The Colors of Change

Chapter 1

I heard my alarm clock going off. I groaned and turned it off. I slid out of bed and got changed into a grey shirt and my skinny jeans. I put a thick jacket with Sequioa National Park across it. I ran down the stairs and grabbed an Orange and some cereal. I quickly ate it and grabbed my backpack and slid on my black boots. "Bye mom!" I yelled. I ran outside then ran back to grab my lunch. I ran down the icy sidewalk to the bus stop. I waited for the bus to pull up while I was waiting I felt a tug on my long black hair. I snapped around to see Kimberly, Ashton, Ethan, and Aiden. I huffed making white clouds coming out of my mouth. 

"Hey, Snow White." Ashton said. I rolled my eyes. 

"It's Clemintine you dolt." I muttered. 

"What did you say? I couldn't here you? Did you say that you were a dolt? That explains it!" Ashton said. Kimberly laughed. 

"Nice one." Ethan said. 

"No, you dolts. I said you were a dolt." I said again raising my voice. 

"Come now thats not nice, Snow White." Kimberly said. I rolled my eyes again. Ever since fifth grade they've been calling me Snow White just because of my raven black hair and pale complection. I sighed with releif as the bus pulled up. I got in and sat down near the front where one of my aquaintences sat, Josie. She was really weird and very funny. She's like the exact oppisite of me since she's more outgoing.

"Hey Clem!" She said. I smiled. 

"Hey J!" I said. She smiled back and poked my shoulder. 

"Everlasting poke!" She yelled out. I snorted and poked her back. Soon we both started to laugh so hard that we both wound up failing. After we finished laughing Josie sat up. "How was your dad's house?" She asked. 

"It was awesome! We went to the local arcade over there and went on the bumper cars and go carts!" I said. 

"Awesome!" She said. Josie was one of the only people who didn't bully me along with Aiden but he didn't talk all to much though. Josie kept asking me questions and I answered them to the best of my ability. She looked out the window at one point her grey/blue/brown eyes alert. I peered out the window. 

"Whatcha lookin at?" I asked her. She looked back at me. 

"I thought I saw someone familiar." She said. She slumped back onto her chair being awefully quiet. Naturally I would enjoy the quiet but this was an eerie quiet from Josie. She normally was never quiet unless it was during class or she was ultra fustrated. I stared at her. 

"You okay?" I asked. She sighed looking at me. 

"You wouldn't understand if I told you." She said. I could tell by her eyes that she didn't want to talk about it. I shrugged and leaned back. "Hey. Can we have a sleepover sometime?" She asked. I sighed. 

"I'm going over to my Dad's house this weekend. Actually more like Mark and Nicole's house." I said smiling. 

"Your awesome brother and sister-in-law's house?" She asked. I nodded. 

"I haven't seen them in a couple months now. Plus Nicole called my dad and asked that we come over sometime. She said that she has a surprise." I said. Josie smiled as the bus pulled to a stop. I got out and walked into the school. Josie's locker and classes were on the other side of the school except one, Art. The one class we share. I grabbed my books and shoved my backpack and lunch into the locker. I sighed and slammed it shut and ran to next class before the three wretches popped up to bully me. 

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*

After school

I walked home from school with the three wretches following me. I sighed and ignored them as I watched as the scenery changed from school zone to the slums. I was starting to get on edge now as I passed by many gang members. Sometimes out of the corner of my eye I would see Ethan approach one and slam shoulders with one and greet him by name. I looked across the street to see two little kids running around the front lawn and then see one of the gang members come up and threaten their mom with a gun. I frowned and shivered. The slums were always the worst. I sighed and looked to see the industrial part coming up. Since Luke worked as the manager for the Ford company here we got good benefits. I ran up the stairs and into the house. "Mom! Luke! I'm home!" I yelled. I took off my shoes and put them on the door mat. I walked into the dinning room and started to do my homework. Luke peeked into the dinning room. 

"Hey kid. How was you day?" He asked. 

"Okay, I got teased again." I said. 

"Snow White again?" He asked. I nodded. "I would take that as a compliment. I like the Snow White tale. Besides. Their jealous of your hair. It's pretty." He said. I smiled gratefull at Luke and then got back to Algebra. I huffed as I couldn't figure out a problem. "Having trouble?" Luke asked sitting down with his coffee.

"Yea." I said. "Can Mr. Engineer man help?" I asked. 

"Sure lemme go find him!" He said getting up and running to the door. He opened it and peeked his head out. "MR. ENGINEER MAN! GET OVER HERE!" He yelled out the door. I started to laugh at him. Luke was hilarious and extremely weird. He came back and sat down. "He ran away!"  He said groaning. 

"I meant you!" I said sticking out my tongue.

"Oh right! I'm an engineer aren't I?" He said. I told him my problem and he helped me figure it out. After I was done with homework I put my backpack near the door.

"Thanks again, Luke." I said.

"Seriously. Whats up with the first name basis? Shouldn't you call me dad or something?" He said.

"Alright 'or something!" I said laughing. He chuckled.

"Hot Choco?" He asked. I nodded eagerly and sat down on the couch turning on the TV and flipping through the channels. I smiled. Atleast I have Luke here to make me laugh, sometimes. I thought.