Chapter Text
Jono
I start again. I land at the Sydney airport, anxiety tugging at my chest. I haven't spoken to Mum in ages - should I even call her that?
After she just... left us?
Left her family?
Left me?
And for what? So she could 'find herself?'
Bullshit.
But I can't say anything like that now... can I? I mean, she's taking me in, even offering to help with my university fees.
Allowing me to stay with her. And Lara said she isn't too bad to live with apparently.
I choke down my disdain with the water in my cup as I grab my bag and move into the line to the exit of the plane.
...
I go down to collect my luggage, when suddenly I'm nearly tackled by an excited ball of enthusiasm.
Lara.
My body contracts at the sudden affection. Not because I wasn't used to it, or because I never recieved it. Quite the opposite actually.
Its just that I haven't been hugged by Lara in a long time. Lara was never really the cuddly type. She seems to feel my unease and she releases me.
Mum appears behind her.
"Hello Jono," she looks nervous, almost as nervous as I am.
"Hi mum,"
"How was the flight?"
"good."
A painfully awkward silence fills the air before I see my suitcase and grab it.
The car ride is silent, apart from Lara telling me about university and how great she found it, and how much I'd enjoy it.
"What course are you taking again?" She asks
"I'm doing a music course."
Lara squints slightly. I know what she's thinking. What everyone thinks when I tell them what course I've chosen. That it's unprofitable, unobtainable, impossible.
But I don't care.