Chapter 5

The next week consisted of more shopping and sight seeing. Dad had already started at the University so mum took us all over the place, checking out as many stores we could. She was determined to stock the house and our closets to the point of bursting.

Friday was open Day at our new school where we met most of our teachers and some of the other kids we will be in classes with. I tried hard not to bring too much attention to myself, which was hard when I had Josh with me. Luckily not many of the girls who flocked around him even spared me a glance. I noticed that most people seemed to have at least 1 or 2 friends and they were all standing in small groups chatting. I seemed to be the only person who was quietly taking it all in.

As I stood studying my fellow classmates I noticed a constant clicking noise. I finally located the source. Someone was taking photos of the events. I couldn't see their face behind the massive camera, but I coulkd tell it was a boy. Great. Another of my fears. I hate my photo being taken. I realised I needed fresh air as I was starting to feel claustrophobic. Mum was busy talking to one of the teachers and Josh was surrounded by a group of girls.

I slipped out of the side door of the auditorium and into the heat. I leaned against the brick wall and closed my eyes. I hadn't had a panic attack since the morning we left Australia. I had learnt to control them through breathing techniques which I used now.

"Are you ok?" a nervous voice asked me to my left.
I opened my eyes and saw the face of the phantom photographer. He looked worried but all I could think about was the camera in his hands.
"Um yeah I am ok. I just needed some air." as I spoke his concerned look changed to a huge smile.
"Oh hey you're the Australian girl. I'm Liam." and he held out his hand.
I shook his hand and told him my name. He smiled again and asked me what classes I was in and we realised we shared about 5. He was very excited that I was taking photography, which was I had actually forgotten I was in. I had only chosen it to fill a spot. Being behind a camera was much more appealing to me than being in front.

I hadn't realised we had been chatting so long until my mum came around the side of the building looking worried.
"Georgie, I have been looking all over for you. We were about to.." She stopped as soon as she realised I wasn't alone. "Oh hello, I'm Georgia's mother. I didn't mean to interrupt."
Then she looked at me and grinned like an idiot. Oh no.
"Ok mum lets go, it was nice meeting you Liam. I'll see you on Monday." I called to him as I dragged mum to the door.
"See you." he waved as we went inside.

"Well he seemed nice."
"Yes mum he was. And don't look at me like that." I warned her as she gave me that hopeful smile again.
Josh was waiting at the front of the school for us and laughed as I walked past him to the car.
"See I told you she was fine." Josh said as he opened the passenger door.
"Oh she was fine alright. She was talking to a boy behind the school." Mum mused as she got into the car.
Josh spun around in the seat and looked at me.
"What!"
"Oh my god, both of you are being so ridiculous. I was just talking to someone who happened to be in like most of my classes, so chances are I would have spoken to him eventually. Mum just because I spoke to a guy doesn't mean anything and Josh seriously, the protective brother thing is starting to wear thin."

Josh tried to say something but all he could manage was to look from me to mum with his mouth open. It was not like me to stand up for myself like that. I tended to just go along with things.
"Close your mouth Josh, you'll swallow a fly." Mum said and backed the car out of the parking lot. I could tell my the rearview mirror she was smiling.

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After dinner I went up to my room to pick out my first day of school outfit and while I was deciding on a top to go with my chocolate brown skirt mum poked her head into my room.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure, I'm trying to decide between the teal or the dark green blouse."
Mum pointed to the green and said "It goes better with your eyes."
"Thanks." I hung the clothes on the closest handle and plopped onto my bed. Mum had come up to talk, I could read her so well. She sat down on my bed next to me.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?"
I knew I couldn't lie to her, but I also didn't want her to worry.
"A little, well alot but I will be ok. Josh will be there. He is even in 2 of my classes so it will be fine."
She smiled and picked at my quilt. I knew there was something else she had on her mind.
"Mum, just say what you are wanting to say."
"I was really proud of you today, standing up for yourself like that. Josh needs to realise that your not 12 anymore and that you can look after yourself."
I was surprised byt this. I thought she wanted to ask me about Liam.
"Well I guess I have realised it too. Hence the reason I told him so." I smiled at her.
She got up and leaned over and kissed the top of my head.
"You are both growing up too fast."

