Super Sister

Chapter 2

Alex, Kara, and Nova walked into the bathing suit shop together. "I'm not sure I want to do this." Nova said to Alex quietly,

"Nova, we want to enjoy a nice day at the beach with you. Swimming is part of that, trust me, you'll love it!" They spent several minutes picking out different types of bathing suits. They finally made their way to the change rooms.

"I really don't want to do this." Nova insisted,

"Why not?" Alex asked.

"Umm, I guess I'm, what's the word? Self conscious?" Nova looked to her feet, she was never a good liar.

"Look at me," Alex looked Nova straight in the eyes, "there is nothing to be self conscious about, you are a beautiful young girl and you are going to slay these outfits. Now get in that change room" Nova reluctantly took a purple bikini from Alex's hand and walked into the change room. Once she had fully changed, Nova stepped out of the change room.

Alex and Kara were surprised how skinny she was. Way to skinny for a 14 year old. "You look great!" Kara finally said.

"Turn around! Lets see the back" Alex insisted. Nova wrapped her arms around her stomach and shook her head.

"Come on! Why not?" Kara asked, Nova just shook her head again.

"Please," Alex said. Nova hesitated, but finally gave in and turned around. Kara and Alex were both horrified at what they saw. There were scars all over her back, scars from a whip. Kara quickly got up and pulled Nova into the change room.

Kara was well aware that Daxemites hurt their children as a form of punishment, but had never witnessed it first hand.

"Who did this to you, your mother or father?" Kara asked.

"Mainly father, but mother did it sometimes. Don't worry, it's not that bad." Nova insisted.

"Nova, you left Daxem when you were 9. They ruined your childhood." Kara looked like she was holding back tears,

"It was my fault, I wasn't a good child," Nova stated.

"That's no reason for your parents to whip you!" Kara was getting angrier by the second. A tear slipped down Nova's cheek. All of Karas anger melted away.

"Im sorry, its not your fault that your parents were the way they were. Im just being protective." Kara explained.

"Why?" Nova asked

"Because you're my sister."

"But I thought you hated me because Im a Daxemite" Nova looked at her toes.

"I don't hate you, I just didn't understand, you aren't where you came from. I know that now, and as long as I live Im never going to let anyone hurt you." Kara pulled Nova into a hug, Nova started to cry. She sobbed into Kara's chest Alex came in and joined in on the hug. There was no doubt that she was listening in on their conversation.

After a moment they let go and Alex wiped the tears from Nova's eyes. "How about we find you a nice one piece suit, maybe that'll be better." Alex smiled.

The girls finally decided on a blue one piece with a pink and light blue pattern. They also bought her a tie dye bathing suit cover up, a patterned beach towel and sunglasses. They walked out of the store together, chatting away.

~~~

The Next Day...

All of the Danvers piled into the minivan dressed to go to the beach. Alex and Kara chatted away while Nova looked out the window and watched the trees. When they finally got there. Alex and Kara took some things and ran off to get them a good spot.

Nova walked around to the back of the van to where Jeramiah was unloading things. "Can I help?" Nova asked.

Jeramiah looked up, surprised, "Um, sure." Nova helped him unload the lawnchairs. "I'm sorry for my surprise, its just that the girls don't usually offer to help me very often." Nova smiled and unloaded the cooler. Eliza joined them.

"Where did the girls go?" She asked.

"Um, they went to go get a spot." Nova said.

"Oh." Eliza said, "why don't you bring the lawn chairs to them. We'll catch up in a minute." Nova nodded and walked off with the lawn chairs in her arms.

She spotted Kara and Alex rolling out a blanket and putting up an umbrella. Nova ran up to them and set up the lawn chairs. "So," Alex sat down on the blanket they laid out, "Nova, do you know how to swim?" Nova shook her head no. "Well that has to change" Alex yanked off her cover up and ran into the water. Kara did the same. But Nova just walked into the water until it was at her ankles. She yelped when a wave hit her knees. Alex and Kara just kept running. They were up to their chests but Nova stayed back. Suddenly, Eliza came up next to her.

"Come on, sweetie. You'll do fine. Take off your cover up and we'll go in together." She insisted, Nova took off her cover up and ran it back to the blanket. She joined Eliza and walked further into the water. They caught up to Kara and Alex and they started teaching Nova how to swim. But then, out of no where, Jeramiah splashed them all with water. They screamed and laughed but still continued to teach Nova how to swim.
She was starting to get the hang of it, but Jeramiah insisted on piggybacking her most of the time. They splashed around and played with a frisbee until lunch.

They ate sandwiches and fruit. Chatting and laughing away. Nova could feel that she was starting to fit in with this family. She felt welcome and safe, and that's all she'd ever wanted.