My family and I moved to Greece when I was ten years old. At the time I was very upset about it, I was leaving my whole life behind. My father came home from work one day and told us we were moving, I glanced around at my mother and younger sister, but they seemed okay with it. Don’t get me wrong, Greece is beautiful but New York? Come on, I loved it there.
So we got packed and moved to Greece, I obviously had more to leave behind, not a girlfriend or anything…but Derek, my childhood friend. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t upset that I had to leave him, I grew up with him, obviously it was hard. I wanted him in my life, my parents said we could still talk, me being 10 at the time, I wasn’t good at communicating, especially on the phone, neither was he.
Besides, no one spends their hot sunny days in Greece trying to contact their friends in America, why would you? There’s way better things to do than that and I did just that. I occupied my time with books and school. In the summer I swam and even rode my bike around. It was wonderful, but I missed my old friends, I missed it all. The food, the people, and even the coffee…I miss New York.
So here I am, 6 years later and I’m back to where I used to be. I wish I could say it feels like home, but I feel like a stranger. The one thought that pains me is the fact that maybe no one remembers me, I remember them, but do they? My father finally told us it was time to move back, I was so happy to move back, but I know I’ll miss Greece. But there is no time to go back, I need to focus on school now.
We moved back into our old house when we realized it was for sale. My parents were happy to show my sister, Emily, where I grew up in and where she would too. We ended up moving in a week before my second year of high school started. I took my much needed time to move into my old room and I felt all those old memories fill my head.
“What are you doing, you look stupid.” Emily scolded as she walked past my room, I had been sitting on the floor and staring up at the roof. When I was younger, my mother put stars on the roof, they’re gone now but you can still see where they used to be. I never had the guts to take them down, I felt it would break her heart, so I kept them. “I’m star-gazing” I replied. “You’re being an idiot, we could’ve done that in Greece, you know.” She gave me a cold glare and went to her new room.
I’m sorry, Emily. She’s always been like that, blaming me for things. For years, I have complained about living in Greece and wanting to move back. I liked Greece, but not as much as New York. I take a deep breath and began to get ready for school, sure it's in 2 days but ...I'm still scared. I know I was not close enough with too many people so the chances of being recognised are slim. I also know that I left on a sour note, the last few days before I left for Greece were hell. I don’t quite understand what I did wrong, I just remember being bossed around by people, it was as if I said or did something that really pissed people off.
It fazed me because I was friends with everyone and hadn’t expected anyone of them to turn on me, especially my closest friend. I don’t care now, it’s in the past.
~
I’ve woken up an hour earlier than I needed to, school doesn’t start till 8:50 am and it’s currently 6:30 am. I don’t get why I’m stressing, it’s just school. Not like it’ll be any different from last year when I went to school in Greece. Except for the fact that I have to make new friends, which always sucks when moving to different places and feeling like an outcast. Can’t change the past, but I can at least try to make a good impression on my first day.
I reach to look at the clock again, only to find that 30 minutes have passed and it’s already 7:00 am. It finally dawns on me that I’ve literally sat here on my bed for 30 minutes just freaking out. “Wake up, William!” I hear my dad calling from downstairs, he is the one who is driving me to school after all. I roll my eyes and answer back with a grunt, I don’t know why but I’m too exhausted to answer with words.
“I do hope you’re ready, cause I’ll leave without you. I’m not the one missing school.” My dad called again. I finish pulling on some clothes and gather up all the necessities of the day. I doubt I’ll use any of it but might as well bring it. I often feel like I’m overreacting, like I’m some girl but oh well, I think a lot and can’t stop. I’m human, what do you expect. Being in Greece made me feel calm and let me let go of all the negativity, although, now that I’m back, I feel that same feeling again.
I push all those thoughts aside and head down to great my father and mother, my mother looking a bit tired but beautiful as always, I don’t know how women do it. My father on the other hand, looks tired, dead to be exact, like a zombie. It’s almost as he just crawled out of bed. “Are you ready?” Dad asks, I nod and reach for the coffee, it has an odd taste and most people don’t like it but it somehow always makes my day better. “Aren’t you too young for coffee?” Dad asks. “Dad, I’m 16 years old.” I reply. “You’re growing up too fast, my little boy” My mom says, I’m thankful she’s not the one taking me to school, I feel that she’d make a scene and embarrass me even more. That’d be an interesting way to start my first day of school at a new place.
“Ugh mom, stop being embarrassing” I say, although she doesn’t listen and grips my cheeks. I don’t push away her hands though, I just wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly. “I don’t want to be late, mom. Love you.” I say and head for the door. “Oh right, before you leave, I got in contact with your old friend Derek’s parents, apparently you go to the same school as him, isn’t that exciting? Anyways, have a good day, ki ego se agapo” She says and while it always confuses me when she speaks in Greek, the one thing that has me even more confused is the fact that I’m going to the same school as my childhood friend.
Seriously, what are the odds of this happening? This can’t be a coincidence, can it, because I don’t even think I remember what he looks like or how he is, or if I even want to see him again. This might be a problem and I don’t think I’m quite ready to face it.
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