The shiny new car slowly moved towards the dusty, antiquated buildings. A family of four, arrived in a shining new vehicle, out of place from the old settlement of mages in Ardabīl. "Just my luck", hummed Dannie, she was the eldest daughter in the family, just turning 13, "Gaaah" her baby sister said. "Look, you sister is telling you too shush and enjoy the new place", Martha, the mother said. "You must have telepathic communication", sneered Dannie.
From the time she could remember, Dannie had moved from place to place, all over the world. Her father was a engineer who specialized in "motus", or in lay mans terms, trains, transporting people all over the world. Andy had tagged along, and before she could really make friends or really meet people, they had moved on. "Are we sticking for good?", asked Andy, "Yes, at least for another 5 years", Arthur, the father said. He was a man with a bushy beard and genial eyes. Although he had no head for anything beside the complicated mechanics required for creating transportation systems.
The scenery unfolded as the vehicle entered the perimeter of the buildings, "Center for Ardabīl Transportation", the writing read. It was one of the oldest places established in the Country of Byrgandor. The country where her father was born, pale yellow buildings, bustling with people. As they entered beyond the gates, people sat on the streets selling fruits and vegetables and a small stall was selling cold drinks. "The world has evolved and yet your hometown is never changing", Martha commented. Arthur smiled as the vehicle slowly started descending down in front of an pasty white building, "We have arrived at the offices, I will check-in, you guys find the Bell family, they must be waiting", after saying the Arthur stepped out and into the offices.
"The Bells have a daughter your age", Martha said, she was a round woman, with flaxen straight hair, Martha hugged her baby daughter and tried to show her the scenery. Molly was an adorable baby, with her mothers sweet smile and flaxen hair, Dannie took after her father with curly raven hair.
Dannie was more nervous than excited, the last place she had lived, she had finally managed to make friends, her best friend, Steph, was 2000 miles away in Andola. Steph was tall among her peers, very friendly and very gentle. Dannie and Steph could talk about anything and everything. Steph had assured her that she was contact Dannie as much as she could, but Dannie knew, separation was a fact of life. It did not matter how much you wanted to, after you moved away things would never be the same.
"Is the Bells daughter, Jill?", and hummed as she was staring at the streets, a group of boys seemed to surround a healthy looking boy, who was smiling as he showed something in his hand. "Jill, I heard she got into the prestigious 'Academy of Byrgandor'," Martha said. "Mom, stop comparing before I have even tried for the Academy.", Dannie retorted, "It has begun, the teenage rebellion" gasped Martha in horror. Dannie could not give a response as she was far too antsy in this new place.
Their home in Andola was as different as the day and night. Andola had a tiny apartment, with high-rise buildings, smart clean super-markets. This new place lived in the past, the skies so blue and clear, the green trees and flowers blooming. Ever the city girl, it was the first time Dannie had to live in the town. Away from the convenience of the modern society. "We are back in the stone ages", Dannie huffed. "Its not all bad, you love to swim, you always wanted to ride a bike, see you can do all that here now", Martha comforted.
While they were having a discussion, a friendly looking middle aged man knocked on the window, it was Thames Bell. He was an old friend of Arthur, a girl with straight brown her stood beside him, smiling politely. "Hello Thames, this must be Jill, oh how much she has grown", Martha remarked as she stepped out of the car. "Hello Uncle", Dannie said shyly as she stepped out of the car, she looked at Thames, and curiously looking at Jill. "This is Jill, she is my daughter, you two are the same age, Jill show her around here", Thames said pushing her towards Dannie. "Hi, Dannie, lets have a look around here" Jill said as she tugged along Dannie.
The walked slowly on a street lined by old beech trees on the sides. The green leaves slowly shaking with the cooling wind, it was a pleasant sunny day, making up for the slight awkwardness between the two young girls. As Dannie was trying to think of something to break the ice, the group of young boys she had seen earlier, swiftly drove past them, ringing the bicycle bells to warn people on the road. "Who are these people, that guy sitting on the back is so fat", Dannie said looking after a slightly chubby guy, who was the center of the group before. "That is Lucas", Jill said slightly smirking, "He is the class president of my class in the Academy, and very popular", she added. "Popular?", Dannie said. She was in a girls school before, not really aware of the awakenings of young love or secret crushes. "You like him? I could never like a guy like that", Dannie coolly remarked, the only opposite sex she had ever had any admiration for were fictional and 2-D.
Jill did not seem to take too much offence to that statement, "He helped me out by offering me notes before classes started, as I moved just 3 weeks before you, notes you will probably borrowing", she remarked. "Oh, in that case my apologies to Lucas", Dannie sheepishly remarked, rubbing the back of her ears.
That summer day, with the blue skies, green leaves and ringing of bicycle bells was the beginning of Dannie's new journey. The most memorable days of youth were about to begin.