Across the Ocean Read Free

Indiana.
    It doesn ’t really seem like there are two houses that are the same. Granted, there are apartment buildings that look similar, but there aren’t all that many. This town looks very well loved, like it’s been around for a while.
    It is probably an exceptionally wonderful and safe place for children to grow up. Lára and Sóley are sitting in the back seat chatti ng up a storm, while I’m just nodding and smiling in awe of every little thing I see.
     
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    I bet you’re wondering about Emilia and why I wanted to come visit her in Iceland so much. She and I knew each other in high school. We were both involved in show choir through different schools in San Diego, and we competed against each other on several occasions. I lived a real life “Glee.” Sequins, crazy curled hair, fake eyelashes. Singing, dancing, and music. Just none of the random singing during real-life moments like we see in the show . I mean, who does that ?
    Anyway, Emilia moved to Iceland during the summer before her senior year in high school, which was right before I started my senior year as well. While Emilia and I hadn ’t really gotten along that well in person, somehow we found a kinship online and talked regularly through MSN chat. We originally didn’t get along due to teenage female cattiness. She had said some mean things to a few friends of mine and I flew to their defense.
    After some time had passed, Emilia came to me and apologized for her behavior. I had been so surprised that she had owned up to her mistakes that my respect grew for her a lot that day. She moved to Iceland shortly after and we pursued our new friendship online.
    We supported and were there for one another, even if at a distance. We gossiped and advised each other, without judgment. I have come to look at her as one of my closest friends. Having a friend who knows just about all of your secrets but lives in a different country and probably doesn’t judge you, or have any competition with potential guys, is totally great.
    Even though Emilia grew up mostly in the States, her parents are Icelandic but separated. H er father stayed in Iceland, while Emilia and her mother lived with her grandmother in San Diego. Emilia’s childhood was definitely lacking in the solid parenting department. She was a troubled teen, and I often think that moving to Iceland was the best thing for her. It gave her a chance to start over.
    There was a point in time where my father had to try and help her find her mother, who was using drugs at the time and had headed off to Mexico. Emilia ended up getting stuck in Iceland with her father during her summer break vacation due to her incompetent mother. It was so awful when we realized that she had just run off. Nobody wants a mom like that. I would know; I’ve got a deadbeat mom, too.
    She ’s one of those girls who is naturally very beautiful. She has long, light blonde hair to the middle of her back, along with very large, blue eyes that stand out and are surrounded by some seriously great eyelashes. Her lush lips are quick to smile. She has a great body, feisty attitude, and an outgoing personality. She’s absolutely gorgeous without makeup, too. Emilia has all the things that make other girls jealous. She also gets along great with guys and they all want her. I imagine that there are many girls who don’t like her just for that last reason.
    She ’s wearing a pair of jeans, some black Converse sneakers, and what appears to be some band t-shirt covered with a charcoal colored grey zipper hoodie. Comfortable and convenient. She’s never struck me as a girl who put too much importance on valuables. I’d maybe even consider her kind of a hippy.
    Even after I moved to Indiana, she and I kept close. She introduced me (online) to several of her best friends here in Iceland. I have been excited to finally meet Lára and Sóley after chatting with them for all this time. There was a point while I lived in Indiana where all