Sunlight - Book 3

Chapter 3

After dinner I saw and watched a documentary on penguins with my mother and father. Since it was Sunday it was technically the weekend meaning I was allowed at least one hour of television. The documentary was just under an hour if you subtracted the time for commercials.

The second it ended I kissed my mother and father goodnight and then headed upstairs to my bedroom. It was time for a bath.

My bathroom was huge. It had a double sink with a floor to ceiling length mirror. The counters were a white marble with powder blue swirls. Power blue and white seemed to pop up in anything that had to do with me. Sitting right under a large window that overlooked the south side of the property was a over-sized tub. It was so large that I was confident that at least 7 people could fit comfortably in it and still have room. It was big enough for me to swim five stroke laps.

Just across the room in the back half was another door. This led to the toilet. Then there was just one more which held towels, robes, wash rags and other things like assortments of bath oils, salts and incense foam for the bath. Before I returned to start running the bath water I grabbed a handful of different bottles.

Turning on the water I made sure to set the temperature gadge which was digital. This made sure the water was the perfect temperature and even kept it from cooling over time. Once that was set I put on the jets and adjust the flow so the overlarged bath would fill quickly.

After I had finished undressing the water shut off. Upon inspection I realized the bath had a sensor that automatically shut the water off when it got past the filling point, this obviously kept accidental flooding to a minimum of none.

Before I got into the tub I poured a rose and lavender oil, vanilla bath salts and chamomille bath foam in it. The smell was beyond overwhelming.

The moment I slid into the bath I relaxed. The temperature was perfect to my skin. The scent was mind blowing and to my own amusement classical music began to play.

I looked around curiously wondering who had turned on the music but only when I rose up did I realize my tub had a pressure sensor. Whenever I sat down in the tub music turned on. Whenever I got out it turned off.

"Thank you Alice." I said in a sing song voice.

Then a ringing sound filled the air that sounded like a phone was ringing. I turned my head and my mouth dropped open as I saw my aunt Alice's face flashing on a small screen. The only thing that seemed sensible to do was press the green button on the right.

"Hows my wonderful niece doing?" She began.

I went to open my mouth but was cut off as she continued rambling on.

"So I see you are enjoying your bath? How do you like your room? I hope the clothes are okay?"

I grinned.

"Of course they are okay I saw that she would love them." She muttered to herself.

"I love everything Alice. It's perfect." I beamed.

"So tomorrow at school make sure not to fall into peer pressure. If you see someone being picked on help them. You will never know, they might turn out to be your best friend."

"I already know about peer pressure auntie. As well you already know me. I won't let anything get picked on."

"I love you Nessie."

"I love you too."

"Sleep well."

I giggled. "I will get alot more sleep then you do."

"Always." She chuckled.

Then the screen went blank and I was left to the sounds of my beautiful orchestra playing softly in the background.

After I had finished bathing and rinsing myself I got out of the tub and began drying. Slipping on my pajama's I headed back into my bedroom and climbed the spiral staircase to the second level.

There sitting in the middle was my bed. It looked so inviting. The second I laid down I drifted off to sleep.

Soon enough I had awaken. From behind me, built into the wall, was a touch screen alarm clock. The song that was playing was Rabbit Heart by Florence and the Machine and flashing over the album art was the words 'time to get up'. I blinked and looked over towards the floor to ceiling length windows from my bed. It still looked fairly dark outside.

Reaching up I silenced my alarm clock and then rose to my feet before I made my bed. Almost immeadiatly a grin spread across my face.

I couldn't believe this was my first day of school. Well technically not my first day but first day in my adult body. I would finally be able to fit in and be treated like an adult.

I spun around in circles once and then headed down the stairs to my bathroom. I jumped into the bath tub and turned on the over head water and took a quick shower. The second I was done I got out and dried before putting on my clothes. I was finished in under ten minutes.

Slipping back into my room I grabbed my backpack and then headed out of my room.

My mother and father were downstairs waiting for me. Their expressions weren't gleeful like I had expected. Something wasn't right.

"Mom, dad?" I asked, my forehead scrunched together. "Whats wrong?" My eyes flickered back and forth quickly between my parents.

My father came over to me and knelt before me slightly so he could be eye level with me. "You know your mother and I would do anything to be with you on your first day."

"I don't ... I don't understand." I stuttered.

"Alice just called us. An unexpected warm front blew threw last night putting some speed to the clouds that were our cover so the sun is suppose to be shining earlier then we hoped." my mother explained.

I frowned. "So I can' t go to school?"

The thought crushed me completely.

"No. Of course you can. Just your mother and I won't be able to take you." My father said as he held my hands comfortingly.

"So I have to drive myself the rest of the way? Dad I don't know how to drive. I don't want to get into any trouble." My pitch rose a few octaives as the stress set in.

"We called the car service to pick you up and drop you off for the rest of the week." My mother cut in.

"And we have the boat service to come and gather you and deliver you to the car service." My father said quickly.

"You will be safe. The drivers are good at what they do." My mother came to my side and pulled me into her arms.

I swallowed nervously and then took a deep breath to settle myself. I opened my mouth to say something but I had no words that would suffice. Plus my throat was so dry I wouldn't be able to speak if I wanted to.

