“Bye, Riley,” Billy was half leaning out his window waving goodbye. I didn't know if I was ready to be left alone. “The guest room is up the stairs, first door on the left. Your bags are at the end of the bed.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, taking a shy step backwards toward the house, hands in my pockets. The excited vibe of this morning seems to have diminished.
“I believe someone is home with Stella. Terri's busy so that leaves Robert or Bindi. Stella is a little thing,” he adds thoughtfully. “She's adorable. Let her smell you though.”
I nod, and give a small wave as Billy rolls back down the driveway in his jeep. I glance at the large house behind me, beautiful yet intimidating, and throw a longing stare back at Billy's descending car.
Ms.Irwin had told me the door would be unlocked because someone would be home by now. They plan to give me a spare key a different day. I couldn't believe how much she trusted me. Not like I'm complaining or anything.
Who was supposed to be home again? Terri never mentioned that. Billy said Bindi or Robert. I haven't met Robert yet. He seems like a huge sweetheart.
I hesitantly push open the door. Nothing happens at first, as I had expected. It was simply my imagination getting the best of me, dreaming up something to worry about.
After a minute of standing in the entrance to the Irwin family residence, an adorable little pug comes running towards me. She jumps in excitement and I smile and kneel down so I can scratch behind her ears.
“Awww, you must be Stella. Who's a good girl?” I coo. “Yeah you are. Ohhh. You like ear scratches? Yeah…”
Stella wiggles onto her side with a huge floppy grin as I continue to scratch her head and stomach. I pat her stomach two more times before standing up. Stella quickly squirms up onto her feet as well.
“Come on girl,” I coax, patting my leg. “You live here. Help me find where I'm staying.”
Stella stares up at me with a big goofy smile and I glance around the room. I see a staircase a little bit to my left. Billy had said “Up the stairs, first door on the right.” hadn't he?
I climb the stairs, Stella padding right next to me. Once we reach the stairs, Stella continues to waddle down the hall, and whimpers at the very last door.
I push open the door to the right and am surprised by how decorated the room is. There is a picture of Steve Irwin and a little boy, who I assume to be Robert, on the nightstand next to the bed. Moving forward I see another family photo of Bindi, Robert, and Terri all hugging each other in their zoo uniforms. The same one on Ms. Irwin's desk. This doesn't seem like a guest room.
There are a few animal research textbooks piled on a desk nearby. One of them is called The big book of reptiles, opened to a page about freshwater crocodiles. And I realize there's a hamper over by the closet. “Not my room.” I blush, feeling guilty for invading someone's privacy, and turn around to leave.
Unfortunately, I was so enveloped in the confusion from stumbling into the wrong room that I hadn't heard anyone greeting Stella down the hall. And I hadn't heard them walk down the hall to the room I was standing in now. When I turn around, I almost bump into a blonde haired, blue eyed teenage boy. Robert Irwin.
I open my mouth to greet him but decide against it, as I don't want to freak him out. I'd feel uncomfortable if someone who I’d never met knew my name. Instead, I continue staring forward into his eyes with a gaping mouth. Robert takes a step away from me, eyebrows raised in suspicion, and I snap out of it.
“Oh-h, hello,” I squeak. “I'm sorry, I'm in the wrong room. Billy told me r-right, or-r at least I thought he said right. But I guess it's not… right.”
I mentally facepalm as Robert stands before me, slightly bewildered. I glance down at my shoes, and suddenly hear a slight chuckle emitting from the boy himself.
“Sorry,” he gasps between giggles. “I forgot, mum said we'd be housing you. I was supposed to help you and well, I didn't do a very good job.”
Thank goodness my face was already red with embarrassment, or else Robert may have noticed the heat that rose to my cheeks from his laugh.
“Oh, it's all right,” I croak. “I'm guessing it was the left, then? The room on the left.” I maneuver myself around Robert and scamper on over to the room where I was supposed to be. There are less personal belongings in this room. The only ones being mine, neatly packed away into two suitcases.
I bury my face in my hands in total embarrassment. I meet Robert Irwin, who I've idolized for his photography skills since I was 12, and make a total and complete fool of myself.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine." I try to convince myself, bringing my hands down from my face and unzipping the suitcase next to me. "Focus on unpacking. He'll forget it if you do. It wasn't that bad anyway."
