Orchard

1

My name is Celeste Bordeaux. I am 17 years old. I live with my mother in a small town called Orchard. No, there are no orchards around. It's a depressing, middle-of-no-where town. All the buildings were built in the 1880's so it has what my mother likes to call an "antique" vibe. We're an old French community although no one speaks French anymore except the elderly. Legend has it, when the Chevelair's of France migrated to the grand ole US of A, they were welcomed by the Americans into this town. My house is hideous by all means, in my opinion. Before my father died, it was a beautiful old time cottage but now it looks like someone took a giant shit on it. I dare not say that around my mother who practically worships the place.

I was going to be starting my senior year at Orchard High this week, not excited. Mother likes to attempt to pick out my outfits but I kindly remind her that I will legally be an adult in 5 months and she usually backs off. Our town is pretty conservative so I had a nice dress picked out and a bow too match, granted I looked 10, but if I wore "normal" clothing to the first day which was a huge deal to my mother, she would throw a fit. "Celeste," she'd say "First impressions last a lifetime" and then she'd scurry off mumbling in French like an old bat. Not exactly sure who I would be impressing when I've known everyone in this town since I came out the damn womb.

I put my dress on and went downstairs so my mother could do my hair, she likes to do it in the mornings, ritual for her. I don't mind. she does these amazing braids and my hair is practically down to my butt so it looks great. "Celeste, you have such beautiful blonde hair" She says while combing. "I know mother, it comes from you" I say. She sighs. I could feel the strands of hair gently pulling into the braid. After she finished, I took one last look in the mirror. I hate having brown eyes, all the eye colors in the world and mine are shit color? Fun. I grabbed my backpack, and 10$ for lunch, and headed out the door. It was a pretty unsettling breeze for August 25, I mean, fall is supposed to be breezy right? But this was like, a gust of freezing wind to the face. Odd.

I made it halfway down my street when a hand yanked me back. "Mother?" I asked frantically. "No, silly" A male voice says, and I whip around to face him. Standing infront of me was a tall, pale boy with black hair and ocean blue eyes. "Hi, I'm Demitri, I'm new here. And you are?"