New Beginnings, Bellanessa21 [pride and prejudice read .txt] 📗

it’s only going to last a couple hours.” Veronica, why do you push people away? Are you scared or something? “What does it matter to you? You know nothing about me, what gave you the right to try and figure out my life!” I yelled back with venom in my words. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought you’d rather want to hear the truth than have me make up something that’s not true”. He leaned forward and closed the distance making me catch my breath. I waited to see what he was going to do. Reaching a hand behind me he pulled out a rose from the wall complete with thorns on its stem. Looking into my eyes he held it in front of me saying, “Do you know why a rose has thorns? It’s a defense mechanism that makes it hard for people to pick. In a way, you’re the rose. You dress different and act out, those are your thorns, they bar people from seeing the real you, and you from turning into a beautiful rose.” Handing the rose to me and stepping back he says, “you shouldn’t think your unimportant, your just scared, and you deserve to have a home same as everybody else”. With that final remark he smiles at me and walks out of the greenhouse.
Wow, that was mind-blowing. He found me when I didn’t want to be found, and he told me exactly what I didn’t want to hear, and amazingly, I’m not mad. More surprised than upset, he reminded me of Amara. Sitting in my armchair I say to myself, “I really wouldn’t mind having him as a brother that would be kind of cool”. Waiting a couple more minutes I got up put the rose in a new pot, made sure it had water, and left. Coming out of the building I spotted the Henderson’s, escorted by Bertha, to the parking lot outside the gate. Looking at them I felt a strange feeling that I’ve never felt before, a sense of longing. Like I wanted them to turn around, walk up to me and take my hand saying, “let’s go home”. Bertha would hug and kiss me goodbye calling me “honeybee” one last time as we rode away to my new home. Shaking my head at the impossible I headed for my room.
Several minutes later the sound of stomping came closer to my door, “Young lady, how could you do that, the Henderson’s are nice people, didn’t I teach better,” Bertha shouted while closing the door to my room, only to stop short when she saw my face. “honeybee, what’s wrong? I’m sorry if what I said upset you”, she sat on my bed and put her arms around me. With tears streaming down my face I looked at her, “I’m sorry bertha, I am, but what good would it do? No one’s ever kept me for so long, and I’ll be 18 in a year, it won’t matter. But seeing them go gave me such a sad feeling, I wanted to go with them, I felt like I belonged with them,” I wiped at my tear stained face. “Oh honeybee,” bertha smooth’s my hair putting a loose strand behind my ear telling me “I have some news for you. The Henderson’s signed the papers; they’re coming to pick you up tomorrow. You see, even with your little dramatics they still want you to be part of their family.” Pulling back I stammer, “You’re not lying bertha? They really want me,” shedding fresh tears. “of course they want you; you just needed to be patient honeybee. Pulling out the covers and tucking me in she says, “Now c’mon time for bed and tomorrow we’ll pack your stuff”. Planting a kiss on my forehead and turning off the light I see Bertha heading out, “Bertha… thanks for believing in me.” Turning back Bertha whispers “I’ve always believed in you honeybee”, and shuts the door.
New Beginnings

I woke up to a gentle knock and Amara peeking her head inside, “can I come in?” sitting up in bed while she closed the door and sat by the foot of the bed she said, “so today’s the big day huh”. Yeah. The Henderson’s are coming to pick me up around noon. I’m already packed, now I just have to wait. “Well then come on, I’ve got something for you,” grabbing my arm and dragging me out of bed we left my room. Amara, where are we going? “I told you it’s a surprise”. They walked outside to the greenhouse and up the stairs to the door and stopped. “Amara what’s going on, why are we here, what’s the surprise,” my face gleamed with anticipation and confusion. “Ok, you ready”, Amara opened the door “Ta-Da”.
I stared in shock as everyone yelled surprise. Looking around as I was pushed to the armchair I noticed almost everyone from the program was packed into the greenhouse. Tommy, Jessica, Liz, the counselors and teachers; and of course Bertha was by the armchair waiting for me. As soon as I reached the chair Bertha pulled me into a hug that nearly crushed me to death, but I’m pretty sure I hugged her just as hard. “Immamissyousomuch” Bertha cried out and one of the counselors gave her a tissue. Laughing I teased her, “sorry, I didn’t catch that” and received a swat to the arm. “I said, I’m going to miss you honeybee, look at you your practically a tomato with how hard your blushing”. Everyone laughed and came to congratulate me as someone in the back put on some music.
