Ripley the Vampire Slayer

Getting Ready for School

"I'm surprised your back over here."
"Why? Your probably the only decent person here who isn't the typical country boy or cowgirl." Ripley snorted.
They both laid on the wooden floor that had begun it's slow descent into decay.
"I mean, you moved to the Midwest, what else did you expect?" Amity questioned.
"I didn't have much of a choice."
"Do you at least have family here?"
Ripley pondered on the question, "I have my Aunt, Uncle, and my two cousins."
"Ooo would I know your cousins?"
"Probably. Have you heard of Angela and Jordan?"
Amity smiled, "Oh yeah, everyone knows them two trouble makers."

Ripley turned to look at Amity, "Troublemakers? Really?"
"Oh yeah, I heard your cousin, Jordan, put Windex in the art teachers coffee." Amity laughed.
Ripley couldn't help but make a quick grin on her face, making sure that Amity wouldn't notice.
"Oh and your cousin Angela. She scared the shit out of a freshman who asked if he could sit in the seat her bag was in. She told him if he moved it, the school went with it."
"Oh yeah cause bomb threats are so hilarious." Ripley scoffed, finding the joke in poor taste.
"But the look on the kids face was priceless." Amity giggled.

Ripley sat up from the floor and clutched her knees close to her chest.
"Is everything okay?"
"Just missing California. I'm sort of a fish out of water here." Ripley answered.
"Everyone feels that way in new places. I promise it will grow on you." Amity smiled, "Speaking, when does school start?" Amity asked.
"Shouldn't you know? It's tomorrow?"
Amity laughed nervously, "Of course, I knew that. I was just making sure you were paying attention."

"Will you be there?" Ripley asked anxiously.
"Awww, I'm touched that by your worry and concern."
"I mean yeah, just depends if we will share the same classes." Amity answered.
Ripley let out an exhale when she got up on to her feet, "Then tomorrow it is."
"Oh wait before you go, I want to give you something." Amity stopped her.
Ripley watched as Amity gently grasped her hand and slid a Celtic knot styled ring with a single amethyst gem facing upwards aalt Ripley.
"You want me to have this?"
Amity nodded her head, "For good luck. My mom taught me that stones and crystals have their own energy or souls that when worn help you."
Ripley smiled feeling skeptical of Amity's lesson but took the gift anyway.

Ripley used her fork to slide around her saliabury steak over her plate, mixing in with her corn and mashed potatoes.
"Ripley, you need to eat." Her mother begged.
"It looks like a plastic being served on a plate of chemically induced hormones." Ripley gagged.
Her mother sighed, "I really hope this new change of scenery really opens you up."
"Mom I can't be more open." Ripley argued.
"No, you aren't. If you were so open as you say you are, then you'd give this town, this home, and the people a chance."

Ripley didn't reply. As much as she hates her mother being right, she was right. There was no reason to truly hate the town but Ripley still didn't feel like it was home.
"When does the bus come?"
"It will be in the square around 7am. The other kids that live here will be there."
"Oh, joy." Ripley grumbled still not touching her microwaveable food.
"May I be excused? I'm not feeling social or eating." Ripley sighed and got up from the table.
She laid in her bed staring out her new window at her new town. It was quiet. An ambience she wasn't quite used to with being around the loud sounds of car horns, people yelling at one another and the occasional gunshot echoing from the alleyways below their apartment complex.
Her eyes began to grow heavy and soon, she could no longer fight sleep.