Serafina|| I'm A thousand Miles Away

[delilah thomas.]

It was a less sunny day, though the sun was still shinning brightly. The freshly cut grass gave off it’s intense smell, capturing the noses of several. Delilah had always loved the smell of grass just after it had been cut. Her own Dad hated it, but he was too busy with his own busy yet boring life to stop and enjoy the smell once in a while. After her dad had mowed the lawn in the back garden, she often sat about, gently thinking about life and wishing that her real Mom was around instead of the woman that she forgot to pretend she liked.

She was a girl who lived for her music. It often felt better to listen to the lyrics of songs instead of the words of others. That sounded slightly antisocial, but Delilah was a girl who preferred not to hear the latest gossip or who was dating who. It generally didn’t interest her. She was as much intrigued by it as she was by birds. And that was saying something. She steered away from gossiping simply because she knew there were many secrets one could toss about herself. Secrets that she preferred to stay just that. Secret.

The white buds burst music into her ears, the cable running down into her hand where she held a neat, aqua blue Ipod- a Christmas present from her father. Her father was far from rich but he had a well-paying job and she was an only child. Or so she hoped, thinking of that witch of a step-mother back home, probably secretly grinning that Delilah was away from her. Her face twisted into a confused but angry frown as the image of the blonde haired, fake-smiling Jessica appeared in her mind. Wearing her perfect designer jeans and boots, never a hair out of place. ’I hate her. Delilah told herself, even though she knew that her thoughts for her step-mother were one’s that proved more then dislike.

She had left her cabin quickly, not wanting to have to wait in a queue for the bathroom just so she could brush her teeth. Brushing her teeth seemed to aggravate a lot of people. She took brushing her teeth as an opportunity to think over everything. It was just so relaxing, staring at her misty reflection in the mirror, watching the toothbrush whirl around the insides of her mouth. Ten minutes soon turned to thirty and people would hammer on the door, telling her to hurry up- stop being a bathroom hog. She must be the only teen who’s parents told them to stop brushing their teeth.

She wasn’t much of a breakfast eater. Just a burnt slice of toast with nothing on it would satisfy her stomach. She wasn’t much of an eater full stop. She was pretty fussy, swirling food around her plate, avoiding eating it. She preferred to snack through out the day on eating big meals. Although her snacks were rarely unhealthy. They usually consisted of apple or oranges or another member of the fruit family. It wasn’t like she purposely tried to keep her figure slim. It was like, genetic or something. She guessed her mother was pretty skinny, and she had been in the one picture she had of her. With the same light blonde curls and fair complexion, she seemed so similar to her daughter, though she wasn’t through personalities. Far from close to the same.

As she strolled across the grass, she kept her arms close to her body, curled in tiny fists inside the large, hooded sweatshirt that was far from hugging her figure. Though one hand was fisted around her Ipod, music causing her to gently nod her head in beat to the song. She had picked the song ‘Hey There Delilah’ to fill her ears. It wasn’t out of vanity she had picked a song about a girl named Delilah. She favoured the song, about eighty per cent of the time she was listening to music, that was the song her mind was wrapped around. There weren’t actually many good songs about people called Delilah. Delilah wasn’t even much of a popular name any more. But she wasn’t complaining, it was better then having the same name as half a dozen other girls.

Her hair was tied up as usual. It was quite rare to find her hair loose. Of course she drifted off to sleep with it loose, spreading out over her pillow. She just preferred to keep it up, it giving her a much girlier look whilst down around her shoulders. It wasn’t like she was completely against looking girly, she just didn’t want to look like the airhead blonde she appeared to seem when her hair was down. So anyway, her hair was tied up with a faded white elastic hair tie, the ends tipping into the hood of her sweatshirt, which was navy. She often wore jackets and jumpers over her tops, even throughout the hot weather. She just preferred to stay covered up then show her fair skin.

Like normal, she wore jeans. They weren’t baggy, but hugged her thighs and opened out a little at the bottom. And beneath that her somewhat dirty trainers trod on her grass. Making her way over to a large oak tree, she rested her back against it, the lids closed over her piercing blue eyes, her light blonde lashes barely visible against her light complexion. Her head gently nodding to the music.