“Congratulation’s and “best wishes” came from most of the counselors and “hope this one sticks”, “don’t go running away again” emitted in loud voices from the little kids making me laugh. I know I always seem so tough, like nothing could hurt me, but here, I could be me. The real me is, from what people tell me, 100 times better than when I go defensive. I made myself seem solid, being mean was just a way to get people to back off and leave me alone, and now that I’m here with all of my friends and people that love me… it’s easy to let my guard down. “Hey! Someone bring this girl some pizza” Anita, one of the counselors yelled. Loving and laughing at everything was awesome. I received my pizza and bit into a huge chunk of pepperoni, Canadian bacon and olives, my favorite in the entire universe, and moaned my approval. “Wow, you’d think she’s never had a slice of pizza before” someone shouted making me laugh even harder. Tommy and the gang came to sit with me and I smiled as Tommy picked off everything, the cheese, pepperoni, ham and olives and slid them over on my plate. Man, this kids missing out, oh well I shrugged and ate his leftovers. Glancing at all of them I knew I would miss them all; even Tommy and his messy eating.
“Ok, time for presents!!!” Bertha shouted above the music, and placed a present on my lap. The music turned down and people came closer. “Bertha you didn’t have to”, I started when she cut in “so you don’t forget us”. Lifting up the present I stared at the red and blue “congratulations” wrapper and froze. “So you don’t forget us”, kept repeating itself over and over again, would I forget? How could I forget everyone, that would never happen I assured myself. Shaking my doubt aside I ripped open the wrapper and found a black leather photo album. The front of its leather binding had a picture of the whole program including myself sitting under big trees, the same trees from a field trip we took a month ago. Opening the book I found a single picture of everyone mashed up into a collage. Smiling I went ahead and flipped through and saw pictures of my birthday, field trips to the water parks and best of all, pictures of the gang and I. With tears threatening to come out I hugged Bertha and said thank you to everyone. “Me next,” Said Tommy bringing out a card. His card said “I love you” in big letters surrounded with hearts. Hugging Tommy Amara came forward, “this if for you, write everything, don’t leave anything out, and remember, if you can’t talk about it you can write it.” Grabbing my new diary I said thank you to everyone. “Alright everyone, it’s almost noon, let’s get this girl looking presentable,” Bertha said guiding me outside and into the main building. Once inside the room “ you have 15 minutes until 12, hurry and change and I’ll get your bags out into the waiting room
The Henderson’s arrived just as I was saying goodbye to Amara, “I’ll miss you and remember, don’t you dare mess this one up V”, she laughs and hugs me. “ I won’t, I promise Mara, and I’ll never forget you, I hugged her tighter. “Don’t you go on forgetting us,” Bertha hugs me and the Henderson’s lead me to the car. Sitting in the back seat I look forward and take a deep breath as we leave the parking lot.
Looking out of the window I look at the scenery and see trees and roads. “you’ll love the house, it’s big with tons of room, and we have to get your room ready for you, go to the store to pick out your colors, bed, desk, and clothes. So for now you’ll be sleeping in the guest bedroom, I hope that’s ok”, Rosalie tells me looking into the back seat. “Oh, yeah, that’s fine, I don’t mind”, I answer. We’ve been driving for a few hours in silence except for the radio going on about the traffic and winter coming soon when Jonathan glanced over saying, “the house if just a bit further”. I look around again and see a lake to my right through the tree lined road. Trees! I love trees, and I love swimming a small smile came to my lips I didn’t want to admit it, but I think I can give it a shot, what’s the worst that could happen?
Turning into a dirt road we drove through a huge wrought iron gate and followed the stone driveway towards the house.Lots of room was a colossal understatement I thought as the house, or in this case, a mansion came into view. Wow I said aloud, “nice house”. It was like a castle, complete with a wooden bridge.
Shutting the car door and clutching my belongings I whispered, “You live here?” Smiling, the Henderson’s gathered at the porch depositing my poor excuse for luggage next to the large French double door and walking toward me, “we all live here Veronica, your part of our family.” Shifting awkwardly I walked to the Henderson’s as we made our way to the door. All polite smiles I followed into the house and just about dropped my backpack on the marble floor, amazed at what was in front of me.
A beautiful foyer that alone could fit two rooms from the program, marble flooring and plants lining the walls