A New Beginning

The beginning of a story where Alina and her family get ready for a move

          “Lin! Get up, get up, get up!” My eight year old brother yelled while jumping on my bed like every morning.

          “Ugh! Jason go away! Let me sleep!” I groaned and buried my head in my pillow. This was routine for us.

          “But, Sis! If you don’t get up you’ll miss mommy’s breaky! She made everything we love!” he whined.

          Leaping up and out of my bed, I bolted out the door and down the stairs two at a time with Jason hot on my tail. I slid to a stop just inside the kitchen door; breathing in the delicious scents of my mom’s cooking.

          “Hey there, Sweetie. I’ve made a big breakfast for y’all. We have bacon, eggs, French toast, regular toast, celery, carrots, cucumber, and pancakes!”My mom listed off the different dishes while pointing at each thing. “We also have the greatest maple syrup ever! After all, we are Canadian!” she yelled with a wink.

          Trying to contain my laughter, I snatched a plate from Jason’s hands, ruffled his bright blond curly hair, and skipped over to the bacon. Once I’d loaded everything onto my plate, I went to join my brother and mom at our cute little kitchen table. I looked at Jason’s plate and realised it was barely filled. He’s such a boring person when it comes to food! I heard a stifled laugh and looked up to see my mom grinning at me.

          Rolling my eyes I asked. “So, mom, what’s with the big breakfast?”

          “Well, as you both know, were moving this summer.” She paused, and then continued. “Your father and I have finally decided where we’re going to be moving!” She exclaimed, bouncing in her chair like a child who just found out they were going to Disney Land.

          “Where, Ma?” I asked, smiling.

          “Ottawa!” She replied. “We’re moving to our capital.”

          “Wow! I’ve always wanted to visit Parliament Hill!” I cheered, now even more excited about the move. “Where’s your store going to be located?” I asked.

          “Two different locations. They will only be small boutiques though. One will be at a mall downtown, and the other will be in another mall, close to Kanata I believe.” She smiled. “Now since you’re done your breakfast, go get ready for school. It’s your last week.”

          I put my dishes in the dishwasher and ran up to my room while my mom talked more with Jason. He was sad about the move because he actually had friends to leave behind. I had none. Nobody wanted to hang out with the badly dressed girl who loves history and wears glasses ten times too big for her face. You’d think that being the daughter of one of the most famous fashion designers would mean I had nice clothes, but I don’t. Not ones that I will wear anyways. Pulling on my baggy boy shirt and my basketball shorts and are almost pants; I walked over to my full length mirror on the back of my door and brushed my long dirty blond hair into a messy bun. After adjusting my too big glasses I walked downstairs.

          “Honey, you have to hurry or you’ll be late.” My mom reminded me, ushering me out the door after handing me my lunch.

          “Bye, Mom! Love ya!” I yelled as I pulled my shiny red corvette c7, that my daddy bought me on my sixteenth birthday a few months ago, out of the long driveway. Being sixteen I can drive without an adult in the car here in Grande Prairie, Alberta. From what I’ve read though, in Ontario I need an adult to drive with me in the passenger seat.

          A quick ten minutes after leaving my house I was driving into the parking lot of Grande Prairie Composite High School. Looking at the big building now, I knew there was nothing about this hell hole I would miss. I’m going to be starting new. Getting out of my baby, I saw the disgusted looks the cheerleading squad was giving me. I just smirked and walked off silently praying there were no cheerleaders and the school I’m transferring to.

          My morning classes passed by in a breeze. I told my teachers I was leaving and they all hugged me and wished me luck. I was nowhere near a teachers’ pet, but they loved me even when my attitude got the best of me and I was rude. After second period I grabbed my homemade lunch from my locker and walked outside to my favourite spot, far from everyone else. In the middle of enjoying my salad, a person blocked my sun. I got ready to scream at them, yes I am very moody, but stopped when I realised it was Mr. Clarence, my principal. He sat down and I quickly scanned the yard. Everyone had turned and stared, all discreetly trying to get closer to listen in. Mr. Clarence was not one to mingle with students. The only time he will talk to a student one on one is when they have been sent to his office.

          “Hello, Alina. I heard from all of your teachers that you are leaving.”

          “Yes, that is correct, sir. My mom’s opening more boutiques in other provinces and so we are moving this summer.” I replied.

          “That is very unfortunate. This school will surely be at a loss when our brightest mind leaves.” He said, frowning.

          I snorted loudly making him shake his head at me. “Sir, nobody will miss me. Well, maybe the teachers, but nobody else.”

          “That’s not true.” He argued.

          “I laughed standing up. “You shouldn’t be so oblivious. It’s not good for a principal. Everyone hates me and I hate them. I’m leaving here, and I couldn’t be happier.” With that said, I walked away leaving his there in shock.

