Wayne Díaz

Chapter 1

“It will be a great opportunity for you to make friends, Wayne.” My father spoke to me in Spanish, our native language, as he drove. I didn’t understand why we decided to move to this cold place in Europe. I stayed silent in the backseat, my arms crossed as I bitterly looked out of the car window while my brother kept talking and talking.
I wish he would shut up sometimes. Maybe then I would get some attention around here.
I groaned under my breath as we pulled up to a run down house that was basically falling apart by the seams. Mama said it was all we could afford. Yeah right. I watched as Wendell, my dumbass older brother, quickly got out of the car. Why was he still living with us? He was 20.
I reluctantly opened the car door to get out, shivering as the cold air hit my skin. “What is this place again, mama?” I asked through chattering teeth as I zipped up my jacket to keep the warmth in. I was exhausted from the 17 hour flight and the longest car drive I’ve ever been on to his town.
“We’re in England, which means we’re going to have to learn English to fit in.” she answered, smiling as she unlocked the door to our new house. I didn’t want to walk in, I just wanted to go home. Wendell quickly pushed me in, despite being shorter than me. I sighed in annoyance as I walked upstairs to claim my room. I walked into one of the upstairs bedrooms, the window was facing the backyard into the far off woods, I wondered if anyone had explored them before.
“You like this room, son?” Dad spoke up which caused me to snap out of my thoughts, I still wasn’t used to being called that.
I nodded as I turned to face him, fidgeting with my hands. "Yes, I do."
Dad nodded as he walked off, I sighed as I followed behind to get my stuff from the car. I had only brought my essentials; basic healthcare items, my phone, clothes, and Snippy, my comfort stuffie.
Wendell teased me most of the time for still having a stuffed animal at 18 but I always brushed him off. I walked back upstairs to what is now my new room and put my stuff on the floor. I have to sleep on an air mattress for a couple nights just until the rest of our stuff flies in. Great.
I place Snippy on the mattress before walking downstairs to go outside. The crisp fall air hits me immediately, causing me to shiver. I rub my arms to keep myself warm when, seemingly out of nowhere, I hear a familiar word being called out.
"¡Hola!"
I look around frantically to find the source of the sound, my eyes landing on a boy next door, who looked to be also Hispanic, he had dark brown hair and light moustache stubble. I paused for a moment to look at him, he looked attractive.
I quickly shake those thoughts out of my head as I walk over to the stranger, and as I get closer I realize that he might be around my age.
"Hola." I muttered out as I extend my hand out for a handshake. "Mi nombre es Wayne. ¿Y tú?"
"Eduardo." The stranger speaks as he shakes my hand. He had a firm grip, it's strangely comforting. He asks where I'm from, I tell him "Puerto Rico". He tells me he's from Spain.
Then I realize he's like me, he came from another country and probably had no English experience either. I felt less tense than I was when I felt alone.
So I decided to ask; "¿Hablas inglés?"
"Sí."
Damnit. He's going to fit in more than I will. I feel my expression drop and he must've noticed because he asked if I was okay.
I quickly perk up and force a grin, I nod as well as I reassure him that I'm okay.
I quickly turn around and walk back to my house without so much as a goodbye. As I walk in, I see my family sitting on the floor eating dinner but not one of them asks me to join, not even my own brother. So, I instead go back upstairs and lay down on the air mattress.
"I'm not hungry." Is what I kept telling myself, I lied to myself and others all the time, they always believed me. No wonder I have that scar on my neck now.