Signs // Ruel

~ four ~

Navi

I wake up tangled in between the bed sheets. My eyes aren't fully adjusted but I can make out that it's definitely dark outside from my lack of ability to see anything. I reach my arms out hoping to find some sort of bedside table that I may have put my phone on. It honestly feels like I've been sleeping for days, and I'd actually be quite worried about my surroundings if it wasn't for the slight sound of music and chatter beneath me.

"Hey siri" I croak. The room illuminates from a couple meters left of the bed, so I roll out and reach to grab my phone.

7:23pm

Okay, so I've had around 7 hours sleep, more than enough to function properly. I use the flashlight on my phone to find a light switch on the wall, and turn it on. I must've been absolutely out of my mind when I changed into my pyjamas earlier, because it looks like I emptied the entire contents of my suitcase out on the floor. My eyes follow the mess and I realise that theres a second door in the bedroom.

I walk over to it and notice a second switch right next to it, which I flip. I then begin to open the door and I'm hit with a warm glow. This is definitely the most extra ensuite I have ever seen. In the far right corner there is a waterfall shower lined with glowing lights and a toilet and sink with cupboards underneath in the other corner. I notice myself in the mirror,

Wow, i look like crap

Luckily my toiletry bag and towels are just outside of the door so I take my chance with living the high life and have a quick shower.

With the towel wrapped securely around my body I head over to my suitcase for my hairdryer and pick up the first outfit I find. It's a white and navy pinstripe co ord set. Feels a bit dressy but I'm guessing theres a party going on downstairs, and you only get one shot at a first impression.

I also grab the little makeup bag I brought with me and take it into the ensuite. My skin hasn't been the best recently due to stress over exams, so I've been trying to reduce the amount of makeup I wear since prom.

I change into my outfit and dry my hair downwards so that it goes straight ish. I then moisturise my crusty ass skin, apply concealer over a few spots, curl my lashes and then add highlight to my cheek bones, inner eyes and the tip of my nose. Yeah, this whole reducing my makeup thing isn't working out too well, but at least I look semi decent.

I quickly snap a mirror pic and send it to Maeve with the caption

"I guess going to the other side of the world makes everything opposite - so I'm hot now 😉🤣"

I laugh to myself as I press send and walk into the bedroom and begin to tidy the mess I made. I open the door and tie up some black ankle boots once I'm finished, finally ready to leave when I realise I had left my phone on the bed. I rummage through the sheets and don't find it at all. I don't know why but something tells me to get underneath the sheets and I go along with it, immediately regretting my life choices. I emerge from the darkness, phone in my hand and with very obviously messed up hair. I reach my hand to my head and quickly run my fingers through to flatten it out. At that exact moment laughter echoes down the corridor and I spot someone emerging from the top step.

A boy with long dark blonde hair framing his face stares back at me. My heart stops for a second - flashbacks to my Leonardo DiCaprio phase in year 8 quickly sweep over me. Holy fuck. Someone must love me because this is too good to be a coincidence.

There was a good 6 seconds before either one of us moved, until I awkwardly shuffle forward and close the door. My heart is pounding like a drum.

I fling myself onto the bed once again, ashamed of how much of a dumb bitch I am.

I send my mum a message

Where are you? Come get me from my room please 😬

She responds quicker than expected

Don't be daft. Come down, I'm sat with Will outside in the garden. There's some people you need to meet xx

Ahhhhhh. Great.

I'm not entirely sure where this garden is, but I'll find out sooner or later. I take a deep breath and peep outside, making sure that no one is there. I walk down the long corridor and check over the railings to downstairs. It doesn't seem like anyones in the living area so I carefully make my way down the steps and follow the sound of the music playing. It seriously feels like I'm trying to escape a murderer when in reality I'm just trying to escape my own embarrassment.

I turn the corner past the kitchen into a big indoor/outdoor dining area that extends into the garden. The bushes outside are dotted with little lights, making the whole thing look really pretty. I spot my Mum chatting with another woman that is slightly older than her on an outdoor sofa. Will is speaking to Mark and some other guy next to the speakers. I get anxious and scan my eyes over the 20 or so other people, not finding that boy.

My mum spots me before I can prepare myself. I get really nervous before meeting new people, but in a weird way that you wouldnt be able to tell if you didnt know me. So to strangers I always seem confident, which is far from the truth.

"Navi! Come over here" my mum stands up with a grin on her face and begins to introduce me to everyone as her daughter. I smile and walk over into the centre of the seating area. The woman my mum was talking to introduces herself as Kate with a very slight English twinge to her aussie accent.

"Oh are you from the UK?" I blurt out, feeling embarrassed, but she just smiles and starts to answer my question.

"Ah you caught on. Yep, we moved here 12 years ago. My two girls were 6 and 7, my boy was only 3" she pauses and turns her head to the left, where Will is stood. "This is my husband Ralph," she points to the other man Will and Mark were speaking to, "and this is my son, Ruel" she says with a nod towards to house.

I turn my head to follow her gaze. The boy from before strides towards us confidently in a white repeating champion sweatshirt and black trackies with WNDRR printed on the sides. All I can do I stand there, dumbfounded.

He must've caught onto the conversation.

"Hi, nice to meet you" He says with a calm smile.

"You too" I say, raising my eyebrow at him slightly, to which he responds to by acting offended, causing me to finally crack a smile.

Yep. I definitely have a new crush.