Secrets

Chapter One

Anya

I sit on the end of my new single bed and look around my new box room. It's filled to the brim with half emptied moving boxes that are damaged having travelled from the UK. It's hot outside and I am not used to this, especially not at this time of year. I really need to buy some more clothes. What I have pretty much consists of jeans and sweaters.

I can hear dad moving around downstairs. I'd like to think he is preparing for this new job that Carl organised for him. He used to go to University with Carl, who now owns a car sales place down the road. Apparently my dad couldn't get a single job in the UK so moved us here.

Of course, there's no way that we would have been able to come over here if it wasn't for Jason who pulled all of the strings and arranged our green cards. I didn't bother telling dad this. There's no point whatsoever.

Ever since they left my relationship with my dad deteriorated rapidly. After the first couple of months when he wouldn't speak a single word to me he turned to partying, among other things. Which is why we are in this shit hole flat, sorry, apartment. Because we have no money for anywhere remotely nice.

I unpack my uniform for tomorrow and sigh. Sun Valley Academy. It's the most exclusive private school in the area. Basically, it admits the richest of the rich. Thankfully we don't have to pay the tuition so I am able to get a top rated education. I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies.

Dad asked me this morning if I was angry at having to move here. I'm not. Yes, I'll miss my friends and those close to me back home but change happens and I've accepted that. I just can't wait until I turn eighteen so that I can move out of here and look after myself and my own money. Five months, nine days to go. That's all I have to last.

Just five months and nine days.

Wish me luck.