Chapter 1

The beeping of my alarm clock caused the beginning of the best day of my life! "Starr it's time for breakfast!" Today is the first day in a new town; Sun City! Our new home, it's in the suburban community of Dogwood Corner. Our new home is on the corner of 1721 E. Cinderella Drive and S. Prince Ave. We are the Turnabouts my mom is Ashly Turnabout; she is a full-time School Doctor at Sun City Community College. My dad is retired Sargent Tyron Turnabout he just became the new Dogwood High football coach.

Then I have my older brother Christian Turnabout he's a sophomore at Dogwood High. He was a football starter back in our old town. He wasn't very happy about the move and was mad that Dad retiring meant changing where we'd live. Oh, then there is me, I'm Starr Turnabout. I'm going into my freshman year. Oh, we also have a golden lab named Goldie, she's about five years old and has protected our family from danger since Dad brought her home. "Good morning family!"

I smiled in the kitchen as mom was unpacking the last of the dishes, dad was making pancakes, and my brother was scrolling through his phone. "Morning baby girl, would you mind setting the table. Christian; take the trash out, so we can eat." Mom said half scolding him. Christian dragged his feet. As I took the golden honey-colored plates and set them down by each chair.

Moving to most teens entering high school must sound horrible. But for me who had a rough time in our last neighborhood feels like this is a new page for me. Dad really wanted to leave after the boy down the street was killed by the local street gangs. The police did nothing because of the heavy racial division we had in the town. Most policemen and women grew up in families who believed they were above people of color and as an African girl with what my last classmates, teachers, and neighbors called a 'white girl attitude'. I was the perfect bullying type.

Smacking my cheeks I bring the smile back to my face, "Starr are you ready to pick up your schedule?" nodding as Dad sets my plate down. "Thank you, I can't wait to make so many friends here!" laughing my brother crosses his arms, "Yeah right last time you were the laughingstock of the school, do you think these new kids will really think any different? High school is a different world."

Dad stopped him by clearing his throat. "Well; this is a different town son. Open your mind to new ideas and this smaller town has a better balance in the local social justice platform. Now, let's say grace and get going I have to get my office ready, and you guys need to find yourselves around the school. After eating, Dad does the dishes with Mom, while I finish getting ready. I had Mom help me put my hair into two big puffy pigtails, more like poodle puffs but very cute.

I made sure to wear my favorite color yellow. The yellow shirt had queen bee written on it, I complemented it with a black overall dress with a bee wearing a crown on it, the bee was on the front pocket. Pulling up the yellow stalking I have that looks like a honeycomb, I slid over to my black shoes with white toes.

I turn and look at my mirror, yep, I'm cute! Sun earrings and a sunflower necklace, golden eye shadow, and red lips. Let's conquer high school! Downstairs Dad and my brother were talking about football, I could care less, but I was interested in volleyball or maybe theater. I haven't decided yet. Dad lets my brother practice driving since he just got his permit last week. "Alright son, nice and easy."

I pull out my phone and look over my pretty empty contact list. I close it and open my notebook, typing in a few things. Make friends, join a club, pass classes with C's or higher, and most of all find a boyfriend! Giggling from the back seat Dad looks back, "What's so funny back there Starr Amber Turnabout." I smile back, "Oh nothing."

We pull into the parking lot, and the campus was already packed, clubs lined the front of the building, and schedules were in the gym. I was too giddy, "Alright first things first, schedules and Christian let's talk about football with the other coaches." Christian groaned but nodded. Inside the gym, the mascot was waving and meeting everyone. It was a bulldog no surprise there. Finding the S-Z section I grab my schedule when the teacher handing them out, welcome me, and points me over to a Freshman event that was going on.

Dad wave me off as I go over to the small gym where they had a small freshman orientation. Everyone was getting put in groups and they were playing team-building games. Perfect, new friends and in a friendly way! I walk over to a teacher who wore a pair of painter's overalls and her hair was messily tied up with a clip. The red curls were almost covered but they spilled over the top of the bandanna.

Her thick glasses enlarged her eyes, "Hi, I'm a freshman, and new to Dogwood Corner." She turned showing her bright green eyes, "Oh, well welcome to Dogwood High, what's your name, sweetie, so we can get you with your homeroom class." I smile, she was welcoming and perfect. "I'm Starr Turnabout." She ran a finger down her clipboard, "Oh, you're in Mr. Greens English homeroom. He's a new teacher and quite fun, look for the green sign over to the right."