          Walking past the students, they all had looks of shock on their faces. I smirked, but it quickly left my face when I saw Missy step in front of me. She’s head cheerleader.

          “So our own dirt bag is leaving. I feel so bad for your new school. I wish you luck. Maybe they’ll treat you just as great as we did here.” She smiled her sickly sweet smile and then threw her head back in a laugh.

          I stood there fuming. I was tired of putting up with her and her ‘friends’. Without a second thought, my hand flew out faster than she could blink and slapped that smile right off her makeup covered face. Gasps rang through the yard. Everybody was once again looking at me in shock. I didn’t care though, I hated this school and I wasn’t coming back after today, no matter what my parents say.

          “You little"” She started but I cut her off quickly.

          “You listen here. I’m done here. I’ve wanted to do that for as long as I can remember. You think you’re all that, well listen closely. Nobody is going to feel sorry for you because you have a handprint on your face. They’ll all just agree that it makes you look better than any amount of time in front of a mirror with your makeup kit will.” I stopped and looked at my soon-to-be old schoolmates. They all had small smiles on their faces as they watched us.

          “Did you just call me ugly!” She screeched in disbelief.

          “Yup!” I replied popping the ‘p’.

          “I am not ugly! I am the prettiest girl ever born! If you want to see ugly I suggest you look in the mirror!” She yelled in my face.

          Yawning, I slowly pretended to wipe her spit off my cheek. “I’m getting bored from talking to you. You need better comebacks.” I started turning around but paused. “Oh, and if you think you’re so pretty naturally, why are you so fake?” Before she could deny it I continued. 11`         “Don’t deny it. Your chest, your face, your hair, your nails, and your body are all fake.” With a smirk in her direction I walked over to my car, hearing the slight laughter my comment earned. Before I could get into my car a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

          “What!” I screamed spinning around. I froze and my eyes widened when I realised it was Tom Jones standing there. He’s the most popular guy at this school, the star hockey player, and Missy’s on and off boyfriend. He’s also the hottest guy in all of Grande Prairie. “W-w-w-” I swallowed. “What do you want?” I asked in shock. He never talked to me!

          “Just wanted to say that what you did back there was pretty cool. I’ve been waiting for someone to call her out for so long.” He smiled his heart stopping smile.

          I frowned. “I thought you liked her.”

          He laughed. “No, but she’s one hell of a time in bed!” He smiled.

          My face scrunched up in disgust. “Yeah, well I have to go. I’m going home to pack and hopefully not get grounded for ditching school.”

          “Wait!” He grabbed my arm. “Good luck at your new school. I’m sorry we made this place so bad.”

          “Yeah, whatever. Bye.” With that said, I slammed my car door and sped off.

          Pulling into my driveway I saw my dad’s car. I quickly shut off the car, gathered my things, and ran into the house.

          “Daddy!” I yelled, dropping my school bag on the small entrance table and kicking off my shoes.

          “Honey, what are you"” He started asking while walking into view, only to be cut off when I literally leaped into his arms.

          “Daddy, I missed you so much!” I told him, hiding my face in his neck while I cried tears of joy.

          “I was only gone for a month, baby, no need to cry.” He replied, rubbing my back soothingly.

          “I know, but I still missed you.” I said while raising my head from his shoulder.

          He put me down onto my feet again. “I promise I won’t be leaving again for a while on business trips. I missed my two beautiful ladies and my little mastermind too much!” He smirked. The same smirk I mastered in the last year. “So now that I have cleared that up. Why are you not in school?” He asked giving me his fatherly stare.

          My smile slipped. “Um...well...you see...” I took a deep and quickly answered. “IgotinanargumentwithoneofmybulliesandsheannoyedmeandsoIslappedherandthencalledheruglyandfakeinfrontofthestudentbodyandnowIcan’tgobacktoschool.” I said this in one breath so all the words sort of jumbled together as one.

          “Woah there, baby girl. Slow it down and space out your words.” He grasped my shoulders and laughed.

          “Okay. Well, this bully overheard the principal talking to me about us moving and so she wanted to say ‘goodbye’ in that rude way of hers. She got really annoying so...long story short, I slapped her, called her ugly, and then called her fake in front of the whole school.” I stopped but wouldn’t look at his face afraid to see his disappointment in me.

          “Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell us you were being bullied?” He asked sounding concerned.

          I looked up to see that he was almost crying. “I didn’t really get too hurt by it. They only bullied me because of the clothes I wear and because I’m ugly. And besides, I mastered that smirk because of it.” I replied with a slight smile, shifting my glasses higher up on my nose.

          “You’re gorgeous, honey. Don’t"” I cut him off.

          “I’m not gorgeous, dad,” I held up my hand to stop his comments and continued, “but I’m also not the ugliest girl in the world. I’m pretty enough, but I hide it with my clothes and these glasses.” I said smiling brightly up at him.

