Chapter One- Magnolia

I stared pensively out of the window at my new hometown- Magnolia, a town map clutched in my hand. It was raining outside, but I could see the shops and houses on the streets through the drizzle. It was nearly evening and the shop lights had been lit.

I sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. Magnolia did not seem like a bad place, but it felt strange. I would miss my friends and cozy little house back at Azure Town.

My mother used to work in a café, but it closed down due to financial problems. But after months she finally received a job offer here in Magnolia, so we decided to move. It's not like we had a choice. After my father left us, we hardly had any money left.

I had really tried to go along with all this. But I couldn't stop my face from sulking at the thought of a new high school and a new home. It was lucky that one of our relatives gave us their old house, otherwise we wouldn't have a place to stay.

After an hour or so, the car stopped beside a small two-story house. It looked clean and comfortable; the house was coloured cream and had a red roof. It was surrounded by a neat garden.

We stepped out of the car with an umbrella and our luggage, and my mother paid the driver. He thanked her and drove away. The car belonged to the relatives who gave us the house; they had been generous enough to let us borrow it and the driver for one day.

I turned around and made my way towards the house. My mother dug in her pocket for the key, found it, and opened the door. The house looked just as comfortable as from outside. I went up the wooden stairs and found two opposite rooms on either side of the corridor.

My mother came up behind me and said, "Lucy, could you be a little less impatient?"

I laughed. "Sorry. By the way, I claim the right room."

Layla Heartfilia nodded. "Alright. Now go unpack your suitcase. I'm going down to the kitchen.

I dragged my suitcase up the stairs and into my new room.

It was simple- a blue floor-carpet, a bed with a window beside it, some wooden racks which I guessed I could keep my books on, a closet and a desk. I quickly stuffed my clothes into the closet, dumped my books on the racks, and kept the only gift I ever received from my father on the desk. It was a small music-player. Seeing my love for music, my father had given it to me as a present on my sixteenth birthday.

I sat down on the bed and wondered what to do. I would start my new school- Crosswell High School-the next day, but I had no idea where to get the needed books from, because I was starting in the middle of the term, so the book distribution must be over. Perhaps someone would be kind enough and give a few copies.

I was getting bored, and I wanted to look around a bit too. I wouldn't really like it if I got lost on my way back home. I peeked out of the window and saw that it was barely drizzling now. So I went down where I found my mother trying to open a larder door.

"Mom, can I look around the place a bit? I won't go far."

"Yes, go. But come back before nine." She grunted still tugging at the larder door.

I nodded and went out, kicking the front door shut.

I walked around aimlessly on the streets. The area was pretty. There was the faint smell of fresh baked bread and cakes coming from a bakery, there were small clothes shops with beautiful dresses, and tea cafes which had twinkling yellow lights. The rain had washed the streets which were now glistening with water and reflecting the lights. I noticed a park opposite a house, and I could hear music coming from somewhere there. When I edged towards the sound, I saw group of children sitting around an old man who was playing the guitar. The children were clapping and singing along with the tunes.

I continued walking and came across a few houses, a library, and then the highway. I would have to cross the main street to go to my school and other public areas according to the map I had been studying earlier in the car. But I had seen my small neighbourhood and it was time to head back. I started walking back to my house, humming the melody the old man had been playing.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review everyone reading this, it encourages me to write more.:) Thank you. I will update as soon as possible.