Memories

Chapter 1- Discoveries

AUTUMN 2014.

SANDY

My eyes flew open and I screamed with sweat dripping all over my body.

Oh my god, what was that?

 All I saw were blue eyes, looking up at me with tears and the next moment I felt an immense pain ripping through my heart and my chest, as if someone stabbed me with a dagger .

Although it was just a dream, it felt..so real.

This is not the first time I've had nightmares.The same vision-a pair of teary blue eyes-has been haunting me since the time I remember. But this was the first time I felt the pain. it seemed as if my mind wanted to warn me about something.. 

I could distinctly hear my mother's footsteps towards my room. I groaned ... oh I did it again! Before  I  assured mom that I am fine, I could hear her frightened cries, " Sandy!! baby, are you okay?" and burst into my room. As soon as she saw that I wasn't murdered by a serial killer or anything, she let out a sigh of relief. The next moment she realized something and she stared at me ,with her eyes open wide.

"Again ?"she managed to whisper, after  looking at me for several moments. I nodded slowly, unsure what to say.

"Oh no, " she said as she plopped down on the bed. "Oh mom, it's nothing !" I said ,exasperated at her over reaction. She's been on and on about my nightmares  ever since she mentioned it to her friend, who worked as a fortune teller in the weekly fair. Her friend "predicted" that it was a sign that my deceased father has possessed my soul. My mom seemed to believe her fraud friend though I 've told her repeatedly that the eyes which I see were blue, and dad's were green. I am a living example of that.

"Baby, this is going way out of hand," she said, ignoring my annoyed look, "this...has all the signs which Beth talked to me about.. perhaps we should.."  "NO!" I  yelled, jumping out of bed.  No way am I going to meet that devil of a woman again.

I glanced at the wall  clock and my eyes grew wide.  Three things popped into my head.

I am late.   It's Monday.  Mrs  Emerson.

These words were enough to make me run to the bathroom to get ready.

I was trying to gobble up my cereal and tie my hair at the same time when Ellen, my big sister, waltzed into the kitchen. For the millionth  time  in my life, I was awestruck by her beauty. Ellen was the incarnation of Aphrodite- Tall and graceful,Strawberry blond hair, tanned skin and incredibly long eyelashes. I was in stark contrast to my sister-mud brown hair , average height and pasty skin. The only physical feature we had in common were our green eyes.

"Late again, sis?" my sister remarked, grabbing my hair and braiding it. "Yeah, forgot to set the alarm." I muttered. Ellen tut- tutted . "Sandy, you urgently need a hair cut. Why don't  you come  with me to the salon after school?"I panicked as I remembered my experience with Ellen's hairdresser, who gave me a boy cut in the pretext of a "pixie" haircut. Sure ,that's what I looked like in my entire sophomore year of high school.. Looking at my terrified expression, Ellen quickly changed the topic.

I managed to reach school "only" fifteen minutes late. I tip toed into the  school , all the way praying that Mrs Emerson didn't notice my absence. Unfortunately, there  she was, waiting in front of the classroom, looking  daggers at me.

I am in deep, deep trouble.

"Miss Cooper, this is very disappointing indeed."Mrs  Bakson ,the principal said, in a pitiful tone.

"Indeed it is, Mrs Bakson, Sandy Cooper seems to have forgotten the meaning of punctuality,"Mrs Emerson said, with a threatening edge in her voice ,

" This has been continuing for a two weeks now and I believe that she should be sent back home today."
I finally managed to find  my voice. "I am very sorry, I swear it won't happen again." I said. My least favorite teacher continued looking at me through narrow eyes .But Mrs Bakson, god bless her, decided to give me a break.

"Are you sure, Sandra?" Ugh, Sandra. I nodded back.

"All right then , I think we can give you a second chance."Mrs Emerson looked at the principal, looked at me and decided to  let it go.

"All right Bertha, if you insist."

I ran  into  class as soon as the Beauty and the Beast let me go. As I sat on the back bench, Lucy and  Nicole, my best friends, gave me puzzling looks."What?" they mouthed. "Emerson" I mouthed back. that was all the explanation they needed.

As I dragged myself to my car after school, I saw Lucy running to catch up with me ."hey," I said. She ignored my greeting."Where were you during lunch?"

"Oh, i skipped it."

"Why?"

I shrugged. I didn't want to tell her that my teacher-cum-nemesis made me stay to catch up the missed morning class.

"Anyway, I've got news for you." Lucy said, her eyes twinkling. there could be only one thing..

"WE GOT SELECTED?"I  bellowed. Lucy nodded furiously, smiling widely.

OH MY GOD. Lucy and my paintings got selected in the national level of a renowned art scholarship in New York!!

Both of us continued shrieking  until the teachers whisked us out of the building. I was giddy with excitement and couldn't wait to tell mom.

When I saw mom, the  first thing I noticed was that she was looking rather pale. I decided to first deliver my good news.

"MOM! MY PAINTING GOT SELECTED!"

My mom smiled widely and hugged me."This is certainly a day of discoveries dear."

I blinked. That was totally not what I expected to hear.

"Um-Mom ,what do you mean by 'other discoveries'?"

Mom hesitated. Suddenly, she said

" Where do you need to go for the final round" ?

"Er..New York?"

Mom smiled. "Good, cause that's where we are moving to . I got my transfer notice from work today .With a pay raise."

My mind suddenly turned blank. "W..What?"

My mom misinterpreted my expression. "Don't worry baby. I've found a  school for you out
there."

Suddenly, something struck in my mind. Somebody else is moving to new York too..

"Mom..which school are you talking about?"

Mom looked at me strangely. "You know that school..where Mrs Emerson is moving to..the one in which her son goes to."

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HI this is devi..didn't get time to check for grammatical mistakes..so..please excuse!

thankyou!