A new friend

Azalea POV

We arrived to the place I’ll be calling home in the middle of the night. The mansion was magnificent, a Greek architectural style. Lamps illuminated the huge garden, I'm sure I would love to spend my time here.

Once inside, everything was white, peaceful, and really simple and homey but luxurious. Not that I love luxury, but the effort that my granny put into decorating her family mansion was worth mentioning. The simplicity though gave me a welcoming feeling. It was different from my parent's house in San Francisco, it never felt like home... Never. I guess I'm lucky to be here. I don't know what life would bring, but hell! I'm ready, a little tired though, but nothing that a good night of sleep wouldn't fix.

I turned my head and saw aunty watching me with a warm smile.

“Do you like it honey?”

“Yes, a lot... it really feels like home.”

“Wait until you see your room.”

“Please, lead the way, I'm dying to get some sleep here...” I chuckled and she did the same.

She led me to a big white room, everything was off white, the bed, the desk, the walls, the curtains... everything, I don't know what's with the white here? But I wouldn't change it anyway, it's not boring at all, it feels appeasing. I have a walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom.

“If you need me honey, I'm in the last room down the hall. Don't hesitate, if you need anything, anything at all… come to me honey.”

I hugged her and kissed her cheek “Thank you so much auntie. “

“Don't mention it sweetie. Sleep tight.”

She closed the door behind her and left, I turned to enter the walk-in closet to find my clothes already neatly folded. I grabbed an oversized t-shirt and walked to the bathroom to take a shower before going to sleep.

After a good night sleep, I was up at 6h30 as usual, I took a shower and dressed for the day, I wanted to visit my new home, since I'm going to start school tomorrow and won't probably have time to do so.

I went down, and found my way to the kitchen, I was met with a middle-aged woman smiling at me.

“Good morning miss Azalea, I'm Mathilda, the cook.”

“Good morning Mathilda, nice to meet you, and please call Azalea... Just Azalea.”

“You're definitely not your mom's girl.” She chuckled.

“You knew my mother?”

“Oh yes honey, I know your whole family, my family worked for yours for decades.”

“Oh … I see.... Hum can I use the kitchen please.... I mean, I would like to make breakfast for auntie.”

“OOOOH you're the sweetest thing, tell me what you would like and I'll make it for you.”

“What about we do it together then, this way we'll get to know each other?!”

She pulled me in a hug and gave me an apron.

We made pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, mash potatoes, I even made bread. As I was setting the table, my aunt came down yawning.

“You're an early bird?”

“Morning to you too, sit down we made breakfast for you.”

“Oh sweetie, thank you so much, you didn't have to do that.”

Mathlida came with the remaining plates and sits beside me. “She's the sweetest thing ever, I mean even my grandson doesn't do that for me.”

My aunt chuckled and said “Where is he actually, he's late for breakfast.”

“Yeah, he was partying last, I woke him up before coming, he will be here right away.”

Then a cute guy enters the dining room, fixing his gaze on me, he's probably 6', dark disheveled hair, green eyes, thin lips, I squeezed my lips and averted my gaze to my plate.

“Sweetie, this is Carter, Mathlida's grandson and he's like a son to me.” My aunt said.

“Carter, honey, this is my niece, Azalea.”

“Hey Azalea, welcome to Fort Payne.”

“Thank you.”

Then my aunt turned to Carter and said: “Honey, I need you to drive Azalea around the town, be her guide, and get to know each other before school, actually you're going to the same school, you're both seniors.”

“No.... I mean, I don't want to bother him, he looks tired, I can drive myself auntie.”

“It's okay Azalea, no bother at all, besides, you don't know anyone here, so...”

I smiled at him and started eating my breakfast.

He's cute, no scratch that, he's hot, but I just could never trust guys, plus I really don't need any drama in my life, I've always been so focused on my studies, sports and reading, guys don't really look at me, unless I'm in a swimming suit. I'm 5'5 tall, 70kg all muscles because I'm a swimmer, I have long light brown hair, hazel grey eyes, I hate my C cup and my big bum, yes! I do, because they get me unnecessary attention. This is the reason why I've never wore revealing clothes, I have curves and I hate when guys treat girls like they're a piece of meat.

The only difference now is that I’m a new person, I still hate the attention but I’d rather love myself, so I don't care anymore, I still don't want to date assholes, but I won't hide behind clothes, everything is changing this year, I won't wear the same clothes my mother bought me so I could hide my curves, I'll never be as thin as her, I'm not a supermodel and I'm happy the way I'm made, yes I have to train a lot, so I don't put on weight but it's ok because I like swimming anyway, it's the only thing beside reading that help me escape my reality.

After finishing my plate, I felt happy, because it's the first meal I fully ate without my mother asking me to stop in the middle. According to mommy dearest, I eat like a horse. Here nobody is saying anything and even if they did, I wouldn’t care. With a big smile I excused myself to go get ready for my drive with Carter.

I wore a polo dress with trainers, grabbed my mini backpack with my wallet and my phone, I said bye to my aunt, and went out to find Carter leaning on the car wearing black wayfarers, when he saw me, he lowered his glasses and licked his lower lip and smirked.

“You're actually hot.” See? That's what I'm talking about, but hey, I'm not the goodie two shoes back home, I know how it works, and I want to play along for once.

I check him out, his smirk widens, then I said “mmmhmmm, shall we go?”

I'm not playing hard to get or anything, it's just me, I'm not really romantic but if the guy in front me doesn't make my heart skip a beat, then he's not worth my time, trust me I'm not full of myself, I just don't want to get heartbroken, I mean at least if I do, then it'll be because of someone who's able to make me feel like no one else does… I guess it’ll be worth it then.

I got inside the car, and off to the city.

By the end of the day, I'm really happy, I got to know Carter, he's really funny, a tease yes, but really funny, we spent the whole day together, and we got really close, he's so easy to talk to, I've never been that open with any of my friends, but again they weren't real friends, they were the type of people my parents wanted me to get along with because they wanted to do business with theirs or they’re already my parents business associates.

Once home, we ate together, then Carter and I went to my room to watch a movie. We laid down together on my bed, and when sleep started taking over, he called it a night, and with a kiss on my forehead he left.

I really look forward to school this year, having a friend by my side can only make it better, I really hope he's the person I believe he is, because I really liked him a lot today.

Author note:

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