Great Oaks

Chapter Three

It had been two weeks since I moved to Great Oaks. And I felt like I was adjusting pretty well. Life felt like it was moving slower. Quieter. Some people might have been bored with it but I found myself at ease.

And while I was enjoying this new change of pace, I realized that with a calm, quiet existence came nosy onlookers whenever a fresh face arrived. Valerie was right. I underestimated the level of curiosity people would have toward a newcomer.

I could barely get any reading done at the Mug. Whether that be for school or leisure. Every ten to fifteen minutes, I would catch people staring or whispering about me. Usually both at the same time.

I didn't necessarily help the predicament by the way I dressed. While most of the people in town seemed to stay in muted colors and flannels, I opted for a pink ensemble consisting of a pastel sherpa sweater and mini-skirt with a white belt to tie it all together. Grandma said I was always a fashion-forward girl. She said I was barely six when I was putting my outfits together the night before school.

Reading in the comfort of my own, cozy apartment was certainly the most practical option. But something about hearing the hum of life moving around me helped me focus.

Not to mention, the self consciousness caused by being gawked at was causing all sorts of issues with my magic. Pages of my book would turn on their own before I was finished reading, the silverware on my table would rattle - not a conducive environment for studying.

So, I needed a change of scenery. It was three o'clock, meaning that O'Brien's would be well past the lunch rush and had ample amount of time until dinner. So I wouldn't be a bother by taking a table to read. At least I hoped so.

Gathering my bag and my book, I stepped out of The Toasted Mug and made my way toward my car. Normally, I would just walk down the street. But after assessing the cobblestone and my strappy heels, driving seemed to be the best option.

I got in my car, shutting the door behind me and turning the key in the ignition. Just as I pulled off into the street, I heard a buzzing on my phone. When I saw who was calling me, I smiled.

"Hey Grandma!" I greeted.

"Hello, my Mabel Lee," she hummed. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good!" I chirped. It was good to hear her voice. "I miss you. How are you?"

"I'm alright. I miss you too. What are you up to?"

"Well," I sighed, "I'm headed to the diner to do some reading. I tried doing it at the coffee shop but it just ... wasn't working out."

"What happened?"

"I mean, nothing happened. It's just ..." I paused, contemplating on whether or not I wanted to open up this conversation with her. "You know how you can look at someone and you can just tell they're talking about you?"

"Ah, I see," she replied. "Do you think they're saying bad things about you?"

I fixed my mouth to the side. "I don't know. It doesn't seem like they're saying good things about me. It just feels like they've already decided what they think about me without ever knowing me."

"And what have I told you about people and their opinions of you?"

I took a deep breath as I parked in front of O'Brien's. "People's opinions don't have as much to do with how they perceive me and more how they perceive themselves." I recited it from memory, as it had been imprinted in my brain from youth.

"That's my girl." My heart warmed. "If you're going to survive on your own, you have to be tough, Mabel. Don't let their opinions get to you. You're a Parrish, you're better than that." She was better than that. I was cursed with the burden of caring what others thought.