Noah's POV
My backpack was old and worn. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of the overhead compartment. That and the skateboard crammed in next to it.
When I got off the plane I found myself at a crowded gate. The Miami International Airport was fast paced and busy. I couldn't help but get nervous as I thought over what was to come.
I paused for a moment and remembered what Mom told me before I left. She said that the family I was staying with would be waiting for me by the baggage claim—now I just have to find where that is. I scanned the airport for anything that would point me in the right direction.
Various black signs pointed the way, and within minutes I had arrived.
A large black duffel bag came through the baggage carousel. I pulled it to the floor then lifted it into my arms. People crowded around the carousel and I backed out of the way.
My eyes fell on the area by the water fountain. There was a small family standing to the side with a large white sign in their hands reading:
Welcome to Miami
Noah!
Gulping, I walked forward. My eyes studied the family as I closed the short distance between us.
The dad was big in stature and had salt and pepper hair combed back to a clean haircut. He looked kind, but intimidating. I wasn't quite sure how to feel about him.
He stood next to his wife who was much shorter than him. She had brownish-blonde hair with wisps of grey pulled back into a small bun. Her glasses perched on her nose right above her bright smile. She seemed a lot more approachable than her husband.
Next to them were two girls. The youngest was sitting on the floor playing a game on her mom's phone. She didn't look like she could be older than seven.
The older girl looked to be my age. She stood a little to the side and was staring at her phone, completely unaware of what was going on around her. Her lips pulled to a smile every few seconds when she would receive a text.
My heart beat loudly in my chest. I worried they would hear it if I got any closer. I took a short breath and cleared my throat.
"Um . . . hi, I'm Noah," I said hesitantly, watching the mom's face light up.
She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off when the younger girl threw her arms around me, her surprise attack nearly taking me to the ground.
"HI, I'M SOFIA!" she shouted and gave me a tight squeeze.
"Sofi, you don't need to yell," her mom scolded and pulled her off of me. Her face was red with embarrassment. I couldn't help but smile as Sofi looked at her parents with a confused expression.
"But I thought he can't understand English." She studied me with a scrunched brow.
"No, I can," I smiled. She had a look like everything she knew was a lie.
"I'm sorry about her." The mom sighed. "But we've been so excited to meet you! My name is Sinuhe and this is my husband, Alejandro." She pulled me into a big hug and I laughed. I practically towered over her small frame. It reminded me of when I would hug my mom and I started to feel more comfortable.
"Nice to meet you, Noah." Alejandro smiled and shook my hand firmly. I nodded in agreement and looked to the older girl who still hadn't acknowledged my presence.
"Camila. Be polite." Alejandro stared at her. She rolled her eyes and set her phone down.
"Hi," she said with a small, forced smile, clearly annoyed that I was interrupting her texts.
"Uh, hi . . ." I said awkwardly, looking at her then back at her parents. Her mom was sending her eye daggers but she didn't seem to care.
There was that same nervous feeling from before.
"Well, should we go?" Sinuhe clapped her hands together and turned to me.
I nodded and grabbed my bags, following the small family to the parking garage. I put my bags in the trunk of their car and sat next to Sofi who was in a booster seat.
For the majority of the car ride I sat in silence, staring out the window while the parents talked amongst themselves.
I guess the family wasn't terrible. But there was still a knot in my stomach that didn't seem to go away. Hopefully after the first week or so I'd warm up to them.
"So, Noah," Sinuhe pulled me from my thoughts, "I hope you like pizza. We ordered some for when we get back."
"Yeah, I love pizza," I said and she smiled, turning forward again.
I looked back out the window then Sofi tapped on me. "So you do speak English?" she asked and I let out a small chuckle.
"Yep." I smiled and looked into her large brown eyes. "Although it would be cool if I could speak another language."
"Like Spanish?" she asked and I nodded.
"Just like Spanish. I nearly failed my Spanish class freshmen year."
"We speak Spanish!" She grinned and I raised my eyebrows.
"That's so cool! I'm jealous," I said and her tiny smile grew with pride. She looked forward and I glanced at her sister.
She was staring at her phone, acting like I wasn't even there. Part of me wanted to talk to her, just so she wouldn't think I was some loser, but I was too nervous, especially with her family in the car with us.
Before I could do anything, Alejandro pulled into the driveway of a beautiful one story house with palm trees sprinkling the front lawn. I swallowed nervously, noticing how nice their house was. It seemed far more elegant than my house back in Washington.
Alejandro parked the car and everyone got out. I grabbed my bags and followed them inside, quietly taking in their beautifully decorated home.
The living room was large and connected to their dark-wooded traditional kitchen. There was a door next to the study which I assumed led to the basement and a baby grand piano next to the front door. My eyes immediately fell on the piano and I wandered over to it, running my fingers along the cold, smooth keys.
"This is gorgeous," I mumbled in complete awe, noticing my reflection in the sleek black wood.
"Thank you." Sinuhe smiled and walked closer to me. "It was my mother's."
"She has beautiful taste," I said, finally tearing my eyes away from the piano. Camila was looking at me with a judgmental expression. My cheeks flushed red and I pulled my hand away.
Clearing my throat, I walked into the kitchen where Sinuhe and Sofi were. Plates and cups had been set out for when the pizza arrives and Sofi was helping her mom get ready.
"Oh, Noah, your bedroom is in the basement," Sinuhe said, glancing at the bags I had at my feet. "All of our bedrooms are on this floor, so we figured this way you'd have some space to yourself."
"Oh, okay." I smiled and picked up my bags. "Should I go down there now?"
"Sure." She nodded and opened the fridge, pulling out two liters of soda that I assumed she intended for dinner tonight.
I pulled open the door to the basement and glanced back at the family before walking down the carpeted stairs.
The basement was beautifully decorated. There was a large, black sectional directed at a 65 inch TV and a pool table that separated the couch from the bar. The room was dim lit and had a comfortable yet classy vibe, with a large fireplace in the corner adding to the overall effect.
I looked to the other side of the basement and noticed a door with a yellow sticky note on it. I walked closer and read it:
Noah, everything in this room is yours for the year. Enjoy!
I smiled and opened the door. My eyes lit up. A queen bed with navy blue covers rested against the wall in the middle of the room and a desk with a new computer sat in the corner. A large bookshelf was on the other end of the room and it already contained some classic novels. I had my own personal bathroom that was equipped with both a shower and bathtub and, to top it off, it smelled like flowers.
I set my bags by the door and laid on the bed, feeling my body sink into the comfortable mattress. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Maybe I could handle this year after all.