The worst is over and the sky is clear
And there's not a place on earth I'd rather be than here
But on the horizon
As the morning breaks
I can see a brand new day that's full of new mistakes
They tell me that only the strong survive
I don't know if we'll make it through the night
I guess I'll see you in the after light
They tell me that only the strong survive
Gotta keep on running
Stay on the attack
'Cause the day you quit's the day you wish you had it back
Douglas’s Mercedes glided smoothly through London in the direction of St. George’s Hill. It was hard to see some of the city because it was dark outside but London had a certain beauty to it when it was all lit up, almost magical in a way. I could not wait to get out and explore it.
“Good evening sir, what is your business at St. George’s Hill?”
“We are delivering the Rai’s niece. We just picked her up from the Airport.” Douglas replied, rolling down my window in the process so the security guard could see me.
“Ahh, I remember Depak mentioning this to me. It is nice to meet you, what is your name?”
“Sarah” I replied with a smile “Nice to meet you too…” I squinted to try and read his nametag.
“Roger” he told me with a smile. “Well I hope to see you around. Enjoy your time in London.”
“Thanks.” I told him. I had a feeling I was going to really like Roger.
“Have a good evening folks.” He went back into the booth and opened the gate for us.
“Thank-you.” Douglas replied to him as he handed him a tip.
Roger smiled and waved as we drove up the street.
We drove up the tree-covered lane for about 15 minutes. Since it was dark you couldn’t see any of the houses, but even in daylight it was hard to see them because of the high fences and hedges for privacy. Douglas slowed the car and turned into the driveway of my Aunt and Uncle’s. Mary-Ellen got out and rang the intercom on the brick post. Through the rot iron gate you could see the housekeepers home. It was a one-bedroom room with a kitchen and living room. It was small, comfortable and cozy.
Mary-Ellen climbed back in the car as the gates started to open. Douglas slowly pulled the car up the drive and took a right then a left and there it was, my new home for the next year.
My aunt and uncle’s house was not just a house. It was a freaking mansion. It was 3 stories tall and white. It had a old Victorian look to it on the outside. On the inside, even though it was still quiet formal, it had been completely redone. I don’t mean like just renovating every room I mean Auntie Audrey gutted the entire house so that only the outside remained and rebuilt the entire thing. They even added on another 4000 sq. feet and a basement. Crazy? Yes.
I eagerly jumped out of the car and stared up at the massively gorgeous house. I still couldn’t believe I was actually here. Ren grabbed my suitcase out of the back and wheeled it to the front door before he could knock my Auntie Audrey opened the door.
“Sarah! Finally you are here!” She beamed at me before turning to Ren who was standing beside her with a bemused smile on his face. “Oh sorry Ren, I didn’t mean to just ignore you.”
Ren laughed, “It’s fine Mrs. Rai, I know I’m not as spectacular as Sarah and I just have to get used to it now that she is here.” He sent me a wink. I just laughed and shook my head as I made my way up the steps.
“Hi Auntie Audrey!” I gave her a big hug. “How are you? “
“Good, good and you? You must be tired from all that flying.”
I sighed and gave her a small smile, “Yeah I am.”
Ren snorted, “She slept the whole plan ride I don’t know why she would be tired.” I stuck my tongue out at him.
“Well, let’s get your stuff inside and get you settled in. All your stuff that you shipped over is in the laundry room.” Audrey ushered Ren and I inside before turning to greet Mary-Ellen and Douglas.
“I’ll bring this up to your room, it’s the one at the end of the third floor right?” Ren asked
“Yeah, just meet me in the laundry room then?”
“Yes mam.” Ren fake saluted then headed up the stairs with my bag. I rolled my eyes; he can be such a loser sometimes.
I made my way to the laundry room. Out of all the rooms in the house this one was one of my favorites. It was a completely different style of room than the rest of the house. The walls were bright fuchsia and orange. The cupboards were a royal blue. Auntie Audrey said that if she were to be in there doing laundry she wanted it to be a “fun” room. I found that ironic because they have someone to do laundry for them, but I do see the point of it.
Ren entered the laundry room and grabbed the nearest box.
“Alright let’s get this done.” He said as he turned to head back up the stairs to the top floor. I grabbed as much as I could and followed right behind him.
After hauling all of the boxes and other things upstairs, Ren and I both collapsed on the queen size sleigh bed.
“You know,” Ren said a little out of breath from hiking up two flights of stairs. “With all those renovations, you would think they would have installed an elevator.”
I let out a light laugh; I was also out of breath, more so than Ren. “That would have been a really good idea, I can’t imagine hauling furniture up here. I think I would have quit after one look at those stairs.”
