Fledgling (3 page)

Breezing through the back door, she wandered out onto the small back deck. A dense grove of trees and rocky outcroppings encircled a small lawn, with one great pine in the center. Ana noticed a discreet trail leading away from the yard and grinned. It was still there.

The trail was barely noticeable, but she knew where to look. Berry bushes and scrub grew across it from disuse. She shifted them out of the way as she moved her delicate body through. Sounds from the forest inhabitants warmed her ears and she didn’t feel alone.

Ana enjoyed the terrain; it was a close cousin to her beloved Colorado. Rolling mountains cloaked with deep jade evergreens and grassy valleys seemed to offer her a figurative olive branch in friendship. The only thing missing was the occasional white bark of aspen peering through, but she could adjust to the welcoming landscape. A brisk smell met her and she decided it must have recently rained. She paused and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent like a wine connoisseur tasting a bouquet of flavor.

She meandered on, and headed toward an opening up ahead on the trail. With her heart thudding she pushed herself forward into the dying rays of the sun.

A thriving panorama appeared like a watercolor, with wilderness stretching as far as the eye could see. And lying before her was the perfect surface for star gazing-an immense flattened granite stone reaching beyond the grassy fields below. Beyond the meadow, a wild green wilderness rose, with a dark river far in the distance.

Ana walked forward, stepping onto the dark granite and slowly lowered herself on the rock. She stretched flat on her back and closed her eyes. Her special stargazing place in Colorado reached out to her in memory. Hidden in the pines, she had discovered a small field behind their home and had convinced her mother to drag a metal lounge chair there so she would have a place to lie down. When she didn’t want to talk to anyone, or was in one of her moods she went to unwind under the night sky. Her silent companion, Orion, guarded her from the painful thoughts that tried creeping into her mind in the quiet dark. His bright starry constellation lit her imagination and pointed the way to his neighboring wintry friends: the Great Dog, Taurus the Bull and the Twins.

For the first time in days, she allowed herself to breathe. The constant fear and depression that clawed at her soul, which she was careful to keep hidden, was allowed an opening. It burst out of her in the form of salty tears. Curled into the fetal position, her mouth fell open and she began to sob silently. She rarely allowed herself the freedom to break down because it was so tiring and she didn’t like feeling sorry for herself.

As the sky overhead turned a deep blue, stars began to glimmer and pulse singing their nighttime overture. Ana traced the constellations in her mind, soothing her agitated heartbeat to a slower rhythm. The tears dried but she continued to gaze into the abyss.

A rustling noise drew her attention to the meadow, where she caught sight of a lithe dark form. She watched the small animal move through the grasses until she remembered how long she had been gone. Not wanting her mother to worry about her, she rose from the rock a little too quickly, all of the blood rushed out of her head making her dizzy. She knew better than to do that, but she was tired and wasn’t thinking clearly. Before turning away she glanced over her shoulder to look for the silent nighttime visitor, but concluded she must have scared it off.

She was alone again. What a familiar feeling.

Chapter 3.

Morning sunlight filtered in through Ana’s window as she slipped on her favorite pair of jeans and a green t-shirt. She grabbed her winter jacket, after eyeing the swaying pines outside. Then combing out her long hair and brushing her teeth, she loaded up a frayed brown backpack.

Downstairs, she met her mother in the kitchen sipping a cup of steaming coffee, and glancing at the wall clock. Melissa wore a dark navy business suit and was busy packing papers into a leather briefcase. She glimpsed up at her daughter and gave her an anxious grin while smoothing out the lines of her jacket.

“How do I look?” Melissa asked.

“You look great, Mom-as usual.”

Melissa smiled relieved, then frowned. “Are you nervous?”

The nervous fluttering rhythm of Ana’s heart returned, and she swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing a smile. “A little. I can’t wait for tonight-when it’s all over,” Ana said smirking. “How ‘bout you?”

Melissa gave a high-pitched laugh and looked at her daughter. “I’m a little nervous too…but excited.” She gave Ana a reassuring hug then cleared her throat. “How are you holding up after unpacking yesterday? Not too tired?”

“No worries, Mom, I’m fine.” Ana stretched and felt her body slow to react. She thought about all of the unpacking she did the previous day and was thankful it was almost done.

Eva came skipping into the kitchen wearing her favorite purple dress with her hair in a tidy ponytail. She seemed a little restless but wore Ana’s favorite grin, which was contagious. The girls hugged their mother goodbye and headed out to Ana’s new van.

The banana yellow paint on the VW camper made her flinch. It was her Uncle Jace’s pride and joy, maybe fifteen years ago. Now it was just a weathered milk carton with wheels. There was no way to go unnoticed in this vehicle, which was why Ana was so focused on getting to school early to avoid the rush.

“C’mon Eva, let’s go-hurry up.”

Eva yanked open the door with a screech and climbed in. She whipped around staring at the table and seats arranged in the back. “Cooooool. A sink too-that’s
awesome
.”

Ana shook her head and grumbled to herself as she started up the loud engine. It blustered to life and they rolled down the driveway.

Once on the highway, Eva flew her hand like an airplane out the window while Ana tried to relax. It eased her jittery stomach watching her sister’s amusement.

She reached the middle school, parked and walked Eva into the office. The receptionist smiled and escorted her down the hallway filling with children. As Eva was led away, she turned to give Ana one last hesitant smile, waving in encouragement. Ana blew her a kiss and turned out the door.

The high school was a couple blocks away and before she knew it she was driving into the lot. She pulled into a secluded spot at the back corner under some pine trees in an attempt to be inconspicuous. She hoped her yellow van would blend in, but after further consideration realized it was only wishful thinking, noting the shiny cars around her.

