I couldn't believe this was finally happening. A week after High School Graduation, and we were ready. Ready to leave our small town here in Florida, and head to the big, beautiful city of Las Vegas, Nevada. I was so stoked for all of the lights, the streets, and mainly The Strip! I've waited all my life for this exact moment (okay more like 5 years), but I can tell you one thing; it sure took it's time getting here!
My best friend, Lily, and I are just shy of 18 and just graduated from High School. Being we both started school a year early, we were 17 when we graduated. Lily and I made this plan that we were going to get our own place together in Vegas once we graduated from High School, back in 8th grade. Now, my Aunt agreed to stay with us until we turned 18, and are legal to live on our own. Kind of a bummer, I know. But it's only for a few months, and it's the only way we could leave here.
I packed up my few last-minute things and headed downstairs to the front door. My mom, step dad, and little brother were there to say goodbye, because who knows when I'll see them again. As always, mom was dramatic. She hated goodbyes, especially with me.
"Text me as you're on your way and call me if something goes wrong, okay?" she muttered through her cries.
"Mom, I promise. We will be just fine, okay? Aunt Sophia will be with us the whole time, she won't let anything happen!" I tried to reassure her. I gave her a huge hug, which lasted a good 3 minutes. She wasn't crazy about the whole idea of moving across the country, but she knew I've always wanted to go, and I wasn't changing my mind.
"Don't you get into any trouble, and stay away from those boys, got me?" My step father said in a teasing tone. Typical Brad, always picking on me. I loved him for it, though.
"I can't make any promises about the boys!" I joked back. He smiled at me and hugged me goodbye. However, that was one thing I'm STOKED about.
VEGAS BOYS.
Now my brother. This was going to be hard. We are so close, being he's only 10. He cried for weeks when he found out I was moving, and I felt crazy guilty leaving him. But I just had to.
I kneeled down so I was eye level with him, and smiled at him.
"I'll see you soon, okay my little turtle?" I said as he threw his arms around my neck, squeezing me. He told me he loved me and gave me something.
"So you'll never forget me." he said softly.
He placed it in my hand and closed my fingers around it, like it was a secret.
"Don't look at it until you get in the car." He almost looked proud, but sad at the same time.
I smiled again and put it in my pocket and kissed him on the cheek.
With one more smile over my shoulder, I was gone. I got in the front seat of the Lexus, Aunt Sophia in the back, and with Lily driving. She shot me an excited smile, and we waved goodbye to my family. Then just like that, we were off. Off to a new world, a new start, a brand new life.
Here we come, Vegas. Get ready.