Chapter I – Beginning Anew?

The wind shifted northeast towards the sprawling daubs of rose lit gray skies of the early morn. Along with the current turned the head of a girl, black locks brushing the cool air. Her eyes the colour of deepest ocean intermingled with amethyst hues she contemplated the flat rise of a three story building that expanded across roughly 700 metres. Coral tinged and brick laid the building gave off an aura of security and tranquility. The courtyard was neatly adorned with bushes and a scattering of trees with one at the offset centre. As she gazed momentarily longer the air altered its course once again, and the girl turned, and left.

Heading opposite of the building she curiously gave an amused grin and addressed into empty air.

“Come out Darren.”

A rustle of glaucous foliage revealed the lithe form of a young man with auburn hair swept partially to one side. He wore a slick sable tench coat that hung open at his sides, a plain white T-shirt, and loose black cargos atop engineer boots.

Focusing his tawny brown eyes upon the girl who matched his coat for coat he gave a wry smirk.

“I never can surprise you, can I?” he stated more than questioned as he walked over.

She smiled in reply as the two set off together.

Once moving the man queried, “What do you think?” Gesturing to the building behind with a jerk of his head.

In response the dark haired girl said, “It’s quaint. I like it.”

The man gave a short laugh, a hearty and light chuckle.

“Such a curt answer; just that?”

Another smile.

“Hopefully it’ll be more peaceful here, and I can get my work done.”

“That’s better, but just work? No fun?” he teased.

“It’s not like I’m staying long.”

“Oh C’mon, a few parties, break a few hearts-”

The girl abruptly elbowed him, making the young man laugh once more.

“It’s not like you haven’t before Esteire,” the man pointed out playfully.

Rolling her eyes in mirth she added, “But at least I don’t lead them on like you.”

He softly chuckled again, but as he replied, “Yeah,” a faint lugubrious light enveloped in his amber eyes.

~

“Agen-” a brunette of middle height began to speak as Darren slung an arm around the guy’s stiff official frame.

“Let’s cut with the titles Mark, the operation succeeded,” the amber eyed young man cheered, yet added in a side breath, “Though I hardly see spying on a high school an ‘operation.’”

Mark, the man with the dark green livery customary of the Agency, gave a weak but heartened smile as he replied, “Well the Chief wants to see you two in his office.”

Giving a nod Esteire and Darren exited the vicinity and into the marbled tiled hallways leading to the Nonagon.

As the doors snapped shut a middle aged man of a dark blue and white uniform addressed the young agents.

“Well how do you like your new quarters Esteire?” pronounced the man jovially, entirely shattering the initial image of a dour and ruthless leader.

She gave a slight fleeting smile and answered smoothly, “Very well Chief.”

“Ah, good good. Then please proceed as usual. Darren, watch over her; I don’t want the Mister uttering any complaints now.”

He gave the Agency’s distinctive obeisance, a salute to the heart with the ring and pinky finger crooked in the palm. Rigid with heels partially separated yet with a bright smile plastered onto his face he gave a, “Yes sir!”

~Forever Waiting~

Self-smothering herself to block the strident din of the alarm clock, the petite girl fidgeted underneath her cushiony shelter before lobbing exasperatedly the blanket onto the bed headboard. Muttering under her breath as she heaved herself onto the edge of the bed, the light-haired brunette listlessly sought the clock with closed eyes. Finally deactivating the alarm she slung herself up and towards the closet to get changed.

Deciding on a light blue blouse that matched her eyes, a ruffled white skirt that went a little above her knees, and two inch tan wedges with crisscrossed leather, she proceeded to the bathroom and subsequently downstairs.

“Esteire,” the girl cried out in surprise upon the sight of her sister fully dressed and sipping tea at the kitchen table.

“I didn’t hear you get up! When did you wake up?” she asked as she sat down to a breakfast of eggs, fruit and cereal, indicating that it wasn’t mother who had prepared so tedious a meal.

“Before I woke up that’s what,” interjected their father who came ambling into the room.

Her mouth parted ajar at the remark as he often woke up at five.

“How do you sleep?” she exclaimed, and then adding, “And the first day of school as well,” getting an amused smile out of her darker haired sister who just continued to sip her English breakfast tea.

For the past few years her older sister made the breakfast instead of her mother. The rare times Mrs. Andrews did prepare the breakfast only a glass of milk and cereal would be present. The ever concerning eldest, Esteire always took the extra mile to provide a varied selection for her sixteen year old sister, despite her habitual early waking.

Suddenly getting up Esteire announced, “I’ll be going now.”

Aghast, the younger sister shot up from the table protesting, “You couldn’t at least wait for me?”

The ebony haired girl smiled and offered, “If you hurry up I’ll drive you.”

Upon the pretense of a ride in her sister’s black mercedes she scoffed down her meal, slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, and darted out the doors in pursuit.

Plopping down on the leather the brunette gave a satisfied exhale and declared, “What a way to go to school!”

“Don’t get used to it,” teased Esteire revving up the engine, though it was highly likely the doting sister would upon request of her delicate five foot two sister.

Although they lived within a fifteen minute walk to school Esteire was accustomed to driving wherever she went. While most teenagers would start driving at the age of eighteen in France, Esteire was already an adept driver having gotten her license back in America. She had even bought her own car at the time, making Elisa wonder just who had actually paid for it whilst secretly hoping they were her parents.

“Excited Elisa?” she asked her lone passenger.

Bundling her bag awkwardly onto her lap to huddle it, the youngest Andrew daughter, Elisa, truthfully replied, “Yes, but pretty nervous too.”

“You’ll do great,” Esteire assured as she went around a bend, “High school’s fun.”

“Yeah, but I’ve been homeschooled all my life,” Elisa dissented, then added as an afterthought, “And I would hardly call studying abroad typical ‘high school.’”

The dark haired girl faintly grinned in response, the outline of the high school emerging over the street’s horizon, brick laid and painted pale tangerine pink.

Passing through the coppery gates Elisa peered out the window at the influx of chattering students, all seeming to know each other despite being the first school day. She surmised them complaining about the end of vacation and not being able to finish their summer plans, wondering all the while how it would feel to speak of such things to a classmate as well.

“Here we are,” announced her sister as she veered perfectly aligned into a parking space.

On cue Elisa opened the car door with a tense flick of the wrist and stepped out into the pale sunshine. Scoping the area that lay before her she inhaled deeply as if to relieve tension by taking in the morning air. Glancing towards her sister who looked onward with straight, steady eyes, she clutched her bag a little tighter and mentally prepared herself for whatever to come.

“Welcome to Amorei Elisa.”

Author's Note

I had a strange way of paragraphing back then.