Chapter 1
This was the day that Addie had always waited for. Her mom had flown all the way out from Alabama just to see her graduate from college. No one would have believed that the weird girl from Tuscumbia, Alabama would be graduating with honors from Princeton University.
Since she was little, she always had a fascination with other people. She liked to study their mannerism and figure out why they did certain things. Her favorite thing to do in high school was to sit at the mall and watch the people as they shopped. That is why she decided to get her Masters in Psychology. She wanted to be a clinical mental health psychologist, so she could help people whose minds worked differently than others.
In high school, Addie had never quite fit in. She was always made fun of by the popular girls for being quite and always reading a book instead of partying. They also called her a little freak for staring too long at people. The most popular girl in school called Missy Morgan would always laugh at her and call her the creeper. It ruined her chances of ever fitting in at her hometown.
She was excited about today, but she was also a little apprehensive. Yes, she was graduating today, but she had also decided to move back to Alabama to be closer to her family. She was tired of being away from them.
She had already accepted a position at the new clinic in her hometown as a psychologist working under Dr. Morgan. She was nervous, but also excited to start seeing her new patients.
Over the past few weeks, she had already moved most of her stuff back to her childhood home with her mom. So, after the ceremony, her and her mom were flying back to Alabama.
That’s were she was now. Squished between her mom and the window in the small coach seats waiting to land in the little airport near Muscle Shoals.
When they landed, they headed to their car. Her mom got in the drivers side while Addie got in the passengers seat. Her mom looked at her and smiled.
“You glad to be home, sweetie?,” her mom asked.
Her mom was a sweet and beautiful woman. She had black hair and light blue eyes. Her parents had gotten divorced when she had graduated high school. Her dad had been having an affair with a younger woman, and had left her mom to be with her. Her dads new wife Carmen didn’t like her, so he never really had much time for Addie in the last few years. Last time she had seen him was the day before he got married, and that had been over a year ago. She had invited him to graduation, but he told her he couldn’t make it. She was fine with it because she had always been closer to her mom anyways.
Addie looked just like her mother except for the freckles that covered her checks and nose. Addie always hated her freckles cause she thought it made her look cute instead of beautiful like her mother. Her mother was a petite 5’1 while Addie took after her dad and was 5’11. She had always been slender, but she still had a few curves.
Her height kind of intimidated guys, and it made it difficult to find guys to date. For goodness sake she was twenty-four years old and she had never even had a boyfriend. Yes, she had dated a few guys in college, but it never went past the first date. She liked guys, but she never found one she really connected with. She had decided she would inevitably end up a spinster with dogs. Her love life was that boring. She chuckled thinking about her looking like an old spinster in Victorian clothes.
“Earth to Addie. You ok? You seem to be kinda out of it sweetie.” Her mother’s voice brought her back to reality.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about some things. I’m just kind of nervous to be back I guess. I never really fit in well here.” I told my mom.
She looked me with sympathy in her eyes. I always hated that look.
“Honey, you are an adult, and it doesn’t matter what some ridiculous kids thought about you in high school. Plus, didn’t Dr.Morgan invite to a party tonight for the grand opening of the clinic?” She said.
“Yes, but I don’t think I want to go. I’m not good at parties. I never know what to say to people, and I’m socially awkward around people I don’t know.” I told her as I looked out the window.
“Addie, don’t take this the wrong way sweetie, but isn’t your job to talk to people on a daily basis?” She looked at me raised her eyebrows and smiled. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes mother, but that's different. It’s my career. I just have more confidence talking to people in a professional setting than a social one.” She rolled her eyes at me and frowned.
“That makes absolutely no sense. It doesn’t matter. You are going to that party, and you are going to make some new friends because you are young and beautiful. You work so hard, and you deserve to have some fun.” She told me firmly.
“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m not happy about it.” I told her petulantly. She looked over at me with a triumphant grin on her face. My mother always got her way. It was so unfair.
I grew up in an older white bungalow style home with blue shutters. It wasn’t fancy, but it was charming and homey. I loved growing up in this house. We were just pulling up into our drive when she looked at me excitedly.
“I know you would rather wear jeans and a t-shirt tonight, but I saw something at the mall the other day, and I just had to get it for you.” My mother was practically bouncing with excitement, and that could only mean one thing.
“Is it a dress?” I asked nervously.
She nodded and I groaned.