“Hey,” Robert says nonchalantly, interrupting my thinking. I jump on surprise and turn around to see him leaning up against the doorframe of my new room with his hands in his pockets. “You never told me your name. I'm Robert.”
“Nice to meet you Robert. I’m Y/N”
“Ah. Well, welcome to the Australia zoo team. I hope you like staying with us.”
I nod, and shuffle some belongings in my suitcase around to distract myself from his blindingly adorable smile.
“Um, I should probably unpack,” I announce, more to myself than anything. Or perhaps to fill the suffocatingly uncomfortable dead air that seemed to fill “my” room all of a sudden.
“Okay. Well I’m going to take Stella out for a walk. You can come if you like. It might be good for you to know the neighborhood.”
A part of me wanted to jump up at the offer. But on the other hand, there was stuff to be done. Besides, I had plenty of time for walks.
“Um, maybe later?” I suggest.
“Well you can head out later if you'd like,” he agreed. “But I won't be joining you. Too many mosquitos. Maybe wait until tomorrow.”
I nod in agreement, and watch Robert turn around. He whistles a tune and Stella runs up towards him. A longing feeling builds up in my chest. My brain screams “don't you dare, Y/N.”
To get my mind away from new and likely unrequited emotions, I ignore packing for now and yank my journal out of my suitcase. Then I find a black gel pen out of my backpack. I have decided to do small updates to mail to my mother, while keeping a detailed journal of everything that's going on.
On a postcard I write:
Dear mama bear,
Australia is absolutely beautiful. And everyone I've met so far is nice. I met the Irwin family too! They're just lovely. My first day was a little awkward. But hey most things are when you're new to them. I'll keep you posted.
xoxo, Y/N
I address the post card and put it aside on the desk to be mailed later. Then, I open to the first empty page in my journal and write a more detailed log of how the day went.
Hey mama. Day one in Australia. After I got off of the phone with you, I found the person who would be escorting me to the zoo. His name’s Billy, and he is very nice. Billy was surprised that I'm only fifteen with a slightly challenging photography job, as you had predicted. But honestly, I know I can do it. I feel like my age will be the only obstacle with my job. Gaining trust from others (mainly adults). I have the experience and intelligence to evade other things. But I cannot change the mind of a stubborn person. And I get that you're worried. But I'm still confident in myself. I'll just have to prove to them that I am capable...
Bindi Irwin showed me where to go once Billy dropped me off at the zoo. Next thing I knew, I was in Terri Irwin's office discussing my purpose in this exhibition. This did not last very long. She decided to save actual training for tomorrow, so that I can rest and get used to the different time zone.
I headed back down to where Billy had dropped me off after the short meeting so that he could pick me up and bring me to their house. That's where I am now. Ms. Irwin gave me their spare bedroom. I am being housed at the Irwin family's place. It's a little strange but i think it's only because it's new.
Now I am sure you would like to be informed of my latest screw ups as well. You know, for a slight chuckle. Well in regards to those, I do already have one. I had confused directions that Billy had given me on where my room was in the household. He said my room was to the left… i went right. And I accidentally stumbled into the one and only Robert Irwin's room.
Robert was rather nice about the whole thing, and actually found it funny. But boy was I embarrassed. I mean, I had invaded his personal space. He probably thinks I'm a total creep. And in a way, I am. Because man, could I look at that smile for hours. But mom, don't tell anyone about this. I mean you can't really because you won't see this until I'm back. But when you do read this, don't tell anyone in the family. It doesn't matter. So what if he has a nice smile? So did the hyenas I saw today. So yeah… just forget it I guess.
I stop writing to silently curse myself for using a pen to write instead of a pencil. I can't erase my lovesick rambling. I sigh in disappointment at myself and continue on with the letter.
Anyway, it's just about five o'clock here. I assume that Terri and Bindi will be home soon. I do not know what is expected of us for dinner. Perhaps I should make something for when they get back? But they may not appreciate that. I'll wait until they get home.
Anyway, I'm just about halfway done unpacking. So I guess I'll leave you and get back to that.
xoxo, Y/N
A/N
It's sunday! I've had a v good week. I don't like the updated icon for wattpad though. It's just a little scribble. Oh well. What do you guys think about it?
- write_with_tea 💚