I FOUND A BETA! :D Thank you very much KBelle1 ! (chapter 2 still need to be corrected)

Hello everyone! :) Before you start reading my story, I wanted to apologize for all the mistakes I surely made. Like Ana, I'm Belgian and my mother tongue is French. My brain and my dictionary did their best; I hope it isn't too bad. If I make a recurrent mistake that annoys you, please tell me, I'll be glad to improve my English skills (which is partly why I decided to write a story)! Thanks for reading, enjoy! :D xx
Characters belong to E. L. James.
ALL ANA P.O.V. ;)

Chapter 1 – Holy Ground

« ...les éclaircies se feront plus rares dans l'après-midi, et nous terminerons la journée avec un orage dans le Sud du pays. Les températures oscilleront entr… »
I switched off the radio in a snap. What time is it? 4 am. Finally. It seems like I've been waiting for that moment for the entire night. Actually, I've been waiting for that moment for 20 years, 7 months and 29 days. We're on August 29th, and in a few hours, I'm taking the plane to the Newark Liberty International Airport. Neither to visit New-York (even if I would love to, by the way) nor to go on a city-trip anywhere else, but because I'm doing my Erasmus in Princeton.
I don't look excited, but it is because I can't believe it. And it's not just me feeling strange, because nobody could believe it. It is just unbelievable. I've always dreamt of living in the USA, but wanted to graduate first. Therefore, 6 months ago, when I was told that I was going to the Princeton University in New Jersey, I almost had a heart attack. It was my first choice of course (I mean the US, I didn't dare to ask for an Ivy League college!), but the competition between students was no way a one-horse race, and my notes could've been better in the beginning of the year. I wasn't the best; in fact I was doing quite badly because it seemed that both Mr. Optimism and Mr. Courage had left me. I wasn't really me anymore; the "me" that was smart but also always happy, smiling and motivated. I don't know why. Maybe I just needed some change. Anyway, I was sure not to obtain it. That agreement.
Well, I was wrong. As you guess, the end of the year went perfectly and I'm now about to leave my little rainy Belgium to live (the first chapter of) my American Dream. Crazy! I know it's just 6 months but… crazy! The USA! Where everything is bigger! Grrr…Can't wait to see! Hm, why do I feel like you're not thinking about the same thing as me?! Keep your comments to yourself, thank you.

Before getting up, I started to repeat the list of the things I needed to take with me. So: skirts, shoes, make-up, sunscreen, glas…

"ANAAA, it's time!" my mother interrupted my thoughts.

She was screaming as if it was the apocalypse. As if she didn't know that I'm not the kind of girl who struggles to wake up and as if she didn't know that it's 4am, which means that my brother, my father and our neighbors are still sleeping. Well, maybe not anymore.
I jumped out of my bed to open the door and ask her to 'yell silently'. I picked up my blue dressing gown and went down the stairs. I found her running from the kitchen to the living room to stick an amount of linen in… my ripped-open suitcase. Shit!

"Mom, what did you do?" I almost shouted. "I've been preparing my stuffs for the past 4 weeks! The bag was ready! Why did you open it?"

"I wanted to be sure that you had everything. And I brought you some clean sweatshirts and dresses. Did you take some medication? And shoes? And your computer too? I didn't see it. Oh and did you think about the sunscreen? "

"Yeeees" I sighed in exasperation.

"Well because you know you burn easil.."

"Yes I do, and better than you." I cut her.
My skin was so pale that it was impossible for me to get a tan, while she just needed 3 minutes of sun to have a radiant and tanned complexion. Unfair.

"So please now let me check everything and stop asking hundred questions."

"I'm sorry. I can't help it." she looked at me and I could see stress and apprehension in her ocean blue eyes.

"I know mom. Don't worry and have a seat in the kitchen, I'll be there in a few seconds." I smiled at her and she left slowly.

That's her. I know she's over-stressed for my Erasmus. In fact, she always is. She doesn't want me to go but I have to. I need some new air, I'm suffocating here. Furthermore, it's my dream, and she knows it. That's why she finally accepted I guess.
I was bending another t-shirt when I recognized the familiar caffeine smell and decided to join my mother. She looked pensive, watching her cup without seeing it. I sat next to her and tried to reassure her.

"I'll be fine, mom. You know it's what I want and have always wanted. I'm really excited, why can't you be for me? Don't forget there's Skype and Facebook. I will text you too. And it's only 6 months. I'll come back!"

