I wake up at 6 am as my flight leaves today at 11. I see my brother still sleeping, so I go to my room and get ready for my flight. I wear a black crop top with black jeans, and a grey long-sleeved coat and pair it with some black sneakers and put my hair in a high ponytail.
I wake my brother up, and we both head to the airport. It is starting to get cold here. The rainy season is over, and soon winter will start. I look at the rising sun and think that I am so lucky to be alive to see this beautiful sight. We often take everything in our life for granted. The beautiful sunrise, the voices of early birds, looking for food, the air smelling like the rain and time spent with family. We never know when we will be robbed of all these. I look at kei, and he is awfully quiet.
Tears already start forming in my eyes since I know that I won't be seeing my brother for a long time. I pray to God to take care of him. He will be alone in that big house that has a lot of memories of our past. The time we spent with our parents is still a rocky topic for us.
We soon reach the airport, and I see my friends with a huge 'miss you' board in their hands.
They both run to me and catch me in a tight hug.
“Can’t br.. breathe.” I manage to say, and they release me. We look at each other and start laughing.
"You have everything with you right"? Keith asks me.
"Yes, Kei will you be alright?" I ask him.
"I will be fine. Don't worry. You take care ok." he says with tears forming in his eyes. I hug him and start crying because he has been my everything these last two years.
"I love you Kei, take care." I say, not wanting to leave him.
“Please for the love of God do your laundry every day and don’t forget to put the dosa batter back in the fridge or else it will go bad. Check if the back door is closed before you sleep. Don’t forget to switch on the mosquito coil. Try to eat healthily. Don’t drown yourself in work. Try to-”
“I get it. I get it, baby sis. I am two years older than you. I think I can manage it pretty well without you here.” He chuckles through the tears.
I realise that I had been lecturing him, although he is the one who has been taking care of me these past two years. I chuckle with him.
"I love you too Ara." he says, and I hug him again.
"Don't forget to call us every day ok." my friends tell me.
"I promise guys, love you."
"Love you too Kia." I am going to miss them so much, but I still can't wait to go to America.
I wave goodbye to my friends and head towards the security check. I look back one last time and wave before entering. Everything that has happened from, my parent's death to receiving mail that a family has accepted me as an exchange student, flashes before me. I smile.
I get some breakfast and wait for the flight, and soon boarding is announced. I get ready for my eighteen-hour flight to Washington. I sent a text to Raven Scott telling her that I boarded my flight and will be there in the next eighteen hours, US is nine and a half hours behind India, so I will reach at 7:30 pm according to US time.
Once the flight takes off, I refuse food and just consume liquids because I can get airsick. I can't help but think about the guy my age. Is he handsome? will he be kind, or will he hate me? I ask myself.
What? I am a girl. I think about all this stuff.
I watch a couple of movies and spend some time sleeping before I reach Washington. I text both my brother and Raven informing them that I reached, and wait for my luggage. Once I get all my belongings, I go outside. I am here. I am FINALLY here. A huge smile graces my face. I throw my hands in the air and squeal. I ignore the looks I receive. I calm down and hug myself as it is pretty cold here since it is the first week of December. I spot Raven near her car, and she smiles and hugs me once I reach her.
"Hi, Kiara. How are you?" she inquires.
"Hello, Raven. I am great how are you doing?"
"I am great honey how was your flight?" She asks me, her tone worried.
"It was fine. I didn't get any air sickness." I reassure her.
She helps me with my stuff and we are on our way to their home.
“I can’t wait to see the expression on their face when they see you.” She says excitedly.
“Especially a beautiful and kind girl like you.” I thank her with a taint of pink coating my cheeks. I can't take compliments very well.
“So, Reed is the same as you. He will be a senior next year. Ryder is the little one. He is studying in sixth grade. I think you and Ryder will get along well.”
She tells me more about her home, her kids, and her husband, and I tell her about myself, and soon we reach her home.