I look towards the back and I saw the green sign. He was a tall ebony man he was ripped and had a model-type body his face could have been a Greek Marbled statue! His glasses sat at the edge of his nose. He looked up and he had a smile that only God could have given. "Hello, are you one of my students?" I nod still star-struck. "Yes, I'm Starr." He hands me a green wristband. "Alright welcome to the homeroom." My heart fluttered out of my chest as he touched my shoulder.

In our homeroom were about 20 people already and most were already talking to each other. Alright, Starr, deep breaths, "Hi, I'm Starr", the girls ignored me. Right, I am new they don't know me. "Good to have you; Miss Zika. I heard a lot about your brothers." I turn and see long lush loose chocolate curls. Sharp silver eyes, olive skin, perfect hourglass, and a cold stare. Butterflies flutter around, I've never seen such a pretty girl in my life; okay exclude my mom and myself.

The girls around us seemed to pull themselves away from her when she joined the group. The ice was forming and I wasn't about to let her feel left out. "Hi, I'm Starr, and can I just say; you are the; prettiest girl I had ever met!" She blinked twice before I noticed the pink hue grow on her cheeks. "Um, thanks, you are the brightest girl I had ever met." She took her hand; I grab it and give a firm handshake."

So, what's your name?" I ask as we move deeper into the group. "I'm Theodora Zika, are you new to town?" I nod, "Yeah, we just moved in last week." Theodora nods, "I see so you aren't tainted by the rumors that surround my family name." I stopped talking for a second, "Wait what?" her sharp eyes look at a blond girl; she reminds me of a Sally doll. "You'll hear a rumor eventually about how my mother died a couple years ago." I feel my throat dry. "Oh, I'm sorry." She waved it off, "It's fine just don't believe everything that these small-minded people tell you."

Theodora seemed cold to the people around us. "You know Theodora, you remind me of the moon. So cold and yet pretty." She looked at me with those sharp eyes, "Well you remind me of the sun, you are bright and have nothing to hide, unlike me, I do have a dark side."I felt a connection to Theodora and decided to stick with her all day. This is when I found out we share a similar schedule, everything but, in our last block she was in orchestra and I had a choir. Talking I found out we are both into Star Dust! Of course, we liked them, who wouldn't be into the greatest boyband of all the 21st century. Theodora loved Ricky the unofficial leader, but I loved Devon the co. leader of the group.

At the end of the day; we walk out to the parking lot where my brother was waiting. "Chris, I'm over here!" Theo walked with a stride over to my brother who was oozing with street cred and gang violence. "Hey, Honeypot where were you?" he asked leaning on Dad's car. I blush at my nickname; I was called that often for the thickness of my rear and thighs. "I was doing a freshman orientation, and I made a friend. Meet Theodora Zika." Chris' eyes flash a nasty glare over. "I see, Starr, can you come here for a second."Theodora stopped him, "Sorry, Starr my ride just came, I'll see you on Monday." I nod and wave to her as she climbed into the limo. Chris was shocked too. "Starr what the heck do you think you're doing, that Zika girl is bad news."

I scowl, "You had horrible friends; what did you hear about her that makes you think Theo's bad." Chris crossed his arms, "I heard she comes from a family of criminals and that they do human testing. I heard the family did a poison test on her mom and she was the one who wound up killing her mom." He had a triumphant smile, as I step on his foot. "Yeah right; Theo is too nice to come from criminals and she already warned me about those rumors."

Chris moves to the passenger side of the car. "Oh yeah did she tell you the rumors then?" I open my mouth to be stopped, "I bet she didn't because she couldn't come up with a better cover story." Dad finally unlocks the doors as we climb in, "Alright kids, I bet your mom has finished unpacking and has dinner on the table." Chris grew quiet, I look between them.

Dad broke me out of my trance, "So, baby girl what did you do today?" I smile, "I made a new friend!" Dad smiled, "Yeah who is it?" I looked at Chris who continued to sulk. "Her name is Theodora Zika." Dad looked back in the mirror, "Really? I met three of her older brothers today. They are on the football team. They spoke highly of her and how she had a hard time in school due to their mother dying and one of their father's business rivals spreading a rumor.I crossed my arms and gave Chris a told you so look. He just scoffed, "Sure Dad believes that lie." He firmly speaks, "No son, you fully believed a lie all because of your; nasty habit you picked up from your old friends. You should know better how some rumors have no true bias. Remember the one about your sister?" My face loses color just thinking about that, I wanted to forget about that rumor.

Pulling the car into the driveway as I noticed the elderly couple next door hanging a moving sign up in their yard. I think nothing about it as we open and walk through the white door as the sun started setting on the blue house.