latch // luke h (on hold)

one

Zara.

I couldn't sleep.

I've been like that for a while now. I thought moving would make it better, but no change. I tried making hot milk, listening to calming playlists, and even counting sheep, (cliché, I know) but no avail.

I looked over at the small digital clock on top of my night stand. It read 4:17am. At least I didn't have school in the morning, it being a Saturday. I could lie in until 3 o' clock if I wanted to. My Mother wouldn't say anything to me. It's not like she cared.

After all, she is the one who moved us half way around the world.

Don't get me wrong, when she told me we were moving I was ecstatic. I just didn't think it would be to New York!

I had no say in it. My Mother is a complete workaholic. Honestly, it's like her office is her home and with me is just a chore she has to do. She's always there, not I'm complaining. I like being alone.

I looked at the clock again. It now read 4:21am. I groaned and turned over. This is going to be a long night.

After around a half an hour I was still getting nowhere with sleep. I decided to get up and walk around my room. I could only see the outline of the furniture that was inside it. The only light in the room was coming from the moon through the window.

This room was so foreign to me. It wasn't comforting and relaxing like my old room back in Ireland. I felt like it was too big. I had a fairly small room back home so I didn't have that much stuff that could fill this massive room. Mam offered to take me shopping for new clothes and furniture for it, but I told her maybe another time.

I looked out the window. Outside was nearly pitch black except for the lights adorning the streets. I saw that there was a little kids playground at the end at the end of my street.

It wouldn't hurt to get to know the neighbourhood at five am would it?

I tip-toed down the stairs, not wanting to wake my Mother up. She'd kill me if she knew I was out at this time. Just as I put my foot down on the penultimate step it creaked really loudly throughout the house.

I held my breath in anticipation for Mam to come down the stairs and scold me, but after a minute or two I realised that she was still fast asleep. I then let out that long breath I'd been holding.

I got to the door and then went out of the house, quietly locking the door behind me with my small silver key.

I started to walk around the street and I noticed how identical all the houses were. All the same two-story suburban family house with a garage on the side. It was achingly boring.

I walked along the footpath until I was at the end of the street, facing the playground. Again. It was nothing special, just two swings, a see-saw and a slide. I went over and sat on the swing on the left, slowly rocking it back and forth. If it wasn't for the streetlights I would be absolutely blind.

I must have been completely zoned out because I didn't even notice a person come over and sit on the swing next to mine.

"Can't sleep, huh?" the voice asked. I nearly jumped out of my bones when I heard it. How did I not notice him?

"How long have you been there?" I asked the boy who had nearly given me a stroke. I looked over at him. I could barely make out his features in the dark. A small shine on his lip made it obvious that he had a lip piercing. I couldn't tell what colour hair he had really.

His eyes were a different story. They were such a vivid blue. The kind you could stare at for hours. They were the first thing I noticed about him.

"I asked you first," the boy responded. "I come here a lot and I've never seen you here," he mused. "And judging by your accent you're not from here. You're from Ireland aren't you?"

"Yes... but that's not the point. How long have you been there?" I repeated my question from earlier, getting slightly annoyed with the stranger.

"Only around ten minutes. You still didn't answer my question," he reminded me.

I huffed. "Fine. No I can't sleep," I snapped at him. He didn't seem fazed by my harsh tone.

"Okay I can tell I'm annoying you. How about this; you tell me one thing about yourself, then I'll go," he said with a ghost of a smirk.

"I would, but my Mam told me to stay away from strange boys who try to talk to you at night," this boy had some nerve. He didn't even know my name and yet he was asking me to tell him things about myself.

"You've been talking to me all this time," he added.

"I'm not interesting," I countered back.

"I highly doubt that."

I sighed loudly. He wasn't letting this go. "One fact. That's all I'm asking," he was practically begged.

"Okay fine. I like Arctic Monkeys. Now can you leave me alone?" I told him. Once I told him that he smirked a triumphant smirk.

"See? That wasn't so hard was it?" he said smugly as he got up off the swing and started to walk to the gate. I realised I didn't even know his name.

"Who are you?" I called after him

He turned back and said, "No one special, don't worry about it."

I know this wasn't intersting but it's only the start it'll get better I promise :)