Rochelle

Boxes.  Boxes, upon boxes, upon boxes.  They piled up along the walls against our peeling yellow wallpaper.  The tiny apartment that I was about to no longer call home was slowly crumbling and decaying, but no matter how decrepit it got, this place would always be special to me.  This place was the only place I ever remember calling home. Here we were, packing up our lives.  We packed up our memories in boxes and loaded them up in the UHaul. New York City, it’s all I’ve ever known.  All I ever loved was in this city and now I was about to be forced to abandon all of that.  I tried to embrace it, but there was a part of me that was reluctant to let everything go.  There would always be a part of me left behind in this urban village and I didn’t know how to live without it.  With just one box left, my mother, - a very kind and patient women - just looked at it and sighed; it was a tired sigh.  She had become tired of life, and tired of carrying around a heavy, broken heart.  She looked at me and smiled wearily and took one last scoop to pick up the box, carefully carrying it out to the truck; she was ready to start a new life.

Time went by pretty slowly on the way to our new house.  Neither of us seemed to be in the mood to talk as she drove, I slipped on my headphones and I allowed myself to go into a state of calm.  My thoughts finally steadied into a low hum of serenity and life became easier to deal with.  I watched outside as we pulled farther and farther away from the city.  Cement, brick and steel slowly turned into lush green.  I could smell the country; that woodsy smell, the smell of pure clean air. When we arrived at our destination almost 15 hours later, the sky was in a state of twilight.  The faint glow lingered over our new street in Fairway, South Carolina.  She slowly pulled in the driveway coming to a halt.  I stared for a while, looking at our home.  The wrap around porch had rose bushes that aligned the railing and a weeping willow tree sat beside it, stretching up above the second story window.

Most of our belongings were already inside.  My mother had made a trip to Fairway several weeks ago to bring some of our belongings to the new house.  She had already begun unloading things; putting them away.  “Don’t worry, I made your bed last time I was here.” my mom stated.  Still tired from the journey I simply nodded in her direction.  I was happy my bed was ready, waiting for me to climb into.  Thanks mom.  I grabbed a few of my boxes from the back of the truck and headed inside.  When I reached my door I set the boxes on my floor and started taking in my new room.  This place seemed huge compared to the tiny apartment in New York.  It was easy for me to feel lost here.

I didn’t plan on unpack anything, as I was too tired to put in the energy.  However, I reached into one of my boxes and took out a 5x6 picture frame and sat it down on the nightstand next to my bed.  The image in the frame was already ten years old, but I could still remember the day it was taken.  It was me and my dad in central park in the middle of autumn.  My round cheeks flushed with pink from the cold and two gleaming smiles staring back at me.  My chest began to ache.  I let out a deep breath, trying to relieve my growing anxiety.  My mom poked in through the doorway then.  “Rochelle, don’t worry about unpacking tonight.  We’ll do that tomorrow.  Just try and get some rest.  I love you.”

“Love you too.  Goodnight.”  I said.

“Goodnight.”  She replied and continued on her way into her bedroom.

I changed into my pajamas and slipped into my bed.  I fell asleep instantly.

Alex

A cloudless blue sky hung over the beach.  Hot sand rushed between my fingers and toes, as a gentle, cool, sweet South Carolina breeze brushed against my hot skin.  I don’t want to go back.  I groaned mentally.  I wish I had just a few more days to forget about everything I left in that town.  Is it bad that includes my girlfriend?  I asked myself.  Guilt began to wash over me.  Jessica and I had been together for almost a year.  In fact, our anniversary was coming up in a couple weeks.  Our relationship hadn’t been going well.  It seemed like every other day we were fighting about something.  But, truth be told there was nothing about our relationship worth fighting for.

Sure, Jessica was hot, but she was also controlling, possessive, and jealous.  Not to mention, completely manipulative.  Now, I couldn’t even remember why I stayed with her for so long in the first place.  I wanted a relationship that was more meaningful than all of the hookups I had the year before, but Jessica wasn’t even a good person.  I’ve been thinking about ending it, trying to plan out the best way to break up. However, I don’t think there’s going to be a “best way” to break up, especially with a girl like Jessica.  I should really just get it over with.  That’s when I made a promise to myself that as soon as I got back I would break up with her.  I was sure I’d be happier without her.  I continued to lie in the sun enjoying the limited time I had left away from all the people and things I wanted to forget. 

