The Pastel Lady

Chapter 1

I rush down the stairs, excited to hear that my friend is on the phone.

My mom hands me the phone.

"Moo!" Willow shouts into the phone.

"Moo!"

"I'll never understand you people," My mom whispers beneath her breath.

You see, Willow and I just understand each other. We've been friends for years. We have endless amounts of inside jokes and secrets.

"So, how's it going over there? It's been a week since you left and I'm dying over here! I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, Willow. But I'll come around during the vacation."

"That's in three months! I need my baby cow now!"

"I'll always be one call away. You can count on me, you know that. I'll talk later. We still have a lot to unpack."

"Wait! Are there any cute boys?"

"I just got here, but if I see someone I'll call straight away."

"Ok. Bye, moo!"

"Moo!"

I hang up the phone.

As I put the phone back on the counter my eyes wander out the window, staring at the garden.

The grass is so green, hedges perfectly alligned to form a fence around the garden. There's a cobblestone path leading to a large circle, outlined by rose bushes, lilacs and daisies.

There is an outdoor chess set, the checkers being grass and cobblestone, with cobblestone and marble chess pieces. The knight probably fits to my shoulder.

There's an archway leading to a massive fountain. The fountain itsself is majestic enough, but the cherry on top is the fairy lights running across the two giant trees parallel from each other, spreading over the fountain centrepiece.

It's beautiful.

I look around for mom, making sure that she can't see me.

I let out a mischievous smirk, knowing that what I'm about to do will probably get me into trouble

***

I open the wooden door, trying to avoid any cracking sounds, but to my embarassment the door does excactly that.

I sneak onto the grass, allowing my white, dirty converse to become less white and more dirty.

I wander along the cobblestone path, looking up and around the scenery, and I can't help but look like a kid in a candy store.

"Wow," I manage to let out.

I run over to the fountain, running my fingers along the marble surface, smiling incredulously.

"Wow."

I run around the fountain and down the cobblestone path, letting the sun glow on my skin.

I spin around again. This is so much better than the apartment in San Fransisco. I love being outside. I feel free.

"This is beautiful."

"Yeah, it is."

"Oh my God!" I jump around.

Who was that? It came from the tree! It's a talking tree!

I look around skittishly. Where did it come from?

"Up here!" The voice says again.

I look at a branch of the left tree, where the voice came from.

It's a boy, an oddly dressed boy, but a boy! His hair is an oddly-white blonde, resting effortlessly on his head, giving him a bedhead effect. He's barefeet, wearing washed out, ripped blue jeans. He's wearing a faded, pastel purple t-shirt, barely saturated. He's dirty, covered in, well, dirt.

"Who are you?"

"The name's Rover, at your service," He says confidently.

He looks into my eyes, allowing me to see his eye colour. Wait, it's purple. That's not biologically possible. It's a light, pastel purple.

"If you stare any harder, you'll probably see my soul... If I had one. It's all black," He chuckles to himself.

"Uh... Nice to meet you?"

He stands up from his slouched position and walks towards the end of the branch whilst talking.

"Of course, it is. I am the one, and only-"

The branch snaps.

"Ah, oof, ouch, no, my beautiful face!" He shouts on his fall to the ground.

I turn my head to a 45°-angle, trying to comprehend what I'd just seen.

He lands on his back, his one hand resting on his chest, his eyes staring up into the tree. He lets out a breath.

He turns his head to me and smiles a bit, but only for a second, but he quickly recovers and stands up.

"So, you're the new kid."

"Uh, yeah," I say hesitantly.

I can't help but stare at his eyes. They're literally purple. Is he wearing contacts?

"Hello?" He waves a hand in front of my face.

"Oh, sorry, I was just-"

I cut myself off, knowing that if I speak more I'd just embarass myself furthermore.

"I have to call my friend," I say as I turn around to leave

I did say thay if I saw any cute boys that I'd call her.

"It was nice meeting you, uh-"

"Rosetta," I say as I turn back to him.

He's gone. He vanished into thin air. How could he just disappear?

"What the-"

"Rosetta! Come help me move the fridge!"

"Coming, mom!"

I take a final look at the garden, and turn around to assist my mom.

This place is getting weirder and weirder.

***