She walked to the door then stopped and looked back at me.
"That Liam boy was quite cute." And she was gone.

Chapter 4

I noticed Josh wasn't in the van as we got in. Mum didn't ask so I knew right away they were all up to something. I was intrigued.

"Where's Josh Dad?" I tried not to sound interested.
"Oh he wasn't feeling good so I took him home." He shot a mum a grin and that confirmed it.
My parents loved surprising us. And secretly I still loved it. Although I would never admit it to them.

We stopped at a supermarket and filled up almost 2 carts with all the food and supplies we needed. I couldn't believe the food available here. I knew I had to watch myself or else I will be filling out in all the wrong places. Luckily mum was pretty good at choosing healthy food so I put all my faith in her. We loaded up the van with all our groceries and headed home.

I took time to take in the scenery on the ride home and noticed one of our neighbours places for the first time. It was very similar to ours, except for the huge red barn behind it. I had always wanted to have a barn and play in hay and do all those silly things I saw in movies.

As we pulled in Josh came out to the van to help us bring everything in.
"You don't look sick" I teased knowing the truth. He just winked at me and grabbed a handful of shopping bags.
"We better get this inside guys, looks like its going to rain." Dad warned us as I looked up at the sky. I hadn't noticed until now that it had gotten very grey and cloudy. As if to answer him a loud clap of thunder boomed over us.
Mum screamed and ran inside. She hated storms. I laughed and followed her.

Once we had everything inside I helped mum put it all away while dad and Josh disappeared upstairs. I was dying to know what they were up to. Finally we got everything put up and the cupboards were so full we could hardly close them. Mum seemed so much happier now with a kitchen full of food.

I headed up to my room to put away all my new stuff and noticed that my "study" door was closed. I turned the handle but it didn't open.
"Hey what's the deal?" I yelled through the door. I heard them both laughing. Damn, what were they doing.
"Hold on." Dad said, still laughing. He opened the door and stepped aside so I could walk in.

They had been busy. I realised that Josh must have done most of it while we were out. They had bought me a desk, bookshelf and an office chair. They had my computer all set up and even put my few books on the bookshelf. I was speechless. Josh walked over to me a threw his arm around my shoulders.
"What do you think?"
"Wow." That was all I could manage. I couldn't believe they had done all of this in such a short time.
"We have some more stuff coming but this should do you for now." Dad explained.
"This is great guys. Thanks so much." I managed to find my words. "What else is coming?"
"Well mum insisted we get you a sofa in here, and we thought a sofa bed would be practical so that's ordered and she also wants to get you a rug and some other stuff, but I think she wants you to choose those kinds of things."

I let them show me all the stuff they did then I finally got to enjoy my study alone. They had hooked up my computer to the internet network that was wired through the house so the first thing I did was log into my email. As I gathered I had a bunch from all my friends back home wanted to know how I was and how awesome America was. My friend Laura was already asking me about the boys here.

Boys. That was a strange subject for me. Technically I had never had a boyfriend. Josh was partly to blame for that. Not that he did anything. But I had heard from friends that most guys didn't ask me out because they were scared of Josh. The others didn't ask me because of my mum. She was the Librarian at our old school. Thank god she has no decided to take time off. So I didn't stand a chance. The only boys I did talk to were Josh's friends but most of them were very popular and were not interested in someone like me.

My friends assured me I was pretty. They always talked about how jealous of my hair they were and my skin was flawless. But I saw myself as too pasty and bony and almost sick looking. I was starting to think I would never fill out and always be this boyish girl that no one would ever want to go out with.

I logged out of my email without even replying. It was too depressing at that moment. I decided to go and put away all the clothes I had gotten today to cheer myself up. I forgot how much stuff mum had insisted on buying and it took me a while to get it all put away. I was already putting outfits together in my head for school, which was starting in a week.

That was not something I was looking forward to.

Ch ch Changes!

Ok readers (if there are any! haha)

I will be making some changes to the story tonight.

The main things I will be changing if you don't want to re-read will be:

Georgia and Josh are now twins, not identical though.
They will both be 16, about to turn 17.
Josh will be the older twin, born first.

The reason I am doing this is I realised 15 was a bit young for Georgia but I also wanted her to have a protective big brother in school with her. So having them as twins made sense.

Thoughts on this?