That night when I got home, I dreamt I was still on the beach, only this time I wasn’t alone; there was a girl with me, whispering in my ear.  What she whispered I couldn’t remember in the morning.  Nevertheless, the one thing I could remember was that whatever she had said to me, it made me happy.  I held onto that happiness for the rest of the day and I hoped that one day I would actually feel that way.

~*~

Standing on the cold tile floor I wiped away the sleep from my eyes.  “Today is the day.”  I stated, pointing my toothbrush at myself in the bathroom mirror.  “Today is the day I break up with Jessica.”

“Well it’s about fucking time.”  Emily replied.

I whipped my body around as I jerked slightly in the air.  “Jesus!  You scared the shit out of me!  Can’t I get some privacy!”

“Sure.  Try shutting the door next time.”  She laughed.

“What are you even doing here?  I thought you were at the mall.”

“I changed my mind.”  She shrugged.  “I’d rather save up for a tattoo.”

“Yea right, like mom and dad would ever allow that.”

“Who says they have to know?”  She replied rhetorically, but I answered anyway.

“Oh I don’t know, the law maybe.”  I chuckled.

She reached into her pocket and whipped out a card.  “Fake ID.”  She retorted, shoving it in my face.

“What? No way, let me see that.”  I looked at it, turning it over in my hand.  “Damn, looks legit.”

“I know, right?  As soon as I have the money I’m gunna go.”  She snatched it out of my hand and turned on her heel to return to her room.  “Bee-Tee-Dubbes, today’s a good day for a break up.  My spidie senses are tingling.”  She yelled out behind her.

“Awesome.”  I said under my breath, sarcastically, as I finished in the bathroom.  I fixed up my hair and brushed my teeth.  I headed back to my room to get dressed. What does one wear when going to break up with someone anyway?  I threw on a pair of cargo shorts and a simple white t-shirt.  I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.

When I arrived at Jessica’s house, I made sure to park on the street so there was no way I could be blocked in the driveway.  Easy escape.  I half joked with myself.  Ringing the doorbell I waited to be invited in.

Mrs. Krane opened the door.  “Hey Alex.  How’ve ya been?”

“I’ve been alright.  Just got back from vacation yesterday.  How have you been?”  I politely replied.

“Oh you know, same as usual.” She responded, closing the door behind me.  “Jessica’s in her room.  I’ll let her know you’re here.”

As I waited,  I took a turn around the room.  There were pictures hanging on the walls.  Some of Jessica when she was little.  I wondered if she was any different back then, than she is now.  It was a strange thought.  How much could a person change in that period of time?  Probably a lot I assumed.  I couldn't imagine Jessica being as terrible of a person then as she was now.  I frowned as I glanced at the next picture.  It was one of the two of us from last year; hanging at the end.  The homecoming dance; seemed like forever ago.  Almost like another lifetime.  I was behind her with my hands on her hips, posing with a wide grin on my face.  I gave out a little “Ha” as I remembered being drunk while this picture was being taken. We had only been dating for a month at that time. 

Mrs. Krane entered to room.  “You can go in now.”  she explained.

“Thanks.” I gave her a small smile.

I peered into her bedroom.  Jessica was sitting on the bed waiting for me.  She was dressed in a skimpy laced dress that accentuated her cleavage and hugged her hips.  She stood up with her hands at her sides.  I noticed the end of the hem just grazed her fingertips.  She came towards me, darting a devilish look.  “Hey baby.”  She greeted me seductively, kissing me on the lips.  She put her arms around me and started kissing my neck.  Shit.  At that moment I knew this wouldn’t end well.

~*~

My phone vibrated in my pocket.  I knew who it was.  It was the same person who had been texting and calling all afternoon.  I had returned home from Jessica’s house hours ago, but the messages have yet to stop.  I looked at the screen of my phone.

We need to talk about this.

I ignored it, putting it back in my pocket.  There was nothing to talk about.  I closed my eyes again trying to block out the world, but my phone buzzed again.

You can’t just walk away from this!!!

Actually I can. 

If you think it’ll be that easy, you’re wrong.

It continued, endlessly.  “Did you do it?” Emily leaned against the kitchen wall, sipping on a water bottle.

“I think you already know the answer to that.”  I replied.

“Well, I don’t.”

I sighed.  “Just leave it alone Em.”

“Did you break up with her?”

I didn’t reply.  I didn’t want to talk about it.  My phone buzzed again and again.  She was calling, but I didn’t answer.

“What did you do? Please tell me you didn’t do what I think you did.”  Her face scrunched up in disgust.