The lot was half full, which was her plan-arriving early to avoid the rush of students. She didn’t want the banana camper to draw too much unnecessary attention.

She walked up the front steps past some groups of milling students. Her eyes lifted, staring at the brick building’s boxy appearance and breathed one last deep breath of fresh air before passing through the large wooden doors.

Chapter 4.

Morning sun crowned the plains to the east and bird song filled the forest canopy above.

In a beige house at the end of a gravel driveway, lights flicked on as the inhabitants woke to meet the day. The custom home was camouflaged in the surrounding wilderness as though it belonged there. With no neighbors for miles, the solitude on the mountainside was peaceful.

Lights switched on in an upper window, and the blinds rose. A teenage boy lifted his bare arms over his head in a long stretch and groaned. He dropped to the wood floor and began doing pushups.

A light knock came from his door.

“Come in.”

The door cracked open. A gray haired man peered in with soft brown eyes, and focused on his grandson, “Chance, do you have time today after school-or will you be working?”

Chance lifted himself to his feet. “Kenny’s expecting me, but after I’m free.”

“Alright, I will see you then.”

“Thanks, Grandfather.”

The door closed leaving Chance to dress.

He pulled on a black t-shirt, grabbed a pair of faded jeans and ran his fingers through his thick hair before darting downstairs in a blur. Sniffing the air and closing his russet eyes, he stalked into the kitchen.

“Morning.” He leaned in and kissed his mother’s smooth bronzed cheek while she cooked breakfast, inhaling the smell of eggs curling up from the pan. Her long black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail which fell over her shoulder as she turned to give her son a hug.

“Good morning, Chance. Grandfather was looking for you-did he find you?” she blinked her deep hazel eyes.

“Yeah.”

“Your father wanted me to ask if you were planning on hanging out with the guys at all today?” She asked in a light tone.

Chance flexed his fingers and shook his head. “No. I only need to be at Kenny’s for an hour or two… so I’m gonna head out with grandfather after work.”

His mother frowned but kept her eyes on the frying pan and nodded, “Well, I’ll be on shift tonight so I won’t see you, but your dad should be around after he closes up the shop.”

Chance patted his stomach and peered over his mother’s shoulder. “Mmmm, smells good. I’m starving.”

“One more minute, then you can eat. Why don’t you grab your things while you’re waiting?”

In the living room, he retrieved a bag from a brown suede couch and glanced up at a wide tapestry hanging from the wall above it, featuring a large angular bird. A bright column of light from the skylights above illuminated the weaving, giving it a bright airy glow.

When he returned to the kitchen, his mother was scraping a large pile of eggs onto a plate. He accepted it and within seconds, wolfed it down. The empty dish was deposited into the sink and he threw his bag over his shoulder.

“Thanks for breakfast, Mom. See you tomorrow,” Chance called over his shoulder as he sauntered to the front door.

Sunlight glinted off the windows and glossy black paint of a classic Chevy truck in the driveway. He dragged his fingertips along the side before jumping in. Thrusting the key into the ignition, it roared to life bringing a crooked grin to his lips.

The shiny ebony shape roared down the mountainside, a dust trail rising in its wake. As tires met pavement, he accelerated down the highway and edged his foot off the accelerator with a sigh as he drove into the valley. Buildings scattered the landscape interspersed with evergreens and naked deciduous trunks, waiting for their spring foliage. He pulled into the school parking lot and headed to the back corner, avoiding wayward teenagers. A space was available near a stand of evergreens, and he parked beside a bright yellow camper he had never seen before. He laughed to himself, jumping from the cab and locked his door. It could use a paint job, he thought, to top the list.

He strode up the front steps and disappeared inside as the bell rang.

Chapter 5.

The school office was immediately on Ana’s left when she entered the darkened hallway. The receptionist lifted her head when she walked in. Her tight curly hair hugged her head in gray ripples, which made Ana think of fresh sheared wool.

“Hi, I’m Ana Hughes…it’s my first day.”

“Oh, hello. That’s right. I have your file here somewhere.” She opened a drawer then placed some papers in front of Ana. “Alright, this is your schedule. Your first class is calculus with Mr. Morrisy. His room’s just down this hall, fourth door on the right. This paper…” She placed it in Ana’s hands, “you need to have all of your teachers sign and turn back in to me by tomorrow morning. Any questions?” Her softened blue eyes seemed to contradict her leathery skin.

“No, I think I’ll be fine.”
Hopefully,
she thought
.

Ana accepted the sheets, skimming over her schedule.

“Good luck!” The receptionist bellowed as she walked to the office door, her feet slowing the closer she got. Ana reached for the knob and turned flinching, “Thanks.”

Jitters returned to her stomach as she thought about being stared at. The further she walked down the corridor the more her cheeks smoldered. She was unable to tear her eyes away from the cracked linoleum floor. If only she could shrink away or become invisible.

Students filed into the hallways, moving in different directions. A few heads turned Ana’s way, noticing the new face in the crowd. She tried focusing on where she was going and kept her eyes straight ahead until she found the room the receptionist directed her to.

As she opened the door, she took a deep breath, telling herself that everything would work out.
In just seven hours the worst will be over
. She walked in and spotted the teacher, standing behind his desk. She handed him the form to sign as he handed her a book and directed her to an empty seat at the front of the class.
Oh, no, not the front…

Ana observed the room around her from behind the shelter of her hand. The class was full, with students continuing to filter in. Some of them were gawking at her and whispering to their neighbors. Ana felt her cheeks scald and she slid down in her seat wanting to disappear.

A girl sitting to her right had a kind face and wore glasses. Her blond hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. She turned and grinned at Ana. The welcome appeared genuine so Ana returned a timid smile back.