Wooden Optimism •lrh•

chapter one

lowercase intended.

everyone was crying. rosie was leaving today to go to australia as part of an exchange program where she would stay with a family over there for a year or two. she still got to come back and visit but her family seemed to believe it was the end of the world and that she would forget about them. deep down they knew that this wasn't true. rosie left as quickly as she could, barely even saying goodbye to her family, though, she never was one for goodbyes. if she was honest she was really looking forward to leaving. not her family but the people in her university were narrow-minded and since she came from a small town, everyone knew everyone else's business. rosie didn't like that, she didn't believe that anyone had a right to know what was going on in her life or to be able to pass judgement without knowing her properly but that was what happened everyday in her hometown. that was only one of the many reasons she had jumped at the chance to leave, a lot of unfortunate things had happened to her as of late and she felt a fresh slate would give her a chance to start afresh.

    rosie's sister suzie drove her to the airport although it wasn't a pleasant drive as it was filled a deafening silence. this never came as a surprise to rosie as she suspected suzie was secretly glad she was leaving. suzie had always been envious of rosie although rosie had no idea why, susie had it all; she had the stunning face, sparkling hazel eyes, flowing blonde hair with a stunningly curvaceous figure and she was incredibly funny. if anything rosie should be the one envious.

    soon enough they reached the airport, rosie couldn't get out of the car quick enough, she felt suffocated by the quietude in the car but she also felt sad at the fact she knew her own sister-her flesh and blood-was glad to see her go. rosie grabbed her suitcase out of the boot of the car and swung her backpack on to her shoulders before sending a small wave in suzie's direction then walking into the airport. this is a new beginning. a chance to redo all of her mistakes and maybe, perhaps make some real friends. a sense of exhilaration washed over rosie as this would be the first time she would be away from hometown without her family.

    rosie, whilst lost in her thoughts, was not watching where she was going somehow managing to collide with a tall lanky boy.

    "oh wow sorry." she rushed out, "i wasn't watching where i was going I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

    he started laughing though rosie wasn't sure what was funny but she liked his laugh it was full of happiness, something she hadn't felt in a while. "yeah i'm fine don't worry about it." he had a strong australian accent.

    she nodded with a slight smile before walking away to check in. once rosie finished checking in she headed to the vending machines to get some food since she had not had any time to get breakfast in the morning then she sat at her gate and waited. there seemed to be a lot of people at her gate waiting to go to australia. last minute nerves began to kick in, what if nobody liked her, what if the family she was staying with didn't like her, what if it was just a replay of what happened back home? what if.

    before long her gate started boarding so she lined up to board. she spotted the tall blonde boy from earlier in the line further ahead and she wondered where he was going and if she would ever see him again, probably not. finally, after waiting for what seemed an age she got onto the plane but it was completely packed, she could barely move for the amount of people bustling about! she pushed and shoved to get to her seat which happened to be next to the tall boy, though it was also a window seat which made things a thousand times better as she planned to take loads of pictures out of the window, rosie loved the sky. once she had settled down she plugged her earphones into her phone and began to listen to her music, halfway through the second song she felt something poking her arm so she turned round only to come face to face with bright blue eyes.

    "um i just couldn't help but notice you're listening to twenty one pilots?" he rushed his words slightly, "i love them."

    "yeah, i really like their music." she smiled at him. he was really good looking like really really good looking. he had super high prominent cheekbones with full lips, his nose was slightly upturned and his hair was a little bit long and somewhat curly but it was his eyes that demanded attention the most, they had a certain sparkle to them; the outlines of his irises were a soft cerulean, the irises themselves a watery sapphire.

    "what's your name?" he asked, his lips hinting at a smile.

    "um rosie." rosie almost forgot her own name because of his damn eyes.

    "you don't seem so sure of yourself." he started laughing as rosie blushed, "im luke."

    rosie faintly smiled, she didn't know how to keep a conversation going considering she hadn't had a proper conversation for ages, well not any she could remember anyway.

    "australia seems a long way to come all alone?"

    "im an exchange student for uni, I'm just gonna be staying there for a couple years maybe" rosie paused smiling properly for the first time. "a fresh start."

    rosie had to glance out of the window for a minute to contain the hapiness that she was leaving shitty ass scotland behind along with the shitty ass people there before turning back to luke, "anyway why are you going to australia."

    "well as you can probably tell from the accent I'm from there so I'm just going home because i came to scotland for a bit of a holiday."

    "on your own?"

    "no I'm not a loner," he snorted. "my friends left earlier today, there wasn't enough seats left on their plane so here i am, on my own. hey what university are you going to?"

    "western sydney."

    "no way!" he shrieked causing a few heads to turn and look at them weirdly. "im there too!"

    "seriously?" rosie beamed, maybe it wouldn't be as hard if she knew at least one person there.

    "what are you majoring in?" luke asked curiously.

    "im half and half between fashion design and fine arts, I'm not really sure which to pick as my final choice."

    "wow, im doing theatre arts"

    "an actor eh? are you good?" rosie was curious as she had never met an actor or anyone studying to be one.

    "id like to think so well everyone tells me i am so.." he smirked cockily.

    "you'll have to show me sometime." rosie wasn't sure if what she said was wrong as luke seemed extremely surprised when she said this.

    "arranging to meet up with me again already? eager much." he grinned facetiously at her, noting how perfect her cupids bow was and how plump and full rosie's lips were, the way her button nose scrunched up slightly when she smiled and how her eyes were the perfect colour  combination of sapphires and emeralds.