Just Now

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

"Tilda?" I scanned the crowd for anyone who could remotely like the father I remembered. My eyes stopped on a man in a dark grey suit. His hair was slicked back and his pearly white teeth glowed as he smiled happily.

"Dad?" I asked, slowely moving towards him. He laughed and pulled me into a strong bear hug. 

"I've missed you sweetheart!" he chuckles. 

"Robert?" Just outside the door a woman with crimson hair stood with her hand on her hip. 

"Yes darling, here we come" replied my dad. That woman must of been Melissa, I thought to myself. Dad's 'love of his life'. 

As we walk hand in hand over to the woman she spreaded her arms out in a welcoming gesture. 

"Welcome home Matilda," she smiled and ran up to me pulling me into a hug. "I just know we are going to be great friends".

"Let me take these for you" My dad took my bags and Melissa linked her arm in mine. 

"So where would you like to go? Home, get some food, the mall?" I could tell my dad was doing everything he could to make me feel at home and I really did appreciate that but it couldn't stop the feeling of emptyness after leaving everything I new behind. 

"Could we just go home dad?" I asked. Melissa and my dad shared a glance. 

"Of cource we can honey" Melissa smiled. 

Just then, I felt a buzz in my pocket. Could it be Luke? Surely he had more important things todo right?

"Oh haha I felt that as well," Melissa giggled "You should check it, your father and I will take your bags to the car" 

"Thank you" I mumbled. Melissa and dad joined and hands and strolled out into the carpark. The way they walked reminded me somewhat of Celebrities. They walked with their heads held high, in an almost snobby manner.

I shook my head and pulled my phone from the pocket of my light wash blue jeans. 

*ONE NEW TEXT MESSAGE*

My heart began to beat faster then usual again and I could feel the butterflies entering my stomach. With a shakey finger, I opened the message. It was from my mom. 

*Hey Sweety, just calling in to see if you made it there safely, gimme a call when you get this  -Mom* 

I sighed. I should have been happy that I had heard from my mom, but all I could think about was Luke. I switched my phone back off, not sure if I really wanted to reply to my mom at that moment. 

When I finally caught up with Dad and Melissa I couldn't believe my eyes. Dad was leaning against the bonnet of a bright red Mercedes.

"Do you like it," Dad asked "I bought it three weeks ago, the salesman said it was the latest model so I just went off that" he chuckled.

"It's... Amazing" I whispered. Never in my life had I even seen such a luxurious car. Melissa grinned at me. 

"If you like it now, wait till you have a drive" Melissa cried.

"Common sweetheart, let's get you home" dad smiled at me. I liked Melissa and dad, they where kind. They made me feel apart of something special. 

 I sat in the passanger seat of the Mercedes feeling slightly awkward putting my Australian tush on such expensive leather seating.

"So kiddo, as you know, it's summer break here in America, so no school for the next three weeks" dad was looking straight out at the highway beaming from ear to ear. 

"Yeah I know, mom told me before I left" I grinned. I was glad I didn't have to go straight to school. It was scary enough moving across the world let alone moving to a new school. 

"So we where thinking we might do some fun things before the break ends," Melissa contributed "Maybe go to Disneyland?" 

"That sounds great" I laughed. Melissa was such a kind soul. Not like the step-mothers you read about in fairy-tales, she honestly was a natural at this whole 'mother' thing. 

I reached into my pocket taking out my iPhone. I quickly turned it on, remembering that I still had to text my mom back. 

*One New Text Message*

Okay mom, I thought to myself, chill out. I'm replying now. But it wasn't mom it was an unknown number. 

'Hey Tilly, It's Luke :-). Hope I've got the right number haha. Call me?'.

My heart stopped and my palms began to sweat. It was Luke. Luke from the plane. The Luke who had stopped me from having a panic attack and the Luke who had held my hand.