Cachè | Complete One Shot Collection | Jaspar

A Hole In the Wall, And a Shitty Computer.

It was the last day of school and every inch of me was counting down the seconds until I got out of this place. I was finally an adult, able to just be.
I would no longer have the need to be concerned about every-other person in this college's opinion on absolutely everything.
I mean good god, teenagers were vocal.

I also couldn't wait to no longer spend 7 hours a day in the same vacinity as Marie Walterton. My ex. She knew every little quirk about me and my biggest secret. She used that against me, at every opportunity open to her. Mariana Walterton pounced like a house cat at the chance to manipulate someone. Every ounce of gossip, bribery, betrayal and down right disgusting detail about upper 6th form traveled through me at her disposal. I was so not letting the bitch sign my year book.

The ticking of the clock hanging on an angle on the wall somehow became clearer over the loud growing murmur of the year 13 English Writing class. As the 3.30pm got closer and closer the classes' anticipation was evident.

-

As I cleared the contents of my locker into my bag, my phone buzzed in my pocket. New text from Oli.
"Hey, when can I sign your book?"
"Now." I replied, setting the smashed phone down in the bottom of my locker as I skimmed trough the contents of a binder.
I pulled out my most doodled on and cherished book and ran my thumb over the title.
"Saying farewell to film class? Are we?" Oli boomed behind me, almost making me jump.
"For now. I'm taking classes at Otago too." I said placing the book in my overfilled bag.
"Yes and a-where was 'Otago' university again?" Oli said leaning on the locker next to me.
"New Zealand." I mumbled.
"I'm sorry did you just say New Zealand? As in the Southern Hemisphere?"
"Shut the fuck up Oli, I already feel shit about it!" I said shutting the locker with clang and walking down the corridor out into the courtyard.

"And, ah when were you planning on telling you Dad? On the plane to Hobbit-town? Or!" Oli asked, rolling up the sleeves of the particularly itchy school jumper and frowning. Water gushed down around us, spilling out of the rotting drain pipes onto the green bricks of the courtyard.

Of course it's raining on the last day of school. Fucking symbolism!
"Joe. Where are we going?" Oli asked confused as every other student was heading in the opposite direction.
"Come on." I said running out into the rain of the courtyard.

-

I flicked my Passport in my hand trying to occupy my over tired brain, as I waited in the well ushered line of sleepy tourists. I yawned yet again and smiled at the print of korus in the carpet.
I'm not completely going out on a limb. I have been to New Zealand before with a bunch of my Brighton friends during year 11 spring break. We traveled up and down the country visiting all the sights in a badly smelling Hire Campervan.

It's January. School starts in 6 weeks.
Which means I have 42 days to
Find a place to live and get a job.

As I stepped out of the airport into the blistering winds of the outskirts of Dunedin, I wondered, was Google joking when it said it was currently summer here? I rubbed my bare arms and looked up at the grey coloured sky and sighed.

"Welcome to New Zealand."

-

"Hi. I'm Emily, come on in." A girl with striking red hair smiled lightly offering me to shake her hand.
"Joe."
"Welcome to 'Wonderland'." She smiled guiding me into the hallway of the house. In the distance I heard the familiar sound of guns and crashing noises being generated by a video game.
"'Wonderland'?" I asked confused sticking my hands in my pockets.
"Yeah, most flats have names. Ours is 'Wonderland' even though none of us know why it's called that. So. Um.. Let me introduce you to everyone." I nodded following her through the hall into the living area.
"Guys!" She shouted getting everyone's attention.
"Mario. This is Joe.."
"Sugg." I mumbled answering her. "Hi." I said waving as the back of a blonde headed guy wearing an oversized jumper ignored me, completely consumed by the video game.
"Anyways. That girl over there on the floor studying, is Adriana. She's Swedish." I smiled at her and she returned flicking her attention back to her books.
"The dick head over there, that's Nick. He's quiet. " She said referring to the tall Korean guy in the corner with headphones on staring out the window.
"Oh, Caspar's upstairs." She spun on her heel, making a squeaking noise on the old checkered tiles.
I followed her up the two flights of
stairs up to the top floor, the hallway was occupied by 6 doors. She reached the 3rd door down on the right and knocked lightly.
"Come in." A deep voice muffled from within the room.
"Hey Casp this is our soon-to-be-new roommate Joe. Isn't he just adorable?" She cheered, as we entered the room making me feel even more awkward. I looked around the room, every wall was covered with several old-style movie posters and two tripods stood in the corner of his room each holding a camera.
"Hi I'm Caspar. And Emily is not a lier." He smiled getting up from his computer chair and sticking his hand out to great me. He had a very distinct accent I couldn't place.
"Nice to meet you. Are you studying film?" I asked putting my hand back in my pocket and looking around his room again.
"What makes you think that?" He smiled a toothy smile. I looked at Emily who now has her phone out and looked rather concerned about something. "Everything okay Em?" Caspar asked getting the gist.