I'm not sure if I've ever seen that many stars before. I kind of want to get out of the car and lay down on the grass, just staring at the night sky for hours until I fall asleep or the sun rises. That's not that easy, though, considering my father is driving with around 70 miles per hour. So I just continue staring out of the window.
"Jesse?" I get my gaze off the sky's freckles, turning my head towards dad to show that I'm listening.
"You're sure this is okay for you?" He asks, looking slightly in my direction to see my answer, and I nod. He's asked me about a million times before, and I've nodded a million times. The concern flatters me, and I'm glad he cares because some parents probably wouldn't, but really, there's nothing in Georgia I'd really miss. No close friends, and more people I'm glad to finally get rid of.
"I'm sorry we're moving again." Dad says. "I know it's not easy. Switching schools, getting used to new people and a new environment, all of that..."
I shake my head. It's okay. I say in sign language. Don't worry about it, I'm used to this. That was not the best answer, judging by his expression, but he turns his head back towards the street and doesn't say anything.
I lean my forehead against the cool window again, staring out at the blurry landscape passing by and the stars. When I was six, I used to stay up late to sneak out on the balcony we had back then and look at the night sky. I was in awe of its beauty every single time, but LA's city lights only let let me see a few stars. Sometimes, I would fall asleep outside and dad would find me there the next morning lying on the balcony floor, wrapped in a blanket. I smile as I remember that. I was so small back then, and I was still being homeschooled. Dad had decided that that would be the case for my first year, so that when I started going to school for second grade, I'd be able to communicate with others by writing. I'm mute, and not many people - let alone first-graders - can speak sign language. So I guess that made sense.
I take my phone and headphones out of my light blue hoodie's pocket and roll my eyes as I see the massive knot where the headphones' wires are supposed to be. Great. It takes me about five hours to get it out - at least that's what it feels like - and as I finally finish, I plug them in and open my Spotify account, scrolling through my playlists.
sad shit
idk what this is
angel haze all songs
angry music i guess?
just songs i love
i'm lonely lol
nf all songs
I open the last one and click Shuffle, closing my eyes as the intro music to Warm Up fills my head with nothing but the beat and Nathan's voice.
And after just a few songs, the fact that it's 3am and I haven't touched anything that contains caffeine since about 9pm overwhelms me, my body feels heavy and I fall into sleep's soft, warm embrace. Soft and warm. Unlike the window I'm leaning my head against.
~
"Jesse?" Something shakes me gently and I open my eyes, blinking into the bright sunlight that shines through the car's windows. Let You Down is playing through my headphones. It takes me a moment to remember where I am, but then I pause the music, turn my head and make a hissing noise as my neck aches. Dad furrows his brows with a worried expression. "You alright?"
I nod and put my hand on my neck before moving my head. The cracking noises are those of a limb that has been in the wrong position for several hours. Dad nods understandingly.
"Oh, I know that. It really sucks." He says and I smile a little, rubbing my eyes. I look around. We're standing in a parking spot, right next to a street I've never seen before - well, of course I haven't. The street is lined by several houses that all look about the same: Brick walls, four or five levels and dark red roofs. About 60 to 70 feet wide. Doors in the middle of the walls. Just like the house I saw in the photos when we looked for an apartment around here.
"It's 8:30, by the way." Dad says. I smile at him thankfully and notice the big bags under his eyes.
You better go to sleep soon. I sign and he nods.
"Yeah. I slept on the plane and had a lot of coffee, but that wasn't much and I've been driving for over six hours straight, so... I will."
I give him a thumbs-up, take my backpack from in front of my feet and get out of the car, stretching my arms and looking around.
"We're right in front of it." Dad closes his door after getting out and points towards the house. Number fifteen. I nod and we get the suitcases out of the trunk before walking towards the door. Dad unlocks it and I step inside, looking around. A blue carpet all over the wooden gray floor and, of course, stairs. I remember what dad told me. Four flights of stairs up, then to your right. I lift up the two suitcases I'm carrying and walk upstairs in a fast pace. I can barely wait to see the apartment now, and I also can't wait for dad to get some sleep. He can, apparently, so I wait, tapping my fingers on one suitcase nervously. He laughs as he sees me like that.
"You have way too much energy for the fact that you woke up less than five minutes ago." He says, and I shrug with a smile as he puts the third suitcase and camping mattresses aside to open the door. "There you go, m'lady. Our new luxurious residence." He says as he pushes it open. I grin, shaking my head as I lift the suitcases again and walk inside. It's just like I saw in the pictures. Okay, it's a bit different, but that's because it's real this time. But I'm standing in an empty hallway with white walls and ceiling, a wooden floor and five doors. One to my left, one a bit further on the right and another one at the same level but on the other side, and then two at the end of the hall across from each other. Dad is right behind me all of a sudden.
"How about you bring the suitcases and your backpack to our rooms?" He suggests and I nod, walk down the hallway and push the left door at the end open. The room is obviously empty, with a window facing the street. I put my backpack down and my silver suitcase next to it before turning around and bringing dad's black one to the room on the other side. It looks like my room, except the window faces the garden of the people living somewhere else in this house. I get to it in no time and look outside. Grass and flowers, a small pond, two trees and a few bushes. It's pretty, but I can envy them later. Now I'm just hungry.
~
Dad and I eat on the kitchen floor, but as he says: "That's just until tomorrow. Then the truck will arrive and we can eat on a table, sleep in beds and have a comfortable living room. And in two days, it's Monday and you'll get to know your new school!" He sounds too motivated to be talking about a Monday.
After breakfast, dad gets his camping mattress, a pillow and a blanket, and goes to his room to sleep. I grab some shampoo and shower gel, get in the shower and let the hot water run over my face as my thoughts race around my head.
~
I hope this will turn out okay.