My So-Called Charmed Life

Chapter One

I stared at the pile of boxes in my new bedroom. The walls were painted this ugly eggplant purple, and the carpets matched. There was a bunkbed in the corner of the room with the most disgusting floral printed sheets that reeked of moth balls. This was my new life. I had been sent to live with Aunt Marcy after my parents died last month. Between the funeral and almost getting bounced around the system until I was eighteen, they finally got in contact with my aunt in San Francisco.

I sighed, I almost didn't want to unpack because my eighteenth birthday was right around the corner and I would probably be moving again. There was a knock at my bedroom door and Marcy popped her head in. She had mousy brown hair that was pulled into a tight bun, with two single strands framing her round face. Her almond shaped eyes hidden behind thick black-framed glasses.

Aunt Marcy and my mother had been twins, but they were complete opposites. My mother was more of an introvert while Aunt Marcy was an extrovert. Which is why the move to Aunt Marcy's was not what I had in mind.

"I ordered Chinese. You still like Won Ton, right?" Marcy asked.

"Yeah, that's fine." I replied.

"Great, it should be here in a few moments. We can watch a movie or something."

"Sure," Was all I could say before she left me alone.

Chinese and a movie, with Aunt Marcy. Perfect.

I started my new school on Monday. Aunt Marcy drove me in, in her beaten down Volkswagen she refused to trade in. She said it was vintage. I just said it was old. As we pulled up into the carpool line, Marcy handed me a couple of crumbled up Lincolns.

"Lunch money. Go right into the office, they are expecting you." Marcy said.

I nodded, clutching the strap of my bright red Jansport backpack that I've had since middle school. Red was my favorite color, and all of my friends had signed it before I left.

I walked into main hallway of the school. The walls were lined with maroon colored lockers, most of them were dented. Halfway down the hall was a trophy case filled with pictures and trophies. There was a small banner inside the case that said Go Tigers. When I found the main office, I noticed the locker next to the office door was vandalized with Freak spray painted on it with black.

"Well this is going to be a fun place," I mumbled to myself, walking inside of the office.

The fluorescent lights inside nearly blinded me as I walked up to a desk. Her desk plaque said Miss Jacobson on it.

"Good morning," She said with a smile. Her teeth were way too white, and her carrot colored hair was pulled up into the tightest bun I had ever seen in my life.

"Hey," I said, gripping onto the strap of my backpack even harder. Pretty sure I cut the circulation off in my hands. "My name is Tristan McBride, my Aunt Marcy said you were expecting me?"

Miss Jacobson nearly dropped the stack of folders she was holding. "Are you Luce Wilder's daughter?"

I nodded slightly.

"You knew my mom?" I asked.

She walked around her desk and up to me, still smiling. "She was my best friend. Please, call me Maryanne."

"Um," I try to find the words. "Funny that my mother never mentioned you."

"After high school we sort of disconnected. My fault really. She asked me to go to school with her out in Pennsylvania, but I just couldn't leave my mother here, alone. So, I stayed at the community college." She sighed, turning to her desk. She opened up a folder and handed me a piece of paper.