The Stars Upon Us

The Drop-off

Sunday, August 9th
I began to stare out of the passenger seat window and watched the city of New York slowly begin to disappear as I began to dread our next destination.

My unbiological father, Lee, had already been driving our run-down red oldsmobile for over four hours. People could often tell Lee and I were not biologically related due to the fact that I have tan skin, light brown eyes, and dark brown hair in the form of a pixie cut while Lee was a tall dark man with a serious expression along with short dark brown hair, a beard, and a mustache. Even though Lee was not my biological father, he was the closest person I had as a father figure.

I could hear my brother, Alvin Junior, play with his disco broccoli toy that I bought for him on his 6th birthday. I turned around and faced the backseat of our car where my brother was. I gave Alvin Junior a small smile and he returned it immediately. I gave a small glance behind him and saw that the buildings or New York had completely disappeared and we were now faced with a old road surrounded by trees in a matter of hours.

I stayed looking at Alvin Junior play with his toy when suddenly I heard Lee's deep voice speak. "So are you ready?", he asked me as he gave a small glance through the rear view mirror to see me looking down upon Alvin Junior. "I guess," I managed to say as I turned back around in my seat facing the road ahead of us.

I stared at all of the trees around us and I began to become full of anxiety and worries at the thought of being on my own in a new place without guidance once again. I had not been alone ever since the incident which caused me to fall into Lee's care. My mind began to wonder all of the things that could happen, I could be bullied, everyone could hate me, I could be kidnapped, I could be involved in a fire.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Lee's voice announcing to me that we were minutes away from my new school. My heart began to beat a mile a minute as I began to stare into the deep forest of my new boarding school. I began to slightly tug on the bracelet that was given to me by my mother when I was 8 years old. I always kept it with me as a reminder that I used to have a mom who cared for me. I glanced at Alvin through the rear view mirror who was looking out the window at all of the tall pine trees around us. I suddenly heard Lee's voice say, "We're here".

I stared at the large stone building with the words 'Erickson's Boarding School' displayed in white paint through a large banner placed in front of the schoolyard. The school was surrounded by large brick that guarded the school and a wooden gate to let us into the yard. From what I could see, the school yard consists of 4 lunch tables, a water fountain displayed in the middle along with cobalt paths that lead us throughout the yard and into the school building. I began to panic thinking about how large my new school is and how easily I could get lost. Lee noticed the worry in my eyes and gave me a small hopeful smile that said 'you'll be okay'. I returned the best smile I could manage that said back 'I hope so'.

I opened the car door which gave a small creak as it opened. I stepped on the untamed dead grass with my black boots. I walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk to retrieve my things that were in a small suitcase and backpack. I could hear Lee step out of the car and walk to the back with me as he helped me carry my suitcase onto the grass. After I put on my backpack and got ahold on my suitcase, I looked up and Lee and saw him giving me a small smile. I held out my skinny arms and hugged me as tight as I could. He returned the hug with a tighter hug and said, "I'm gonna miss you, sweet pea". "I'm gonna miss you too, dad", I said in return as my eyes began to water at the thought of leaving the only father figure in my life. I let go of our hug and kneeled down to Alvin who was standing next to Lee. I hugged Alvin just as tight as I hugged Lee as he returned the hug. "I'm gonna miss you, goofball," I said as I smiled at him knowing he doesn't like me calling him 'goofball'. "It's Alvin Junior, actually", he said defensively as he began to puff out his chest to make him seem more manly. Lee and I let out a small laugh as I questioned, "AJ still work?". AJ smiled and said 'yep' then gave me another tight hug. I hugged AJ back and ruffled his afro a bit. "HEY! NOT THE FRO!", AJ exclaimed as he began to attempt to fix his afro. I chuckled at AJ then stood back up straight. "I guess this is goodbye...", I said in a sad tone as I hugged Lee once more. "Just for now", he replied as he returned my hug. I let go of my hug with Lee and grabbed onto my suitcase once again and began walking on the grass through the wooden doors of my new school.

I knew I shouldn't turn around and wave goodbye once again. I knew that seeing my only family from a distance and not being able to run back to them would hurt me emotionally as well as them. Yet, I turned around. I saw Lee carrying AJ as AJ had his head on Lee's shoulder crying. Lee was whispering to AJ and by the movement of his mouth he said something along the words of 'Clementine's safe now'. AJ then nodded and wiped away his tears with his red jacket I gave him a couple of months ago. Lee caught me turned around and smiled and waved at me. I smiled and waved back then turned back around.

I walked through the schoolyard along the cobalt pathways straight to the stone staircase that led up to the building. As I walked by I glanced into the water fountain which looked to be filled with fresh water. I made my way up the large staircase as I could hear Lee's car drive away. I turned around and witnessed his car disappear within the forest. I began to come to the realization that AJ and Lee were gone and they would not return until I was finished with high school.

I opened the large wooden doors and found myself staring into a large hallway with large windows at the end of it and about 6 classrooms. There were many lockers along the sides of the walls, the floor was painted with the color of yellow and black, and there was many inspirational cheesy posters on the wall such as 'you got this!' and 'never give up!'.

I sighed and walked into the first room to the right labeled "Administrator's Office'. I walked into the room that was filled with baby blue with one large desk and one laptop with one lady behind the counter. I approached the lady and spoke in a silent voice. "H-Hi, my names Clementine Everett, I'm the new student from New York.", I stuttered out in a quiet voice. The lady looked at me up and down. I looked down at my outfit. I wore a dirty baseball cap with the worn down letter D barely left stitched onto it with my pixie cut hair style, a navy blue leather jacket with a white shirt under, along with blue skinny jeans and my signature black leather boots with red laces. After a moment of silence the lady said, "Ah yes, Clementine, we're glad to have you here at our school for troubled youth". She gave me a warm smile yet I was a bit shocked. "I'm sorry, did you say troubled youth?", I questioned as I stood in a shocked stance. The lady nodded and gave me an odd and confused look. "Were you not aware of that?...", she questioned as I shook my head. Troubled youth? Why would Lee consider me a troubled kid? My mind began to wonder that maybe Lee didn't want me anymore and only wanted AJ.

I left as my heart sank to my stomach, but the administration lady then printed out my schedule and handed it to me. "I wish you the best of luck dear", she said as I walked out of her office. I began to examine my schedule trying to figure out where all of my classes are when all of a sudden I heard loud running footsteps behind me. Everyone in the hallway immediately ran to the sides of the hallway. I turned around swiftly and saw teenage guys running towards me as one yelled at me, "MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!". One of the boys who ran into me knocked me straight down to my feet.