Anywhere but here
She struggled down the ramp with her carry-on rolling behind her. Mom, her agent and a whole cadre of assistants walked ahead of her.
The assistants were dragging moms carry on as well as their own. Lexi sighed should be glad she only had her one small bag.
They headed for the car area ,while five of the assistants headed for the luggage carousel.
Lexi sighed and followed them. If she didn't get her own luggage they would forget it. Some days she wished for at least one assistant like mom had.
She sighed and looked around, great Heath-row. One of her bags slid down the belt and onto the carousel she rushed forward to grab it.
She had her four bags before they were done collecting mom's twelve. So she waited for the assistants and followed them to the cab.
Once again she ended up riding with the luggage because mom's limo had already left.
She sat back and turned on her I-pod. Sometimes she hated her life.
Always on the move, never anytime for friends. Just one city after another.
"Miss?" said the assistant sitting next to her.
She could see his mouth moving. So she paused her music to hear him.
Anything else would have been rude and she refused to step on the little people like her mom did.
He waited until she pulled out the headphones.
"I said miss how do you like London?" he said.
He had a pleasant face and a very clear accent. She doubted he was that much older than her cousin Rose.
"It's nice bigger than Tokyo" I said
"You've been to Tokyo?" said the man
"Yeah Tokyo, Milan, New York anywhere they have fashion week" she said
"So you are a fashionata miss" he said
" It's Lexi and no my mom is, I just spend her money" I said
"Ah so your mom is Mrs Vega?" said the guy
"It's Ms Vega and yes she's my mom" I said
I gestured towards the limo.
"Why don't you ride with her then?" he said
I sighed and pined him with a glare.
"Look , how long have you been working here ah...?" she said
"Ethan and about two weeks" said the guy
"Ethan , a word of advice my mom doesn't know I exist, I like it that way most days.
So mind your job, fetch her coffee or newspaper. Or whatever else she asks for and never ever call her Mrs, madam or anything else that remotely sounds old.
If do that you'll survive this job with your sanity and resume intact" I said
Okay so I sounded a bit bitchy but I had just gotten off a horrible flight. We pulled up to the flat and of course there was no limo.
I opened the door myself and climbed out of the van. I didn't even bother to wait for them to unload the van.
I walked up to the door pulled out my key chain and unlocked the door.
Mom had decided years ago or more like a month ago to just buy some houses in each of the cities.
Her agent of course handled everything and even had it furnished.
It was like having your own hotel in each city. She walked in and looked around. There was a note on the fridge.
"Lexi there's food in the fridge, your rooms to the right, your mother has a party tonight so don't wait up, " It was signed by mom's manager Harold.
I rolled my luggage into the designated room and threw it on the bed. Noting with approval the furnishings.
I liked the antique look metal and glass style, he chose for my room. It was better than what he did in Tokyo. Someone knocked on my door.
"Yeah?" I said
Ethan poked his head in the door.
"We put your mother's things in her room ,yours are in the living room, if there's anything else.." he said
"I'll call have a good evening Ethan" I said
He looked genuinely surprised, that I remembered his name and was being polite.
Okay so I felt bad about snapping at him but sometimes moms sheeple, just bug the shit out of me.
I waited until I heard the door close before going into the living room. I grabbed my bags and set about unpacking my stuff.
I was halfway through bag two when I got bored and called Rose.
"Yeah" she answered.
She sounded out of breath for some reason
"Are you running or something you sound out of breath" I said
A disturbing thought flashed through my mind. I prayed I hadn't just interrupted something intimate.
"Yeah ah can I call you back I'm kinda in the middle of something right now?" she asked.
I frowned I wanted someone to talk with damn it.
"yeah sure" I said
Rose hung up and I finished unpacking. I cooked myself a frozen pizza and took a shower.
I watched TV until I couldn't keep my eyes open. In all it was another boring evening.
Mom stumbled in about four in the morning. Knocked over a vase in the hall and passed out on top of her bed.
The next morning the woman was gone again. Harold left another note for her on the fridge.
She angrily crumbled this one up and tossed it in the waste basket.
No way was she just going to sit here for the next two months and be ignored.
She changed out of her pajamas, throwing her jimmy choo mini heels on as she grabbed her purse.
She might as well visit the family while she was here, mom never would.
Besides maybe she could get Rose out of work for the day. She walked out the door and headed for the tram.
Mom would have a cow if she knew she was using public transit, which was all the more reason to utilize it.
She settled into the train bracing herself mentally for the experience that was Aunt Jackie.
The train pulled into the station and she got off to walk the last few blocks to Jackie's flat.
When she got there however she hesitated. Did Jackie even live here anymore? Maybe she should have called first.
"Ello there you waiting on someone?" said a guy
She turned towards the voice. A young man was standing behind her. She had long since given up naming nationalities by color.
When one traveled as much as they did preconceived notions were often an inconvenience at best.
"Ah actually I was here to see a relative but I'm not sure if they still live here anymore" I said
The man was carrying groceries but he switched the bag to his other arm. To hold out his hand in greeting.
"Mickey and I might be able to help with that what's their name" he asked
"oh I'm Lexi, its Jackie and Rose Tyler I'm looking for" I said
He frowned when I said Rose's name. So I wondered if I had stumbled upon a ex-boyfriend or something.
"Yeah they still live here or at least Jackie does, Rose is too busy traveling with her doctor" said Mickey
I thought that was strange that she was traveling with a doctor. Maybe Rose went to medical school?
"You're American huh?" said Micky
"mostly" I replied
He frowned at me and fell into step next to me. I ended up with a follower all the way to Jackie's door.
