Illinois

Zari woke up 15 hours later, only having fallen asleep 3 hours ago she was curled up in a little ball hugging her old stuffed bear. She blinked and wiped the sleep from her eyes, glancing out the window. Instead of seeing the familiar large hardwood trees of Deleware, she saw huge buildings surrounded by roads and grass. The sun was setting off in the distance shedding a bit of light on the city. 

"Where are we?" Zari asked the driver leaning forward a bit so he could hear. 

"We are in Illinois Miss, we are spending the night at a hotel a few miles away before we keep going to Colorado" He glanced down at his watch briefly and continued silently staring at the road. I nodded and yawned, picking up my phone. I always had the latest model; my dad always insisted that I would be able to reach him no matter where he was; I don't think he knows how phones work. I scrolled through Instagram, looking over the stories of my old classmates.  They were all filled with things like "I just got this new car thanks, Daddy!" or "Going to Africa to help children" I sighed, putting my phone away. I knew they were all fake people doing fake things; maybe someday they would realize it too. After mindlessly staring out the window, the driver pulled into the DUPONT private hotel and helped me get my bags out. We were staying in the sweet well. I mean I was the driver, along with a few bodyguards who were staying in the rooms nearby. I didn't want a big room. I mean, how much do they think I need? I certainly don't need two beds, a huge bathroom, kitchen, hot tub, deck, and three TVs for one night.  I shook my head and sat down on the bed next to the huge window with a view of the city. I opened my phone to see a missed call from my dad. I hovered my finger above his name for what seemed like the house before throwing the phone down and storming off to the bathroom to get changed. After I had gotten ready for bed, I stared at his name again, and one simple word that was used all the time that somehow seemed unfamiliar.  It took all the strength she had to click his name, and when she did, she held her breath. 

"Hello, sweetie! how were your travels?" Her dad's firm voice echoed through her phone.

"It was good; I didn't do much, just slept and listened to music," she answered, simply fiddling with her hands. 

"You missed my call earlier; how did that happen?" She could hear the disappointment behind his voice but mustered up the courage to answer. 

"I was unloading the car," she lied. "I called you as soon as I could, I promise," She lied again. 

"Why were you unloading the car? I told them to do it!" He said angrily.

"Dad, I wanted to unload my own things. I'm not helpless," Zari tried to convince him.

"well, alright. How is the room? is it all that you need, or do I need to call them?" He sounded genuinely worried behind the phone causing Zari to chuckle. 

"Yes, everything I need is only feet away, thankyou."

"Are you excited to get to school? I already have some guards there checking everything out."

"Dad, I don't need guards. I already told you that I am more than capable of taking care of myself; I am a blackbelt in Karate, you know?" He chuckled slightly

"Yes, I am well aware you can take care of yourself, but for now, you will have these guards; they are there to keep you safe, and later on, if you really don't need them, we can talk, is that clear?" He said sternly through the phone, switching to his business voice as Zari liked to call it. 

"Yes, Sir," Zari replied, hanging up the phone, she knew her dad meant the best, but she just wanted to be normal. Ever since her sister and mom passed away in a fatal plane crash a few months ago, he had started acting different, being more protective of her. Zari understood why he wanted to protect her; she knew how much losing his wife and daughter had affected him.  He used to be less business-like, more family-based, and available, but now it's like she was barely there to him as more than someone to protect and give money to.  Zari needed her dad, though, and as much as she loved him, she hated how he was drifting away; she went through a loss as well. She was never close to her mother but losing your twin feels like part of you has been ripped away, something that will never be full again.  This was the first major thing she had done without her. Her sister was always there when she needed to talk about anything, and she knew everything about Zari, including her secret. 

Zari rolled over and pulled the blanket to her chin, falling asleep to the sound of the city. 

*Hi! I hope you liked this chapter, we are learning more about Zari and her life, and I can't wait to continue writing. Please add any suggestions you may have of new characters you want to see. thank you so much for reading and share this story with someone if you think they would like it. Also please vote so I have some idea of who likes it*