HOLY GROUND ; jesse st. james

02

CHAPTER 02!

[ occurs during 1x13 - sectionals ]

March 1998, Akron, Ohio

AKRON WAS VERY DIFFERENT from Seattle, was the very first thing that came to Cienna's mind on the drive to their new house. For starters, there wasn't big buildings that could reach the sky, or that tall needle that Cienna always wanted to visit but got scared when she started climbing the steps. It was a town filled with houses, some smaller than others, some prettier than others, but it wasn't the big loud town Cienna was used to. She wasn't sure she liked it that much yet.

Her mother's hand over her head caused the three year old little girl to turn around. Marissa gave her a nice smile before pointing out the window to a house that could be seen near the corner of the street.

"That's our new home, sweetie." She said, as they watched the house grow bigger and bigger by the second.

It was a one floor house, not to big and not to small, enough for the two of them. It had a nice picket fence at the front, that separated the street from the front yard, and a really nice porch that welcomed you to the place. It was a change from their old apartment floor, a big change.

The taxi stopped and Cienna was quick to open the door of the car and step outside, holding tightly the stuffed giraffe she would go everywhere with. She heard her mother screaming at her not to go too far, so the brunette made sure to stay close to the car, but she still turned her entire attention towards the house.

Marissa payed the driver before grabbing their bags and thanking him. She stood next to her daughter, taking a hold of her tiny hand and squeezing it with affection.

"Do you like it, sweetheart?" She asked, her mother's smile big in her face.

Cienna looked up to meet her mom's happy stare. Seeing the joy in the older woman's face, she couldn't help but reciprocate it. "It's pretty."

"Come on, let's get your things inside, ok? The furniture will be arriving soon." Her mother said, letting go of her hand to grab the suitcases.

Cienna looked around the neighborhood, eyeing the rest of the houses the surrounded hers and realizing that they were all pretty similar. Some had two floors instead of one, but they were all big and nice, following the same theme.

Her eye stopped on the house that was right next to hers and her stare met the one from a little kid. He was sitting on the grass of his front yard but, even so, he still looked taller than her. Cienna knew that the kid was probably a few years older than her. He had light brunette curls over his head, and really pretty shade of green eyes. He had a pair of toy cars in his hands, but he didn't really seemed interested in them as he stared at Cienna.