"I am sure you are going to love it here Kiara. We will make your life one hell of an adventure." Raven says excitedly. I chuckle at her enthusiasm but, I can't help but look forward to my time in America.
The house is beautiful. It is a two-floor house, and it gives me a homey feeling that I missed after my parents' death.
"This is our dog, Ella," Raven says when a golden retriever comes running to me and jumps on me.
"Hey there buddy, calm down." I laugh as she licks my face.
"She likes you." Raven tells me.
"I love dogs but my mom was allergic so we never had them." I tell her.
Raven knows about my parents' death. She gives me a sad smile.
"Anyway, the boys are at their friend's house. Blake will be picking them and coming home anytime now." she says glancing at her watch.
Soon enough, we hear the front door open and, Blake comes in with two boys. One of the boys catches my eye. He has brown hair and a tattoo on his arm, and he was 6 feet or more and another boy with brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He looks at me and smiles. I smile back. Let’s call the elder one tall boy since I forgot his name.
The tall boy looks at me, then the dog, then at me, and then the dog. I would really love to know what is going on inside his head now.
Well, my question is answered.
"Oh good, the dog caretaker is here, she can walk Ella now." the tall boy tells his mom.
Ok, wait. Hold up, go back, me? A dog caretaker? What?
My jaw is literally on the floor. Wow. Ok, that hurt just a little bit. Raven did tell me that the boys don't know and that it was a surprise, but still, it is wrong to make assumptions you know."What? Reed no! she is our new exchange student and her name is Kiara." Raven informs her son.He did look a bit taken back, but he covers it up. He gives a stiff nod and runs upstairs."Ooh, I always wanted a sister." the smaller boy says. I smile. He reminds me of Keith."My name is Ryder. I am 13 years old." He tells me."My name is Kiara and I am 16 years old. I am going to be a junior in your school." I introduce myself.He also gives me a nod and runs upstairs."I am so happy that you are here." Blake tells me. I smile at him."Freshen up Kiara, we will have dinner afterwards." Raven informs me. I give a quick nod, and Blake leads me to my room. It looks very beautiful. I have my own tv, there is a big queen-size bed. I love it.
The next day I wake up, do my morning routine, and go down for breakfast."Good morning honey. How are you feeling?" Raven questions."I am fine. Just suffering from jet lag." I reassure her."Ok, here have some breakfast." she hands me a plate with bacon and eggs.I've never had bacon in my life. Well, everyone has a first time."Mmmm it tastes so good." This tastes amazing. I have been missing out on this all my life."Looks like someone likes bacon." Raven grins."Yeah, you have to get more bacon now." I grin back."Anyway get ready we will be going to the mall in an hour." Raven reminds me.I wish morning to Blake. I didn't see the boys as they already left for school. They still have two more weeks of school before winter vacation.I give a swift nod and go upstairs to get ready. I wear a tie-dye hoodie, skinny black jeans, pair them with my white sneakers and tie my hair into a high ponytail. I don't like ma
I wake up to Ella licking my face trying to wake me up."I am up, I am up," I reassure her with a laugh. She gives me a doggy grin, if that is possible, and leaves my room.I get ready for the day. I wear a hoodie, legging, pair them with white sneakers, and leave my hair down. I walk downstairs to find the boys ready for school and eating breakfast."Ooh, finally, the queen has awakened." Ryder greets me."At your service." I give him a bow, he chuckles. I greet everyone else and make myself a bowl of cereal."Kia, I have work today, so I won't be home. Will you be fine all alone?" Raven asks me, concerned.She is a housewife but, she is also a substitute doctor. So, she works rarely and, Blake is a CEO of a good marketing company. They are pretty rich."I will be fine. I will probably spend the day talking to my friends or chilling in the pool." I reassure her.She gives me a small smile and gets ready for work. Soon ev
