When I got home my my uncle as I had expected stood in the hallway arms crossed over his chest. I set my bag down and sighed. "I know what your going to say." I said to my uncle. He raised his eyebrows and started in on what would be a very long lecture.
"Do you really Jace? I can assure you I have not been happy with your behavior lately." My uncle's voice was steady but I could tell he was mad. "Does it look like I care?" I said with a snort.
My uncle's face turned red. "Get your ass in the kitchen and sit down. I don't want to hear another word until I have said what I need to say. You will listen to me and whether you accept any of what I say is up to you. But this conversation will happen whether you like it or not."
I stiffened and walked to the kitchen. I sat down at the table thinking of ways to get out of the situation. My uncle leaned against the counter and glared at me. "Your behavior lately has not gotten any better. If anything its gotten worse. It truly disgusts me how much you have let your life go off a good course."
I started to say something but he interrupted me. "I am speaking Jace. Ever since your father died things have spiraled out of control. This needs to stop. How do you think your father would feel about how you have acted?"
I stared at my uncle and spit out at him. "I have been doing just fine thank you. I am quite capable of living my life in a good way."
My uncle laughed once. "Jace I am not an idiot. I know that you're failing your classes because of your father's death. I have covered your ass many times and pretty soon when the principle comes to me and says your still failing your classes. I won't be able to say that the death of your father is still taking a really big toll. It just won't cut it. You will end up not graduating and I will not allow that to happen."
I got up. "Did you ever think that maybe I still need time to collect myself?" I shouted pushing my chair away back as I stood up. My uncle stood his ground. "Jace your father died almost two years ago. In the community you really can't get any more time than that."
He softened. "Just stop Jace, please I know that your father's death has been a lot to handle but honestly it has affected me just as badly. Don't forget I lost my only brother."
I couldn't take anymore. I turned and walked out of the kitchen. I got my cellphone and went upstairs to my room and prepared a hunting bag. I took off out the door to the one place that would help me, the forest to the place where my father had been found, slaughtered and dead.
To the spot where everyday I had gone to and gathered information about the surrounding area. In hopes of finding anything that would point me to the bear that had killed him. My mind was a whirlwind until I reached the trail. I calmed down some as I started down it. I was going to find that bear and kill it. I will get revenge for my father. Even if its the last thing I do.
I got into the backseat of my parents car at the Logan airport. After many tears of sadness from my friends and a goodbye party. I had finally moved. I was still plenty mad at my parents for forcing me to move. I put my headphones in and cranked the music on my iPod.
I stared out the window trying to think about how my life had gone wrong. I eventually fell asleep listening to Sean Paul "She doesn't mind" on repeat. I was awoken by my mom who told me in a tired voice. "Here we are Annie, I need you to help bring in the boxes. We can unpack what we need for the night and finish in the morning."
I got out with no complaint. There really was no point. I had moved and I wanted a chance to explore anyways. I checked the time on my iPod and calculated that it would take at least two hours to bring everything into the house. Then I could ask my parents if I could go for a walk. I entered the house and my breath caught.
It was a really nice house. Maybe Salem wouldn't be such a bad place to live after all. I put the last of the boxes in the front area. I went to go find my mom. I found her in a nice parlor area. "Hey mom, can I go take a walk so I can see the neighborhood?"
She looked up. "Sure honey just be back for six okay?" I nodded and headed out the door. I stopped and turned. "Is there a park around here somewhere?"
She nodded but was on the phone so I left. It was a nice neighborhood. I found the park easily enough. It had a good number of trees with a giant pond in the middle and pathways. There was also a playground and a good amount of benches.
I sat on one and dialed Felix's number. He didn't answer. I hung up and dunked just in time for a flying ball to cleanly sweep my head. A girl that looked my age came jogging up to me.
"Hey, sorry about that I didn't see you there." I nodded and she looked curiously at me. "Hey, you new around here?" She asked. I nodded again.
"My parents all but forced me to move." I said. The girl smiled at me. "Well Salem isn't that bad of a place. Plus its good on the eyes if you know what I mean." I didn't so I just shrugged. She shook her head and started jogging backwards. "Well I guess I'll see you later."
She waved and then was gone. I sighed and headed back to the house. I didn't call it home because it wasn't... yet. I entered the house to the smell of dinner. I sighed. I had school tomorrow and I was sure to get a headache. The thought of meeting new students made me nauseous.