She looked at me as if I had just said our dog was dead. And she looooves our dog.

"Only 6 months? It's an eternity! When you'll be a mother you'll understand." she stopped to watch her cup again and sniffed.
I knew she was about to cry. She so sensitive. I suddenly wanted to hug her tightly but she looked up at me and resumed talking.

"But I know you'll be fine, honey." She smiled –or at least tried. "I'm so proud of you. You're a beautiful and fearless woman, you've always done everything possible to make your dreams come true, and always succeeded. You deserve it so much. I hope you'll think about me during these 6 months, and don't hesitate to call if you have anything to ask, need support or want help. Your father, your brother and I will always be there, never forget it."

"I know mom, thank you."

There was no doubt. I knew I could count on them more than anybody else. I wrapped my arms around her and put my head down on her shoulders.

"I'll miss you."

We stayed like that for a while. After a few minutes, I gently pushed her away in order not to cry with her and stood up to take some cold milk in the fridge. My brother, Thibault, and my father, Ray, showed up in the kitchen while I was rinsing out my mug.

"Hi dad!" I said joyfully.

I know he's happy for me, and his travel-addiction helps him to let me go without drama.

"Hello Ana!" he answered, smiling. "Ready for the adventure? It's gonna be awesome!"

"Yes, I couldn't be readier! I'm so excited!" I replied, unable to hide my happiness, even if I knew my mother would believe that I didn't care about being far away from home. She unintentionally makes me feel guilty, and I hate it.

"Hey little sis'" Thibault hugged me and released me when I was about to die by air lack.
Note to myself: breathe enough before greeting him. We've always been very close and we don't need to speak to understand the other. He's three years older than me and has the same eyes than our mother, but dark brown hair like mine. Actually he's really beautiful, and I've seen him enough times with females to affirm that he knows it too well. Honestly, I think he has had at least 25 girlfriends these past 3 years. That's unbelievable, especially for me who dated only 2 guys in my entire life. Maybe it's time to worry, don't you think? No, I don't mind. Liar…. Okay, maybe I wonder what's wrong with me, but that's all. Mental conversation OFF.

"Okay, I still have a few things to check and then we can leave. Is 5.30 fine?" I asked.

"Sure" my parents and my brother answered in unison.

I rolled my eyes with a smile as I was leaving the kitchen. I knew mom had asked them to do whatever I wanted for my last week here. Tttt, she won't change.

I got dressed quickly and once I entered my bedroom, a huge hole took place in my stomach. On all pictures of him, my horse seemed to look at me as if I was abandoning him. You are. Thank you for making me feel even worse! Stop it! I went to the stables every day this week to give him carrots and try to explain to him that I would come back soon. He's my best friend, and probably the living being I'll miss the most… Get me right, I have friends but… No, you don't. Yes, I do! Shut. Up. So yes, I mean, I really do have friends but not a lot. I almost lost them all when the whole family had to move to Paris because of my dad's job. We stayed in the City of Lights during 6 years, from my 12th to my 18th birthday. I also lost those French friends when I came back to Belgium to go to the University of Brussels.
Sometimes I wish I were still in touch with them, wish we still communicated, like real friends do. Obviously, it was either A) fake friends or B) I have difficulty to deal with humans. A might be true but B is definitely true. I've always been lousy at social relations. If my classmates don't know why we need a course only dedicated to Human Resources Management, I sure do. However, I like analyzing people's behavior and reactions, it's so… fascinating. Even so it's not less complicated.

I skimmed my favorite poster, trying to feel closer to my sweet horse. He's magnificent with his abundant jet-black mane and his Spanish origins make him so elegant. Yes, I will awfully miss him.
I watched through my large window a last time and realized that I would also miss those endless fields and this peaceful nature. I could almost smell the fresh grass scent and hear the sparrow's song. Maybe it's just because I'm about to leave and because there is that annoying "Universal Frustration Rule" but the view was breathtaking, all the more under that colorful breaking dawn. "Je reviendrai…" I murmured to myself before going back downstairs.

"What goes around the world but stays in a corner?" asked Thibault. "A stamp!" and he began to guffaw.

My ascending stress didn't allow me to laugh, so I gave him a poor smile. I knew he was trying to slacken the atmosphere, but our mother was so anxious that she probably didn't hear his riddle, and our father was concentrated on the road. After a last attempt, my brother finally gave up and the one-hour drive to Brussels Airport went in silence.

