filled with so much pain.
"You know this is her best chance for survival, and Kellar is gonna be there to help. She'll do fine mom." Merindah sniffled and weakly grinned down at her son.
"Aces Jax. You know, you're pretty smart for a seven year old." Jaxon grinned widely and simply stated, "I know that, everybody says so!" Even as Merindah chortled at the remark, a trickle of doubt ran down her spine. She was not convince that something would not go completely horrible today.
~~~~~~~~~
Okay, that's it! I'm sorry for all the grammar issues and spelling, my mind is already in the middle of the story, and I just can't seem to find the right words! I'm not really expecting too many views, but maybe 10 and I'll move on? And two comments maybe? I don't know, but I hope y'all enjoyed!
