Chapter 1 – Kari

This was it. High school was finally over. No more…actually, there's nothing much to miss about high school. Aside from your experience, the things you won't miss are your snappy teachers, yucky lunch food, and P.E. I was becoming a woman now, going out into the world, making my own decisions, doing what I wanted. I had always dreamed of this day, the day I was ready to fly out of my nest [dramatic ].

Just the other day, I was crying my eyes out at graduation because I would surely miss all the great friends I made at Edison High School. The best thing was that my three best friends and I were all going to the same college, UC Davis. It was an honor; I had been looking forward to the day I would make it into UC Davis since I was a freshman.

I opened my eyes to find darkness surrounding me. I looked over at my clock which read, "2:44 a.m.", and I closed my eyes again.

The next thing I knew, my cell phone rang. I kept my eyes closed and lazily reached for my phone on the nightstand next to my bed.

"Hello?" I said tiredly.

"Kari! Guess what?" It was Taylor. Before I got a chance to answer, she said, "So my mom was sending me to Germany and the other countries in Europe and I was wondering if you wanted to tag along! I got these VIP tickets to see Tokio Hotel there!"

At the sound of 'Tokio Hotel', I was wide awake.

"What? In Germany? For reals?" I asked excitedly.

"Yeah! Julia and Jaymie are going too! You have to go!"

"I'll ask my parents! They better let me go! I worked my but off to get valedictorian and into Davis!"

"Yes! Use that against them." Taylor playfully advised.

"Alright. I'll call you when I know okay?"

"Okay. Bye!" And she hung up.

I stepped outside my bedroom and found my mom in the kitchen cooking. I looked at the time. It was 7:18 a.m. I figured it would be easier if I just asked my dad because my mom would tell me to go ask my dad first anyways.

I slowly entered the living room where my dad was watching television.

"Hey dad?" I was a little hesitant because Germany was halfway across the world.

"If I ask you something, will you let me do it?"

He looked at me suspiciously. "Do what?" he asked.

I was really nervous so I blurted out, "Can I go to Europe?"

"Europe?" My dad asked. "Where in Europe? With whom?"

"Well, I'm going with Taylor, Jaymie, and Julia. Taylor said that we are going to Germany, and I'm sure, some other countries like France, Spain, Rome, Italy…" I let my voice trail off.

"I don't know about that."

"Dad! Please? I'm an adult now, and I even got into Davis. Can't I enjoy my summer before I start school? Please? Please? I'm probably never going to get this chance again!"

"I won't let you go by yourselves. You guys are only 18 years old."

"Taylor's mom is going to be there." I announced proudly.

After an awkward silence, he gave up and said, "Er, um…A-alright. Go enjoy yourself. And come back prepared to see the world from a different angle. By the way, I just want to say again how proud I am that you got into a really good college and pulled off the straight As. You're still my little girl. I love you."

I was so happy that in that moment, I gave my dad a bear hug, and for the first time in a long time, I said, "Love you too, dad." Then I quickly said, "Thank you!" and ran to my room and called Taylor.

"I'm going to Germany!"