We arrived around 6.30 under a rising sun. It was already 20°c, which is incredible so early in Belgium. Yes, even in August. Is the global warming also that undeniable in America?

After my dad had parked the car, I took my enormous suitcase and we headed for the imposing grey building.
I first went to the wicket to have my luggage checked in, and then we sat at one of the 2 Starbucks inside the airport to breakfast with delicious chocolate rolls and a Caramel Macchiato.

"Enjoy your meal Ana, because I don't know when you will eat something as good as this for the next 6 months!" Thibault said with a fake over-sad expression.

"What, you mean Starbucks? Because that's exactly what I'll find there." I laughed. "Belgium has only 10 while only New-York City has 256!"

He looked at me with that 'okay, fair point' face.

"But I know what you meant, and I will sure miss mom's food. Anyway, don't worry 'cause I think I took enough European supplies to survive during my entire life!"
Indeed, my grandma gave me lots of home-made speculoos and honestly, I think I have at least 1kg of Belgian chocolate. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know, right?

"Okay, if everyone is finished now, we should slowly go to the duty-free area. Your flight is in one hour, Ana." my dad said.

My mother was quiet since we had arrived, lost in her thoughts. It hurts me to see her like that, but I can't let her ruin my last day here.
Once we arrived in front of the aforementioned area, it was time for goodbyes. I hate it. Even though I know I'm leaving to live my dream, it's still difficult.
I was first hugged-to-die by my brother… again. Two times in a day, that's a record.

"I'll miss you little sis'" he told me. "And don't ever let a boy own your heart, because…?" he asked, expecting me to complete his sentence.

"They're all jerks except you." I finished naturally as if it was the only and obvious answer.

And actually, it was… between us. Thibault had been asking me this question since I was 13 to make sure I would never forget. Certainly to laugh in the beginning, but as the years go by, he looks always more serious each time he says it. It feels like he's not laughing at all anymore. He tries to protect me, and I'm glad he does but first, I'm 20 now and second, I think he should review his behavior in order to justify the 'except you'.
I know we should have a conversation one day, but not today. Anyway, it became our motto, our routine when I'm about to go on a date, to go to a party, to go back to Brussels for the week, etc. Yeah, it's almost a daily routine.

"Good girl!" he gave me his ultra-bright smile and raised his right hand to give me five. Our hands clapped and I smiled knowingly in return.

"Enjoy your Erasmus Ana, take thousands of pictures and don't hesitate to contact us if needed." my father said before hugging me in turn.
It was short and brief but I could see emotion in his eyes. He never speaks a lot, but I know he means every word.

"Count on me dad! You'll be bombarded with photos and SMS."

"Well, since you will probably send thousands of SMS per hour to your mom, there's no need to text me a lot. Just tell me when you're safe and sound on the American ground."

"All right" I nodded as he reached my ear.

"And don't worry for your mom, she'll be fine." he murmured with a wink.

My mother then came to me, tears streaming down her face. She kissed me on the cheeks before cupping my face with her two hands.

"I'm sorry to cry, I can't help myself. I hope you'll have a great trip, I'm sure everyone will love you. Take care of yourself and study well. I love you my baby."

"I love you too, mom."

She hugged me during what seemed to be an eternity. When she let me go, I sent them flying kisses and went to the entrance where my passport and ticket had to be checked. Once done, I looked back at them a last time. They were waving me and smiling, even mom.

"Oh and Ana," screamed Thibault "tell me what kind of wood you want for your coffin because statistically, your plane has a high chance of crash."
He had a laughter when mom hit his arm.

"Holm oak please, and don't forget to think about yours too, because you can't live without me!" I answered with a mischievous smile as he childishly put out his tongue at me.

I finally turned back and confidently headed for the boarding gates.

As soon as I was seated, I decided to explore the different options proposed by the little personal screen in front of me. Rather than a movie, although there was a large bunch of great ones, I opted for the country music playlist.
I. Love. Country. Music. It inevitably makes me happy when I hear those girls-beer-party-trucks songs; maybe because it's bond to the USA. Nobody understands me in Belgium because the culture is different, and consequently it never goes on air. So how did I discover it? Thanks to Taylor Swift, who is, by the way, my favorite singer. She's the only one whose songs are sometimes broadcasted here. No Luke Bryan, no Keith Urban, no Tim McGraw, no Carrie Underwood, no Blake Shelton. So sad. Hopefully I'll find people like me in Princeton. At least, it should be less hard than in Europe.

