Chapter Text
" It's only after you've stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform. " ― Roy T. Bennett
AUGUST 17TH, 1989 (I'll never forget this day)
I packed my bags. This was going to be an exhausting trip. I'll miss my friends and family—now old. I have to shut up if I don't want to get Mom pressed. Juniper's excitedly running 'round the house hooting and hollering about how she'll make " new friends " and all of that bullshit. It was like what—ten in the morning? God, I had three hours to pack and I'm still here sulking.
However, some loud mouth knocking on my door just had to ruin my reverie.
" -uinn, " The voice was muffled, but I only have to hear the last few letters of my name to know exactly who it was speaking. " —Quinn! Mommy said you have to be ready in thirty minutes because our flight's gonna here at like what twelve o'clock sharp and— " Here was my sister, rambling and rambling about the flight I didn't want to be aboard.
" Juniper, I know. Please, give me a few moments, I'll be ready, " I mumbled, standing up to get the rest of my things—a few Siouxsie CDS, the movie Alien, and a copy of Stephen King's Carrie. I was quite fortunate to get these items, considering my mom's pretty strict when it comes to the content in these things.
" 'kay Quinn. I'll go tell Mommy and she won't have to worry. '
..And just like that, the seven-year-old human hurricane that was my sister was gone just like that. I decided to get dressed afterwards, sporting a white skirt that was about two inches above my knees with a navy striped button-down blouse. Then, I got some brown flats and wore them over my mid-calf socks. Finally At last, I brushed my short auburn hair and put a few black barrettes in it. No clue why I was so descriptive with my clothes description, but at least Mom won't complain that I don't dress lady-like.
" There you are darling! You got here just in time. The drive is about an hour from here, which is why I brought some snacks, " my mom spoke to me in a sing-song voice. I really hate when she does that.
" Uhm, cool. Are you driving us? "
" Oh no, our Chevvy won't cover up a few miles of the trip, which is why we're taking a taxi instead. "
I know she's lying just to save up money, but I don't mind nevertheless. I guess I just—stopped caring.
Soon enough, the taxi arrives and I just KNOW my own version of hell is about to unravel right there and then.
We place our luggage in the trunk and get in the car.
I get my walkman, but the moment I do, Juniper begins to do the same. I was seriously going to jump out this moving taxi myself if Mom made us share batteries. Unfortunately, this idea, along with my thoughts were interrupted when Juniper suddenly snatched my headphones off of my ears and began shaking me vigorously.
Mom had something to say, and it wasn't good.
" I know you two bicker a lot when it comes to these things, so please, hand them over. "
" Are—What—no! " I snap, a bit taken aback.
" I am your mother and as long as I am near you you do as I say, so hand them over now, if my emphasis wasn't clear enough. "
Juniper obeys, but I don't give in until they both give me a side-eye and I'm forced to give it up.
I really do hate everything.
I just have to wait for this taxi to either get to the airport or crash into something for this to end.
These have been the worst minutes of my life.
Okay, so it's been like what—forty-five or fifty minutes, and we're at the airport already.
We hurry out the taxi, tip and thank him, retrieve our items, and hurry off to the damned place.
We get in line, get our stuff checked and all that legal bull, and we're basically on the plane now.
So maybe I wasn't late.
We're in the worst class, economy, which is basically for literally everybody else if you're not wealthy or the president or what not.
In the middle of all this, I'm starting to think of my dad.
Some times he was an alcoholic piece of shit, other times he was a dad who got us Wendy's all the time, which was really the only redeeming part about him, and that one time where he cheated on mom with his own secretary, which make her snap and divorce him on the spot the moment she found out. I was like seven when it happened, so it was far enough for me to not develop a major connection to him, but it was far enough for me to remember who he was.
Anyway, all in all, the flight was cool, I guess. They gave us Pepsi and cheeseburgers, which totally rocked and was the happiest I saw little old Juniper, and we got to hear some puns about the places we'll go or whatever (especially New York).
Now that I'm thinking about it, I've always thought New York was overrated. There's really nothing over there but gangs, AIDS, and the Empire State Building, which made me question why Mom wanted to move there in the first place.
Soon enough, approximately five hours and twenty-nine minutes later, we halt to a stop.
It is now 5:25 pm.
We are in The Bronx, New York City, and I want out already.