Like old times I rose my hand and touched my mothers face. "What if something happens?"

My mother and father embraced me.

"I know we say not to fight back but if you ever get into danger and someone is trying to cause terrible harm to you fight back. Don't kill them though. Just fight to defend yourself and then run away." My father told me.

I nodded my head.

The sun was beginning to rise higher into the sky. The grounds were now illuminated with the gentle sunlight.

My father released me and glanced at his watch before he took my hand and led me to the front door. "Roxette should be here soon." He murmered and then we stepped outside.

Just like yesterday the sun shone but it didn't cause my parents to sparkle like the normal sunlight. We walked the fifty yards to the dock and waited.

Somewhere I could hear the sound of a boat engine. The sound grew closer and close, louder and louder. Then a boat appeared. From where I stood I could see a human behind the wheel.

It took a few moments for them to get to the dock and then they parked before the dock. A woman with short brown hair dressed in a formal suit cut the engine and stepped onto the dock to greet me.

"I'm Roxette with Evergreen Water Escursions." She handed my father a business card and then shook both my parents hands. "I have met previously with a Mrs. Alice Cullen and she has explained your needs. I have a car waiting for us at the destination point from which I will take your daughter to school and pick her up and deliver her back."

I moved closer to my father. Shy.

This was my first meeting with a human I had never met before. And I would be with her alone.

The woman Roxette took out a palm pilot out of her pocket and touched the screen after a few second she looked up at me.

"The time from said property to Lakeside School is 45 minutes. Once your board the vessel we will be making our way to the Port of Seattle which is about 20 minutes. From the Port we will switch to a car and from there we will drive 25 additional minutes to your school." She stowed away her palm pilot and looked at my mother and father. "Any questions, requests, additional drop off places or changes in destination?" She asked formally.

My mother shook her head. "Everything is perfect."

Roxette nodded her head. "If you come up with anything or need to make changes please call the number on the card it is my personal number. The second number given is to the main office."

Roxette held her hand out for my bag and I gave it to her. She then waited for me to climb aboard the boat before she came on board after me.

I waved good bye to my mother and father and blew them kisses. Then the boat started and we began pulling away from the dock. I turned away from my parents so they wouldn't see my tears.

Please don't let my father be able to see how broken I am. If he does he might not let me go back. Please please please. Let me be able to hide it from him.

I chanted that thought over and over in my head. Once we were well into the labyrinth that was the river the led us through the protection of the trees I let out a deep breath and releaxed before I headed inside to the sitting area.

Inside there was a small eatery. A professional chef could be seen in the back going over a recipie book. Over by the window was a sitting area created of luscious couches and chairs. There was even a small table and chair set up.

Once I took a seat a butler came over to my side. He bowed graciously. "May I get you anything madam." He asked in a italian accent.

I shook my head shyly and turned my gaze out the window and watched the scenery pass by. For several minutes the boat was framed on both sides by large evergreen trees. Then we broke through to the outskirts.

"Now entering Pugent Sound. In ten minutes we should be entering the Port of Seattle." Roxette's voice said over an intercom.

I sighed and rose to my feet to gather my back pack which was hanging near the door. I then returned to my seat and pulled out my ipod before sticking a pair of ear phones in my ears. I turned it on and flicked through my mass music library until I settled on Florence and the Machine.

Though I had never listened to her music before I was intruiged from the morning wakeup. Her voice was pretty and it deeply fascinated me and set me in a bit of a trance. Her Ceremonial album was by far my favorite.

By the time the fifth song ended we were docking. Once the process was finished and we were tied up Roxette came and gathered me. I followed her out of the harbor and to a parking lot where a man in a suit was leaning against a car.

When he looked up and saw us he quickly stood up straight and opened the back door of the white car. It was a white Rolls Royce Phantom limosuine. It looked sleek, roomy, luxurious and expensive from the outside. As I slid into the back seat I realized it was also the same on the inside. Roomy, luxurious, expensive.

I looked down and saw that I was sitting on white leather. It was annoying as it made my skin feel cold and clammy. I shivered as the man closed the door and got in the front seat.

My eyes widened. I thought Roxette was going to be taking me to school.

The front passenger door opened and then I saw her slide in. The back of her head was visible where the divider window was down.

I immeadiately relaxed. Roxette was here.

The drive to the school seemed longer then I thought but that was because there were so many stop lights and the driver drove slower then what I was used to with my speedy driving family.

Then finally we pulled up into the drive of the school. It was so big. Broad. Beautiful. It was bigger and more prestigous then my last school in Denali. It reminded me of the pictures I had seen of Harvard. Brick with white turretts and columns. Large towers. Everything seemed wonderful.

As the car stopped I moved to open the door but Roxette got to it before I did. She bowed as held out her hand for my bag. I handed it to her then got out. Once the door was closed she handed me it back.

"We will be waiting her after school is out. Please try and be on time." Roxette got into the limosuine and it pulled away.

I watched it disappear around the corner and then turned around to face the school. Every face stopped in their tracks to look at me or just glanced as they headed to their own destination.

I could feel the blood pooling in my cheeks and decided to head to the office so I could find out my schedule. As quickly as I could without seeming unhuman I sped towards the office.