She knocked to avoid the relationship questions that Micky was starting to spout. Jackie opened the door and with a squeal I was crushed in a hug.
" ooh let me look at you Evelyn didn't even say she was going to be in town" said Jackie
I smirked to myself how did I know that was what mom would do. My mom was such a b some times.
"oh she bought a flat near Chelsea" I replied
"oh did she now, I wonder why she didn't say anything to me?" said Jackie
I wanted to tell Jackie the truth but I knew that would only hurt her. I mean honestly Jackie should know how my mom was by now.
My mom was the type of shallow b that if the world was ending. She would still wonder why the cameras weren't focused on her.
"I'm sure she's just busy fashion week you know" I said
"well come in here and let me look at you, oh you look so much like your mother" she said
I grimaced in disgust yeah my mom was beautiful, elegant and looked half her age. Alexi still hated being compared to her.
"so how is school" she asked
"oh great I do independent study now" I said
"oh dear so your still traveling with your mother?" said Jackie
"yep" I stated popping my P's.
"I see you've met Mickey" said Jackie
She was casting a hint I could tell.
"so any boyfriends?" said Jackie
I hazarded a glance at Micky. He was listening a bit too intently for my tastes.
Great a clinger I hated codependent losers. So I opted for the truth
"a few" I said
I gave Jackie a knowing smirk
"oh you bad girl you, taking after yer mum are you" said Jackie.
I smirked at her and followed her into the kitchen. where we yakked about my mother, fashion week, school.
My present and future plans.
She seemed to eat up all my tales about my travels.
I sipped on tea and ate some rather crunchy scones while I told her all about Japan, New york. Barcelona and Rio.
I showed off my language skills for her and that's when she mentioned Rose.
I let her talk about her fears and distrust of this doctor character. She had the need to vent I could see so I just listened.
I hadn't met the man but I felt that maybe she was judging a bit too harshly.
When Jackie would finish a comment Mickey would add to it. I could hear the jealousy and envy in their statements.
When Micky went to drop his groceries off in his apartment I asked the question I had been dying to know the answer to.
"He was dating her huh?" I said
"Oh Lexi it was so horrible for him, one minute he was her best friend and he thought they had a life ahead with each other,
then this doctor character shows up and whisks her off her feet. the police actually thought he killed her" said Jackie
"no wonder he's so bitter he must be still rebounding" I said
Jackie's phone went off and she excused herself to answer it.
I tapped my manicured nails on the laminate surface of her dining room table, while I waited for her to come back.
I caught sight of myself in the hall mirror. Man did I look out of place in my surroundings. I was gq in a food-stamp house.
Designer clothes, expensive jewelry, manicured nails and a designer bag completed my outfit. Aunt Jackie was sporting a t shirt and jeans.
Maybe that's why mom didn't visit here, it reminded of her roots.
It certainly made me feel vaguely out of place. Jackie hung up the phone and started to tell me who it was on the phone. When the doorbell went off.
She sighed and gave me an apologetic look before she headed for the door.
Micky was back and I resisted the urge to groan. I glanced at Jackie and pleaded with her mutely.
"Oh you just missed it Rose called she's in Cardiff for the day" said Jackie
Mickey frowned but didn't interrupt Jackie.
"she wants you to bring her, her passport for some reason" said Jackie
"Oh I know, why don't you take Lexi to see her, I'm sure she'd love to see her" said Jackie
I wanted to groan out loud. Jackie come on you know I won't go for him why are you being so cruel.
"Yeah I suppose I could ride with her to Cardiff." said Mickey
"oh that's very sweet of you Micky" said Jackie.
"ah just let me go get my jacket and keys " said Mickey
He walked back out the door again and I turned on aunt Jackie
"Don't encourage him aunt Jackie long distance relationships rarely work out" I said.
"What long distance it's only to Chelsea that's not that far"said Jackie
I wanted to smack my forehead.
"yes but I'm only going to be in town for a few weeks
then it's off again you know how mom is, he's only going to get his heart broken" I said
Jackie snorted as if she didn't believe me.
"besides he's like how old?" I said
"nineteen same age as me Rose" said Jackie
I sighed again
"well I'm sixteen and mom would have a cow" I said
"why because he's not some rich socialite?" said Jackie
"yes exactly, you know how shallow she is" I said
"oh don't worry dear I'll talk to her"said Jackie
I rolled my eyes and picked up my Dolce bag. Micky came back and I said my goodbyes made promises I was unsure I would be able to keep.
Then I followed Micky to a small yellow car.
"pretty nice huh?" he said
He unlocked my door and held it open. I climbed in and watched him walk around to the drivers side.
I refrained from mentioning what my mom bought me. It would just flatten his ego too much
"It's cute" I said.
I didn't want to mention it was more of a chick car then a dudes. Perhaps Micky was a closet. One could only hope she thought.
Micky was a quiet driver and she was thankful for that. She really didn't want to hear more about this mysterious doctor Rose was with.
He parked in the station lot and we headed for the ticket booth.
She preferred to make her own decisions when it came to people.
They got off near the plaza and she gave him a look. He pointed towards a blue box situated near the fountain.
"Okay?" I said
"Yeah tell me about it, cheesy ain't it" said Micky
Micky walked up to it and knocked on the door.
A dark haired man poked his head out and said "we don't want any"
Mickey clearly didn't know him since he responded with an affronted
"who are you then and where's Rose?" said Mickey
the box door opened and Rose poked her head out. She spotted Lexi and squealed.
"Lexi!" said Rose
Rose shoved the man aside ,by passed mickey to run up to her and hug her close.