I put my headphones and the playlist, which I put on shuttle mode, began with "Platinum" from Miranda Lambert. I sat comfortably and watched through the porthole. The sky became as blue as possible as we were flying over the clouds. As the minutes went by, these got whiter. Ah! Belgium and its rain, a love story.

After more or less two hours, I felt my neighbor's head fall on my left shoulder. I immobilized myself, afraid to wake her, but she just deeply sighed and continued to sleep. She was sleeping since the plane had taken off, and it wasn't a bad thing because she seemed very grumpy and pretentious when we 'met'. Actually, she didn't even say a word, but something told me not to bother her.

We stayed at least an hour like that. Pff, impossible to sleep without moving. Fortunately, when the position had just begun to tire my muscles, the air hostesses arrived with the lunch, which made her wake up.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, realizing she had used me as pillow. "You should've pushed me away! I hope I didn't prevent you from sleeping…" she added with a confused look and what seemed to be an American accent.

"No no, that's fine" I lied. "I couldn't sleep anyway." I smiled shyly.

"Aaaaaaw your accent! Do you speak French?" she asked, now totally awake.

"Yes" I answered, half-amused by her excitation and half-forlorn by my vain attempt to hide my accent. "I come from Belgium."

"So great! Can you teach me some words? Oh but wait, I haven't even asked your name! Hi, my name is Kate Kavanagh." She introduced herself with a large smile.

Once again, it seemed like my intuition was wrong. It's time to stop being so negative towards strangers.

"Hi, my name is Anastasia Steele, but you can call me Ana."

"Nice to meet you Ana!" she leaned over the armrest to hug me.

Okay, she's definitely American. I know they don't kiss to greet people, but I thought a handshake was the appropriate gesture for someone you haven't known for more than a minute. Maybe we're too young for that, and I totally agree. That's one of the many things I like about Americans: they all seem so friendly.
I relaxed and gave her back her embrace. She was really slim with straight platinum blond hair. Exactly the type of girl my brother would have loved -and every other hetero man too! She could easily be a top model or an actress and who knows, perhaps she is.

"Same here!" I answered. "And you, where do you come from? What were you doing in Belgium?"

Yes because I've always wondered what could attract tourists to our little country. It's not that I don't like it, it's just that there's absolutely nothing to see, and the weather is unpredictable.

"Oh I just stayed one night. I come from Boston in Massachusetts. In fact, I came to Europe two weeks ago for a fashion parade in Milan and then I decided to visit a bit. I went to Paris, Berlin, Cannes and afterwards to Brussels. I arrived yesterday so I had time to discover a few beautiful places, like the Grand Place or the Atomium, which is very weird!" she laughed. "And your waffles! They're delicious!"

"Yes, it's true! I'm glad you enjoyed our little country."

"I can't wait to come back! The next time, you have to show me everything!" she said with enthusiasm.

The lunch arrived and we had to choose between chicken and beef. Not sure it was well cooked, I didn't choose the chicken. Kate declined the proposition and drank some vitamin-enriched water. She is probably vegetarian. Or has to follow a strict diet for her job. Or both. It made me feel guilty, but I was too hungry not to eat.

"We successfully landed in Newark :) Let's go! I love you 3 xoxo" I texted my parents while I was waiting for my luggage.

It's only when Kate had taken hers and was gone that I realized I haven't even asked her why she was going to Newark since she is living in Boston. We had spent the rest of the flight small talking but I forgot to ask. Never mind, it's not like it was the first friendship you missed. Oh please, let me in peace.
Once I had my suitcase back, I headed for the exit, not without being first examined from head to feet by the security guys. Do I really look like a terrorist? I knew everyone had to undergo that entire fingers-and-eyes thing but it took an eternity.
When it was finally over, I found my way out of the building and was smacked by the heat. Oh mon Dieu. It was almost hard to breathe and I instantly began to sweat. It answered my previous question: yes, climate changes everywhere.
I took a minute to analyze the surrealistic landscape. The azure sky was delimited by the dense pollution cloud which was wrapping Manhattan. Fortunately, the sun shining permitted me to easily distinguish some of the highest NYC towers such as the Chrysler, the Empire State or the Rockefeller. A wave of excitement overwhelmed me. Here I am, holy ground!

"Ana, welcome to the USA!"