Story # 3-- New Kid on the Block

CHAPTER 1!

Serena stood in the yard of her new home and looked around. It was a shabby neighbourhood, and she knew that she was not going to be able to last here. But it was what her father wanted and...what her father wanted, her father got. THAT was why he was a general in the army. THAT was why he was so strong and respected. And THAT was why he could never tolerate Serena and her wishy washy attitude. An attitude he called submissive and weak. Well, she was submissive and weak, and she was wishy washy, and if he didn't like it her could just SHOVE IT. How was that for wishy washy?

Serena had the kind of beauty that made people watch her. She had an inner grace and elegance that made her stand out. She was calm and peaceful and hated fights. She never, ever fought anybody unless they pushed the issue. She was fairly short, about 5,5 and had dark blonde hair shot through with streaks of pale moonbeam blonde. She had big dark blue eyes that were tilted at the corners to give her a very exotic and kittenish look. She was slender and curvy, and at the age of 17 she had a body that made the boys minds wander, and the men's mouths water. She was strong, and knew martial arts. She knew how to defend herself if the situation should arise, but no one knew the inner Serena. No one but her best friends knew about the dependent, needy Serena who was emotional and clingy and loved to hug and cuddle. She kept that Serena under tight lock and key. She let her out only when she was around people she trusted with her life or when she was around her beloved pets. Wherever Serena went people watched her, and she hated it because she could never blend into a crowd.

Serena knew people were watching her right now. She could feel eyes on her. She knew that there was a gang of boys standing off to the far right watching. She knew there was a group of girls standing a little in front of them watching. She knew the neighbours were watching and she knew that the druggies and their dealers and the hookers and their pimps were watching. And she didn't care, she was just too tired to care. She knew it was just another town, just a few weeks and she would be moving again. She watched the moving men bring in her stuff and her dad's stuff and wondered, "Why are they bothering? Don't they know that we'll just pack up and leave again? What's the point?" But then she thought of a cold and empty house and shuddered. If it was one thing she couldn't tolerate, it was wide open spaces. She liked to feel cozy and secure, not open on all fronts and so completely bare and vulnerable.

She turned her back on the movers and went around to the back of the house. THIS was a place that she knew she was going to enjoy herself. It was completely enclosed by a tall shrub that went around the whole year. She was going to have the time of her life here planting and growing things, and she was going to plant everything she could to bring a spot of colour in this otherwise dark and dreary place. That way, when she left her stamp would be here, and the house would always remember the owner that cared for it and tried to make it pretty.

Serena loved leaving her personal stamp on everything. All of her rooms that she had left had always smelled of a floral sprays and soaps and creams and perfumes. The kitchens had always been left with a little border of little duckies and bunnies around the edges. The bathrooms had always been left with dolphin wallpapers and pictures hanging up and seashells strewn about and half empty jars of bubble bath. This was her way of marking her territory. This was her way of telling the next owners that even though they were going to buy the house, it would always have a part of Serena's soul in it.

"Serena! Serena, where are you?" She head her father shouting for her and she ran around the house to see him standing in front of his car, with the house keys in her hand. She knew right away that he was going to be leaving her all alone in this new places and barely resisted an urge to drop to her knees and scream and cry.

"Are you leaving so soon?" She couldn't keep the dry tone out of her voice, but if her father noticed it, he chose to ignore it.

"Yes," he replied, jingling the keys impatiently. It seemed that when it came to work, her father had all the patience in the world. But when it came to dealing with his daughter, he was out of patience by her first word. "I have to be at an important meeting tomorrow in Washington, and I won't be back for about 2 weeks."

Serena felt a pull at her chest at this, and knew that even though her father was not the best company, she preferred him over nothing. She was going to be so lonely for the next 2 weeks. She felt an internal sob rip through her but she kept her face impassive and nodded once.

He handed her the keys and then got out his wallet and gave her 2 credit cards. "If you lose the one, use the other." He told her, and Serena almost smiled. Even though he was not a very good father, he still knew about her habits and her forgetfulness.

"Okay Dad," she replied. "Have a safe trip." She leaned up and kissed him on the tip of his nose. He looked down at her for a second, and the grabbed her around the shoulders and pulled her in.

"Stay safe," he whispered to her, and gave her a squeeze. Serena remained where she was and closed her eyes at the warmth and the safety she felt in her daddy's arms. And then...it was gone. Her dad got into the car and rolled down a window.

"I'll call in about 2 days." He informed her. "I'll see how you're doing and I should be back in about 2 weeks. That's the best case scenario however. More than likely I wont see you for about 1 month." He handed her the keys and started the engine.

"Goodbye then," she said. "I'll see you in a while." She was smiling, her face softened and warm, but inside she could feel the tears building and knew she had to get inside quickly because she couldn't hold her tears back. She never could, because she didn't know how to.

"Bye bye," her daddy said, and Serena watched General Michael Lapras, best offence and defence General the army had ever seen drive away without so much as a wave.

Serena clenched her fists, and turned around ready to run inside the house, when she barrelled into the round stomach of one of the movers.

"Easy little lady," he said and reached up to hold her arms. She felt his fingers moving up and down and knew that he was secretly trying to cop a feel, and she reached up and caught his wrists in a vice grip with her nails digging into his flesh.

He winced and let her go as though she had burned him and fell back a step.

"So," Serena said breezily, trying to contain the turmoil of emotions she felt inside her. "How much do I owe you?"