“Can I please just have this one thing to myself. Why do you always have to know everything?”  I rested my head against my arms on the table.  “It’s my relationship.  It’s my break up.  Not yours!” I yelled, but it came out a muffle under my arms.

“Fine.”  She spat out and I could tell she was rolling her eyes at me.

“I just don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

“Okay.  I get it.  I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok.”  I said simply.  “Where’s mom and dad?”

“Where they always are.”

“Working?” I asked.

“Yeah.”  She nodded as she spoke.  “Anyway, I have things I have to do.  I’ll be in my room.”  What those “things” were I had no idea.  It was very rare that I went into her room.  Emily was always very protective of her space.  She spent a lot of time in there alone and I often wondered what she did in there for so long.

As I retreated to my room, my phone began to ring once again.  “OH. MY. GOD!”  I shouted and I nearly chucked it out the window.  I could hear Emily laughing down the hall.

August

It had been weeks since we had finished unpacking most of the boxes and I was left sitting in the house with nothing to do for some time now.  I laid on my bedroom floor and threw a rubber ball against the wall continuously for the past 20 minutes.  Oh my god I’m so bored!!!  I let out a deep dramatic sigh.  There was still four weeks until the start of school and there was nothing to fill my time with.  This boredom needed to end.   “That’s it!”  I yelled to my mother in the living room.  “I’m getting a job!”

    “That sounds like a wonderful plan!”  she yelled back half distracted with the pail yellow paint that she was now putting on the walls.  “Just let me clean up here and I can drop you off in town.” 

    “Can I drive?”  I yelled down the stairs.

    “I don’t know.  Can you?”  She smirked throwing the car keys at me.  Since the move she’s been giving my driving lessons.  She even hinted about going to look for a car of my own.

    I stopped by several stores to pick up job applications, but most places weren’t hiring.  However, I managed to snag a few applications at Bee Bee’s ice cream, a hedge shop called “Rusty Nails”, and Papa Leonie’s, an Italian restaurant.  I sat on a bench outside filling out the paperwork as I waited for for my mother to return.

    I was finishing up my application to Papa Leonie’s when a tall skinny man stepped out of Rusty Nails.  He’s hair was mohawked and dyed neon green on the spikes.  Leaning back on the brick wall, he whipped out a pack of tobacco and rolling papers.  As he started rolling a cigarette, he stole a glance at me.  It must have been obvious that I had been staring at him because he smirked and asked “Would you like to join me?”

    “Uhh, I don’t smoke.” I stammered.

    “Alright.” He chuckled.  “Where ya from?  Sounds like you belong up north.”

    “New York.  Just moved her a couple weeks ago.”

    “If you’re from New York, why on Earth would you move here?”  He retorted as he finished making his bogie.  He put it in his mouth and sparked up.

    “It wasn’t exactly my choice.”  I replied.  Green mohawk came over to sit next to me on the bench, looking down at my pathetic attempt at a job hunt.  He grabbed the application to Rusty Nails.

    “You’re applying for a job?” I nodded in response.  “Then let me help you.”  He took the Rusty Nails paper, crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.

    “What the hell are you doing?!”  I yelled.  I got up toward the trashcan, almost tempted to rescue my paper from the pit of smelly doom.  My nose crinkled in disgust. 

    “You don’t want to work there anyway.  Trust me, I just got fired.”

    “Well then at least they’ll be looking for help.”  I exclaimed.

    “You do however want to work for Leonie’s.”  He inhaled deeply on his cigarette before proclaiming his loyalty to their bacon chicken ranch pizza.  “Dude, they have the best food in town!”  At that moment he reached into his book bag and ripped a piece of paper out of a sketchbook.  He grabbed the pen out of my hand and began to scribble.  “Here, when you hand in your application let them know you’re a friend of Riot’s.”  He handed me the paper and gave my shoulder a little tap.  “No worries, I’ll hook you up girl.”  He glanced past me to watch my mother roll up in her silver Focus.  “Looks like your rents here.  I’ll catch you later.”

    “Thanks!”  I stated and he was already on his way down the block.  I moved my way to the window of the car.  “I just gotta hand these in and I’ll be ready to leave.”

    “Who was that boy you were just speaking to?”  My mother asked in her curious tone.  I opened the paper in my hand, reading Riot Perkins and a phone number.

    “Uh I don’t know…his name’s Riot.  I’ll be right back.”  My voice trailed as I turned on my heal to hand in my papers.  I returned soon after wearing a smirk.

    “All done?”  She asked.

    “You can say that again!”  I grinned.  “I got the job!”