Chapter 1: One way ticket
I know this sounds really cheesy, but I do believe in fate. I believe that fate leads everyone somewhere for a reason. I also believe that everything that happens is a result of some higher power, some cosmic force that has everything laid out in a pre-determined plan. Laugh all you like...
My phone in my pocket suddenly rang. There was a text message from my friend, Mike. Mike is one of my best friends in high school, we're the two best dancers at our school, not to sound conceited or anything. Mike, his girlfriend Tina, my boyfriend Artie, and me always hang out during and after school.
"Looks like you need a new place to stay."
The message said.
What the heck was that? Why would I need a new place when I live with my parents? Does he know something I don't? The phone in my hand suddenly rang again, startling me back to Earth.
Another message from Mike.
"Coz you got in."
I finally remembered what he was talking about. A few months ago, Mike and I applied for a job at this cool bar in Los Angeles. It's called New Schu Empire.
It's this really awesome place where all these talented singers and dancers perform on stage. Mike got in on out first try out, unlike me. Lucky. He and Tina moved to L.A. when he got in a few weeks ago, since his parents finally started believing in his talent and gave him some money to start his new life.
Oh no, Tina didn't moved to Los Angeles just to be with Mike. Tina actually went there to study at UCLA and my boyfriend Artie applied for a scholarship there about three months ago, thinking he'd never get in, and then last week he finally got the reply he'd been waiting for. He got a full scholarship and moved to Los Angeles, and now I'm all alone here in Ohio.
"Hey," Someone tapped my shoulder. "Can I return this video?" I had totally forgotten I was at work! A blonde girl and her gorgeous boyfriend were standing at the counter, waiting for me to say something.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," I said fumbling with some keys and finally punching in the right one. I opened the box to make sure that the video was in there, and then put the box on the counter, because I forgot where it was supposed to go. " Have a nice day," I said to the girl and smiled. She smiled back.
I noticed the manager lurking around the corner, and as soon as the couple left, he totally jumped on me. (Not literally, of course. *shiver* Eww...)
"Why are you slacking so much, Ms. Pierce? You know you're supposed to clean the disc and put it back on the shelf with the others." The manager said, getting in my face.
I turned up the corners of my mouth in this really cheesy smile, and grabbed the box.
"Here." I said, shoving it against his chest. "You put it away."
He looked ready to explode.
"Excuse me?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in a you-just-go-ahead-and-try-me look.
"Well, why should I put it away when I don't even work here?" I asked, walking towards the door. I ripped off the ugly uniform shirt and exposed the purple tank top underneath. Turning around, I said, "Oh, and you can send my final paycheck in the mail." I swung back around towards the door and tossed the shirt over my shoulder.
Once I was outside, I breathed the fresh air and remembered all about Los Angeles and the bar. I was so excited to finally be away from this crap town and go somewhere that actually deserves me.
Not only that, me and my friends can hang out again just like when we were in high school, and not to mention the unlimited alcohol that I can get for free.
I think that's my place in the world. I feel like it's what fate wants. A year ago after we graduated, Artie, Mike, Tina and I went to New York and applied to some fine arts academies there, but none of us got in. It was a total bummer and we all felt that we weren't good enough. So going to Los Angeles was sort of our way to redeem ourselves,even though it isn't as amazing as NYC, it's still better than Lima.
Before I realized it, I was in my room, putting all my clothes and stuff in a suitcase. I was so deep in thought that I hadn't even realized I had walked all the way home.
I decided I was moving to Los Angeles that night. So I called Artie, the sweetest guy in the world.
When we were in high school, he always helped me with stuff, even though I thought he was a robot because he used to be in wheelchair. He had laser spine surgery, and even though it cost his parents a fortune and they were still in debt, it was worth it because he made a next-to-miracle recovery.
"What's up? Are you still at work?" Artie asked when he answered the phone on the second ring.
"Is it okay if I just bring one bag? I don't want to bring a lot of stuff when I get on the plane," I asked.
He didn't respond. Actually I heard a loud click echo through the speaker, and I think he dropped the phone.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I finally got in New Schu Empire so I'm going to leave Ohio. When I find a place to live, I'll call and let you know.
Can you send my boxes to me? I'll let you guys decide which furniture in my room you want to send, and which stuff you want to keep. A final check from the video store is coming in the mail, can you forward it to me when it comes? Thanks.
I promise I'll always visit. Say bye to sis and Lord Tubbington for me. Take Care
Your daughter,
Brittany
Back then I spent all my waking hours yammering on about wanting to visit or live somewhere else, so I didn't think they would be surprised to read my letter. It's not that I hate our town or Ohio. Okay, well maybe that a little bit, but mostly I want to explore new places and have new adventures.
