Backyard Boy || DreamNotFound

{2} Home Home

Attention all passengers, your flight will soon be landing. Please secure your luggage and that your seatbelts are safely buckled. Thank you.

It was dark, that was weird because George had just woken up. He would have to get used to the new time zone...

Thank you for flying with American Airways, we hope you enjoyed your flight. Please exit the plane through the door on the right.

George slowly stood up and stretched, grabbing his small flight bag, making sure he hadn't left anything behind him on his seat and making his way to the exit with his mum and sister, who were also half awake. The small family shuffled with the crowd down the steps and through the airport, the bright white lights blinding the squinting eyes of the brunette.

"Right I just called a cab for us, it should only take a few minutes. Oh, come on George! Stop dawdling, you are making a fool of yourself young man!" The boys mother pulled her son closer to her, patting his shirt getting rid of invisible dirt that only she could see apparently. Georges Mother was a bit of a germaphobe, she hated getting her hands dirty.

"Oh! Look, here's our ride. Come along children!" The middle aged woman tugged her two kids to the taxi, mumbling on about something or other to do with Georges hair. Jesus Christ why was she like this... its not like we're about to meet the royal family...I guess she just wants to make a good first impression to the county, even though we will probably never see these people again.

George sat with his sister in the back of the sleek taxi, looking out the window again as he had done back home. His mother was chit chatting with the driver about...strawberries? Why is everything so boring with her...

His mothers main goal was to fit in, and she had raised her kids like that too. His sister, Harriet, had normal long brown hair and brown eyes, she wore normal 'girl' clothes and had a lot of friends that were all obviously straight. She had good grades that were rewarded handsomely by their mother. She did horse riding, winning 1st place multiple times (she bragged about this too much, it was so fucking annoying).

Although, there was a time that George remembered very vividly. He was about 13, when Harriet came shuffling into his room with a confused look on her face.

She sat down next to him and said "Um, George? Is it- am I allowed to-" she was mumbling and stuttering "Is it OK if- if I like a girl?" George had been extremely surprised, he thought she was just going to ask to play games on his phone...but this? It was completely out of the blue. Before he could answer, she had walked out of the room with a simple "Actually, never mind..."

George wished he could've answered her and told her that it was OK and she was allowed to date girls- but she changed. Her entire friend group changed. He didn't really know much about what happened, but all he noticed was that her entire style and personality had changed. From sweet and natural, to piles of make-up and accessories. He wanted her old self back...

But everything was changing, his life is going to be completely different, and he couldn't do anything about it. After his father died, his mother had been quick to move. The last thing she wanted was to have people gossip about her dead husband. Had to fit in, always neutral, always normal. "Follow the crowd with your head the height of everyone else's" was what she used to say.

Before he knew it, the vehicle stopped. He opened the door out into the fresh night air, and took his first look over his new neighbour hood. He couldn't see much, only the illuminated windows of houses and the occasional street lamp.

The family thanked the taxi and walked up the front garden to the door. George tripped on a small rock of some sort, he couldn't see because of the dark.

"Come come! Here George, be a dear and open the house for me? The keys are in here," his mother handed him her small handbag.

He found the keys and unlocked his new home. Fumbling for the light switch, George turned the lamp on as they stepped into the hallway.

The first impression was...nothing. It was the most basic house you could ever set your eyes on! White walls...grey carpet...it didn't have a smell at all, a bit like water.

"Welcome home!" His mother took her shoes off and closed the door "you can explore tomorrow, but now I think you should get straight to sleep! I discussed with the previous owners of this lovely house, and they said that they would leave some clean sheets on their old beds just for us- isn't that kind? You can discuss between yourselves who gets which room, I'll be in the kitchen if you need me. Oh! And make sure you're up before 9am! The moving van will be here by then with the rest of your things. You have a set of clothes and pyjamas right?"

They nodded.

"Goodnight then!"

Immediately after she finished speaking, his little sister snapped "I get the biggest room, OK?"

"Yeah yeah whatever..." George yawned and followed his sister upstairs with his bag. His sister had already located the biggest room and was on her phone on the bed, he poked his head into a smaller room down the hallway.

This will do...

He sighed and plopped his bag down, not bothering to brush his teeth because he hadn't eaten anything since last time he brushed them. Yawning, he closed his eyes and rested his head on the cool pillow, a big contrast to the humid temperatures of Florida.

Before he knew it, sleep overtook him.

Well done you've finished chapter 2! Take a cookie 🍪