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.
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.
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