It really hadn't hit me yet. The homesickness of leaving my family and the town I grew up in for the last 20 years.
I hailed a cab, which I was lucky to find because Lima isn't very big, but I'd rather pay a cabby that take the smelly bus and walk a mile. It started raining when we were almost at Lima Airport. As soon as we got there, I paid the cabby with cash I had earned working long hours at the video store for the last couple of months. I ran across the wet sidewalk and ducked into the huge building, glad to be out of the rain. I walked up to a service counter that didn't have a line.
"All planes are currently delayed due to bad weather," The polite girl said when I got up to the counter.
"That's fine, as long as I get there," I responded, smiling.
She smiled back and asked me my destination and how many tickets I wanted.
"One ticket to Los Angeles," I replied.
"Will that be round trip, or just one way?" She asked.
"One way, please." I said.
"Okay, that will be $650.09." She replied, typing lightning fast into the computer.
I rifled through my wallet and came up with three hundreds, four fifties, five twenties, five tens, three fives and a few ones. She noticed I was struggling to count it all, so she took it all,counted it quickly, and gave me back a fifty, a twenty, two fives, a ten, and all the ones. I looked at it all and knew immediately that it was too much.
"Um, I think you gave me back too much money?" I said.
"Money doesn't go very far in a big city like L.A.," She said and winked at me. I took it she wanted me to keep the money, so I thanked her extra and sat on a bench under a sign that said Gate 4, and under that was a flashing orange sign that said 'Los Angeles, C.A.".
My phone rang, and I read a text message from Artie.
"What time? Which airport? Tell me so I can pick you up." How sweet of him to pick me up.
I started to text him back, but I was interrupted.
"Tough crowd isn't it?" A voice startled me out of my thoughts.
I looked to my left and saw a girl with bright pink hair sitting on the bench next to me. I nodded and smiled.
She was wearing cool round shades and had such a different vibe. I always thought pink hair would make a person look crazy, but she didn't look crazy at all. Actually, she looked pretty awesome. I wonder if I dyeing my hair pink would make me cool too.
The pink haired girl took something out of her pocket. It's a cigarette and a lighter. Iwondered if smoking was even allowed here. She put one of the cigarettes in her mouth and lit it.
Smoking made her look even cooler. Then she suddenly looked at me. I was caught off guard and wasn't able to look away in time.
"Sorry, does the smoke bother you?" She asked. I shook my head.
"This is gonna be a while," the girl said.
"What? Who knows how long are they going to delay our flight?" I asked and took her cigarette from her.
I looked outside and saw that it was raining heavily. I frowned and looked back at the girl beside me.
Smoke came out of her mouth. Then I remembered something.
"I need to call Artie," I said, and quickly took my phone from my pocket.
I send Artie a text message that it might take a while before I got there, then a voice over the speaker took my attention. "Attention all passengers - due to the rain, we must delay flight 009 to Los Angeles. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience".
Great, all I want now is to leave this place but looks like something doesn't want me to.
"So you're moving to L.A. for a guy," The girl beside me spoke again.
I blushed. This is the third time she spoke to me, I had to answer her.
"Of course not," I paused to think for a second. "Well, sort of," I paused again.
Now that I think of it, it does really look like I'm moving to Los Angeles for him, but also my job...
"I got a job there, but my boyfriend also lives there, so both, I guess."
"Okay, well that makes sense." the girl responded and laughed.
After few more minutes of talking to the pink haired girl beside me, the boarding call for our flight came on over the intercom.
"Looks like that's our cue," the girl said. I was going to respond, but her phone rang.
"Where the heck are you Fabray?" I heard a voice from her phone as she answered it. She looked at me and I felt like I'm snooping in a private conversation so I looked away. After she chatted on her phone she tapped my shoulder and smiled.
"I have to go," she said. What a beautiful smile she had. I smiled back and stared at her as she walked away.
I walked towards the plane and the excitement that I felt earlier was slowly coming back. I'm finally going to Los Angeles. I rushed to the plane as the excitement started to flow through my body.
When I got to my seat, someone's suitcase was on it,and a girl with dark hair was sitting in the seat beside it.
"Excuse me," I tried to talk to the girl, but her head was facing down and she had headphones on. I wondered if she was asleep.
I tried to take a peek to see her eyes are closed so leaned a little closer to her.
Suddenly, she tilted her face up toward me, startling me.
She had dark, beautiful eyes with so much fire behind them, but it just made her more beautiful and alluring.
Why is it today that I'm seeing so many beautiful people? She looked as surprised as I was.
I realized that I had been staring at her, and I looked away, embarrased.
She was still staring at me. "Is this your seat?" She asked in a soft voice.
Oh yeah, this is where I was supposed to be sitting. I nodded, and she took her bag off the seat and smiled a tiny smile.