This is another edit of the original, so some reviews may look confusing to people that are editing it now.
Shipwreck Isle
I finally came home to Shipwreck Isle the summer of my 15th birthday. I knew that it wasn't just a coincidence that my father received a job as a hotel manager on this island. He lived his whole life here that is, before he married my mother who was also a citizen of this island when they decided to be nomads . It seemed a bit queer to me that Shipwreck Isle was known for ship wrecks, countless ship wrecks and what seemed even weirder was that most bodies were not found. I thought that was really creepy. Also, there was the fact that Shipwreck Isle was supposed to be a haven for mythical creatures, not just any but vampires and thousands of people were burned at stake for witchcraft, too. A lot of the older people seemed to still believe in the tales. I didn't really believe the part about vampires. Shipwreck Isle was sunny throughout most of the year, you see.
Anyway, the village my parents moved us to was called "Fate”. I thought that was a really crappy and cheesy name for a village, but whatever.
Not only did Fate sound crappy. As we passed by with our rented car, as we still didn’t have our own, my heart swelled with the agony of it all. Okay, maybe I’m being a little over dramatic. But you should’ve been there . Little houses were neatly placed on either side of the road. They were all so similar, with their white trimmed fences and grass that was so green it hurt to look at. What was this, Pleasentview? Please. I felt like puking. We passed by the high school that I would attend in September. It looked like crap as well. Too neat, too perfect to be real. Soon, we stopped in front of one the houses and my mother smiled proudly and said:
‘What do you think, Liz?’
‘ I think it looks like every other house here.’ I answered truthfully. My mother sighed.
As I walked towards our house, I glared at my parents the whole time ,I glared at the friendly looking neighbors who had come out on the lawn, and I was trying to show everyone who cared how angry I was. Our neighbors were a man and a woman, both grey haired and pleasant looking. But I didn't care. I already hated everyone who lived here. They were so happy and care free, it was irritating. They didn't know what it's like to have to move every two years, because of a father who just couldn't seem to settle down and a mother who loved change. I hated change. It bothered me, it really did.
"Welcome to Fate, welcome, my name is George.” The guy spoke in an old, tired voice that attempted to sound cheerful.
"Thank you, we hope we’ll be able to call it a home, soon” My mum returned the warm smile in the direction of the woman. I almost snorted. Home. Like they knew what that was. They promised though, that we will settle down at Shipwreck Isle. My mum got a steady job at the arts museum close by too. Usually, all she did was paint pictures and sell them .Normally, she didn't get paid much. I thought over that stuff while the adults chatted away.
"And who might this lovely young lady be?" The woman asked as she turned her baby blue eyes towards me .I could tell that a long time ago she was really beautiful, before the wrinkles and the silver hair.
“My name is Lizzie ." I said, almost smiling for the first time ,there was something that made you feel comfortable to be around this old woman for some reason.
"Elizabeth, she means, Elizabeth." My mum hurried to correct me. Elizabeth IS a pretty name, I admit. But somehow I always preferred Lizzie, so much simpler, you know?
The woman seemed to understand that I'd rather be called Lizzie and she gave me an encouraging look.
"Well that's simply great, isn’t it, Liz." The old man looked at his wife"You two share a name." I didn't understand what was so great about it but everyone looked like they agreed with him.
"Oh and you simply must meet out grandson.” Elizabeth said, excitedly. Then she lowered her voice "He used to live on the other side of the island but-” She seemed to change her mind about what she was going to say and she said "Well, anyway he's a newcomer, too. His name is Jake. He's 16 ."
"Oh that would be lovely."My mother answered before I could. "She needs a bit of company, now that she's new here and he probably does, too.
"Well, he's not in at the moment." Elizabeth told my mum. "But, I’ll have him drop by as soon as he gets here.”
"That would be great."-My mum flashed a wide grin. I was angry at her. I didn't need her to take care of my social life for me.
They chatted for a little longer and then we finally walked into our new home. Thankfully, it was already furnished to perfection and it had all the needed appliances that a household required. My mom blindfolded me and led me to my room. I hoped I'd like it .I knew I'd like it, actually. My mother had a great style, as an artist and she had helped design my room.
It took a bit longer than I thought but soon she removed the blindfold. That's when I saw my room for the first time. Larger than I expected, very sunny, colored in soft lavender paint it really did look inviting. In the middle of it there was a bed with a lavender duvet cover and a bookshelf next to it large enough for all my books, which really was an accomplishment, as I loved to read. My room faced southward and there was a large window. In front of the window stood my brand new desk, my new lap top on it. The floor was covered with a soft carpet, but below that, it was just parquet. Next to the window there was a door and I was lead to my own balcony. It was very inviting, too. Not really big, but big enough for a small garden chair and a tiny coffee table. I fell in love with it, especially as my mum led me out of my room to my own private bathroom and a tiny room that used to be a storage room, for my own built in wardrobe along with a make up table and a large mirror. It really was tiny in here, hardly enough for two people to be in it at the same time, yet one person was quiet comfortable and that didn't bother me as only one person would be using it right?
"I love it mum, thanks!"
My mum chuckled joyfully and kissed me lightly on the cheek. All the bad mood I had vanished, suddenly and I forgot to be sulky about the whole moving in thing. Maybe that Jake guy would be all right, maybe we'd be friends and hang out.
