American Dragon's Gem

Welcome to the NYC

Alaska looked out the window of her dad's car, her mom was in the passenger seat, while the young teen and her aunts sat in the back. Alaska was leaning over to look out the window as the building went by. 

Her aunt, Garnet, a tall woman with a square shaped afro and shades, looked over to her niece. "You know the new neighbors have a son your age, you're going to bump into him at school." 

The girl sighed at her aunt's prediction, or vision I should say. Her other aunt, Pearl, a skinny woman with a pale complexion, facepalmed. 

"Oh, school, how could I forget?! What if none of the other kids like her?!" Amythyst, a short woman with long purple hair rolled her eyes. 

"Chill out, Pearl. Snowy will be fine, it's not the end of the world again." Alaska smiled a little at her last aunt, who happen to act more like an older sister than an aunt, stood up for her. 

"Cut it out you three. Alaska, I know this is going to be hard for you, but maybe you can find some adventures in the city." Connie, Alaska's mom looked in the back seat at her daughter. Alaska only sighed knowing her family wouldn't give up on helping her get used to being in the city. 

"I'll try, but I make no promises." This seemed to satisfy the adults as Steven, Alaska's dad, parked near their new home. It was conjoined apartments, or conjoined houses. Outside one was a little girl with dark pigtails playing hopscotch as her dad watched from the front porch. 

Alaska got out after the car turned off and got her suitcase out of the trunk. The teen then felt a tug at her shirt and looked down to see the little girl, she was smiling up at the older female. 

"Hi, I'm Haily Long, you're new neighbor." Alaska looked over to see her parents talking to Haily's father, so she thought it was okay to talk to the little girl. 

"I'm Alaska Universe." Haily tilted her head and started asking questions as Alaska stepped onto the sidewalk with the little girl following. "Like the state? How old are you? Why do you have star patterns on your skin?" 

Alaska chuckled and answered with a soft smile. "Yes, like the state, I'm fourteen going on fifteen, and I was born with these patches. Mom told me it's call 'vitiligo.'" 

Haily's eyes sparkled as she bounced on her feet. Her older brother wouldn't answer questions at all. "Do you wanna play hopscotch with me?" Alaska smiled and knelt down to the little girl as her aunt Pearl took her bag. 

"I'd love to, Haily. But me and my family need to get unpacked and settled first." Haily pouted but understood nonetheless and nodded. "Hey, where's your smile? I swore it was there a minute ago." Alaska tickled Haily and the little girl laughed until the teen stopped. 

"There it is. Maybe after school tomorrow we can bake some cookies." Haily nodded and hurried over to her dad, and they waved before going inside their apartment. 

Alaska then walked into her own family's new home and went on a quest to find her new room. When she found it, she got to work, hanging band posters, setting up a corner for her art, putting clothes away, and making the bed. 

She took a deep breath and looked out her window to see it was nearly dark outside. Alaska packed a satchel with her sketchbook, pencils, and pastels and decided to take a walk before calling it a night.

 "Mom, dad! I'm going for a walk." Garnet stopped Alaska and held out a blue hoodie with a star on the center. "Make sure you're not cold and stay out of trouble." 

Alaska thanked her aunt and put the hoodie on before leaving for the park that was nearby. It was a full moon and Alaska sat under a tree as she took out her sketchbook.