Dnaleri

Chapter 1

Rebecca awoke to her alarm clock blaring some has-been eighties rock group. She groaned, wanting to hit the snooze button just one more time, but she was already late for school. She ran to her small closet and threw on a thin green sweater, jeans. Going into the bathroom, she went about brushing her teeth and applying simple makeup. Almost without thought, her fingers reached for her mother’s necklace, a small camion with a gold chain and then a half of a heart BFF bracelet. She put her long wavy golden hair into a pony-tail and gave herself a once over look. With a sigh, she brushed her bangs out of her eyes then grabbed her backpack and hurried out to her car.

Today was supposed to be a special day for Rebecca, but she was the only one who would remember it. It was her eighteenth birthday, and she was not as excited as most young adults should be. Since she was taken into foster care, she has never celebrated her birthday and her foster mother was such a hard worker Rebecca didn’t want to bother her with such a silly little request. There was also the fact that now that she was a legal adult, she would be on her own again.

So she slumped into her red convertible and threw her backpack into the passenger seat. It was a typical March day in Minnesota. Twenty degrees and still lots of snow coming down. She drove slower then usual today because of all the ice and slush. It had snowed half an inch and the plows hadn’t come down her road yet. She didn’t like the cold very much, only when she could curl up by the fireplace and read a book. Turning off the highway she reached the college and parked quickly, running into the large building to her first class.

She was able to make it to her Biology class just in time for the bell. Breathless, she took her seat and pulled her notebook from her backpack, ready for the most boring lecture of the year from Mrs. Berham.

Once class was over, Rebecca waited patiently for everyone else to leave. She didn’t want to risk having to interact with anyone. Unfortunately, a group of girls were loitering in the doorway when Rebecca needed to leave for her next class, giving her no choice. They stopped their childish giggling long enough to stare at her with suspicion and distain. Rebecca ducked her head and pushed through, trying not to listen to their cruel whispers.

As she drove home from school, she stopped to grab a cup of coffee. The small café was very warm and was bustling with people coming to and from work and students who had time in-between classes for a break. When Rebecca sat down to drink at a small round table, she spotted a young man sitting in the corner staring at her. His eyes, half shaded by his long, curly dark brown hair, studied her like she was some sort of specimen. She acted like she didn’t notice and took out one of her favorite books. As she read, she glanced up once and he was still watching her. She shivered and went back to her book.

When she looked again, he was gone. She sighed in relief. Then someone clasped her shoulder and said,

“Excuse me....” Author: Katie (Crios) Editor: Elizabeth (Eala)

Patreon: patreon.com/ealacrios