Chapter 2:
Well, it's time. I got almost everything into my mom's minivan. I didn't have many
things to bring. My room was plain. White walls, blue carpet, and a simple wooden bed. Of
course, there was a wardrobe for my clothes but that was it. I wasn't a messy person. I kept
my room in order. My mom asked one time if I could mess up my room just once so she could
scold me about it. I get the neat trait from my dad. My mom isn't as tidy. She's always busy so
she has a reason. Yet, it's funny when her friends come over and we would trade rooms so she
didn't clean her own. It usually worked, too.
"Alex, do you need help with that?"
I looked up to my parents. Yes, my dad came over to help. "No, dad," I answered,
"I can handle it."
"I bet you could." He closed the trunk after I put in the last luggage. "C'mon.
We've better get a move on."
He took the driver's seat while my mom got shotgun. I got stuck in the back to the
baggage. Dad turned on the ignition and we left.
I thought I would love to leave the town. Along the road, we passed by my old
school. It was Monday and school would start soon. I noticed a couple of people from my
class walking through the doors. Man, I never realized that I would miss them. I'll probably
never see them again either. Half of me never wanted to see them again. The other half
wanted to jump out of the car and run to them. It wouldn't matter to them anyway. Like I said
before, I was the school outcast. Well, good riddens. I turned the other way so I wouldn't
have to look at the school. I just watched the houses fly by. The autumn leaves fell from the
trees that lined the street. I had just noticed how quiet the world outside was. There were no
cars honking. None of the children were in the playground. Only the empty swings moved,
creakily. I looked straight. My parents were also quiet. I noticed that my mom had the tissue
box by her side. Through the rearview mirror, I saw that my dad's eyes were getting teary. I
turned to the right and looked at my hands. I couldn't take it. I never cried so much before. I
didn't cry when my sister left. I didn't cry when my grandparents died. I didn't cry when my
rabbit died. Tears fell on my hands. Why am I crying now? I felt frustrated as myself. Are
these tears of happiness that I'm leaving this town? Or are they tears of sadness that I'm
leaving my mom and my dad? Or are they both? I couldn't decide. I looked up through the
window. It had started to rain.
"World Airways, Flight 165 to Heathrow is now boarding at Gate 18. Flight 165 to
Heathrow is now boarding at gate 18."
I stood up. I put on my backpack. My parents also stood up. I turned to them but
didn't look at them directly. This isn't my first time to fly alone yet I was scared.
"Alex." I look at my dad. "Take care, dear." He hugged me and gave me a kiss.
"Harmony..." My mom was holding a tissue. I ran into her open arms. "Oh, Alex. I
love you. Please don't forget that." I hugged her for what seemed like hours. I finally got out
of her embrace.
"Mom... Dad... I love you so much... " I hugged them both.
"We know, dear. We know." Dad gave me a kiss on the forehead while my mom kept
holding me.
I didn't know what else to say. I was speechless. I felt like I was dreaming. I was
walking on a cloud.
"Final boarding call for World Airways Flight 165 to Heathrow. Please go to Gate
18 immediately. Final boarding call for Flight 165."
"Well, it's time for me to go." Yet, in my heart, I didn't want to leave them. But I
had to.
About ten minutes later, I was in my window seat in the Boeing 747. I had stopped
crying. I'm old enough to handle this, I told myself. Geez, if anyone I know saw me like this,
I would have died. I don't care if I'm a school outcast but everyone at school knows I don't cry. I'm known for that and my track record.
I looked out the window. It was still raining. My track record. I wonder what my
school would do without me. I'm the number one track athletic in the state. My new school
might like having me on their track team.
I looked at the other people around me. Most of them are British. The couple who
sat beside me were talking about their children at Yale. They noticed I was looking at them
and they moved closer together so I wouldn't be able to hear. I just looked the other way.
I took the letter from Walker Boarding School, the school in London I would be
attending. It said that fifteen other students from the US would also be joining me at the
school. All of us would share a boardinghouse close to the school. From what my parents and
I figured out, the boarding house would be more of a small apartment building. I went online
to find out more about Walker. The information said that Walker was known for its football,
which is called soccer in the US, and its swimming. I checked if there was track and field.
There was one. They also have a special performing art classes too. Ballet, drama, and music
was part of that program. I got excited when I read that there was a movie theater nearby.
Back home, you had to go to the next town to go to the movies. The next town was 10 miles
away.
I decided to take a nap after the plane took off. I knew that I would get some
jetlag if I didn't sleep. I would get to Heathrow in six or seven hours. Yet the time
difference would make it seem longer.
