Waking up I made my way down to the kitchen, the smell of hash browns filling the air. "Morning there ace. Sleep well?" My mom asked still in her pyjamas, hair messy flowing down her shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess." I replied adjusting my glasses on my nose.
"Hey, ace I need to tell you something..." She sat across from me placing a plate in front of me, decorated with hash browns, fruits and toast. "Yeah..?" As she was buttering me up I began to remember why.
"So since it's just you and me I kind of wanted to mix it up a bit." Nodding I bit some toast. "Well, we're going to host a exchange student." she said as I was mid drinking orange juice. Stoping I placed the glass down on the table a little harder than I expected.
"Wait—WHAT?!" Pretending I didn't already know. "Why? I like the way we're living now!" I looked at her brows furrowed.
"Well he's the only one left in the program it'll only be a few months." She looked at me reassuringly.
"A FEW MONTHS!?!? Wait who is he? What's his name?!"
"That's something you can ask him later." She said standing up to fill her mug with coffee. "Go get dressed and clean up so we can welcome our guest nicely into our home, please. He's a foster kid from a few towns away." Sighing I held a piece of toast in between my teeth and left to my room.
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Looking myself in the mirror I observe how I dressed. Brown pants, white shirt with a bow tie my black framed glasses resting on the bridge of my nose. No wonder I got picked on at school.
"Wasd we're leaving now!" I glanced at my clock seeing how the time flew by cleaning my room. Skipping down the stairs I fixing my hair. "Finally! Good granny, took you long enough!" She joked messing up my hair.
"Mom! Cut it out!" I raised my arms defensively fixing my hair. Grabbing her over decorated keychain and bag she exited through the front door waiting for me, hand on hip.
Following promptly I walked towards the car, hopping to the front seat."Why does he have to come today, on a Saturday!?" I whined, like a toddler as she shook her head starting the car.
Mumbling to myself I looked out the window. The outside world zooming by.
"It'll be easier for him to adjust."she replied stopping at a red light. I adjusted my seatbelt it digging into my neck.
"Where are we picking him up anyway?"
"Just downtown they have a bus stop up there, at least that's what it said on the email.." Rustles of paper made me glance over seeing my mom unfolding a printed picture of the email.
When will this nightmare be over.
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Face palming myself I stepped away from my mom as she held up a cardboard sign. "Why do you have a sign?" She shook it back and forth in my face, nudging me.
"Oh never mind you— oh there he is!" I looked into the crowd squinting, the thick hoard of people with bags and suitcases in the way. Finally the crowd dispersed revealing a small boy about the same age as me who began to approach us. His round framed glasses and sweater vest almost making a joke of how I dress myself.
"Hello Oort, welcome! I'm Ms. Striker or you could call me Noe. And this is my son Wasd." He smiled my face heating up a bit as if he let off a ray of cringe.
He held out his hand "Hi I'm Oort Cyr, nice to meet you Wasd." I reluctantly held out my hand to be shaken. Nodding my head I tried retracting my hand, his firm grip on my becoming more and more uncomfortable.
"You two will get along great! Let's head home, here let me grab the for you Oort."
Yeah we'll get along great...
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The next morning I sat awkwardly on the bed beside Oort.
"So where are you from?"
"Oh, um just a few towns from here in Algoe."he replied scratching the back of his neck. The tension thick enough to cut through.
"You like playing Mariokart?" I asked playing with my fingers. He looked at me as if I was speaking another language. "I take it you haven't played before. Come I'll show you." I gestured towards the door. As I head towards the door, Oort walks past me ruffling my hair. "Hey!!" I yelled after him.
Turning back he stuck his tongue out giggling. His bubbly personality was not something I was used to. I definitely wasn't the most joyous kid. Probably why Braydon picked on me so much at school.
Shaken from my thoughts, literally shaken Oort had me by the shoulders violently moving me back and forth.
"You do not hold back do you? Every hear of personal space?" I said glaring at him. Looking me in the eyes his hands resting on my shoulders he leaned in a bit grabbing my chins he shaking my head back and forth.
"Why? I'm a people person what can I say?" Flicking my nose he walked ahead once again. I rubbed my nose as he ran away snickering.
"Do you know where you're going? That's the bathroom by the way." I retorted rolling my eyes watching him walk back out shamefully. Laughing I motioned towards the living room.
Maybe I'll give him another chance.
~~~~~~~~~~
"You moose-headed quack-sack!" I yelled leaning back over on Oort. "Stop cheating!!" My hand pushing on his face barely obstructing his view. His character crosses the finish line, the victory music playing as he jumped up laughing in my face.
"Ha that's hm... One, two, three, four, five games I've won now? Ha ha aha ha!!" He sat back down poking my face.
"Hey boys you hungry I'm gonna make some lunch now." My mom's voice called from the kitchen.
"Yeah we're starved." I said walking in sitting down at the table. "Oort's such a cheater! He won five times in a row and claims he never played before." I shot a glare at him my mom softly chuckling. "Don't laugh he beat my high ranking in two player!" Making her way over to us she placed some plates and cutlery down on the table.
"Wow Oort, usually it's just me and Wasd you must be pretty good." She said, a tone of surprise as she placed her hand on my head. Shaking her off me Oort laughed. Trying my hardest I bit my lip holding back laughter before it spilled out. The rest of the night just a series of all of us bubbling laughter, telling stories of different funny experiences.
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Later after we finished eating I lead Oort up to his temporary room. Just as I was turning to leave him he jumped forward grabbing my arm. I slowly turn, an eyebrow raised as a worried look washed over his face.
"C-can you stay with me a while?" His eyes glossy searching my face. I smile nodding.
We lay on the carpet in the dark room allowing street lights to cast lined shadows from the blinds. I look over to see Oort staring at the ceiling a single tear falling from the corner of his eye.
"Hey what's wrong?" My whisper echoing in the room. He chuckled another tear flowing down the path of the first.
"Oh— nothing I'm just really happy I'm not at the holding house anymore... It was so lonely." He moved closer to me resting his head on my shoulder. "Thanks." He murmured followed by light breathing. I try sliding from under him but as I do he stirs reaching an arm across my chest, holding me tight.
A warm feeling grew in my chest as a smile spread across my face. It's nice to be this close to someone besides my mom. This is something I could get used to.
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That chapter was a lot longer than I expected. Whoops. I'm probably gonna skip a few years next chapter it's a bit boring at this point in time, just a heads up in case there is confusion. ;p
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Sticks and Stones
Genç KurguWASD Striker lived at home most of his life with his mother, but when they decide to house an exchange student named Oort Cyr everything changes. His family. A new friendship. And the trials of growing up. ---------------------------------- It's in...
