𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀 | elektra perkins

001: arrival at the dumping ground

CHAPTER ONE; arrival at the dumping ground

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The dull colours of the urban city blurred into dust as Nova gazed out the car window. She pulled her scraggly stuffed elephant - a gift from her grandmother when she was a baby, which she can't sleep without- closer to her face and listened intently to the music playing from her headphones. The Smith's melancholy tune drowned out the outside world, and more importantly, her social worker's natter. James had begun the journey by telling Nova that this care house would be different, that the people were much nicer, not like Burnywood at all. This caused her to roll her eyes at the middle-aged man and turn her music up even louder.

Eventually, James' red Mini pulled up to a house with a large elm tree outside in its garden. No points for guessing why it's called Elm Tree House. The tree, Nova noticed, looked good to climb, and the girl made a mental note to check it out if she ever needed some space and alone time. The redhead figured it'd be a good place to draw from, with a view high up enough to get a good overlook of her surroundings. If she lasted in Elm Tree House, that was.

When James got out the car, Nova paused her music - much to her dismay - and smoothed down her black pencil skirt. In one swift motion she slung her bag full of her most important possessions (her art supplies, her diary, the books she was currently reading and a photo frame of her and her little sister) onto her shoulder. James jogged briskly around the body of the car to take out Nova's suitcase from the boot and then wheeled it to the door. James didn't need to glance over his shoulder at the car to know that Nova hadn't moved a muscle since stepping out if her seat. He sighed, deposited the suitcase on the grown and called out to her.
"Come on Nova! I'll be with you for the first few hours, you've got nothing to worry about" James reassured. Nova sighed and slowly took the thirteen painstakingly slow steps to the door.

She stood beside him as he rang the doorbell once. A few seconds passed until Nova repeatedly pressed the doorbell, its annoying chime echoing around the porch.
"That's not going to make them answer any quicker, Nova." James chuckled nervously. Nova smiled to herself, rolled her eyes and stepped off the porch steps and resumed her place behind her social worker. Moments later a bald man answered the door and introduced himself as Mike. Nova noticed his overly happy grin matched James' and frowned.
Must be a care worker thing - having an over-the-top smile.

"Someone's eager to come in." Mike laughed, managing to hide his annoyance well. Nova smiled sarcastically before being led into the house. She was met by half a dozen eyes all glaring at her petite frame. Three girls were stood on the stairs smiling and whispering, a smartly (and oddly) dressed boy was stood by Mike, and another boy was stood by the stairs.
Mike and James entered the office, leaving the girl to get to know everyone. Before James abandoned her in this strange new environment where she flet like an attraction at a museum, James put a reassuring hand on Nova's shoulder and gave her a toothy grin. She was sure it was meant to be comforting, but Nova knew nothing could calm her nerves today. Nova hated meeting new people; she much preferred the company of music and books.

As soon as the door closed, everyone ran towards Nova which meant she had to take a few steps back to avoid being knocked over. Now, instead of a museum exhibit, she felt like she was a desired celebrity, and the children were crazed fans. Nova's heart went out to all the celebrities who were treated like this- it was a horrible way to feel.

The children bombarded the newest addition with questions the moment the door to Mikes office shut. None of these questions were ones Nova wanted to answer, so she just stood there looking dumbfounded as she tried to get her rapid breathing under control. A panic attack was definitely not what Nova needed today. Or ever really. But especially today.

A large lady came from somewhere and boomed at everyone to leave "the poor girl" alone and give her some space.
"Hello, I'm Gina, a care worker here." She introduced, after everyone had settled down. Two more kids came down the stairs and another adult from the hallway.
"And her over there is Tacy, another care worker here."
Tracy came over and shook my hand.  Not quite certain how she should be feeling currently, Nova bitterly smiled at Tracy before the noise began again.
Everyone had begun swarming around the redhead once more as they yelled their questions over one another, and over Tracy and Gina trying to quieten them down.

Nova could feel her frown line sinking into her freckled skin, becoming permanent. After a couple of minutes, the girl on the stairs, with a blue streak in her hair, yelled, "Oi Ginge what's your name?"
This caused Ginge to sigh. She knew it would only be a matter of time before someone called her that. The blue haired girl's outburst caused everyone to fall silent as the girl strutted off the stairs towards Nova.

"Nova." Nova replied, unamused. She sounded more confident than she felt, which was a good start, she thought.
"That's a unique name." The boy in blue and suede said.
Nova smirked, keeping the blue haired girl's eye contact, and replied, "I'm a unique girl." She then winked at the boy hoping to feign confidence, and everyone began talking again, apart from the girl in blue, whose face, Nova found, was hard to read. Luckily, Nova was pulled into the office at that moment, a glad respite from the crowd in the hall.

After running through the basics of living at Elm Tree and all the rules, Mike informed the girl that she would have her own room. He'd moved one of the girls, Lily, into another room so Nova could get her own. This shocked Nova as she knew the care system; she knew no one really got their own room unless they had a special reason to, which Nova was unaware she had.

Curious, the girl asked why she got her own room, as she pulled herself up from slouching in the red leather chair. Mike's response annoyed Nova. He just shrugged and answered, "We thought you'd be happier on your own."
"Wouldn't everyone?" She replied, annoyed.
'Oh look, here comes James with his obnoxious smile and frantic hand gestures'  Nova sighed and waited for James to try and diffuse her anger.
"Now, Nova, there's no need to get annoyed, Mike's only trying to make you feel comfortable here." James explained.
Nova rolled her eyes. Bullshit.
"It's because of what happened at Burnywood, isn't it?" Nova Parks stood up. Her heart was racing, and her breathing had picked up pace again. Damn her stupid anxiety.
James and Mike looked at each other for reassurance.
"Having your own room has nothing to do with Burnywood, Nova. Most people here have their own rooms, and it just so happens that most of the girls are younger than you, so it wouldn't be right to ask you to share with them." Mike explained calmly. Nova guessed that by the way he talked to her that Mike had been working in the care system for a long time. She wasn't wrong. "we're not against you here, Nova."
Nova sighed, "Okay, whatever. Sorry." she mumbled.

Just as Nova was about to sit down, there was a knock on the door and the oddly dressed boy from before entered.
"It's three thirty. I need to take Nova on the tour now." he said, rather annoyed.
Mike smiled and gestured for the requested girl to follow the boy, who held out his hand, "Hello I'm Gus Carmichael. Nice to meet you."
Nova reluctantly shook his hand. "Okay dude..." She didn't quite know what to say.
"Please do not call me 'dude', my name is Gus. What's your full name?"
Nova frowned and nodded to herself in an attempt to gain confidence. "Nova Parks."
"Is that your complete full name? Most people have a middle name."
Nova sighed. "Penelope Nova Parks. But everyone calls me Nova. I won't answer to anything else."

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