"Attention all passengers. We will be landing at Heathrow International Airport in
ten minutes. Please put all seat in their upright position and..."
I mimicked the flight attendant. I was already ready. I have stayed on this plane
far too long. I want out. Especially with that couple besides me. Sheesh! I couldn't sleep for
ten minutes without them making lovey-dovey comments to each other.
I was out of that plane and quick. I forgot about the customs, though. I took out
my passport and student visa. Since I'm studying in England for four years, I needed a
student visa. I made it to the front of the customs' line.
"Next, please!"
I walked to the window. "Here ya go."
"Thank you, sir." The custom agent took the passport and visa.
I just smiled until he realized I was a girl.
The custom agent looked at the passport and then at me. "Sorry, miss." He smiled.
"Don't worry. It happens all the time."
"How long would you be staying?"
"Four years," I replied.
He stamped the passport and the visa. "There you go, Miss Peters."
I took the passport and visa. "You're welcome."
I went down the hall to get my baggage. Afterwards, I got lost. I couldn't figure
out where to go. I took out the instruction the Walker School gave me. It said to meet their
representative in front of the statue in the main lobby after I got my baggage.
I took a map of the airport from one of the vendors in the terminal. I saw the
statue in front of me and walked to it. Good thing my luggage isn't much. My parents said
they'll sent the rest. I looked at the map to see if there might be another statue somewhere
else. There was but in wasn't in the main lobby. I was paying most of my attention that I
didn't see the person in front of me.
Bang! We both fell tumbling over each other. I was able to get to my feet. I helped
the other one up.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to walk into you..." I kept babbling on. I didn't even
look at the person to see if they were okay.
"I'm alright. Are you?" It was a male voice.
I look at him. I blushed. "I'm okay."
He was handsome. He was about two inches taller than me. He had brown hair and
hazel eyes. He wore khaki pants and a black buttoned-down shirt. He also had a high school
jacket on.
He eyed down at me. Then he noticed my papers from Walker scattered on the
floor.
"Oh. Your papers." He bent down to get them. I couldn't move. He looked at them.
Then he looked up at me. "You're also a foreign exchange student for Walker?"
I nodded. "Wait. What do you mean 'also'?"
He smiled. "I was picked to go to school at Walker as well."
I smiled back. "Well, what a small world." I stuck out my hand. "Name's Alex
Peters."
He got up and shook my hand. "Mark Daniels. Nice to meet you, Alex."
I got my papers back and put them in my backpack. I also got my luggage and
dragged by me while Mark and I headed to the statue.
There was a large group of teenagers around the statue. One guy turned and
looked at Mark and me.
"Hey, guys! Here come some more fresh meat!" He announced to the rest of the
group.
They all started waving and yelling. When we got all the way to the statue, Mark
and I were welcomed even more with high-fives and hugs.
The guy who announced us quieted everyone down. He spoke to Mark and me. "My
name is Denise Maxton. I was the first one at this weird looking statue. So it makes me the
welcoming committee. We still haven't figured out with the statue is still. Anyway, welcome.
Um... what are your names and where are your from?"
Mark when first. "I'm Mark Daniels and I'm from LA, California."
"Cool." Denise looked at me. "What about you, man?"
"Name's Alex Peters and I'm from a small town in New York."
Denise shrugs. "Hey, nothin' wrong with small towns. Kind-of like them myself."
Then everyone started to introduced themselves. My started spinning with all the
names and places. Luckily, the representative from Walker finally came.
The lady had her suit and hair in a mess like she just woke up. "Sorry, gang. I
forgot about the time."
We all looked at her. She didn't sound British nor did she look British. She looked
like we was in her early thirties at the least.
She figured out what we were all thinking. "I'm a native from Manhattan. I know
you're all disappointed that you didn't get a nice British old lady. But don't worry we have
enough of those at the school. Then, you'll love me."
Denise came to the front of the crowd. He looked serious. "Will you always be late
in picking us up? Should we trust you? What would happen if one of us was hurt and we
didn't know anyone? You should have been here."
Silence filled the air. The lady didn't speak.
Denise laughed. "Heck, girl. You would be trippin' soon. So Mr. Denise, here, will
keep you on your feet." He hugged the lady.
Everyone started laughing while she turned red.
Maybe I'll won't miss my parents so much after all. We got our things and headed
to the big bus that Chloe, the Walker representative, booked us. On the way to the school,
Chloe told us a little bit about our schedule that day. She also mentioned that she was our
board mother at our "boardinghouse". I was happy she was.