"You are riding with me on my motorcycle." Reed says with a smirk.Reed thinks that I am afraid of motorcycles like some people. You are so wrong, buddy.I love motorcycles and the feeling you get when you ride on streets with the wind blowing on your face. The scenery is an added bonus. I also know how to ride one, my brother taught me.Now it is my time to smirk, "No problemo buddy."He looks a bit taken back but, he quickly covers it up."Fine, let's go." Reed says and, I follow him to the garage.He gets on the bike and hands me a helmet. I take it and take a seat behind him."You can hold onto me if you want," he smirks.God, I wish I could wipe that smirk off his face."No problem dude i can handle myself." I smile sweetly and catch the handle on the back of the bike to hold myself.We take off and, I enjoy the ride and the feel of the wind blowing on my face. I remember Keith used to take me out on long dri
I wake up and realize that it is Sunday morning, and there is only a week left for Christmas. I always go to church back in India on Sundays. I shower and wear a white knee-length dress and pair it with a blue jean jacket. I leave my hair down and apply some mascara and lip gloss.I go downstairs and see only Raven and Blake in the dining room. I guess the boys are still sleeping because it is only 8:30.I greet them good morning, and raven raises a brow, questioning 'why I am all dressed up?'"So do you guys go to church on Sundays?" I ask Raven."No, we don't. But we do go during Christmas and New Year." Blake answers."Can anyone of you
Finally, it's Christmas Eve. This past week I spent time with the family learning more about them. Reed is not acting cold to me anymore. He makes small talk here and there. I would not call us friends yet but, it is progress. I also spend a lot of time with Ryder. We watch horror movies, I play sports with him, and sometimes Reed joins us.I will meet Andrew again today when I go to church. I can't wait to give him the presents I got for him. But I am also scared. What if he doesn't accept? What if he thinks that I am doing it out of pity? I am doing it because I have been through what he is going through. But, I at least had Keith, but he has a stepfather who hates him.I take a shower and straighten my hair. I wear a hoodie and legging.I go downstairs, and a beautiful aroma fills my senses pancakes. Yum. I greet everyone and take a seat beside Ryder. I ruffle his hair a bit, he swats my hands and glares at me. I put my hands up in surrender while he fixes hi
"KIARA ...KIARA WAKE UP IT'S CHRISTMAS," Ryder shouts in my ear, effectively waking me up.I get up so fast that I fall out of my bed with a loud thud, and I groan."Ugh, I am up, I am up." I say, rubbing my butt.When my eyes adjust to the bright light, I see Ryder jumping on my bed shouting, "It's Christmas.","I am gonna wake up Reed," he shouts and runs out of my room.I really don't know where he gets his energy from. That kid's hyperactive even without sugar. I glance at my clock and see it's five minutes past seven. That's early.I hear a loud 'It's Christmas', which is followed by a loud thud. Looks like Reed fell out of bed too.I go out to see an energetic Ryder pulling a sleepy Reed, who is rubbing his butt out of the room. I chuckle at the scene. While Ryder wakes everybody up, I quickly brush my teeth and comb my hair.I go downstairs to see Reed and Ryder sitting around the Christmas tree with presents. I look bac
It's New Year's eve, and currently, I am on a facetime call with my friends."So guys, how was your Christmas dinner with Keith?" I ask them with a smirk.Anna's cheeks go pink just like I expected. Anna has had a crush on him forever. She thinks that I don't know. But I found out a couple of years ago when Anna acted all shy and strange in his presence. Whenever they are together, you can see a faint tint of pink on her cheeks.I don't think Div has noticed it yet."Why are you blushing, Anna?" Div asks with a smirk..... okay, she knows."What I... I ..am..not blushing ..you..you are." Anna stutters, and I mentally facepalm. Nice save, Anna.Looks like we are gonna talk about my best friend's crush."You like him, Anna.""But I don'..""Don't even think about lying." I cut her off."Yeah, Anna. We know about your crush on Keith, so spill the beans." Divya tells her.She sighs, "Fine. What do you gu