The Stonner's Chick

The beginning

The licking sensation all over her face made her change her sleeping position in annoyance. Yet no matter what ― It doesn’t stop at all. When she started feeling the stickiness she opened her eyes sleepily and looked around for the culprit.

A lazy smile started playing on the girl's face when stared at the culprit sitting on her chest. "Hey, baby..."

The little dog let out a happy bark looking at his human waking up from her sleep. 'Mission accomplished.'

The lady started patting the soft hair of the dog. She bought this cute little golden retriever from a pet store across their block. And she named the little boy 'Zoe.'

Zeo is three months old and the baby of the house. "What are you doing early in the morning Zoe baby?" The lady isn't ready to leave her bed when she looked at the time on the wall. '6:03 am'

It's too early for her to wake up from sleep. "It's too early to wake up. Why don't you go down and play with pa?" the lady asked sleepily turning on her left side and pulling the blanket higher.

The dog waited for a minute and looked at his human falling asleep before she could get into a proper deep sleep. He barked pulling the blanket down. He continued doing his antics until the lady got up having a bird's nest as her hair.

"What do you want to do waking me up so early?"

The dog jumped around the bed and jumped out of the bed and ran straight to the door. He barked at the door before looking back at her. "The door is open, you know how to get out of the room, Zoe. You don't need me..." The lady whined falling back on the bed and staring at the ceiling of her room.

The old man looked up from his newspaper and let out a laugh when he heard the noise of their little dog and their little granddaughter's voice. He looked at his wife who is making a fresh batch of pancakes.

"He has woken her up early."

The old lady turned her head and looked at her husband. "It's too early but she will be down now."

"She will take him on a walk."

"Will see."

"You go upstairs and wake her up," Grace spoke placing the freshly made caramel syrup on the table.

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"Okay." Henry closed the newspaper and placed it on the table before he stood up from the chair. He went over to the staircase and claimed up the stairs to where his granddaughter's room is.

He knocked on the door. "Is my princess Zara woke up for the day?"

Zoe barked when he heard the voice. Zara groaned and got up from the bed. "Yes, pa." She wandered towards the door.

She opened the door and looked at her pa. "Good morning, princess," Henry said.

Zara smiled lazily and hugged her pa. "Good morning, pa."

Zoe barked and started circling around Henry. Henry laughed and looked down at Zoe. "Did he woke you up?"

"He did."

"I will take him on a walk, you go and freshen up. Your look like a birdnest," Henry spoke looking at Zara.

"Thank you... And my hair is always a bird's nest." Zara smiled gratefully.

"Pancakes are waiting for you."

"I will be coming down in fifteen minutes then."

Zara went into her room and closed the door. She made her way toward the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and wondered about the pimples on her face.

"Let's get ready for the day..." she picked up the brush and toothpaste from the cup and looked back in the mirror.

Zara thought about her family as she brushed her teeth. She smiled as she thought about Zoe when she brought him home. Her grandpa loves to take Zoe for a walk but it's quite chilly in the early mornings.

They live in New Jersey, the houses are spacious and the blocks are wide along with beautiful roads. They don't have any traffic in the residential areas so it's quite beautiful and peaceful.

Zara washed her face and went into her room to get her clothes. She decided to take a shower before she goes down to have her breakfast.

Her mom passed away when she was 14 years old. She was a cancer patient, they couldn’t do anything as it was the last stage. Zara stayed with her mum in her last days. It was so hard for her family. They were in and out of the hospital for months. And her dad ...

Zara smiled as she thought about her neighbourhood. She is in love with their houses, roads, trees, backyards and ice cream trunks.

Henry smiled at his friend as he took his Zoe on a walk. "Henry, good morning, man."

"Good morning, Jack. Where you have gone early in the morning?" Henry asked. Zoe snifted the plants while Henry spoke with his friend.

"Went to 'Rosey' to have my morning coffee. You on a walk with Zoe?" Jack questioned. Jack lives across from Henry's house and they have been friends with Jack's family for years.

"Yes, Zoe's morning walk."

Zara wrapped a towel around her body and stepped out of the bathroom as thoughts of a new academic year crossed her mind. she isn't ready for the new year. Honestly, she dislikes going to school because of the bullying.

A sigh left her mouth as faces crossed her mind. She was having a good time in the summer but now she needs to go back to the school where she wasn't treated nicely.