When we got to the boardinghouse, everyone dragged their things to the living
room. Denise jumped into the couch.
"This is the life!" He held up his hand like he was holding a champagne glass.
"Here's to a fun four years!"
Chloe sat on Denise. "This is a weird couch.
Denise sneaked out of the couch and fell on the floor. "We'll do that later when no
one else is in the room."
Everyone laughed.
Chloe smiled. "Anyway, I got the room arrangements." She took out a list. "Mark,
Denise, Sam, and Trevor in the first bedroom to the left upstairs."
Denise got up from the floor and started jumping on his room mates.
Chloe looked at the guys. "Good luck."
Mark looked at her. "We'll be needing it."
Chloe continued on the list. "For second room on the left side, Hank, Tom, Michael,
and Jonathan will be there."
All the guys gave high-fives. Denise looked around the room and spotted me. "What
about Alex?" he asked.
Chloe looked at me then at her list. "Alex is in the room across the hall from you
guys."
"But wouldn't that be the girls' room?"
"Yes, it would... Alex, was there a mistake in the papers?"
I looked at Chloe. "No, there's none. I'm female."
Everyone stared at me. Denise walked closer to me. "You are, aren't you?"
"Yep."
"Hmmm... cool!" He hugged me. Then he let me go. He turned to the rest. "She sure
is a girl." He grinned mischievously.
Chloe smiled and looked at me. "Okay. Well, Alex, Stephanie, Ana, and Sarah are
in the room across from Denise and the rest."
The rest of the girls came to me with their things. They hugged and they whispered
to each other about what they were going to do with the room.
Chloe looked at them, which made them stopped. "Last room, across from Tom's
room is Vanessa, Molly, Amber, and Rachel."
Chloe stood up. "Okay, everyone get to your rooms."
There was a mad dash up the stairs. Yet, I wasn't part of it. Everyone else pushed
their way through and screamed at someone who stepped on their feet. I couldn't help but
smile when I saw them. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked behind me. It was Chloe.
"I think you're the most reasonable one among all of them."
"Well... I don't know."
She giggled. Then she whispered, "Let me show you the back staircase."
I smiled and followed her.
Well, it's time. I got almost everything into my mom's minivan. I didn't have many
things to bring. My room was plain. White walls, blue carpet, and a simple wooden bed. Of
course, there was a wardrobe for my clothes but that was it. I wasn't a messy person. I kept
my room in order. My mom asked one time if I could mess up my room just once so she could
scold me about it. I get the neat trait from my dad. My mom isn't as tidy. She's always busy so
she has a reason. Yet, it's funny when her friends come over and we would trade rooms so she
didn't clean her own. It usually worked, too.
"Alex, do you need help with that?"
I looked up to my parents. Yes, my dad came over to help. "No, dad," I answered,
"I can handle it."
"I bet you could." He closed the trunk after I put in the last luggage. "C'mon.
We've better get a move on."
He took the driver's seat while my mom got shotgun. I got stuck in the back to the
baggage. Dad turned on the ignition and we left.
I thought I would love to leave the town. Along the road, we passed by my old
school. It was Monday and school would start soon. I noticed a couple of people from my
class walking through the doors. Man, I never realized that I would miss them. I'll probably
never see them again either. Half of me never wanted to see them again. The other half
wanted to jump out of the car and run to them. It wouldn't matter to them anyway. Like I said
before, I was the school outcast. Well, good riddens. I turned the other way so I wouldn't
have to look at the school. I just watched the houses fly by. The autumn leaves fell from the
trees that lined the street. I had just noticed how quiet the world outside was. There were no
cars honking. None of the children were in the playground. Only the empty swings moved,
creakily. I looked straight. My parents were also quiet. I noticed that my mom had the tissue
box by her side. Through the rearview mirror, I saw that my dad's eyes were getting teary. I
turned to the right and looked at my hands. I couldn't take it. I never cried so much before. I
didn't cry when my sister left. I didn't cry when my grandparents died. I didn't cry when my
rabbit died. Tears fell on my hands. Why am I crying now? I felt frustrated as myself. Are
these tears of happiness that I'm leaving this town? Or are they tears of sadness that I'm
leaving my mom and my dad? Or are they both? I couldn't decide. I looked up through the
window. It had started to rain.
"World Airways, Flight 165 to Heathrow is now boarding at Gate 18. Flight 165 to
Heathrow is now boarding at gate 18."