I sat up slowly and looked around my new room. The walls were a baby blue colour and the furniture was a dark brown. It was a fairly decent size; the wall that was on the outside of the house was cut short by the slant in the roof, which had three skylights. In the corner on the opposite side was a dark wooden desk complete with a chair and light. The closet was quite spacious and there was a dresser beside it.
I got up and walked into the bathroom that was attached to my room. It was my favorite bathroom in the whole house because of the window. I climbed across the Jacuzzi tub and opened it. It faced the back yard and you could see for what seemed like the entire country of Britain. The roof slopped out below, I sat on the wide window ledge and planted my feet on the roof hugging my knees. There wasn’t a cloud in site and with the lack of light in this area you could see the stars.
“That window could be a real problem.”
I turned to see Ren leaning against the bathroom doorframe with one corner of his mouth turned up in the signature Winslade crooked smile, breaking hearts everywhere for eight generations.
I raised my eyebrows “And why is that?”
“You could fall out.” He stated simply.
I gave him an unimpressed look, “Or I could push you out of it.” I mumbled before turning back around to look at the stars again.
He laughed and climbed up on the windowsill to join me. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, both of us enjoying Mother Nature’s twinkling lights.
“How are you doing?” Ren asked quietly, he turned his celery green eyes onto me.
I let out a little sigh and shrugged one shoulder. “I’m fine, well as good as you can be after traveling for a day.”
Ren didn’t buy it for a minute. “Alright pretty little liar, what is wrong?”
“I’m fine Ren.” My voice betrayed me and cracked as I said that.
Ren reached a long arm out and slowly pulled me into his side. I tucked my head into his shoulder. The tears escaped my eyes and slowly ran down my face. Ren didn’t even need to ask what was going on.
“Oh darling,” his accent suddenly sounded thicker, “It will all be okay. I know it is pretty overwhelming now that you are actually here but you will be fine. We’ll be fine is what I meant to say, your not going to be alone on this, I am going to be right here beside you the whole time. I promise.” He kissed my hair as he slowly rubbed hand with his thumb. I fought back the sobs so I could speak clearly.
“I know you will be there Ren and that everything will be alright. I guess that since I am actually here it has fully sunk in. This will be the longest time I have been away from my parents and I’m not even graduated yet, you expect this more when you go off to college but it came a little sooner for me. I will be fine I’m just freaking out a bit right now.” Reached up the wipe the tears from my eyes but Ren’s gentle fingers beat me to it.
“Sarah,” he spoke my name clearly and firmly, “The freaking out always comes first, but the sooner you move away from that the sooner you can enjoy your experience here. Freaking out leads to worrying and I do not want you to worry. You are going to have the time of your life and that is not just because you get to hang out with me for a whole year.”
I laughed which came out more as a gasp because of the crying. Ren smiled against my hair. “Just try to embrace the opportunity you have be given as soon as possible okay?”
I nodded slowly. Ren was such a good friend; he always knew how to cheer me up.
“I have got to get going though, will you be okay? I can stay if you want me too but I will either be wearing these gross airplane clothes tomorrow or rocking one of your outfits. I can assure you that neither one of those will be pretty.”
I laughed loudly, “I’ll be fine now, thanks though.”
Ren let go of me and climbed down into the bathtub, offering me his hand. I grabbed it and swung my legs around and jumped down too. When we were back in my bedroom he pulled me into his chest.
“Get a good sleep, you need to energy to go shopping tomorrow and you are coming over for dinner.”
“Will do Chef Winslade, am I allowed to know before hand what you will be serving?”
“No,” he grinned at me, “Because I haven’t even decided what I am making.”
“Well whatever it is I am sure it will be delicious.”
“Well obviously.” Ren joked. “Alright, I got to go mom and dad are probably thinking you tied me up or something. I’ll be over at 10 tomorrow okay?”
“Sounds good. Have a good sleep.”
“You too.” He hugged me tighter for a moment before turning and heading to the stairs.
I quickly found my pajamas and got ready for bed. I pulled back the thick comforter and passed out within 5 minutes of my head hitting the pillow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsDw9QLwel0
Only The Strong Survive by: McFly
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A/N: Hello! Sorry that this took me a while, I was having major writers block and now I just want to write the whole story! I have more time this semester of school so I am hoping to be posting once a week. The lyrics at the beginning of each post belong to McFly. They are a British band that I have been in love with for a long time. One of there songs are also the title of this story. Anyways I hope you guys enjoy the story so far, It would be awesome if I could get some feedback. I appoligize if the story seems a little slow right now, I promise it will pick up more in the next chapter and much more after that, the beginning is to set up all the characters and the background story for Sarah. Please let other people know about this story!
Take Care! :)
