I rolled down my window, embracing the crisp, but slightly damp air as my father drove through the exit of the airport. It was a new year and I, Alaska Ryan, was prepared to turn my life around and create a fresh start for myself here at Beacon Hills, since the death of my mother. My father has dragged my little brother Eddy and myself from Australia all the way to freaking America so that he could continue work as a highly-paid surgeon somewhere far away from our old town which held memories of our late mum everywhere he looked. I guess I can't blame him as her death hit all of us pretty hard, but that didn't make leaving all our friends and family behind any easier. I can still hear the slow beep of the heart monitor and her ragged breaths as the cancer took the life away from her. But, maybe this sudden change can be good for us - a clean break. It'll slowly take away the pain of losing the only female that I was ever close with. At least, that's what I hope.
As we drove into Beacon Hills, I was taken aback by the massive stretch of woodland that covered both sides of the road. The shape of the trees and the overwhelming greenness made me itch to get my hands on my beloved sketchbook so I could draw the marvellous image. Tearing my eyes away, I roll the window back up and attempt to focus on the song softly playing on the radio. Soon enough, we pull up at a surprising large suburban home, one of many along the street curb. "So this is it?" I ask Dad, as we exit the car. He places his hands on his hips and admires the house before us before replying, "Yes kiddo, this is your new home." We then drag all our luggage and belongings inside and explore our new home. "Shotty this room!" calls out Eddy from somewhere to my left, I ignore him and continue upstairs where there appears to be only one bedroom and a small bathroom and living area. "Sure Ed, I think I've found my room anyways," I yell back to him. The bedroom itself is very dusty but it is relatively large so I decide that this will be my new dwelling. Dad helps me drag all of my stuff upstairs and once the furniture is in place, I start placing my belongings around the room.
Once I'm done and all of my books are fit snugly into the large bookcase that covers nearly an entire wall, I walk over to the window and gaze at the street outside. It is only dusk, so I can still see outside, so when I heard a man's furious voice, my eyes instantly search for its owner. I spot the house where the racket is coming from and listen in to what the man is saying. All I catch is him yelling "ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS" before his cry is followed by the sound of shattering glass. Must be domestic violence I think to myself as I continue looking at the house. All of a sudden, a tall boy, maybe my age or older runs out of the house and hurriedly gets on his bike and rides to the end of the street. The man, who must be his father, rushes after him calling out "ISAAC!" several times. He then gets into his car and drives off down the street after the boy. I step back from the window, shocked at what I just witnessed. Poor boy I think, thank god my dad's not like that.
I originally was going to go for a walk and find somewhere to read in peace, but after watching the boy and his father I no longer felt like it. Instead I went downstairs kissed dad and Eddy goodnight and went to bed. As I rolled into a ball on my large, comfy mattress as I secretly hoped that the boy's dad didn't find him as I feared the worst for him. I fell into a light, restless sleep, dreaming of faceless people walking down school corridors and fanged creatures with red eyes leering at me through the thicket of the woods. I then woke back up, sweat plastered to my face and neck feeling confused and disoriented as I remembered the dream. With a groan I realised why I was dreaming about school corridors. Tomorrow was my first day at Beacon Hills High School.