I stood up. I put on my backpack. My parents also stood up. I turned to them but
didn't look at them directly. This isn't my first time to fly alone yet I was scared.
"Alex." I look at my dad. "Take care, dear." He hugged me and gave me a kiss.
"Harmony..." My mom was holding a tissue. I ran into her open arms. "Oh, Alex. I
love you. Please don't forget that." I hugged her for what seemed like hours. I finally got out
of her embrace.
"Mom... Dad... I love you so much... " I hugged them both.
"We know, dear. We know." Dad gave me a kiss on the forehead while my mom kept
holding me.
I didn't know what else to say. I was speechless. I felt like I was dreaming. I was
walking on a cloud.
"Final boarding call for World Airways Flight 165 to Heathrow. Please go to Gate
18 immediately. Final boarding call for Flight 165."
"Well, it's time for me to go." Yet, in my heart, I didn't want to leave them. But I
had to.
About ten minutes later, I was in my window seat in the Boeing 747. I had stopped
crying. I'm old enough to handle this, I told myself. Geez, if anyone I know saw me like this,
I would have died. I don't care if I'm a school outcast but everyone at school knows I don't cry. I'm known for that and my track record.
I looked out the window. It was still raining. My track record. I wonder what my
school would do without me. I'm the number one track athletic in the state. My new school
might like having me on their track team.
I looked at the other people around me. Most of them are British. The couple who
sat beside me were talking about their children at Yale. They noticed I was looking at them
and they moved closer together so I wouldn't be able to hear. I just looked the other way.
I took the letter from Walker Boarding School, the school in London I would be
attending. It said that fifteen other students from the US would also be joining me at the
school. All of us would share a boardinghouse close to the school. From what my parents and
I figured out, the boarding house would be more of a small apartment building. I went online
to find out more about Walker. The information said that Walker was known for its football,
which is called soccer in the US, and its swimming. I checked if there was track and field.
There was one. They also have a special performing art classes too. Ballet, drama, and music
was part of that program. I got excited when I read that there was a movie theater nearby.
Back home, you had to go to the next town to go to the movies. The next town was 10 miles
away.
I decided to take a nap after the plane took off. I knew that I would get some
jetlag if I didn't sleep. I would get to Heathrow in six or seven hours. Yet the time
difference would make it seem longer.
"Attention all passengers. We will be landing at Heathrow International Airport in
ten minutes. Please put all seat in their upright position and..."
I mimicked the flight attendant. I was already ready. I have stayed on this plane
far too long. I want out. Especially with that couple besides me. Sheesh! I couldn't sleep for
ten minutes without them making lovey-dovey comments to each other.
I was out of that plane and quick. I forgot about the customs, though. I took out
my passport and student visa. Since I'm studying in England for four years, I needed a
student visa. I made it to the front of the customs' line.
"Next, please!"
I walked to the window. "Here ya go."
"Thank you, sir." The custom agent took the passport and visa.
I just smiled until he realized I was a girl.
The custom agent looked at the passport and then at me. "Sorry, miss." He smiled.
"Don't worry. It happens all the time."
"How long would you be staying?"
"Four years," I replied.
He stamped the passport and the visa. "There you go, Miss Peters."
I took the passport and visa. "You're welcome."
I went down the hall to get my baggage. Afterwards, I got lost. I couldn't figure
out where to go. I took out the instruction the Walker School gave me. It said to meet their
representative in front of the statue in the main lobby after I got my baggage.
I took a map of the airport from one of the vendors in the terminal. I saw the
statue in front of me and walked to it. Good thing my luggage isn't much. My parents said
they'll sent the rest. I looked at the map to see if there might be another statue somewhere
else. There was but in wasn't in the main lobby. I was paying most of my attention that I
didn't see the person in front of me.
Bang! We both fell tumbling over each other. I was able to get to my feet. I helped
the other one up.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to walk into you..." I kept babbling on. I didn't even
look at the person to see if they were okay.
"I'm alright. Are you?" It was a male voice.
I look at him. I blushed. "I'm okay."
He was handsome. He was about two inches taller than me. He had brown hair and
hazel eyes. He wore khaki pants and a black buttoned-down shirt. He also had a high school
jacket on.
He eyed down at me. Then he noticed my papers from Walker scattered on the
floor.
"Oh. Your papers." He bent down to get them. I couldn't move. He looked at them.
Then he looked up at me. "You're also a foreign exchange student for Walker?"
I nodded. "Wait. What do you mean 'also'?"
