Dear Diary,
This is it. This is the day that I've dreaded for the past six months. I begged and begged Jen to let me stay with her at her apartment- I even tried applying for that turkey-sandwich making job at Kmart. But as much as I knew just how much big sister loves me, I also knew that she needed me to head back home and let her do her own thing. So now I'm flying back to my beloved Sunshine Hills.
Seriously? Sunshine Hills? Who even thought of that name anyway? I bet it was some president who'd never stepped within 100 miles of this place because if there's anything our little dot on the map is known for, it's the harsh, relentless rain.
Sure enough, thunder clouds welcome our plane with a violent shudder, and the toddler that's been kicking my seat for the last 3 hours decides to see if he can cause permanent damage to my ear drums.
Oh joy. I could be getting free turkey sandwiches now for pete's sake.
After a bit of pushing and shoving, I finally make my way to arrivals with just a lovely bruise on the side of my forehead courtesy of my old, smelly seatmate from when he tried yanking out his luggage from the overhead bin.
I couldn't care less about the stares and double-takes. At least this time I'm not in a wheel chair.
"Charlie!"
With a sigh, I turn towards the sound of Auntie Kat's raspy voice. She used to be really pretty when she was younger- something she constantly reminded me and Jen, always showing us pictures of back when she competed in local pageants. Twenty years and two divorces later, her face is lined with wrinkles, her eyes dull with dark circles surrounding them, and her body, gosh, I didn't know a body could sag like that.
"Hi Auntie Kat"
"Don't you 'Hi Auntie Kat' me! I've been standing here for ages! Get your shit in the car." She walks away, mumbling something about never doing me a favor again.
Funny. I wonder who she thinks cleans up her vomit and helps her get into bed after she gets home from McLeary's. Or maybe she just never thought of those acts as favors.
Instead of listening to my aunt rant about having to take care of the stupid daughter her sister never should have had, I drown her out and watch the smudges outside the passenger window. The dark blobs are leaves, I remind myself. Though I miss having perfect vision, I know I'd never regret all the nights I stayed up reading novels. Maybe just the twilight series, but then again I was in desperate need of a distraction and they were the only books I had at the time.
We pull up to her old, beaten-up driveway, and Auntie Kat mutters a couple of swear words and slams the door. I don't know why she even bothers to waster her energy on me. I'll only be here to pick up the rest of my things that I haven't moved into my dorm.
When Jen got a call from her now-boss, telling her she'd been hired, I was ecstatic. Up until I found out that the hospital she'd been hired at was in California. I knew I couldn't stay with her, but I also knew I couldn't stay with Auntie Kat on my own. Getting slapped and yelled is a lot harder to take without a sister to witness it all. So, that day, I grabbed a newspaper and looked for a place of my own. The space was tiny and dilapidated, but it was cheap and not far from University- perfect.
I head up to my room and shove my nursing books- the only possessions I knew wouldn't be bothered during my six months away, into my book bag and head down the stairs. I see my aunt and debate saying goodbye to her, until she turns my way and asks me why the hell I haven't left yet. Okay, no good byes. I guess she just isn't a touchy-feely person.
***************
"Shit", I mutter between my clenched teeth. I mentally make a note to buy a new rain coat.
Apparently while I was gone, Auntie Kat found the keys to my Taurus- how she found them in my glasses case, I have no idea- and crashed my car. It was old, second-hand, and beat-up, but it still worked pretty well. Left with no car, I did the only thing I could- I stole her bike. I couldn't walk to my new home, and I needed the basket to bring as much of my things as possible. Despite having two heavy messenger bags slinging on both of my sides, I haven't lost my balance so far. At least I've got that going for me. If only the damn rain would stop.
"Is that her? Hey slow down!"
Oh gosh. I don't even have to look to see who's husky voice that is.
From the corner of my eye I see Jake, my ex's twin brother in the passenger side of his new mazda. I wait for them to stop and harass me, but instead they just continue driving by my side, matching my pace.
What the heck is their problem?
They don't say anything, so I just plaster a huge smile on my face and continue biking. Please, please do not let me lose balance or trip over a rock.
"Shit. We gotta warn Jared and his girl."
Typical.
They speed past me, their wheels splashing me with dark water.
Great.
(chapter to be continued)
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