AN: So the idea for this story came out of nowhere. I'm so in love with The Host (film and book). It is to die for. The relationship between Melanie and Wanderer is my favorite but I'm also team Ian when it comes to Wanderer. I wanted to write some fanfiction for my new favorite movie/book. So here it is! I wrote this up fast but I like the way it came out. I hope you do too. Read on to find out and let me know how you feel about it and if you would like for me to continue on because I would love to keep writing for this story line.
"Wanderer, don't play with your hair like that. You have no reason to be nervous." my mother, Wilona, scorns me. I sigh but do as she says, tucking my dark curls behind my ear. That's easy for her to say. She's not the one being forced into a permanent home with her new 'family' that she barely knows.
You see my mother has remarried, or married for the first time, I'm really not sure. She might've been married to my biological father but I don't know. I don't like to ask about him. But anyways, she recently married a man named Brad Stryder. More like eloped actually.
Before my mother met him, she had a job that had her living in all sorts of places. She always took me with her. So we've traveled to many foreign places even though we were both born in America (her in New York, I in South Carolina). Our last home was in Iceland, and before then it was London, and before that it was...well you get the idea. But I've never lived in Arizona. I won't be able to say that for much longer though. I realized this as we pass the interstate sign that says Tucson 8 miles.
I sigh outwardly again. We'll be there very soon. Despite what my mother thinks, I'm not just nervous, I'm scared! It's always been just the two of us living in a big apartment in foreign nations for months at a time. Now I'm being enrolled in an actual school, not home school. My mother is quitting her job to find one in Tucson.
I don't know how to feel about this but I'm trying to convince myself to make the best out of it. There's no way to get our old life back. We are traveling 70 mph toward our new life and I can't change it. I can change how I feel about it though. It's the only way to be happy.
I dream of the time I entered a Karate competition in China when I was ten until we get to my stepfather's home. A slamming car door brings me back to reality. I take in my surroundings. I'm not ten anymore. I'm fourteen years old. My dark curls and gleaming blue eyes remain intact. I'm very petite for my age, I always have been. My name is no longer Wanderer Daniels. It is Wanderer Stryder.
"Come on Wanderer, we have lots of unpacking to do." my mother calls from the outside of our rental car. I step out of the car never taking my eyes off the house in front of them. It is a nice house I suppose. It's a two story warm brown painted house with black shutters and lots of windows, there is a roofed front porch, and a big front yard with a small shade tree off to the side.
I like it, I decide as my mother makes her way to the front door and knocks. Someone opens it right away, it's a man. He's very tall, he has endearing hazel eyes. His hazel eyes brighten further when he sees Wilona's face. "Wilona! You're here. You don't have to knock, this is your home now." Brad tells her as he embraces her.
I like the look on his face. He must really care for my mother. I wouldn't know. This will be my first time meeting him. My mom and him married in Las Vegas when I was visiting my grandparents. Apparently every time I visited my grandparents in the past year, it was because my mom was flying out to see Brad. They'd gotten married on the last visit. I had wondered why my mother was sending me with grams and papa so much.
I walk over to introduce myself. "Hello Brad," I greet. Brad smiles at me. "Well you must be Wanderer." Brad says taking my hand. I shake it, "You can call me Wanda if you'd like." I smile.
"Well Wanda, it's nice to meet you. Welcome home! Come on, I'll show you girls around." Brad says warmly. "Thanks," I reply. Brad and my mother enter the house leaving me on the threshold. I hesitate, unready to enter my first home.
"Wanda, come on." my mother calls noticing my linger. "I'm going to grab some stuff first, go ahead." I say then bolt towards the car. I open the trunk after almost crashing into it. "Hi, are you Wanderer? Melanie told me about you."
I jump at the voice. I abruptly turn to face it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." he apologized. "I-I," I stuttered as I took in his appearance. He's tall but he still looks around my age. He has sandy blonde hair kept short. His skin tone is tan just like everyone else in Arizona. His eyes are the last thing I look into. They're a piercing blue and so amazing.
I swallow. "It's fine, you didn't scare me." I assure. "Just surprised me is all. But, um, who is Melanie?" I don't recall knowing a Melanie. Ian gave me a puzzled look.
"The girl who lives here." he gestured to the house. "Her dad remarried a woman with a daughter."
"The man who lives here has a daughter?" I try to keep my voice even but I'm not sure that I succeeded. "And a son." Ian says softly noting my surprise. I can't believe this. Brad has children. I now have step siblings. How could Wilona not tell me? But they know about me since one of them mentioned me to a neighbor. I realize then, that I didn't confirm my name.
"Yes, I'm Wanderer. What is your name?" I ask politely trying to move on.
"Ian O'shea." he responds playing along. He sticks out his hand. I take it and shake it just like I had to Brad. "Very nice to meet you Ian," I say. He smiles at that. "The pleasure is all mine."
He's very courteous. He has a mannerism about him that I wonder if maybe he's in fact older than me. "How old are you?" I voice my question. "I am fourteen." he replies.
"Hm how unexpected. I am fourteen too." I tell him. "Do you live around here?" I ask lamely, hey I'm curious. "Yes, very close by and all my life." Ian nods. "Where are you from?" he goes on.
"All over. Originally South Carolina though." I shrug. If we continue to speak, he'll find out what I mean. I realize I better get going, especially now that I have to meet my new siblings.
"I suppose you attend Graveside Middle School." he must since he lives here. "Yes, what about you?" he answers.
"I will. Tomorrow will be my first day." I answer yet I shudder at the thought. It is mid November. It'll be hard adjusting to a new school when everyone else has already gotten used to the schedule and people.
Ian notices my nerves and places a hand gently on my shoulder. "It'll be fine Wanderer. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems." he consoled me. I smile in response. "It's been nice meeting you. I'll see you around," I say absentmindedly glancing towards my house.
"See you around," Ian repeats. He dashes off, across the street and I count four houses down, until he reaches a small yet cozy looking home. There's a boy slightly older than Ian and I in the yard kicking around a soccer ball. He looks a lot like Ian though. Almost identical. I shrug and turn away after I see Ian begin to kick the soccer around with the boy, I guess it's his brother.
I stack a few boxes in my arm. I walk slowly to the door so I won't trip over. I step up onto the porch where they left the front door open. I look back at Ian playing in his yard. He smiles and waves encouragingly. I face forward and take a gulp of air. I peer into my house and step inside.
Please leave me a review if you want me to carry on or if you have constructive criticism. Thanks!