He smiled. "I was picked to go to school at Walker as well."
I smiled back. "Well, what a small world." I stuck out my hand. "Name's Alex
Peters."
He got up and shook my hand. "Mark Daniels. Nice to meet you, Alex."
I got my papers back and put them in my backpack. I also got my luggage and
dragged by me while Mark and I headed to the statue.
There was a large group of teenagers around the statue. One guy turned and
looked at Mark and me.
"Hey, guys! Here come some more fresh meat!" He announced to the rest of the
group.
They all started waving and yelling. When we got all the way to the statue, Mark
and I were welcomed even more with high-fives and hugs.
The guy who announced us quieted everyone down. He spoke to Mark and me. "My
name is Denise Maxton. I was the first one at this weird looking statue. So it makes me the
welcoming committee. We still haven't figured out with the statue is still. Anyway, welcome.
Um... what are your names and where are your from?"
Mark when first. "I'm Mark Daniels and I'm from LA, California."
"Cool." Denise looked at me. "What about you, man?"
"Name's Alex Peters and I'm from a small town in New York."
Denise shrugs. "Hey, nothin' wrong with small towns. Kind-of like them myself."
Then everyone started to introduced themselves. My started spinning with all the
names and places. Luckily, the representative from Walker finally came.
The lady had her suit and hair in a mess like she just woke up. "Sorry, gang. I
forgot about the time."
We all looked at her. She didn't sound British nor did she look British. She looked
like we was in her early thirties at the least.
She figured out what we were all thinking. "I'm a native from Manhattan. I know
you're all disappointed that you didn't get a nice British old lady. But don't worry we have
enough of those at the school. Then, you'll love me."
Denise came to the front of the crowd. He looked serious. "Will you always be late
in picking us up? Should we trust you? What would happen if one of us was hurt and we
didn't know anyone? You should have been here."
Silence filled the air. The lady didn't speak.
Denise laughed. "Heck, girl. You would be trippin' soon. So Mr. Denise, here, will
keep you on your feet." He hugged the lady.
Everyone started laughing while she turned red.
Maybe I'll won't miss my parents so much after all. We got our things and headed
to the big bus that Chloe, the Walker representative, booked us. On the way to the school,
Chloe told us a little bit about our schedule that day. She also mentioned that she was our
board mother at our "boardinghouse". I was happy she was.
When we got to the boardinghouse, everyone dragged their things to the living
room. Denise jumped into the couch.
"This is the life!" He held up his hand like he was holding a champagne glass.
"Here's to a fun four years!"
Chloe sat on Denise. "This is a weird couch.
Denise sneaked out of the couch and fell on the floor. "We'll do that later when no
one else is in the room."
Everyone laughed.
Chloe smiled. "Anyway, I got the room arrangements." She took out a list. "Mark,
Denise, Sam, and Trevor in the first bedroom to the left upstairs."
Denise got up from the floor and started jumping on his room mates.
Chloe looked at the guys. "Good luck."
Mark looked at her. "We'll be needing it."
Chloe continued on the list. "For second room on the left side, Hank, Tom, Michael,
and Jonathan will be there."
All the guys gave high-fives. Denise looked around the room and spotted me. "What
about Alex?" he asked.
Chloe looked at me then at her list. "Alex is in the room across the hall from you
guys."
"But wouldn't that be the girls' room?"
"Yes, it would... Alex, was there a mistake in the papers?"
I looked at Chloe. "No, there's none. I'm female."
Everyone stared at me. Denise walked closer to me. "You are, aren't you?"
"Yep."
"Hmmm... cool!" He hugged me. Then he let me go. He turned to the rest. "She sure
is a girl." He grinned mischievously.
Chloe smiled and looked at me. "Okay. Well, Alex, Stephanie, Ana, and Sarah are
in the room across from Denise and the rest."
The rest of the girls came to me with their things. They hugged and they whispered
to each other about what they were going to do with the room.
Chloe looked at them, which made them stopped. "Last room, across from Tom's
room is Vanessa, Molly, Amber, and Rachel."
Chloe stood up. "Okay, everyone get to your rooms."
There was a mad dash up the stairs. Yet, I wasn't part of it. Everyone else pushed
their way through and screamed at someone who stepped on their feet. I couldn't help but
smile when I saw them. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked behind me. It was Chloe.
"I think you're the most reasonable one among all of them."
"Well... I don't know."
She giggled. Then she whispered, "Let me show you the back staircase."
I smiled and followed her.