Beyond the Sun

14

"Annie! Annie wake up or you'll be late!" Robert shouted from the bottom of the corridor which led to the bedrooms and bathrooms and looked to Rebecca as she got ready for work. "Was she always like this?"

"She just really likes to sleep." Rebecca said while tying the laces up on her shoes.

Robert shook his head, "Like every other teenager on the planet then, huh?" She laughed at his words and nodded, she looked up as she heard movement from up the other end of the corridor. She stood and pulled on her jacket and watched as Annie walked down the corridor towards them in a hurry.

"Is wearing all black a new thing?" Rebecca asked as she looked her daughter up and down. Annie looked at her choice of clothes, then looked to her mother. Black vest with the ever-faithful hole riddled jeans and steal toe cap boots, it was just everyday attire to her. But then, she guessed, no one else dressed like this in Smallville...it was after all a very sunny place, and seeing as how black material attracted the sun, she'd surely suffer later. Annie simply shrugged while pulling on her hoodie and tied her hair up and off her neck. "Along with just shrugging? Is that a new way of talking?"

"Mum, I'm half asleep...please, I'll explain all the latest trends when I come home from school later." Annie said while picking up a tatty satchel which she used as her school bag.

"You're actually going to stick a whole day out?" Rebecca asked as the three of them made their way to the door. She couldn't help but sound sceptical. From what she could gather, Annie had said the same things to Simon, and then lied.

"Uh-huh."

"Should I believe you?"

"Come on, Becca, believe the girl. If she says she's going to explain after school, that usually means at the end of the day. You'll stay all day, won't you?" Robert asked while opening the car door and climbing in.

Annie slipped into the back and nodded. "Uh-huh," she repeated. She still sounded hugely unenthusiastic about the prospect of school. In truth, she was a little worried. She wasn't sure how much school had changed, how much people had changed.

"You're right," Robert looked to Rebecca and started the car up. "I'm finding it hard to understand whether that's the truth or not." He pulled out of the driveway and commenced going down the road. The radio played quietly, Annie didn't pay much mind to it. She just looked out of the window and sighed gently. Opening her eyes when they stopped, she watched as her mum got out of the car. It seemed Robert had to take her to work every day, Annie frowned sadly, their routine must be repetitive and boring. "Right, come on then," Robert commenced driving again and it took mere moments to get to the school.

Annie looked out of the window and looked to the bustling students. She gulped, "I'm scared." She placed a hand to her chest and inhaled deeply. She still got panicky now and again. Oddly enough doing this little routine helped. It caused her to put pressure on her chest and ease her breathing.

"You'll be fine, Annie." Robert turned in his seat and looked at her. "You seem like a great kid, you'll make friends in no time I'm sure of it. Now go, you've got to register before first lesson starts."

Getting the hint, she slunk out of the car and shut the door. Turning and listening to the car drive off, she adjusted her bag strap and looked up. Instantly she felt her breath quicken, so many eyes were staring at her. She guessed new people still weren't a common thing here. She couldn't help but muse over this place still being a black hole. Smiling, she shrugged and walked as quickly as she could into the building. Turning and walking along corridors, she managed to find the reception. "Hey there," she leaned her arms against the counter and looked at the woman who was typing impossibly fast on the keyboard before her.