polaroid pictures

'sun sets. sune rises.'

By the time we land in America the sun will be setting. Whilst back in Australia, it will be rising. I look over to my younger brother, Austin, and see how peaceful he is when sleeping. I can't sleep. I don't know how anyone could when we're flying to a whole other country and leaving our lives behind. I look back a row and see dad is sleeping too. I yawn as i realise I am tired too, but when i try to sleep my mind runs at a million miles an hour. What will school be like? Will I make any friends? Will I want to go back to Australia? That was a stupid question. Of course I'll want to go back to Australia.

I step out the car and feel cold winds and snow softly landing, surrounding me. I look up into the sky and admire how pretty Winter is in America. I wasn't prepared for it to snow after 18 years of never seeing it. And never having to prepare for it. I'm only dressed in thin red plaid pants, a red jumper and slippers. I trudge through the small layer of snow towards our house that looks giant compared to ours. Or our old house. It's two stories, which where i'm from you hardly ever see as it's a small country town surrounded by farming. Austin runs ahead to find the biggest bedroom, but I couldn't care less. I needed to take a moment before stepping into the house that I will have to call home for the next, say, 10 years?

I walk in and everything seems to calm. Maybe I could get used to this. The light flickers, but only for a second, my vision adjusts and I look around. The inside is big, but still homey, and I like that. We have no furniture yet so it's bare except for the kitchen that is a few steps behind the what will be living room. As I walk up the stairs I look at the cracking, yellowing walls. I will definitely be painting. I see Austin unpacking everything into a room that is definitely too big for a boy his size. As I near the end of the hallway I see a glimpse of another set of stairs almost hidden around the corner. I cautiously walk up, unsure of what I will find, and open the door. It's the most beautiful room I have ever seen. It will need work but I will happily do it. It has a big bay window, blocking some sunlight out with sheer curtains, the walls are a light cream colour, almost white. Already standing is a 4 poster bed. I'm confused as I walk towards it, knowing the house should have been completely empty. I jog downstairs to tell dad what I have found. I hear him trodding along behind me up the second set of stairs. I open the door and he looks just as confused as I was. 'Honey, how did you find this room, it wasn't even in the website.' I shrug but stare at him, hope glimmering in my eyes. He sighs and says the room is mine, along with the bed but we will be getting my mattress in. I shriek as I hug him and tell him thankyou a thousand times. He leaves and I look around at the room that has so much potential. It's small but seems to look big, even with a 4 poster.

I set all of my boxes and suitcases on the floor near the walk in robe. It's 11:00 but I'm too tired to sleep so I check my phone for any messages from my friends. There is a message that i can't read from my friend of 12 years, Sophie. I swipe across and see that it wasn't a message, but that she has blocked me.  Tears well in my eyes as I begin to wonder what I did. We left in good terms. I go to insta and see that she's still following me, and I contemplate messaging her but don't. I don't have the headspace for that right now so I begin to unpack. I put headphones on and drown out every thought of Sophie crowding my mind. First I put all of my clothes in the wardrobe knowing they will all fit as it is double the size of mine back home. I roll my rug out but have trouble lifting the bed to get it under. After 10 minutes of sore muscles and sweat i managed to get it into a place i am happy with. The ceiling is A frame, coming halfway down the wall and stopping, just big enough for me to fit my bed in the gap. I pin fairy lights and wall tapestry's to the low ceiling and lay on my fresh sheets and quilt cover, staring up with music blasting in my ears. Eventually I fell asleep, not knowing I was even tired.

I wake up to 'Beautiful Boy' John Lenon, in my ears and forget for a moment that I am a whole country away from my life. I pull the headphones off and walk downstairs to see no one home. I see note stuck on the kitchen counter.

Austin and I went to buy some furniture for the house. We'll be back in time for lunch xx
-Dad

Great, I think to myself. First day in America and I'm already alone. I head upstairs to shower and brush my teeth. I think I will paint my room, and maybe get started on painting the house today. I get changed into old green overalls, with a long sleeve white turtleneck underneath. I add some jewellery and mascara and leave to get the paint and brushes. I walk as I don't have my license, but it's only five minutes before I see someone on the opposite side of the road. I get nervous as this is the first new face I am seeing and fix my hair. I take a quick glance up and see that he has fluffy brown hair, blue eyes and is dressed very well. I realise I have been looking for a bit too long, so I look away. I stare at my feet making sure to not look up as I am too nervous to make eye contact. I make it down the path with no contact, so quickly do a twirl to see him again. Shit. He did the same thing and we just made eye contact.

I make it home with two cans of cream white and get started on my room. I blast music as no one else is home, put my glasses on so I can see details and put my hair in a loose pony to keep it out my eyes. I finish the first coat just as Dad and Austin walk in the door. I don't know if I will need a second one though, this paint is surprisingly good for the amount it cost.

AUTHORS NOTE
sorry for the length of this 🤭 i got a bit carried away. anyways idk if anyone will read this at all but if you do can you pls tell me if you like this length or you want it to be a bit shorter? also this is my first story ever so don't come at me 😩✋
also I'm putting this as mature because it might have some fight scenes but idk yet