Autumn Angel | JHS ✔

.forty-four.

The plane ride doesn't blur past and doesn't drag out. Time doesn't even seem like a factor anymore. I'm left alone in my own world, even though people flank me on all sides and my butt is starting to hurt from staying still for so long. 

Underwater. It's the best way to describe how I'm feeling. I feel like I'm underwater. The entire world is muffled, muted, my entire body feels like it's floating to the point where I can't even feel it anymore. My scalp tingles and I'm left in a world of blue. Every sensation is skewed and I can no longer tell if my eyesight has simply gotten worse within the last few hours or if there are still stubborn tears clinging onto me. Everything is blurred, distant, cold. 

Time: the craziest concept. It's weird to think that when the plane lands, I don't even realize until the people next to me start to stand up. It's weird to think that I was so detached from the ride I'm left deciding whether it went by too fast or if it now feels like a second home. Somehow, my feet manage to move in front of the other and somehow, I get off the plane and enter the airport. 

I can't imagine how lifeless and dead I look right now. It's been a couple of weeks since I last could have passed for decent and approachable. Now, it looks like I've completely given up on life. 

I haven't. This was the whole reason I did what I did. I haven't given up on life. I'm trying to figure it out. The thought of the person I'm going to meet on the other side is the only thing to force some bounce in my step and my posture to straighten. The thought of seeing the person I had missed so much causes my strides to largen and my pace to quicken, until finally, finally, I'm met with a familiar platinum blonde, pale skin, and grey eyes. Everything about the girl seems too faded and alabaster, but when she meets my eyes, my lips can't help but smile along with hers. Her happiness was contagious. Both of us collide into a hug and shift from one foot to another, our legs spread out like a starfish. 

I lean back in the embrace and grin up at my best friend. "You're glowing," I say, reaching out to touch her new curls. 

"It's a product the money," Aria whispers, telling me her secret. "Money buys you happiness." 

I laugh and shake my head, having missed the only person that matched my sense of humour. 

"Although I must say, dear Autumn, you don't look the best yourself." 

I glare up at her. "Thanks. I love hearing that." 

She just smiles and blows me a kiss. "Come on. My car is parked across the street and the rate you have to pay per hour is expensive as balls." 

I'm glad she doesn't bring up the reason why I'm back in America or how I'm doing. I'm glad she knows that I will tell her when I'm ready to. On the way out of the airport building, we're stopped once by a fan of Aria's. Considering how someone with platinum blonde hair and the palest skin was walking next to a Blasian with curls and darker skin tones, we were bound to attract attention, even if neither of us were famous. 

"Quite the star," I joke as the automatic doors slide open and we step outside. A warm breeze welcomes me. I had missed Californian weather. 

"Yeah. Speaking of which, I really would love to help you get settled in, but I have a meeting to attend later in the evening. I'll be home later in the day." 

I nod. "That's fine. How have you been? How is life adjusting?" 

Aria shakes her head. "Still in shock. I get recognized every now and then and each time I still get flustered." 

I tilt my head. Considering how her ease into the top tier of the entertainment industry was very gradual, it made sense how she wouldn't have experienced as much of a shift as I did. Still, I find myself concerned for the inevitable point where she'll realize the pressures of the public and will start to second-guess every action. 

The drive to Aria's house is about thirty minutes from the airport and when we finally arrive, I'm left staring open-mouthed at the sophisticated architecture of the modern farmhouse. 

Aria laughs at my reaction. "Yeah. Quite an upgrade from living with five other people in the same house." 

I shake my head. "You're growing up too fast." 

She just throws an arm around my shoulder and leads me up the pairs of stairs. "Come on. I'll give you a tour." Aria opens the front door once we get past the stairs and I'm met with an open layout surrounded by large windows and natural lighting. "Alright, and this is basically the tour. In front of you is the living space, dining room, and kitchen." 

I grin. Because of the open planning, all three spaces really were combined into the same area. The back wall is open, accordion window doors folded together to open up to the field of grass and pool. To my right is a short hallway, leading to the three bedrooms of the house. The space wasn't too small, but it also wasn't extremely large and flashy. It was perfectly Aria. 

Aria grabs my wrist and leads me past one room staged as an office to the guest room where I would be staying until I figured out what in the world I was going to do with my life now. The past few weeks of my life had been spent alone in my apartment, until I realized I literally needed a fresh start. I needed to get out of Korea. When I had called Aria, she brought up the idea of moving in with her. 

The two of us work together to drag my three suitcases into my temporary room. 

"Thank God you're moving in, Dude. I get lonely from time to time." 

I frown at her. "Who said I'm actually going to interact with you? I'm just using you for the free housing. Didn't you know?" 

The smile is wiped off from Aria's face and she turns emotionless. "Sorry. I forgot." 

"Free food as well, right?" 

Aria pulls out her phone to check the time. "Yeah, there's microwavable meals and stuff you can stick in the oven as well as some snacks. I have to get going in a bit so feel free to explore the rest of the house and make yourself comfortable." 

I nod. "Thank you again. Seriously. I don't know how I can repay you." 

"Have me come home to a Korean meal." 

I laugh. "What are we, a married couple?" 

Aria drops down to one knee. "Marry me?" 

Both of us giggle. 

"Stand up, you fool." 

We walk out of the room and back into the main living space. 

"Text me if you need anything or can't find something. I'll be back in a few hours." 

I wave goodbye to her and sink down onto the couch. This was it. Finally in America. Finally starting this next part of my life. Finally starting to remember who I am. 

Finally starting to move on.

//

For some reason, I've been really fascinated with watching mansion/luxury home tours recently and thought it would be cool if I shared the video I based Aria's house on. Hahhah here ya go: