Welcome to my Nightmare

Going Home

I opened up the mailbox, anticipation getting the better of me as I ripped open the envelope for my university application.

Dear Alison Chaise,

Congratulations! You've been accepted into the University of California-

That's all I read before I threw my hands up in the the air and cheered, before feeling the stares of the passing pedestrians, and stopping immediately.

I ran back inside of my roommates house, and crashed into my her happily as she passed by.

"Woah, take it easy Ali!" She said, using my nickname and placing her hands on her shoulders to steady me "What's with the giant grin?" Her soft Australian accent calmed me and I spoke.

"Emily, I got accepted, into the college!" My Australian accent was heavily tainted with an American accent, living in America for six years can certainly change the way you speak.

"Great, congratulations! The one in California right?"

I nodded excitedly, and handed her the letter. I watched her dark brown eyes read the text, and her brown curls bounce as she looked up at me and grinned.

"Look at you, finally going to uni! Wow, you smart girl, veterinary science!"

I grinned and hugged my best friend, squealing excitedly.

"When do you leave, Ali?" I heard her ask, her voice tinged with sadness.

I pulled out of the hug, and smiled at her sadly.

"I have to leave as soon as possible, to settle in"

"Where will you live?"

"You know my friend Josh? We talked about it as a possibility if I get accepted, and he said he had an extra room and wouldn't mind a girl living with him"

Josh and I were friends before my mum and I had to move back to Australia when I was 19, we stayed in contact by emails and video chats because calling each other was too expensive. Getting accustomed to the different time zones was tricky, but we eventually got it right.   

Since my ATAR score wasn't high enough to enrol into Melbourne university for the veterinary science course, my guidance councillor recommended I do a bachelor of science degree. Now that I have my degree, and finally gotten in to a college I can study to be a veterinarian, and a bonus is I can see my best friend I haven't seen in six years.

"You make sure he takes care of you ok? Or else I'll kick his arse!" I laughed at Emily's remark, and I move off to my room to sit down on my computer.

I log onto my Skype account and call Josh immediately, I waited anxiously for him to answer, checking my clock quickly.

"Three o'clock, should be about eleven pm there" I thought aloud, resting my head in my hands as I waited for Josh to answer.

"Hello, Ali" a very sleepy Josh answered, his face appeared on the screen, in the same position as I was in, except with tired eyes.

"Hi Josh, guess what?" I asked, bouncing up and down in my seat.

I see the wheels turn in Josh head, then Lasercorn appeared on the screen, equally tired as Josh, and pulled a silly face.

I laughed, and Josh playfully whacked Lasercorn on the shoulder.

"Can't I say hi to your friend?" Lasercorn remarked, poking his tongue out and exiting the screen as he added "Anyway, we're supposed to be editing now, so chop chop"

"Don't worry, I'll make it quick!" I told him, and waited for Josh to answer me.

"So, have you guessed yet?" I prodded, grabbing the acceptance letter from my desk and showing it to Josh. Who readjusted his glasses and squinted to read the tiny writing on the envelope.

"Oh wow, that's great! You got accepted, wait, California?"

"Yup"

"But how are you going to study there? You're in Australia!"

I placed the letter down, and rolled my eyes at Josh's slowness.

"I'm moving to California silly, I'm returning home!"

"Oh my god Joven, even I got that!" Lasercorn butted in, using Josh's YouTube name.

"Oh, right! So your living with me, right?" He inquired as he raised one eyebrow, waiting for me to confirm our earlier discussions about living arrangements. I nodded, and he grinned.

"So, when are you coming here?"

"As soon as possible, so I'll finally see you in about a week. Then I have to start uni about a week after that"

"Uni?"

"Oh right, college" I corrected, grinning at the different names for the same thing "Our countries are separated by a common language"

He nodded, and we continued the conversation while Josh left Lasercorn editing.

"Are you going to do something?" Lasercorn shouted, and Josh winced.

"You better go" I said, and checked the time "It's 5, I better start planning dinner"

"It's one here, I better finish this and go to sleep"

We both waved goodbye, and I closed Skype to check up last minute flights to California.

"Hey Emily!" I shout "What do you want for dinner?"

"We gotta celebrate! Let's go out!"

I chuckle, I'm going to miss her.