"Hurry, Nevaeh! You're flight leaves in an hour!" my mother called up from the kitchen. whatever." I mumbled beneath my breath.
I'd just finished packing all the clothes I could into my 3 luggage bags when my cell phone rang. It was my best friend Katie. She was probably calling to whine about how much she was going to miss me…again.
I tapped the accept "button on my screen and answered, "Hey girl."
"Omigod Nevs! I can't believe they're really doing this. Just because you screwed up once doesn't mean they should ship you off to frickin' boarding school. It's totally, completely unfair!" she ranted.
"It's total bullshit, that's what it is." I replied as I finished stacking all of my reading, sketch, and music books into a pink leather box lying on my bed.
"I'm gonna miss you a lot Nevs! Now I'll actually have to talk to those girls you call friends! I don't think you're parents know that they're punishing me just as much as you and it's unfair. As a matter of fact, it's illegal! You're pressing charges!" she announced.
"K! Chill, okay? And I can't press charges against my parents."
"The hell you can't! Aaron Carter did it, so you can too." She argued.
"Wow, freak out much? Besides, it's already set. My parents already paid for my tuition and dorm." I said, feeling like I'd been punched in the gut when I realized how far from home I'd be.
"Off the phone Nevaeh!" my mom called again.
"Almost ready!" I yelled down the stairs, "You heard the dragon lady K. I'd better go. See you at the airport?"
"Of course." She said before hanging up.
I tossed my phone in my Gucci purse and clasped the tiny silver lock on the pink box shut before grabbing my purse, box and stumbling into the hallway and hitting my head smack into my older brother's chest.
"Whoa there Nevs." He laughed as he steadied me and took the two largest luggage bags and tucked the box under his strong arm.
"Thanks Gregory." I replied as we made our way down the stairs into the large foyer.
"No prob little sis." He smiled, showing his trademark dimples that we both acquired from our dad, Jeff. Gregory and I shared so much resemblance that if he weren't two years older than I, we could pass for twins. He was tall, lean but built, had medium brown colored skin and had his blackish-brown hair shaved off.
We walked into the kitchen and found our parents scurrying around, grabbing all sorts of papers.
So you yell at me nonstop, rushing me to get downstairs to go and yet you're not ready? Was what I wanted to say, but instead settled for, "Can we go?"
"Of course, Hun. Let's go Marilyn." My dad said in his soft, soothing voice.
My mom finished gathering her papers and slipped them into her patent leather briefcase/purse and we all huddled into my dad's white GMC Suburban.
xXx
When we arrived at Atlanta International airport, Katie was already there waiting for us. I noticed that her eyes were red, and her mascara was smeared beneath them, and her long blonde hair was put up in a high pony. Great, she's been crying, I thought. I hated it when Katie cried because it made it even easier for me to join in.
"Hey girl!" I smiled as I walked over and hugged her.
She hugged me back and smiled half-heartedly, "I really don't want you to go Neveah!"
"Believe me, I'm not looking forward to hanging around stuck-up, preppy, people either. But don't worry. My dad was telling me that if my advisors report that I've been on my extremely best behavior, they'll bring me back home for junior year." I added.
"Then for God's sake, please behave!" she smiled and hugged me again.
"I will for yours and mine too." I said, and we both laughed in unison.
"I hate to cut this little love fest short, but you do have a flight to catch Nevs." Gregory said, as he gestured to my parents at the counter checking my bags.
"Well this is it. This is really goodbye," she whispered, eyes welling with tears again.
"Until next year, and I promise that I'll text, Facebook, IM, e-mail, and use whatever else form of communication I can to stay in touch." I said, trying to be positive.
"Okay honey, here's your ticket. Are you ready?" my mom asked, handing me the thick paper.
"Yup." I replied as Katie and I hugged one last time. Then I moved to my dad, mom, and lastly Gregory. I was going to miss him the most.
"I think I may actually miss you Nevs." He joked as he ruffled my blackish-brown hair.
"Say what you want to Gregs. I know you're gonna miss me." I laughed as he pulled me close to him. They walked with me to the first security check point and from there I was alone. I blew them all kisses before making my way through the airport to gate 12B which was headed to Haverstraw, New York. I bought a strawberry smoothie from Smoothie King before I boarded the plane and took my seat beside the window. I pulled my knees close to my chest, turned my back towards the empty seat next to me and silently cried myself to sleep.