Beside You - Ashton Irwin

4

I waited for the luggage carousel to get moving. I had beat the crowd to the baggage claim but unfortunately, I was too fast. I should have gotten a coffee first. I know drinking caffeine after 12 o'clock is bad for you and keeps you up, but I had just gotten off a 22-hour flight. I looked at my phone again, only just realising the date. Today my dad was going to court. It was trial day. I looked at the NEWS TV boards. They were playing Channel 9, live updates. The current story was about an ebola breakout in Ethiopia. I was about to look away from the screen, glad they weren't discussing my dad until a familiar face popped up on the screen.

                                                      BREAKING NEWS

"New York Republican Senator, Bruce Pentworth has been sentenced 15 years in state prison for election fraud and extortion. Inside news says his daughter has fled the country and his wife has fled the state. An ongoing investigation by the FBI is still underway. There has been no comment from the Senator's family. The other Republican Senator for New York, Mark Rutchen is also under investigation because of his ties to some of the claims Mr Pentworths prosecutor has made. More news on this story will be updated soon."

I felt sick. I came to Australia to escape my father and his mistakes. Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder. A man no older than me stood behind me. "Hello, I was going to ask if you knew where baggage claim 1 was, but then I saw you watching the news. Crazy right? That guy who got arrested? Anyways do you know where the oversized luggage area is? I need to collect my surfboard." I blinked at him a few times. "Uhm... I'm not from here, sorry, but there might be a sign. And yeah.... That guy getting arrested was crazy. Anyways, so sorry." 

He nodded, muttered a quick thanks anyways and walked off. I could easily tell he was from the west coast, maybe even Florida. Everyone from Florida thinks that they're better than everyone. Or maybe he was from LA, he had that kind of vibe around him. I looked back at my phone, still waiting for the baggage carousel. "ANDY ANDY!!!" I almost dropped my phone in shock. Running towards me was a beachy blonde girl with dangly earrings. I always thought she could pull off a hippie look. She almost jumped onto me. Hugging me tightly, cutting off all air circulation.

"4 years is way too long Andy. I missed you so much." I just nodded against her neck, struggling to get a sound out. "nepoata mea cea mică!" My Romani uncle walked over to where Eddie and I were hugging. Although he wasn't my uncle by blood, Vano had been a father figure quite all of my life. "Unchi!" I ran towards him and jumped into his arms. "You've grown so much, Andrea." I just smiled. "Tata, she goes by Andy now." He just laughed and nodded at Eddie. "It feels good to have Eddie and Andy back together. You two used to be inseparable!" Eddie and I smiled at each other. It did feel good to be back with my soul sister. Eddie looked at my face more closely. 

"ANDY YOU HAVE AN EYEBROW SLIT?" She gasped. I had honestly completely forgotten I did that. I was bored in the shower one night and after watching re-runs of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I decided I needed to spice my life up. Of course, there were no vampires to slay, but I could start listening to punk rock and expand my music taste. So I did. "Yeah... It just kind of happened." She stayed silent for a few seconds. "I like it. It complements your face. Also what mascara do you use? It really makes your eyelashes look good!" I just laughed at her. I got my 'Better Than Sex' Mascara out of my handbag and handed it to her. "Ok girls, we can have a proper catch up at home. We're still in the airport, let's grab Andy's suitcase and get home. Laura and Landon must be wondering where we are by now, sa mergem."

We grabbed my suitcase and walked out of Sydney Airport towards the short term parking lot. Vano put my suitcase in his car and Eddie and I walked to the back seats. "So, Andy, we won't talk about your... situation just yet, I know how recent it is and it's best not to dwell in it right now. Why don't we discuss your studies?" My smile faltered. I was still unsure of my whole life plan, even though my father had planned it all out for me. "Well I did my exams early and long story short I got accepted into my dream college. I was gonna graduate next month but because of... this, I'll graduate at the end of the Australian school year like Eddie. I was meant to go to LA with my friends for the summer before college but I don't feel like going back to America for a while." 

I could see Vano nod his head in the mirror. "What school did you get into Andy?" Eddie asked me. I looked at my hands before I answered. I had always felt uncomfortable talking about my expensive education and my academics. "I- I got into Harvard Law School actually." I looked out the window. "Woah Andy, I knew you were smart, but not Harvard smart! That's so good. I'm so proud of you!" I smiled at her. "Where do you want to go, Eddie?" Her eyes seemed to light up when she started talking. "I want to take a gap year first to travel the world, but after that, I want to go to the University of NSW to get a degree in science and technology!" I always knew that Eddie would go for some science-related job. She was always interested in it when we were younger. 

I smiled at her as we started talking about how life was going to work now that I was here. "Did you hear Emilia is pregnant?" I gasp. "No really?! I knew she was engaged to that guy! How old is she now? She was a year younger than Ant... she must be 21 then." there was silence for a few seconds after my little reel. "Yeah, I know. Anyways, Landon just turned 15, he's really annoying to live with. He never comes out of his room though, only for school and sport. Which I guess is a plus." I laughed with her as Vano turned into a street that I recognised from 4 years ago. He pulled into a familiar house and Eddie and I hopped out. "Welcome home Andy!"

*Translations*

Nepoata mea cea mică: My little niece

Unchi!: Uncle!

Tata: Dad

Sa mergem: Let's go

                                              ╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

Hi!

I hope you're enjoying my story so far, just you wait you will get what you came for (The Boys) soon enough. 

I do not speak Romanian whatsoever so I did use google translate to help me. I do speak French and have for 11 years, but I apologise if it isn't perfect!

Much love, xx