It was a bright summer in Druid hills. The sunlight streamed through the windows and hit Zaria directly in the face. She flinched and tightly shut her eyes. Her arm shot out as she desperately searched for the covers. "Come on!" Zaria hissed under her breath as she twisted in an unnatural way.

'THUD' Zaria's eyes flew open.

"Oh god... Not again," Zaria lay sprawled on the floor. She pushed herself up and tried to stand when her foot landed on a skateboard.

"Holy heavens!" Zaria slid and landed on her butt.

"Zaria, looks like you are up. Now come down quickly and have your breakfast." Her mother's voice was heard from the kitchen.

"Coming." Zaria quickly stood up and dusted her pajamas. She looked around, at the mess she called her personal space.

"Here I come." Saying this she pulled on a slipper while frantically searching for the other, which she victoriously fished out from under her bed. She hopped on one leg trying to avoid some plastic wrappers from previous night's snacks.

Suddenly she went rigid when she felt a smooth surface under her foot. Zaria looked down sheepishly at what she had stepped on. Once she saw what it was her eyes went wide. "I'm so very sorry for stepping on your pretty face Usui sama." She hurriedly picked up her favorite manga 'Kaichou wa Maid Sama' and placed it on the nearby desk which was already filled with a mountain of other mangas and novels.

Like this, she got dressed up for school. This was her daily routine.

"Mom hurry,"She yelled. 

Her voice could hardly be heard due to all the crashing noise in the background. Her mom gave the open door a glance and sighed.

"I am gonna leave without the lunch box." Zaria threw her bag over her shoulder and rushed out of her room. She jumped on the rails of the staircase and slid her way down.

As soon as she landed on the floor she was met with a smiling face. "Hey slow down a little, will you?" A fair skinned girl stood on her toes and gave Zaria an amused look. Her light brown wavy hair cascaded her face. And her light brown eyes had a kind feel to them.

"Oh, Ateel! When did you come?" Zaria asked as she picked up her shoes from the closet under the stairs. Ateel was her best friend. They had been friends since grade five.

"I came in when you were going through your regular tantrum." Ateel gave a light chuckle.

"What should I do? She is always late." Zaria said with a frown.

"Like you're doing any better. At least she does your work." Ateel pointed out.

" She interferes a lot." Zaria made a face and started walking towards the exit.

Zaria's mom blocked her before she could step out. "Here, Zaria darling. Now go to class and study well."

"Mom, I'm  grown up now." Zaria huffed.

"You will always be my baby."

"Bye, love you." Zaria didn't respond as she rushed out.

"I'm out of hell." Zaria said stretching her arms.

"You shouldn't call that hell."Ateel sighed. " At my house, everyone's busy with their own work. I feel like a stranger intruding on their privacy."

Ateel looked down as she unknowingly played with her fingers. She lived with her uncle and aunt in the adjacent street but her home was always empty.

"Well, it's not that bad. At least you have all the freedom you could ask for." Zaria commented.

"Don't be so sure about it." Ateel clucked her tongue and changed the topic. "Did you complete the assignment?"

"Obviously. It's about unicorns, Pegasus, and mermaids. Who in their right mind wouldn't do it?" Zaria jumped onto a short wall balanceing herself as she walked over it. 

The wind sent her black strands of hair into her eyes but she pushed them back and closed her eyes as she continued balancing.

"You love fantasy, don't you?"Ateel asked. "You practiced that walk so many times that you have almost turned into a magical ninja."

"I just thrive for imagination," Zaria replied.

"What about economics?"

Zaria fell down with a thud. She dusted her skirt and stood up making a face. 

"Nah!!" She replied shaking her head. "I am different Ateel. I'm not like you. I don't do stuff cause I have to, I do it when I want to."

"Oh, and when do you want to?" Ateel raised her eyebrow.

"When I am not forced by people, I'll do it."

"You're unique," Ateel said. She knew that her friend did not like others commanding her if someone dared to command she would reply by not obeying them unless she feels that it was not exactly a command and she had the choice in her hand. Sometime Ateel thought Zaria was the direct descendent of a proud emperor.

"No Ateel I am strange," Zaria said.

"It's the same thing," Ateel tried reasoning.

"No, it's not. Unique means different in a good way and strange means different in a specific way might be good or may not be. That's what I feel," Zaria explained.

"Whatever you say, Zaria, no one can tell that you won't become a great writer someday."

"Who's publishing my books? Not me at least." Zaria argued "I write for enjoyment and self-pleasure, not to show the world. Now that we are at the school let's part on a happy note."

"Ok then. I'll wait for you at the library in the lunch break."

"I'm not going to be there at the library today." Zaria shrugged.

"Why not?" Ateel asked, "Wait, don't tell me that you're going to bunk again." Ateel glared at Zaria.

"Your guess is worth 100 points. Now off I go." Zaria winked at Ateel.

"I wish I could stop you from doing all these things you are already running low on attendance." Ateel sighed.

"No need to take things so seriously" Zaria chuckled " I will come up with some plan to escape so no one will know about my absence from class. Anyway, I am going to attend my literature class so I am not exactly bunking all day."

"What kind of logic is that?" Ateel felt like banging her head somewhere.

"It's my logic," Zaria replied as she ran off towards a nearby lane.

"I love school and knowledge but I will not let others bind me. If they try to then I will rebel." Zaria muttered to herself as she walked in the empty lane all by herself.

For her the rules and commands set by the authorities restricted imagination. And the excess use of facts at school gave it the feel of a virtual prison. 'School is a prison.' She thought in disgust. "Someday I will break its walls and run free."

With no one around Zaria had only her thoughts to give her company.