          Looking shocked for a minute; he shook his head and then replied. “You, my beautiful baby girl, amaze me sometimes, and I don’t want you growing up anymore.” He smiled pulling me in for a tight hug.

          A clearing of a throat stopped our hug. We pulled apart and I turned my head to the entrance of the kitchen seeing my mother standing there not looking too impressed with me.

          “Uh, hi, mom.” I said with a slight smile.

          “I just got a call from Mr. Clarence. Is there something you left out when telling your father the reason you’re home early?” She asked walking to my father’s side.

          Defeated I sighed. “Yeah.” I replied, ashamed of how I’d acted with my principal. “I’m so sorry, mom, I didn’t. I mean...I don’t know. It was wrong of me. I’ll just go apologize.” I said, turning and heading to the front door.

          “Okay, but when you get home come and see me in my room.” She said in a stern tone.

          Well I’m dead, I thought to myself as I walked to my car. Another ten minutes later I was pulling into a parking spot just outside the office doors. The administration ladies gave me strange looks as I walked right passed them to Mr. Clarence’s office. I quickly knocked and after a few moments he answered.

          “Alina?” He asked shocked.

          “I just wanted to apologize for my attitude at lunch today. It was wrong of me.” I said.

          “That is quite alright, young lady. It is very mature of you to come here and apologize when your mother already did even after I told her it wasn’t a bother since everyone is entitled to speak their mind.” He replied.

          “Wait! My mom already"never mind. I just hope you have a great summer and a great time running the school next year, sir”

          Thank you, Alina. Good luck next year.” He said as he led me from the office to the main entrance of the school. “Bye, Alina.”

          “Bye!” I called as I jogged to my car.

          Storming into the house I ran to my mom’s room without even bothering to remove my shoes. I burst into her room without knocking and glared at her smiling face.

          “Hey, honey, are you okay?” She asked, smiling at me.

          “No. I’m mad at you.” I said rudely. “You made me apologize after you already had!”

          She continued to smile. “Honey, there’s no need to be rude. I didn’t force you to go and talk to him, you just decided to. And once you decide to do something it’s better to not argue or try to change your plans.” She said calmly.

          My anger quickly faded as I realized she was right. I wouldn’t have listened to her if she’d tried stopping me. When I chose to do something, I did it. Nothing and no one could ever stop me. It was one of the many qualities I got from my father.

          “You’re right, mom. I’m so sorry for being rude, and for wearing my shoes in the house.” I said, disappointed in myself for the second time today.

           “Don’t worry about it, honey. Your being rude wasn’t uncalled for, and your shoes haven’t made any marks.” She replied coming to give me a motherly hug. “Now kick off those shoes and come sit on the bed with me.”

          Quickly taking my shoes off I walked over to her beds and sat down in front of her. “So, what did you want to talk about?” I asked

          “I just wanted to tell you how proud of you I am.” She replied as though stating the obvious.

          “Proud of what? I was rude to my principal, slapped a girl, called her ugly, and then called her fake.”

          “Yes, and that, my darling, is why I am so proud! You stood up for yourself. Your principal told me everything you said to him, and basically everything that happened between you and that bully.” She paused slightly and I looked up shocked by her words only to see that she was on the verge of tears. “Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell us that you were being bullied?” She stopped me before I could talk. “Don’t tell me you could handle it. I know you could. You’re just like me. That’s what scares me though; you’re too much like me sometimes. I don’t want you to miss out on the rest of your high school career because of bullies. I want you to get to live life with a smile on your face instead of only a smirk.” Tears were streaming our faces.

          “I won’t let it anymore, mom. If I’m getting bullied at my new school I will tell you. I promise.” She gripped me in a tight hug.

          Pulling back I asked her what was on my mind. “Why are you so torn up about me being like you?”

          She took a deep breath. “I guess you’re old enough to hear about it. When I was your age, I was you. All the same clothes, my hair always up. The only difference, I didn’t know how to smirk that way. My signature look was a blank face. I had absolutely no friends. I used to lie to my mother and tell her that I had so many friends, so when she started wondering why none of them came around I panicked. I told her the first thing that came to mind, they weren’t allowed anywhere. Their parents were extremely strict. The summer after my grade nine year we moved. I had one friend at that school and was devastated when we moved. So when my mom told her we were moving back, I was so happy that when she asked why I wasn’t calling my friends to tell them we were moving, I told her the truth.” She paused. “She wasn’t mad, just a little upset I never told her. When I got back to my school after the move, everybody was spreading rumours about why I left, and why I came back, but when I ran from them to the bathroom, Martie was there for me. She was the one friend I had left behind, and the one friend who will always have a place in my heart.” She stopped to look at me.

          “Do you mean aunt Martie? Like daddy’s sister?” I asked.

