Rare Darling

Fiddling with the small slip of purple paper in my shivering hands, I leaned against the cold, frost-coated window of my step-fathers vehicle. My older brother Alan turned to me then, smiling his goofy smile at me. I could barely force myself to move my lips. Simply, I was just too upset.

"Come on Byanca, I promise this won't be so bad!" Alan assured me and punched my shoulder playfully. "Who knows, maybe you could kick some guy butt with your running and many other athletic skills!"

I snorted and turned away, my black hair falling into my green eyes. Stifling a sigh, I looked back as Alan made pouting noises. "You are such a baby." I replied to his annoying sound.

Scowling, he changed the subject. "What's that in your hand?" I stopped fiddling and mumbled "Nothing."

Alan reached over me greedily just as our step-dad and mom climbed into the van, smiling from ear to ear.

"Are you excited Byanca?" My mother asked me, her shiny black hair tied into a messy bun.

I turned away in silence. I heard her sigh silently before she turned to meet Alan's moss green eyes. "Are you excited to have your sister at school with you?"

Alan laughed, "Sure." I punched him without looking. He started grumbling, rubbing his arm.

"Okay, enough you to. It's time to go." Step-dad said, starting up the dark van. It was when an awkward silence fell that I clumsily unfolded the slip of paper and read it.

Dear Byanca,
I can't believe you are moving away. Please keep in contact with me :) And below is a poem I found that instantly reminded me of you. You're like my sister and you always brightened my day. Never change girly.

I stopped there and smiled slightly. Oh leave it to Jay to write down a poem to remind me of her.
(Look to first Rare Darling)
The tears began to sting my eyes and I could help but let a small choke of a sob leave my sore throat.

"How much longer?" I complained miserably.
"Ask one more time and I swear Byanca, you are walking the rest of the way there." Alan threatened, banging his head against the window as if that would shut me up.
"But I have to go to the bathroom!" I whined, smirking secretly as I prompted myself forward and started to lean on Alan.
"Get off me...Mom!" He yelled softly but the only sympathy he got was our parents laughter.

"But seriously," I began, "I do have to go." I got off Alan, punching him in the arm at his glare.
"There's a stop just ahead." Dad said and I nodded. the thought of relieving myself was a pleasing one.
"And how much farther ‘til we get there?" I asked.
"Actually, we are here." Mom smiled, glancing around us. It seemed like a very sporty town with all it's football decorations.

Five minutes later, we pulled up to the gas station and I hustled inside while I heard Alan's loud guffaw from behind me as he leaned against the car.
Now you all know how there's writing on every bathroom stall no matter where you go. This one was covered in the words 'Stay away from Jerome Royer.' I hummed, wondering who this supposedly bad butt kid is.
"Hurry up Byanca!" A voice yelled, slightly muffled because of the locked, paint-peeling door.
"Coming."

---------------

"That's the last of it." I huffed, wiping my sleeve against my sleeve. "And would it kill us to get an escalator?"
"You're not in shape Byanca." Alan joked but I punched him hard in his so called abs. "I take it back. Nice punch." Now he was huffing, only bent over and clutching his stomach.
"Good. So what are the kids at school like?" I asked nervously, pulling a loose strand of black hair away from my face.

Alan shrugged, plopping down on our makeshift couch of blankets.
"Seriously Alan..I'm the first girl in this school...I don't want to change who I am. Or screw things up for you." I pouted, hoping to get an answer.
It worked. "Look Bee-Bee. It'll be fine. The guys all know you're coming. The princy told him. As for screwing things up, I'm going to screw things up for you." Now he winked mischievously which resulted with me throwing a pillow at him.

"Thanks Alan." I murmured quietly enough that he didn't hear me.
I almost didn't catch the "I'm here for you. Always." part. Almost.

"Good morning darling." My mother greeted me, her pretty blue eyes smiling at me. She was already dressed in her police outfit, her gun slung in it's leather holster.
"Morning." I mumbled back, kissing her on the forehead.
Mom paused for a moment as she tied up her raven black hair. Then she looked back at me sharply from her spot at the stove. I swallowed nervously under her scrutiny.

"What?" I asked, grabbing a banana and munching on it quietly.
"Have you decided if you want to room at the school or here yet?" She asked and Alan walked in, his pyjama pants hanging low and his shirt non-existent.
I rolled my eyes at him before I hesitantly answered Mom.
"I'm not sure yet. The principal said he has a room available for me but I think I'm going to go to school first then see if I want it." I replied, throwing my peel in the garbage.

"What about you Alan dear?" Mom asked and turned around with a hot pan of pancakes which she dished out onto a large glass plate.
"I'm going to stay in my dorm. The guys there are cool." He shrugged, his brown hair ruffled as he scratched his head. Again, I rolled my eyes.
Mom nodded, smiling. "I guess that means your Dad and I might have the house to ourselves."
"Behave while we are gone." Alan joked, winking at me while I choked on the pancake I had shoved in my mouth.

-----------------------

"It'll be fine Byanca. If the guys treat you wrong, I'll get the football team to beat them up." Alan said as he dragged me out of the car. I shook my head vigorously.
"Oh no you aren't. I just want to lay low. You know, stay out of every body's way." I muttered, slinging my backpack on my tanned shoulder.
"Not my sis." Alan chuckled before he said, "Your amazing brother," He paused for affect. "Is the star football player. You are sooo not laying low with me as your sibling."
That's when I burst out laughing. "You? Amazing?" More laughter.
"I'm so unappreciated." Alan pouted, pretending to be upset. Then he moved to pounce on me in the parking lot but I side-stepped him while he stumbled and fell on the cement.
He looked up at me, glaring. I was still laughing when I heard another voice join in.

Whipping around, my eyes were welcomed with the sight of scrawny boy around my age with curly blond hair and unusually dark eyes.
"Hey bud." Alan yelled as he jumped up and high fived the guy.
"Hey Alan. Is this your sister?" The boy looked at me curiously, as if trying to see the resemblance.
"Sure is. Farris, this is my sister Byanca. Byanca is this Nissan Farris. He's my room mate." Alan said proudly then shrugged. "He's also the schools best wrestler." Farris chuckled softly.
I raised an eyebrow questioningly but stuck out my hand for him to shake.
Instead he bowed slightly and taking my hand in his, kissed it.
Stepping back, I wrenched back my hand, wiping it on my jean pants.

Alan burst out laughing and Nissan joined in. I shook my head at their boyishness and with a glare, I started walking toward the school's massive front doors.
"Oh come on Byanca! Farris is like that with any girl he meets." Alan said, chasing after me once he said farewell to his room mate.
"He must not meet alot around here." I answered and my brother stopped.
"Look, the girls in Ryder's Ridge are usually home-schooled. This town is very old fashioned. It takes some time to get used to."

I nodded slowly as Alan then lead me inside to get my time table.
What in the world am I going to do in such an old fashioned town?