White Lies and Music Notes

Chapter One

One thing, I thought as the plane hit the ground, that I am not looking forward to, is meeting my Aunt Caroline.

Ugh. God. I really don't like her even though I have never met her.

Why? I don't really know. I guess maybe the fact that she had never even attempted to contact me when I was young, or because she only ever spoke to my mum when she wanted things from her, or maybe just because I never really had an Aunt before, and, to be honest, I didn't want to change that.

The plane rumbled to a halt and the lights flickered on. I was suddenly blinded by the light and blinked a few times. The man sitting next to me removed a pair of ear plugs and I almost vomited as I saw a string of green slime sticking to them.

I hurried off the plane, trying to put as much distance between me and the ear-wax-guy. The stewardess who was assisting me, panted loudly as she tried keeping up with me.

After I got my luggage and went through customs, I saw a my Aunt. I think. I had only ever seen her on photos, but her wild Afro of red hair was unmistakeable. When she saw me she rushed forward and folded me in an embrace. It was awkward as I had never met her before and yet she treated me as though she had missed me her whole life. Who knows, maybe she did.

"Leah! Oh my goodness! How are you? How was the flight? Where you in customs for a long time? Did all your luggage arrive safely?" She practically squealed into my ear. So far she seemed quite friendly actually. Nothing wrong with a bubbly personality.

"I'm fine," I said quietly as I pushed her off of me. "Just a little tired and jet-lagged. The flight was fine, and all my luggage is here. We need to go and collect Harris now, though." I was worried for my horse, what if he was really stressed out?

Caroline seemed to sense my nervousness and reassured me. "Don't worry about him. I'm sure he'll be fine." She smiled. I think she wasn't that bad, actually.

"Ok, thanks." We left to go to the pick-up. When I saw Harris, I ran up to him and hugged him. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders, now I knew he was safe. I breathed in his warm scent of hay and sweat and held him close. When I looked up, I saw Aunt Caroline wipe a tear from her eyes. Why was she so emotional? It's not like it's her horse, is it?

"Leah..." She said quietly. "We need to go home now, it's getting late." I nodded, my face still buried in Harris's neck. I clipped a lead-rope to his head-collar and we walked towards my Aunt's truck. It was a huge Oakley Supremacy and had enough space for eight horses.

"Oh, by the way, Leah," she said, "I brought Muffin, my donkey, so that Harris won't be lonely on the long drive home." How sweet of her to think of me.

"Oh, thank you so much! I was worried Harris would get all worked up on his own." I said as I tied him next to the small, dark donkey. They looked quite a pair. Harris being tall and muscular, and Muffin being short and fat. It made me laugh.