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I sigh and focus on the view. My mom keeps on talking to me, trying to persuade me that her decision was the best thing ever. And that she didn’t actually ruin my vacations and at the same time my whole life.
The great idea she had was to move to a small town in the Swiss Alps, in the middle of nowhere. She separated me from my friends and from where I have always lived and created memories. And all of this for what ? To “see new places, take a new start”. As if we needed that.
Anyways, I resent her. She says that it’ll be fine and that i’ll make new friends easily because my new high school is small, with only 300 students. But they must all know each other so they’ll never befriend me.
We can see our new house at the end of the alley, surrounded by trees. Sure, this house is bigger than the other. It looks like a castle. But I prefer the older one. It was smaller, eccentric, the wooden floor was creaking under our steps and the doors didn’t close right. But it was our home. This horror movie like manor feels like an unrealistic and uninhabited ikea house.
- Look how pretty it is ! And have you seen the huge garden we have ? We’ll have so much fun with the pool and-
I stop listening, White Mustang by Lana Del Rey blasting full volume in my headphones. I know that my mother is doing the best she can and I feel bad to treat her like that. But taking away everything I had for a new job was very selfish of her. I know that it was an excellent opportunity for her. But she didn’t once think of what I would feel about that. And it hurts me deeply.
I’m hurting. I don’t feel at home here. I miss my friends. I miss my old place. And nothing will make me feel better.
I put my last stuff in my new bedroom. It is on the second floor, that is entirely mine. A spacious balcony with a view of the pool, a dressing and a bathroom next to it : 28m2 of white walls and impersonal furnitures. Even though it is massive and I feel like one of the rich teenagers in the 2000s, I feel awkward in such a huge room. I need to put my mess, my decors. And even after all that, I’m not sure that I’ll feel good once.
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- How was this first night here sweetheart ? ; my mother asks with a plate of scrambled eggs and a smile.
- No. I’m not hungry. I’m going out.
- Thats a very good idea honey, you can discover places of your new home ; she says loudly as I’ve already closed the door.
I grab my bike, throw my keys and my phone in the basket and pedal without knowing where I’m going. The weather’s nice, even for the middle of the summer. The only good thing I found is that it’s not too hot here since we’re surrounded by mountains. I end up in what looks like the middle of the town. A square, a city hall, some boutiques. Anyways, it’s pretty but not incredible. I pedal a bit more and arrive near a football field. It was transformed in a giant slip n’ slide. There’s about two dozen people my age having fun. I stop and look at them from afar. “Could’ve been me and my friends if I didn’t have to move this far away” I sigh.
- What are you waiting for ?
I flinch, surprised by the voice of a stranger behind me.
- Oh, sorry, did I scare you ?
- Yes ; I turn around to face him.
- So, are you coming ?
- Where ?
- At the slip n’ slide obviously.
- I don’t know anyone so… no, thanks.
- You’re new here right ? I’m Nicholas ; he says with a big smile.
- Mael, nice to meet you.
- Great. So now that you know me you can join us.
- I don’t have a swimsuit.
- Do you live far from here ?
- I don’t know, like maybe 10 minutes ?
- Ok so you have two options : I can walk home with you and pick up a swimsuit. Or you do it fully dressed.
- I’d rather not go home ; I say, leaving my bike against a tree.
- But you just moved in ?
- Lets just say that with my mom… it’s complicated.
- Ok, I won’t ask any more questions then ; he smiles and grabs my hand.
I follow him without saying anything. He doesn’t let go of my hand as we join the rest of the group. Maybe so that I feel more comfortable ? Well if it is the idea, it is not working. I must be so freaking red right now.
- Everyone, this is Mael. She just moved here. Mael this is… everyone.
I smile at the group.
- Lets go ! ; he lets go of my hand and takes his shirt, shoes and socks off that he throws right next to a towel.
He stops, turns around and screams.
- So, you coming ?
I scoff, take my shoes and socks off and run to him. He grabs my hand, counts to 3 and runs to the slip n’ slide. We both slide on a good stance before standing up and laughing.
- It was so fun ! ; I scream.
- Lets do it again then !!
I laugh and pull him back to it. We did it so much times that I can’t even count it. At the end, we just lay on the grass. I look at him, wet and out of breath with a big smile on his face.
He’s pretty. But like really pretty. The kind of guy you only see once at the airport and you never forget about. His dark hair falls perfectly on his face. He has a very soft skin, judging by the few times our body touched during the slides. He’s muscular too. He must do a lot of sports and go to the gym a few times a week.
I blush slightly and look away as he looks at me.
- We’re drenched ; he points out.
- Yeah, it’s the least to say. And I don’t have a towel nor do I have other clothes.
- I can help you with that ; he smiles and takes his stuff.
He hands me his towel.
- I’ll use it after you ; he says.
He also hands me his shirt.
- Do you have another ?
- No. But you’ll need it more than me ; he answers, looking at my shirt.
I look down and see that my shirt became completely see-through, letting everyone see my bra. My short is also drenched.
- You’re right, thanks ; I grab his shirt.
I take off my shirt and my short. He looks at me, shocked. He must be surprised to see me change in front of him.
- It is almost like a swimsuit right ?
He nods and look away. I put on his shirt that smells amazingly. He has a very good perfume. An hypnotizing one. One that suits him very well. We put our shoes back on and wave goodbye to the others. The sun is setting down and I didn’t see the day pass by.
We walk next to each other, me pushing my bike and him with his skateboard under his arm. I don’t know why we don't use both to go faster. Maybe because neither of us wants the day to end. We talk to each other about ourselves. And, when we arrive near my house, we look at each other for a few seconds that seems like an eternity. I don’t want to go home. I want this day to last forever. But we have to be realistic.
- Thank you for everything ; I say, leaving a soft kiss on his cheek before walking down the alley.
I hear him scream that he’ll pick me up tomorrow to show me some places.
I smile and close the door behind me.
- You’re back ! So how was your walk ?
- Maybe this town isn’t as bad as I thought ; I answer before going upstairs to my room.
I hear my mom mumbling “this isn’t her shirt”. I lay on my bed, in Nicholas’s shirt. I look at my phone and see that he followed me on Instagram. He sent me a message “tomorrow, 2pm. Wear something comfortable and take a swimsuit, we have a lot to do : )”. A big smile appears on my face.
- This town is really not that bad after all.