Okay, so, I deleted "Love, Save the Empty"... I just couldn't write anymore about the same story, sorry :(
Anyway, this is going to be my winter project (let's hope I can finish this one...)
For Darling (dreams of evermore) and Riley (iwillalwaysloveyoux21), two awesometastical people :)
(-disclaimed-)
open up my eager eyes
William Block, a popular real estate agent, joined a finance in Toronto, Canada. The company grew bigger and more powerful, and shortly, they proffered him a promotion at their sister branch… in Barcelona, Spain. My father, never to pass up on an offer, accepted. When I was seven years old, my family and I packed our belongings and moved to the Spanish city. My dad was soon more prosperous in the European country than he was in Canada, selling trendy, Spanish-style villas.
We have been living in Barcelona for almost eight years. I knew English before I moved here, but I acquired Spanish quickly through easily made friends, who would teach me their native tongue. Although, I did converse with my dad and Kendra, my mother, in English around the house, just to keep the language in my memory.
I remember that sweltering summer day vividly.
My dad ran into the house after his usual day of work. His eyes, effulgent with joy, searched for my mother and me. He casually walked into the kitchen, still grinning like a boy with a bag of sweets.
He sat down at the table and looked at us excitedly. "Guess what?" We signaled him to continue. "I got a promotion!"
"¡Felicidades!" my mother and I shouted. As we stood to give him a congratulatory embrace, he put his arms up to halt us.
"Um, the job is in their newest branch… in Westchester County, New York," he said hesitantly.
I stared at him wide-eyed. "¿En los Estados Unidos?" I screamed. "Dad! I like it here! You can't do this!"
"Massie, go upstairs, por favor, I need to talk to your dad." I gave an annoyed screech and marched upstairs, praying that maybe, just maybe, we could stay in Barcelona.
Later in the week, I don't know how, but my parents somehow convinced me to move to America. It was probably all the new stuff they vowed to buy me… Nonetheless, I wasn't exactly thrilled. A fortnight later, our property was sold, our possessions were packed, and our goodbyes were said.
After landing in the John F. Kennedy International Airport, we stayed in a hotel in the Upper East Side and explored the city, which was festooned with bright lights and lush foliage. My dad made many business calls while I shopped with my mother in the prestigious designer boutiques that adorned the streets of Manhattan. They were nothing like the shops in Europe, but they would suffice.
Finally, the home in White Plains in Westchester County that my father's company purchased for us was ready, so we traveled to the city and settled in our new estate.
Summer in New York was weird and made me uncomfortable. As opposed to the sizzling sun that shone over Barcelona in the summertime, New York had a harsh, inconsistent version. In addition to the heat, New York was also humid, a concept that I was unfamiliar with.
White Plains did not have much excitement during the summer, unlike Barcelona, where children on summer vacation would caper around the streets with sweating frozen treats, while others would play friendly games of football in one of the many available fields in the park. White Plains had a more, elite, luxurious, classy feel to it. No socialite mother would be caught dead with her child running around the street half-naked.
The first week was spent unpacking our many expensive belongings. We also hired decorators to liven up the bland house, something that we assumed common in most houses here. They lacked character, something my dad, as a real estate agent, strived to obtain.
The pallid walls were painted burnt oranges and olive greens, and the wooden doorposts were painted a deep mahogany color. I chose one of many rooms in the lofty estate as my bedroom. I had it painted a medium-tone purple while leaving the crown moldings white. After the alterations were completed, the house looked considerably better.
We hired a live-in made, Inez, to keep the house clean and help my mom with the cooking. Isaac, our new chauffeur, was given the dutiful job of driving me around the town, or more specifically, the mall and the nearest café, which I went to religiously.
We were welcomed into the neighborhood easily. My mom made friends through her new pilates class and her many trips to the Westchester Mall. My dad befriended many of his coworkers and made new golf buddies. Our neighbors occasionally stopped by and introduced themselves, offering us a "welcome to the neighborhood" cake or meatloaf.
My summer wasn't much different than it would have been if I were still in Barcelona. I continued swimming and tanning, shopping, and practicing my football- er, soccer- in our new, spacious backyard.
I haven't made any new friends, though. But what do you expect, me to run up to someone in the middle of the street and ask them to be my friend? No, just no. I was strangely okay with being friendless, as weird as that was.
After about three weeks, July 31st, my birthday, arrived. You know, the usual, I got showered with presents (a new MacBook Pro, one of many gifts), and we went out for dinner. Before I went to sleep, I got a call from two of my friends from Barcelona, Alejandra "Lela" and Juliana "Jules." The second I answered the house phone, they screamed in excitement at the sound of my voice.
"¡Ah! ¡Te echamos de menos!" they screamed incoherently into the phone.
"Miss you too! When can you visit me?" I asked pleadingly.
They laughed. "We have no idea, Mass. Probably not anytime soon." They sighed in unison. "Anyway, ¡feliz cumpleaños! You're 15!"
"¡Gracias! I know!"
"Okay, we have to go because this phone call is muy expensive!" Lela laughed into the receiver.
Jules continued. "But we will talk later!"
"Thanks for calling! Tell everyone I say hi and that I miss them!"
"Bien. ¡Adios!"
"Love you guys!"
-d-
The afternoon sun shone brightly over White Plains. I stepped out onto my balcony and appreciated the weather. It wasn't too hot, nor was it too cold. Perfect soccer weather.
I quickly changed into a sports bra, a plain light blue t-shirt, and black shorts. I laced my Nike cleats and grabbed my FIFA World Cup ball. I stopped by the kitchen and informed my mother of my whereabouts and then I was on my way to the nearest soccer field.
The smell of freshly cut grass awakened my senses and I felt alive once more. I dribbled the ball around the field several times and struck the ball into the goal with ease. I was in my own world, with just the soccer ball and me…
That is, until a dirty-blonde-haired girl approached me.
"Hey, are you knew?" she asked me. I scored another goal, and a perceptible grin grew on her tanned face.
I turned around and faced her. "Yeah, I just moved in this summer."
"Welcome. So, where are you going to school?" she asked spinning her own soccer ball in her agile hands.
"Um, White Plains High School…something like that," I responded as I pushed my long, damp tresses back.
"I assumed so. I was on their soccer team last year, and I'll be on it again this year. You should try out."
"Er, I don't really know…" Although I've been playing soccer ever since I moved to Spain, I was never part of a team.
The susurrus of the wind and leaves filled up the quiet space. Kristen waited until the wind subsided. "Well, at least consider it. Tryouts are going to be held on the third day of school…so, uh, Wednesday." She paused, and her eyebrows rose. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. I'm Kristen Gregory. And you are?"
"Massie Block."
She turned her head back, her blonde hair whipping her face in the process. "Okay, well I have to go. Nice meeting you, Massie! See you at school!"
I waved at her and turned around and faced the goal. I kicked the ball gently into the white goal.
So far, one friend. Not bad.
Reviews would be lovely :)
Oh, and by the way, this story is open to ANY comments, critics, awards (bahaha), etc.
I'm not joking, I don't even have a pairing or anything. I'm just going with the flow.
So whatever you want to tell me, leave it in a review and I definitely look and consider it.