Chapter 2- Xena

When I finally land in White Peak after four hours of the stinking bus, I’m dropped off at a gas station.  A Stop-N-Go, on the outskirts of the pack.

White Peak is way to close to our rival pack territories, then I would like, so I plan to keep my head down.  It’s also why I assuming my mom wants me to change my name for my duration here.  All information I gathered in my handy purple folder, since my mother couldn’t bother informing me. 

Apparently, my name here will be, Grace.  I keep saying it over and over again, trying to burn into my mind, so I don’t mess up. 

I put my head down and walk into the gas station.  Grabbing a bottle of water I head to the cashier, with the small amount of money my mom left with me. 

I hear the door to the gas station open with a loud chiming sound and look over.  A tall boy at least six two, bright blue hair and a piercing on his nose, walks in with a huge smile on his face.  Honestly, if I wasn’t so all over the place his smile would be infectious. 

I put my head down and walk up to the cashier.  After paying, I realize I still need to ask for directions, I turn back around.  “Excuse me.  Do you know where Turning Point summer camp is?”  The cashier smiles, “Yeah!  It’s about forty miles north.  That way.”  He points the direction, while I gasp.  Forty miles!  My mom made it sound like it would be right around the corner once I landed here. 

“Thank you.”  I all but whisper and head out of the door. 

I start walking really not having any other options right now.  The buses are done for the day, so I guess the best option is walking.  I only make it about twenty feet, when a bright blue sports car comes to a stop next to me. 

My instincts instantly on high alert, I slowly look over to the car.  Once the window rolls all the way down, I see the blue haired boy looking at me, with his same infectious smile.  A smile, that if he was a murderer would definitely help him out.  “Hey!  I heard you said you were heading to turning point! Hop in! That’s where I’m headed too, and it’ll take you forever to get there on foot!”  He practically yells everything.  Everything coming out of his mouth with such enthusiasm, I can’t help the small smile that plays on my lips. 

What’s the worst that can happen?  He kills me, taking me away from all the daily beatings and starvation.  It’s not that I don’t want to live, I just see no use dwelling on the possibility of dying when there’s not much to live for. 

So, I hop in, forever grateful that I don’t have to walk forty miles, when I don’t know exactly where I’m going.  He smiles at me and takes off once I close my door. 

“So… Never seen you at turning point before!  Are you new?”  He asks, side-eyeing me, still having that smile plastered on his face.  “Um. Yeah, I haven’t been before.”  His smile changes as he puckers his lips in consideration, “What pack are you from?  Not that I’m not excited to have some new blood, we just don’t get a lot of it around here.” 

My body goes slightly rigid at the question, as I try and think of a pack that close to here.  “Oh, I’m from Forest Pines, names Grace.”  He smiles and I internally pat myself on the back for thinking on my feet. “Well, I’m glad you could join us, Grace.  My names Jordan.”  I smile at him and then watch out the window, as we pass an insane number of wide-open fields.  Jordan goes on talking about everyone that goes to this camp, but I find myself spacing off as I consider the turn of events my life has gone through in one day.

Jordan finally makes a left turn onto a gravel road, with a sign arching over it, reading Turning Point Summer Camp.  We’re finally here, and just in time for the sky to start turning darker, the sun setting along the tree line up in front of us.

“We’re here!”  Jordan exclaims, after about a five-minute drive down the gravel road.  All I can see right now is what looks like the main office in front of us, where he parks.  The building looks to be sparkling, like they just built it.  There’s a white sign over the door saying it’s the main office; I laugh internally because I didn’t see that before.  Other then the sign, it just looks like a large log cabin, with a few people mulling around the front, outside.

Jumping out of the car and stretching wide, before he dunks down into his back seat and grabs both our suitcases.  Jordan comes over to stand next to my door.

I don’t even realize I haven’t moved a muscle, until I hear my door open up. “You nervous?”  Jordan asks, smiling at me.  I swear he never stops smiling.  I wish I knew what it felt like to always be that happy. 

I look over at him and give him a slight smile, slowly making my way out of the car. 

He hands me my suitcase and starts heading for the main office, I follow, not wanting to be out here in this new place alone right now. 

Once inside, there’s a receptionist right in front, with a big smile on her face.  Courtesy of her looking at Jordan.  “Last year, Jordan!”  Jordan smiles leaning onto the desk, “You’re crazy if you think this is the last year you’ll be seeing me!  I love it here!  Maybe I’ll apply to be a camp counselor after this!”  The receptionist’s eyes go wide as she laughs, “Just stop while you’re ahead, honey.  You’ll have responsibilities after this summer.”  She smiles kindly at him, and he gives her a rare frown. 

“Yeah, yeah.  Anyway!  This is a new girl! Grace!”  He says, both their heads swinging to me.