          She smiled. “Yes. That is how we met, your dad and I. Anyways, where was I...Oh yes, so after the first week of being back, I was being bullied again, but this time I went to my mom, with Martie’s help I told her everything. Martie had an idea. One I was terrified about because my clothes were my shield. She wanted me to get a makeover. All new clothes, all new hairstyle. Only thing, her and her mom would do it. I agreed after about half an hour of her telling me that it would highlight my beauty. Plus, I knew that I would get to see her brother a lot if I did this.” She winked, making me gag. Laughing she continued. “So the next day, while her mom was fixing my hair, Martie went to my house and returned with my small wardrobe. Her brother walked in making me terrified. He was the best looking male in the world in my eyes. He was dating the head cheerleader. My main bully.” She had a small smile, probably thinking about what happened next. “When he walked in he tripped over my luggage that Martie had unconsciously pushed backwards. His fake looking girlfriend fell too making me laugh so hard I was crying. His mom laughed too. Especially when Brittany, his girlfriend, screamed that she broke a nail and ruined her beautiful hair. Anyways, when he looked up and saw me laughing he smirked, making his girlfriend scream again because he wasn’t helping her up. Like the gentleman he was he got up, turned around and helped her up. Then, right before my eyes I saw something I never thought I would. He broke up with her. She screamed so loud that I swear I lost hearing for a few minutes. Martie, being awesome, pushed her until she was out the door and slammed it in her face. For the rest of the day your father, his mother, Martie and I sat around talking and laughing and making me beautiful. When Martie took me shopping the next day, your father begged her to come with us. She agreed saying he would have to carry all our bags.” She smiled again. “He did just that, and when I’d walk out to show Martie the clothes I was wearing to see if they were good enough, she’s hit him and scream that I was a person and not available. That night I slept at their house so that Martie could pick out my outfit for the next day and make it so that everybody would drop dead at the sight of me. Which obviously didn’t happen, but I got hit on by virtually every guy. Making your father come over wrap his arm around my waist and tell them that I am not on the market as a play toy. He told them that he would kill them if they tried anything with his little sister’s best friend. He had always been nice to me, even when I was the old me. He wasn’t like those other guys who would help bully me. That’s why when he asked me on a date I said ‘yes’ to him. That, Lina, is my story.” My mom was crying again.

          “Those better be tears of happiness!” I threatened, crying myself at how cute and sweet my father was.

          “Yes, they are.” She smiled through the tears and hugged me; I hugged her back as if my life depended on it.

          “Donna, Alina, are you two alright?” My father asked walking in the room.

          My mom and I lifted our heads to look at his concern filled face and then turned back to look at one another. We simultaneously burst out laughing. We probably sat there laughing for a good three minutes before we finally calmed down.

          “Hello there, James. We are just fine; we just had a mother-daughter bonding session.” My mom responded while grinning at him.

          “I will never understand you Steward women.” My dad mumbled as her turned to leave.

          “Hey!” My mom yelled as he reached the door. “Is that supposed to mean you’d understand women who don’t have the same blood as me?” she asked getting up and walking towards him.

          “Of-of course not! I just meant...” He looked so lost for words I had to hold a pillow to my face to stop my laugh from escaping. “Your family’s women, especially the two of you, can baffle me easier than anyone else.” Watching him smirk at her my laugh escaped making my mom turn to me.

          “Is this funny to you, Lina?” My mom asked cocking a perfect eyebrow questioningly.

          Seeing the mischievous glint in her eye I just shook my head and slid my butt backwards until my back hit the headboard.

          “Are you sure, sweetie? Your laughter kind of gave me the opposite impression.” My dad said, continuing to smirk.

          He closed the door and stood with his back to it and his arms crossed like he was a bodyguard. My mom, on the other hand, started stalking towards me like a predator hunting its prey. My eyes widened and I quickly jumped off the bed, landing on the floor opposite the bed from her. Looking over at my dad I realized he was coming my way too. Before I could even think about how to get out of this, my dad had caught me and dropped me onto my back on the soft bed. As soon as my back hit the bed my mom was straddling me while my dad grabbed a hold of my wrists, holding them above my head. ‘Oh no!’ I thought ‘this isn't good!’. Next thing I knew, my mom started tickling me. I tried to free my hands but it was no use, my dad was way too strong for me. Laughing uncontrollably from being tickled, I tried to open my mouth and tell them I gave in, but all that came out was more laughing. Curse me for being so damn ticklish! After about a minute longer my mom stopped and my dad released my hands.

          “I think that’s a type of abuse” I told them once I caught my breath, smiling slightly since this was routine ‘punishment’ for me if I was caught laughing at their mini bickering.

          “Nope!” My mom exclaimed popping the ‘p’. “Oh, you don’t have to go to school the next two days. You can stay home and help with packing.”

          “Okay, I’ll do that!” I replied with a grin on my face.