Cronulla

It was the first day I'd missed home. I wished my bestfriend Natalia was here. I wished that I didnt have to start a new school today...and alone..in a different country. How depressing. I was what they considered back home , a 'light skinned' dark girl . Probably the only thing I had going for me. I'd also been blessed with my Moms hair..but I swear that was it.

It was 7am and the sun already burned at a 25º high. The sun pierced my eyes as the smell of the ocean danced in my nostrils , and the salty warm breeze messed up my already wavy bed hair. The sound of the surf teased me for a quick dip as I stood out on the small patio , that overlooked the ocean. The humming of The Edge 96.1 was buzzing in the distance.

"Here goes nothing".... I whispered, as I turned inside making my way to my closet ignoring the millions of butterflies, I could feel beginning to awake in my tummy.

It had been only 2 short weeks since I'd moved from Seattle to Cronulla. Cronulla in the coastal town of Sydney that is. Sydney as in Australia.

My Dad owned a company in the construction buisness and it had become real successful here . He had been coming here for work often , probably a couple of years prior to us making the move maybe..

Mom died when I was 4 and since then it had been just us, so you can imagine how much I missed him while he was gone on buisness trips.

Soon the trips became more regular and longer , until one day on his return he brought home his Australian friend....Sharon.

Sharon Korelin , I later found out was a very successful real estate agent, who helped Dad look for a building that would house his company HQ. She was beautiful and caring and I could genuinely tell she loved my Dad. Not that Id ever been in love or anything but from what I'd seen, I figured love would look somewhat similar.

Me and her also really hit it off.

She stayed with us for a little over a month and after Dad proposed to her back in Seattle and she said yes , they decided we should move in with her.

So here I was. At 7.13 am on a Tuesday morning ,on the other side of the world, rummaging through my unfamiliar closet, for my new school uniform I'd laid out the night before. I showered and put it on.It seemed alright. It looked ok too I guess.

A white collared short-sleeved cotton shirt with the schools blue emblem on the left side of my chest, a plain navy blue skirt that hit just below my knees and black leather ballet flats that covered my white socks.

I straightened the locks of my curly dark hair and attempted to apply my make-up without the nerves stabbing me in the eye.

I was nervous. I didnt know what to expect. I never thought in my whole entire life , that I'd be going to high school in Australia!!! What the fuck !? But then again..I never thought my father..an African American man would start a company in a foreign country and then get engaged to its Barbie !

*knock knock *

It was Sharon or Shaz as she'd insisted I call her.

"You up yet Kora"? said the sound of her now familiar voice.

"Yeah , I'll be down in a minute just grabbing my things"

"Ok , well we need to leave soon if you want to get to school on time , ok hun?"

"Sureeeee" I mumbled.

I heard the sound of her footsteps pacing downstairs before I could ask where my Dad was. I figured he left for work early this morning.

When I got downstairs Shaz was leaning on the counter reading the morning paper and drinking what I'd come to call her, 'morning glug'. A big tall glass of purply,pink thick liquid that she claimed had health benefits. I shivered..Eww.

" Want one ? , its good for you"

"No way" I laughed screwing up my face

Sharon let out a laugh

"Ok , well you ready ?"

"Mmhm"

Sharon smiled at me and grabbed the keys.

"You know you really need to think about getting your P's Kora , it'll be a lifesaver when you have mates..trust me" she said , turning down the radio as she concentrated on the school traffic

"You know I still dont understand your slang here Shaz , what the hell are P's ? "

She chuckled

"Its your drivers license love, did you have it back in The States?", I nodded a yes so she continued..

"I mean your 18 in a month and this is your final year of school...Wouldnt it be great to have your freedom ? We should go to the RTA this arvo"

I nodded in agreement to nervous to even ask what an RTA was. I must have had a puzzled look on my face when Shaz started explaining what that was also.

Instead I dazed off unintentionally and wondered what my new school would look like. Who would my friends be? Would I even have friends ? OMG , I hate this. I despised the unexpected. I hated being fat too, I knew I'd have fit in better if I hadnt been so fat.

I daydreamed as we drove along the coastline , admiring the beautiful beaches.

Before we knew it , We were at my death sentencing.

Suddenly the car slowed down. My side to the pavement.

We had arrived at St.Marthas High School.The most prestigous Catholic School in Cronulla. My second home for the next year.

It looked completely different to my old school Garfield High , but at least I'd started on the first day of the year.

I peered through the tinted window of Shaz' car before getting out and slowly opened my door.....Before me stood a sign which read:

'CARITAS HUMILITAS DIGNITAS'

'Welcome To All Of Our New Students'

Before I knew it Shaz was gone and I was on my own. Oh God , I thought to myself. I feel sick. Sharon had offered to come in with me , but she was already late for work and I told myself and her that I'd be ok.

I made my way up the footpath towards the entrance of the premises,I could swear my heart pounded a million beats a minute. Some of the students were congregating in small groups outside the front office.This is it , I thought to myself as I walked down what felt like 'The Green Mile'.

"Korina Dransfield ?" a short skinny blonde haired woman called over the desk in the office.

"Im Mrs Bradley, and this will be your buddy today" she continued just as a tall , tanned blonde haired girl ,walked into view.

" Hey , hows it going , Welcone to our school?" she smiled whilst taking a my t

class schedules out of Mrs Bradleys hand.

GREAT I thought to myself. Just fucken great. Shes already mocking me , I thought. She'll wait until the office ladys gone , I predicted in distress.

"Hey".......I barely managed.