Opposites Attract (working title)
an excerpt

My breathing became quick and strained as the plane landed, that was always the scariest part of flying. Everything seemed to be a blur, my ears popped and babies cried… horrible. Finally it stopped and the passengers were dismissed; I stumbled slowly behind a couple who where holding everyone up with constant kissing and cuddling. Public displays of affection should be banned, for obvious reasons. As I stepped outside of the plane, I instantly inhaled a large gulp of air. Inside the oversized jet the air was heavy, and muggy, like when you get out of a steaming shower and it is hard to breathe.
Mom and Dad were waiting for me in the lobby, their faces cruel and scowling, they obviously weren’t too happy with me at the time. I smiled apologetically at them and leaped forward, encircling them both in a hug. Dad’s calm and slightly wrinkled face became instantly happy, and he kissed my forehead as he took my luggage into his hand.
“Welcome home, hon.” His voice was smooth and wise, like I had always remembered. No matter how old I got I would always remember Dad; he always knew what to do and was my hero. Eyes scanning over Mom’s still figure, I noticed she still had a stern gaze to her eyes and mouth… she and Dad were almost total opposites. She was strict, and generally unemotional, while Dad was happy and caring. Sometimes it baffled me how two totally different people could get along, none-the-less fall in love. Maybe I spoiled it for her, maybe when I was born their whole relationship spiraled down. Whatever the reason, even if it was my fault, I didn’t care; as long as I still had my father.
“Hello Dad, Mom.” I grinned eagerly as I said my first words to my father in four years, and merely nodded my head at my mother. Nothing really made her happy, except work, so she just nodded back then crossed her arms over her chest. Sighing, I followed Dad to the exit of the airport and to the red Honda Civic. He popped the trunk, shoved my bags and other things inside, and sat in the driver’s seat ready to start home. Familiarizing myself with the car again, I hopped in the back seat and kicked off my shoes.
Yawning in exhaustion, I peered out the window, head leaning against the cool glass, and watched as other cars and patches of forest zoomed by as we drove home. Vermont was filled with beautiful scenery, and almost everywhere you looked was a bundle of trees and shrubs. Everything was green where I lived and it made it slightly tranquil to look at. Most of the buildings were small, and the tallest one was only three stories high. Also, most of the houses were only one story; just a few were two. Birds sang their songs of glee perched up on wobbly tree branches while deer scuttled through the woods trying to be undetected.
Our house came into view about thirty minutes into the drive, and I smiled. It had seemed like I was gone for forever, and hadn’t seen this house in ages. Pushing the door open enthusiastically, I jumped out of the car and skipped euphorically to the aged oak entry. Aromas of home enticed me as I slowly stepped through the house; it seemed so different and unfamiliar like I had opened the wrong door and was in a stranger’s house. Curious, I wandered over to where my room used to be, where the walls were painted a refreshing aqua blue, where the carpet was the conventional light tan, where photos and posters lined the walls, where magazines and books were sprawled about, where my bed was lined with matching polka dotted blankets and sheets, where I had grown up. But now it was all gone, everything… gone. The room was now a bland off white color, Mom had probably chosen, with no decorations what so ever and two wooden desks lined the walls.
Drained of all my energy, I flopped down onto one of the desk chairs; it was a pale, stiff blue and spun around. Pale and stiff… like my skin. My fingers grazed the surface of my arm and I winced: how would I tell them and would they even believe me? Hopefully they would, and we could live like a normal, happy family. But I could never be normal… not with this burden of a curse. I exhaled loudly and just as I finished, Mom crept into the room. A sickeningly fake smile was plastered on her vicious face and she grasped my shoulder… I guessed it was supposed to be an “affectionate gesture”. She let go and started talking.
“Adeline, darling, I am utterly sorry about your room, but we have moved it to the attic. I needed this room for a work space and since we suspected you would be gone the full six years, your father and I decided it would be best to use this room to the fullest extent.” Her voice was shallow, and flat. Mother always called my by my full name –Adeline- while most people called me by my nickname –Adie.
“Oh, well that’s okay I guess. I mean… I guess I understand. Are all my things up there already?” This time I was the one with a counterfeit smile, trying to resist screaming at her. My mother and I didn’t get along… what so ever. We had always faked getting along in public, but both of us and Dad knew the truth.
“Good, I am glad you understand. Oh yes, and about your paraphernalia, well we threw away all those useless photographs and posters and sold your old bed spread. Like I said, we had absolutely no clue you would rebel against the school and have to come home early. Truthfully, you are lucky we even gave you the attic.” Mouth gaping open, I felt anger boiling up inside of me. How could she of done that? And I did not “rebel against the school”. Before I totally blew up at her, I composed myself and nodded. Lips curling up into a satisfied smile, Mom took my arm and dragged me to the hallway closet so I could at least have some blanket to sleep with. After rummaging through piles upon piles of quilts and pillows, I finally chose a set: aqua colored satin blanket, and a soft pale green feather pillow.
Trudging up the attic stairs, I thought about everything that had happened that past year and the real reason I had missing so much school. Mom and Dad had sent me to a boarding school when I was twelve and expected me to stay there until I graduated six years later. Apparently they thought it would be better for me there. The boarding school was in northern Minnesota, and many strange things happened there. But I never thought something like that would happen to me.