Zara opened her wardrobe and pulled out the first varsity sweatshirt and yoga leggings. She is wearing her inners, so she just had to put on her clothes.

'I don’t hate my school, just that I don’t like the system of students who treat other fellow students like trash. There is this rule which goes on in the school. 'Rich' control over the school and the welfare community students have to follow the rules made by these rich kids.'

She went towards the floor-length mirror and started combing her hair to get ready for the day. She looked at herself, simple and a bit cute. Her hair is long it took her quite a time to brush all the knots.

A few teachers know about this rule but they turn blind-eyed. When she first joined the school she thought it was going to be normal and she will be making friends but she didn't know that it would turn out to be horrible and sick.

It's a prestigious school, you consider yourself lucky if you study there. Zara was so happy when she shifted here and transferred to the school.

A name crosses her mind while she packs her bag. 'Veronica.' Zara shook her head when she remembered the girl. It was Veronica and her friends who bullied Zara the previous year.

Zara just hopes that Veronica forgets about her and concentrates her focus on something else. Zara doesn't want to have any bad memories as it will be her final year.

Putting on her sliders she picked up her phone and bag before going downstairs. She doesn't have to check her phone as there wouldn't be no texts. Zara doesn't has any friends in her school and she is the loner who doesn't mingle with her classmates. THe rest of the students know her as the topper and the girl who wears baggy clothes.

Grace looked up from her plate when she saw Zara entering the kitchen.

"Good morning, ma," Zara said going over to hug Grace.

"Good morning, honey."

"I made blueberry pancakes and the fresh caramel syrup."

"Thank you, I will help myself." Zara placed her bag down and went over to make her tea first. She poured the water into the kettle and tuned on the switch while picked up her coffee mug, squeezed a lemon in it and poured some tea powder. When the water heated up, she poured the hot water into the cup and added two spoons of honey.

She went over to the other island and made her plate of pancakes.

Zara took her seat with her plate and cup before going to the dining table. She took her seat and started eating. "Hmm, they always taste the best."

Grace chuckled shaking her head. "I have packed your lunch, incase you didn't wanted to have the cafeteria food."

"Ma, I always have your packed box than the cafeteria food."

Zara didn't tell about the bullying to her grandparents, she doesn't want to worry them. She always has her lunch in the library away from the students.

"Are you excited for new academic year darling?"

Zara smiled. "Yes."

Grace smiled and placed her hand on Zara's hand. "My little cupcake is growing up... I'm happy."

"I hope you enjoy this year so much and make new memories. Next year you would be going to college. Enjoy this time in school, this wouldn't be back," Grace said. Zara didn't know what to say so she just smiled.

By the time they finished eating their breakfast, Henry and Zoe returned from their walk. Grace stood up from her seat and gave Zoe her food.

Zara sat beside Henry and listened to his stories. "I don't know about making memories and all. I will only tell you to enjoy every minute. Live in the moment and you will automatically remember the year."

Zara nodded her head. Zoe played around while Grace and Henry spoke with Zara. "It's time to go."

Zara stood up from her seat. Usually she goes to school by bus, that will take ten minutes to reach her school. "Well, it's your first day to school. We will drop you," Henry said.

"Okay."

"Zoe and I will join you two," Grace said.

"Okay."

Zara picked up her bag and pushed the phone into her pocket. Grace held Zoe's leash while Henry picked up his car keys. They all stepped out of the house and went to their garage. Zara, Grace and Zoe waited while Henry drove the car out from the garage.

Grace took the passenger seat while Zoe and Zara climed in the back seat. "Let's go."

Zara doesn't feel comfortable going to school. She is scared and can feel the nervousness building up in her. She looked out of the window to calm herself but that's not happening.

Grace and Henry spoke in the background while Zoe looked out of the window curiously. Zoe loves car rides. By time they reached the school it was '8:47 am'

The school starts at '9:00 am'

"Have a good day, honey," Grace said.

"I love you, Cupcake. Have a good day."

"I love you two. Be careful, I will be having a good day."

Zara waited for her grandparents to drive away before she sighed and turned around to face the school's main gates. A sigh left her mouth when she looked at the gates. The cars are entering the gates and there were students. 'Another year of Woe'

Welcome to,

“Greenwood high school”