[Serafina Finn]

4 skirts hung neatly from their hangers, and about a dozen shirts of varying types were laid out flat on the bunk. Every morning began that way, with the terribly tiring task of deciding what to wear. Serafina sighed, running her hand along the edge of a pale sea green flowy skirt. In a flash the skirt was off the hanger and folded back up and placed into her ‘everyday skirts and dresses' suitcase, or at least the first of two of those suitcases. The next to go was a black one, then yellow, finally leaving her with a crisp white skirt. It would have to do. Choosing the shirt was easier, she just chose the one that best complimented her mood. Which on that particular morning was white and dark blue striped.

Serafina changed quickly and uninterrupted as most of the other girls in cabin 7 were asleep or had already left. Those awkward 15 minutes in between were Serafina's alone time, she cherished it above all other moments in her days at camp. Sliding her feet into another pain of ridiculous heels, she stepped away from her bunk. It was immaculate in an unhealthy way, the edges were pulled almost too neatly, her bags lined up perfectly or stored away. With a quick smile for the benefit of her bed and belongings, she was out. She held a letter, one of too many, from her mother in her hand. She had been unable to open it up until that point. But for some reason, she decided to read it then.


My Dear Serafina,

This is your mother, did you forget about me? I thought that we had a firm agreement that you would contact me the MOMENT you arrived at camp. And yet, I received not a call, nor letter, nor any other sign to indicate that you are still among the living. Of course, I assume you have a very good explanation as to why you have yet to contact me and I am eagerly awaiting your response. In other, news, I'm doing well. I've had the decorators in and they think that they can cover that hole in the kitchen wall quite easily. Although I still can not imagine any insect so large that the only way to kill it was to drive my Manolo Blanhik's heel into the wall. Seventeen times. I was quite fond of those shoes, and now they are ruined. Never mind that though.

I do hope you are enjoying yourself and that your father has yet to send you anything. Always has to one up me doesn't he? Which is, of course, why I have enclosed this picture of you and me at your Kindergarten graduation. Please note which parent is there and which is missing. The correct responses being that I am there and where is your father? That's right, not in the picture. Anyway pet, remember to take those vitamins I bought you and if you find the need for some more please let me know and I will.......

Serafina sighed and carefully folded the letter, picture and all, in half and slid it into her pocket. At the first chance, she would throw the stupid thing away. Honestly was it really necessary for Aria to be so ‘connected'? The letter had been dated the day Serafina had left for camp, Aria didn't waste time either. It was still early, and Serafina was exhausted, blinking the sleep from her eyes and trying to keep her mind on task. Which was at that point in time, staying awake long enough to find a garbage can or recycling bin and pitch the letter. Eventually she would have to write her mother back, she already had four or five unopened envelopes waiting for her back in the cabin. And then there were the 200 or so missed call notices on her phone. Serafina had kept it shut off since she'd arrived, eventually hearing ‘Killer Queen' start and stop every other minute got tiring.

She walked carefully, aligning her feet, toe to heel, heel to toe, with each step she took. It took most of her concentration, just making sure she didn't stray from her strict walking path. A few random pebbles were scattered across the way, each of which caused her to break formation and brush it aside with the tip of her shoe. Serafina was almost too tired, and she had been up for at least an hour or two. Getting ready wasn't exactly an easy task and she had too much weighing down on her mind. If her parents, and Olivia's mother, did have to come up to camp. Serafina would probably have to kill herself. In fact death paled in comparison to the horror that would ensue if the three were together.

She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thought, letting her mind wander to other things. For example, so far she had passed nine people, nine minus two equaled seven. There, seven was a much better idea than her parents and step mother. It was strange, the way Serafina thought in terms of numbers. Almost every whole number had a meaning to her, like seven was comforting, forty-three gave her headaches, and twenty-two made her want to cry. Math had always been embarrassing, simply due to the fact that the teacher writing a number on the board caused Serafina's emotions to change in an instant. Mathematically bi-polar.

She paused for a moment, watching the world around her instead of her feet. There were less people out than she would have guessed, maybe her nine and just a few more. Everyone else seemed to have some sort of a purpose, running around to find their tennis shoes before an early morning activity, trying to eat breakfast twice because they were just that hungry, or sneaking back from their boyfriend's cabin, hoping no one noticed their absence. Serafina did, not that she knew any of the people she saw personally, but she liked to place reasons on their being out early like she was.

Serafina sighed, her breath blowing a few strands of her hair out of her face, and continued down her path, her original purpose bored her now. What use was a recycling bin at this hour? She scanned the few faces again, looking for someone who was interesting enough to merit her attention.