After we had a good look at the house, which was larger than it seemed on the outside, I finally went to take a shower. Good thing I had packed THOSE essentials in a separate bag! The hot water fell on my back hard but it felt so good and relaxing, I didn't want to get out. I thought about all the places I'd lived in England, New Zealand ,Australia ,America ,and now Shipwreck Isle .The home of my parents and their parents ,who died before I had a chance to meet them, and since they didn't have any brothers or sisters I didn't have any close relatives. Or any relatives that I knew of for that matter.
As soon as I was finished I did what I hadn't done properly for the past two days, I went to bed and slept soundly until noon the next day. I hadn't been getting much sleep because, mainly I didn't have much time with all the packing and last minute worries and good byes to the few people we had befriended . When I woke up I wasn't sure what day it is, but as I looked at my phone, all groggy eyed, I realized it was the next day.
I brushed my teeth and dragged myself down stairs, my hair still messy. I had on an oversized grey shirt and large blue boxers, my favorite pajamas. My eyes were still barely opened as I mumbled “Mom, what’s for breakfast?"
I opened my eyes and saw my mother looking at me astonished ,my dad eyeing me confused,and a boy ,a really cute boy in my kitchen ,who was eyeing me suddenly alerted , and I suddenly realized I looked like something out of a horror movie.
That woke me up quick enough.
"I'll be right back." - I said as I raced up the stairs.
When I was finally in my room, I took out an old, battered suitcase and opened it. I got out my favorite baggy jeans that were a little faded and my navy skin tight shirt. I went to my wardrobe room and I brushed my long, brown hair down. I looked in the mirror. I wasn't really tall and I had a little bit of tummy fat I wanted to get rid of .My face was pretty clear thanks to all the scrubs I had used and really I did not look bad. The guy, who was probably Jake, looked way out of my league though. He had messy ,brown hair and piercing blue eyes, his face had lost all the puppy fat and roundness and he looked taller than most sixteen year olds I knew, and somehow more muscular ,but not like those guys that lift weights or anything ,just stronger ,nicely shaped.
I walked down the stairs again, after I had fished out my make up bag and applied a little bit of lip gloss and said in my most joyful morning voice: "Sorry, 'bout that, didn’t know we had visitors.” I glanced at the guy who was supposedly Jake and flashed him my most charming Marilyn Monroe type of smile.
He looked startled, and immediately lowered his gaze. Well, he’s friendly, I thought as I sat down, suddenly quiet.
‘Hi Lizzie’ He said suddenly, ‘ Sorry to barge in on you like that’
I was pretty startled, as I heard his deep voice. ‘Um, no problem’ I said.
‘So how do you like it here so far?’ He asked, kind of forced, like he was making an effort to speak. That irritated me.
‘I don’t know’ I said, ‘I haven’t been around much. I only got here last night.”
He looked troubled, but he finally managed to mumble something under his breath.
‘I’m sorry, what? ’ I said, genuinely confused.
‘Do you want a tour? ’ He said, on a barely audible tone.
A tour by the world’s most awkward person? No way. ‘ Actually, I think my mom needs help, to unpack, you know.’
‘Nonsense, darling, go!’ She said in a sweet tone. Great, she wanted me to find friends so she was making me hang out with Awkward boy against my will.
‘Fine, mommy’ I said in my sweetest voice.
Jake looked troubled. I could tell he didn’t want to give me a tour. Was I that annoying, hidious, or I don’t know? Jeez.
‘Here honey, get a doghnut and go right ahead. Don‘t waste anytime.’ My mother was positively the most annoying creature to walk the planet.
I took the doghnut and walked out. Jake followed. His head was down and he looked kind of depressed. I wondered if he was suicidal and that’s why he had to move over here.
‘So, Jake, what‘s on the agenda? ’ I asked, trying to keep my spirits high.
‘I don‘t know. What do you feel like doing?’ He replied.
I could strangle him for being so annoyingly awkward and shy and depressed. I said, through gritted teeth, though trying to sound cheerful:
‘Well, what is there to do in your lovely little town? ’
‘Not much. ’ He said shortly.
‘Okay, that‘s it. You don‘t want to spend your afternoon showing the newcomer around, that‘s fine. But you could at least have the courtsey of saying so.’ I exploded suddenly. I was known for my short temper, and mood swings.
He looked up suddenly startled, and had a look of determination in his eyes.
‘No, I can‘t just say so. I‘m new here, too. My grandparents expect me to make friends here, they don‘t like the people that I already know here, and they‘re convinced you are such a nice girl ’ The last part was a poor imitation of his grand parent’s voices.
‘You‘re a jerk. ’ I said, as I stomped off.
’‘Oh right,’ He yelled after me, ‘ I‘m a jerk, you have no idea what I‘ve been through.’
‘I don‘t care about what you‘ve been to, I don‘t even know you.’ I said, anger boiling in me.
‘That‘s right, Liz, be like that, you‘ve always ever cared only about yourself, you haven‘t changed a bit’ He spat out. Then he looked absolutely terrified at what he just said. I looked at him, not comprehending. Finally, I turned around not looking back. I said nothing. He was insane. We had never met before that day. I had never been to Shipwreck Isle before. Ever.
xo
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