I sigh as I look down at my phone. My third day of classes starts in twenty minutes and I have no desire to go. Jess left already, she offered to give me a ride, but I told her I wasn’t ready. She seemed a little concerned, but I told her I was fine.
The truth is, I haven’t felt the same since I’ve been back here. I missed Jess and I was excited about school, but that was before I actually got back here. Now… now I miss L.A. more than I’ve ever missed anything. I’m not sure if it’s that simple though. I certainly didn’t fall in love with the city—I guess if I was being completely honest I miss Spencer and Dex.
School so far hasn’t been what I expected it to be. It just seems like more high school, really. I guess maybe classes specific to a major are more interesting, but I really would rather be on set filming right now. I’m really not sure what to do.
I feel like a piece of me is missing.
I close my eyes and try to think about it… to think about what I really want in life—not what I’m supposed to want.
Maybe I could learn to like L.A.? The more time I spent there the easier it got, but I also wasn’t working at some crap job. I could always go to school there… there’s really no reason for me to go to State other than to live with Jess, but I could always visit her.
I open my eyes and jump off my bed. I can’t stay here. I pull my bag out of the closet and start tossing in all the clothes I just put away two days ago. I know it’s crazy to leave, but it feels right… it feels like something I need to do. The worst that could happen is that I don’t like it in L.A. and if that’s the case I have my money from the movie and I could always travel a little and try and find somewhere new to live. I feel like so much of my past is a part of State and I want a fresh start.
A smile crosses my face as I zip up my bag and grab my phone to call a cab. I put my phone up to my ear as it starts to ring.
“Salem Cab, how can I help you?”
“Yeah… I need a cab to pick me up and take me to the airport.”
“When?”
“As soon as possible.”
I give the woman on the other end of the line my address and hang up. I wander around the house for the next few minutes making sure I’ve got everything I need. The only thing I’m not sure about is the painting… I can’t exactly take that with me. Maybe I’ll just have Jess hang onto it, for now, and have her send it to me once I get settled.
I take a piece of paper off the pad on the counter and write a note for Jess. I would text her, but she’s in class by now and by the time she gets out I’ll be on my flight.
Jess,
You’re a great friend and an awesome roomy, but I can’t stay here anymore. I just feel like my whole life since high school was all about coming here and now I’m not that same person anymore. I need more than going down the path my parents wanted for me. I want to be my own person, not the person my mom wanted me to be. I’ll text you in a couple of days.
Love,
Amy.
P.S. I left the painting, if you could please ship it once I’m settled. I’ll include some money for shipping when I send you what I owe for rent.
I feel like I should feel sad about leaving, Jess is really my only friend other than Spencer, but this is something I have to do.
A car honks out on the street and I peek out the front window and see a cab parked in front of the house. I grab my bag, toss my phone in my purse and lock the door behind me. The driver gets out and helps me with my bag and I get in the back seat.
“Where to?”
“The airport, please.”
He nods, glances over his left shoulder and pulls away from the house. I take one look out the back window at Jess’s cute little house. I tell myself I might be back here someday, but deep down I know I never will be. I’m sure the next time I see Jess it will be wherever I live.
I open my purse and take out my wallet to count my money. When I went to the bank on Monday they called Dex’s bank to verify the check, because of the large amount, and they were able to give me access to the money right away. The cash I took out, plus what was left from what Dex gave me, is just over seven hundred. I was planning to buy my books with it, but I guess now it’ll be my plane fare and for the taxi here and when I get there.
On the way to the airport I look up flights on my phone. There’s a flight leaving for L.A., a direct flight no less, in just under an hour.
As soon as the taxi stops I jump out and hand cash to the driver as he gets my bag. I take a deep breath and run for the ticket counter. Hopefully I get there before they close check-in for the flight. I’m sure there are later flights, but right now all I can think about is putting my feet on that California ground.
There’s no line at the check-in counter, which isn’t a good sign. I rush up to the only counter attendant.
“Hi,” I say.
“Can I help you?”
“I need to get on the flight to Los Angeles.”
“Sorry, it’s forty-three minutes prior to departure.”
“What does that mean?”
She points to a sign behind her and I quickly skim it. You must check in 45 minutes prior to departure or forfeit your seat on the flight. Crap.
“Is there another flight?”
She rolls her eyes and starts to type on her computer.
“There is… I can get you on the three o’clock to Chicago and from there a connecting flight to Denver and a red-eye from Denver to Los Angeles.”
My head is spinning just thinking about how much of a pain in the ass that would be.
“Please isn’t there something you can do? It’s only two minutes past the time.”
“Three.”
“Excuse me?”
“Three minutes,” she says. “It was two. Now it’s three.”
She turns and starts to walk away.
“Please… just… stop.”
She stops and turns. I know I have to come up with a perfect story if she’s going to bend the rules and let me on that flight. Acting ability… don’t fail me now.
“I… made a huge mistake. There’s this boy,” I say. “I shouldn’t have left. I think I love him, but if I don’t go see him now, well, I might never get a chance to really tell him how I feel. Please, can’t you just let me on the flight?”
“What’s his name?”
“Spencer.”
I say his name without even thinking. I start to think about what I just said to the woman and… and I realize every single word of it is the honest truth.
“And you love him?”
“Ever since I met Spencer I felt like there was some connection, a spark, between us… I just always ignored it because he’s Spencer and I’m just some small town girl. I never thought anything could come of it. But then… then I kissed him and I felt something deep inside me change. I thought it was just a weird feeling that would pass, but it hasn’t… it’s been weeks and the feeling is still there. Now it’s stronger than ever and I feel like I have to be with him.”
She smiles at me and walks back to the counter.
“Let’s get you on that flight.”
Her fingers dance on the keyboard, barely touching down, and I pass her my ID. I put my bag on the scale and wait.
“Shit,” she says.
“What?”
“There’s only a first class seat left… and it’s six hundred and seventeen dollars.”
I take my wallet out of my purse and quickly count out the cash and set it on the counter. She raises her eyebrow at the stack of cash, but doesn’t say anything.
She types even more furiously than before. She stops as the printer starts and she hands me a boarding pass.
“Go.”
“Thanks you, so much… It….”
“Go!”
I smile at her and run.