"I should be back in class before English Literature starts. If mom is not making any efforts to improve her language doesn't mean I should be the same." Zaria sulked.

"Oh well, I can't blame anyone for my mom not having proper English after all her native is not America but Aerona." Zaria sighed as she walked through the streets.

She loved English. It was her life, so she would do anything to improve it.

At home, her mom's English bothered her because of the complete loss of pronunciations and accent. Her mom told her that they once lived in Aerona and one day they will go back to their homeland. Zaria checked it up on the net but could not find it, thus coming down to a conclusion that it was really small and quite an unimportant place, so she didn't want to go back.

Tap tap tap....... A weird tapping sound brought Zaria back to the real world. The area she walked in seemed unfamiliar even though she had been here many times. Something was off and it was making her feel uneasy but she just pushed the feeling aside and walked on. After roaming around aimlessly she made her way back to college just in time for her literature class.

Zaria's class was over before she knew it. She stuffed her books into her bag and ran to Ateel's class.

"You're late Ateel, hurry up," Zaria screamed. Ateel packed her stuff and followed Zaria. They walked towards their homes talking merrily as if there was no worry in the world. They did not think that there could be anything that would break them. And when it was time to part Zaria enthusiastically asked Ateel "Can I come to your house in the evening?"

"Sure," Ateel replied with a nod as she entered her home.

"Bye, see you  later." Zaria waved her friend goodbye and walked towards her own house.

"Mom I'm home," Zaria announced as she flung her shoes to a side as she opened the front door.

"Zaria, will you go and get some vegetables?" Zaria's mother asked as she stepped on  the first stair leading to her room. "And you may as well go shopping for your birthday."

"Really can I go?" Zaria asked doubtfully.

"Yeah" Her mom gave her a smile." After all, you'll be turning 18 soon."

"Thanks, mom. Thanks for remembering," Zaria replied enthusiastically a wide smile spread on her pale creamy skin. "I completely forgot that it's in 2 days."

"OK now go, have fun and you don't need to hurry back."

"Mom?" Zaria questioned noticing that her mom looked a bit tensed. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing dear, I am fine." Her mom gave a small smile.

"Sure?" Zaria asked as she threw her bag on the couch.

"Yes now you may go. May peace be in your heart." her mom bid her farewell almost in a hurry.

"OK, but I need to freshen up first. Don't I?" Zaria asked as she headed for the stairs.

"Well, make it quick" she heard her mom's voice downstairs.

Zaria went straight to her wardrobe and picked out a sleeveless top and a denim jacket to pair it with. She chose ripped jeans and walked into the bath.

"I don't know what's wrong with my mom, but what do I do?" She shrugged as a calming sensation washed over her. After all, she wasn't someone who takes things seriously and overall her family was just weird with a bit crazy mother who seemed to disappear from time to time. Zaria just threw any complicated thoughts out of her head as she enjoyed her bath. The water was just the right temperature. She didn't want to leave the tub but getting late when her mom was so readily wanting her to go was another thing she was not going to miss. So she hurried out of the Luke warm water and dressed up. After making sure she was looking decent enough she grabbed her purse and dashed out of the house.

She was welcomed by the warm sunlight. "In 2 days I'll turn 18! I don't even know how I grew so much?... Wow. 18!!!" Zaria exclaimed as she walked towards the taxi stand.

She boarded the taxi and instructed the driver to take her to the thrift store 'second life' as it is known for its high-quality items, low budget, and friendly staff.

She paid the driver and walked into the store.

In a couple of hours, Zaria had bought a few clothes and still had money to spare. It wasn't very late yet so she decided to do a little window shopping at the closest antique store. It was a small store with many tiny ancient looking items. It wasn't the first time she had been here. She even volunteered at the store at times and was well acquainted with the old storekeeper.

She pushed the door and a bell jingled announcing her presence. "Hey there Dave." She smiled at the aging man at the desk.

"Howdy partner?" He turned to face her.

"I'm all good." She answered eyeing the pile of boxes in the corner of the tiny store.

"Wonder what's yonder?" he asked as he got out of his chair and headed for the cartons. "T'is new stock. A city-slicker bought 'em today. Free donation they say." He gave a small shrug as he tidied the pile .

"Want some help?" Zaria offered as she rolled up her sleeves and pulled her hair in a neat bun.

"Sure do missy" Dave laughed loudly. "Let's pony up"

Zaria slowly removed one item after other. She was mesmerized by the intercity of each article. These were somehow different from the other items at the store. Amongst everything she noticed an object resembling a bow and arrow. It was a pretty weapon with fine carvings and among the carvings, there was a mark which resembled the tattoo on her arm. It was perfect in every way. She liked it very much so she decided to buy it.

"What's this?" Zaria asked Dave.

"T'is an antique. I don't know what t'is. I reckon it was used in some ancient battles."

"How much does it cost" Zaria questioned

"Ya can have it missy" Dave replied.

"But?" Zaria was about to argue when Dave raised his hand.

"Hesh up. YA help me always without taking any bucks. T'is least I can do. Now get a wiggle on." Saying this Dave started moving the antiques to the shelves.

After completing all the work it was already dark outside. So Zaria boarded a cab and hurried home.

It worried her that her mom hadn't made a single call yet and this was a first for her overconserned and overprotective mom. "Mom is really acting wierd today," She murmured to herself. As the cab whizzed past the streets making way to her home.

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A/N: Zaria's home (pic on the side). Pls do comment and vote. Your feedback means the world to me. And stay tuned for the next chapters. This chapter is dedicated to darindraglin for the awesome editing job. You're as awesome as you say. I am always grateful to you :-*