Here's chapter uno! Enjoy! :D
Lost In The Glittering Lights
Chapter 1
Watching the green and yellow grass of the open pastures flash by I just couldn’t believe what was happening. Or, well, what has happened. Less than a few weeks ago I was freed from high school, or in other words, I graduated. That day was definitely recorded as one of the best days in my life and also the saddest. I know that being with all my friends and classmates dressed up in school colored gowns and hats on a football field should be great but it made me think. Would my friends and I actually stay close as we promised? Or would the next step of my life in college tear us apart?
I shook my head of these thoughts and glanced around at my surroundings trying to trigger a happy thought through my head. I was going to New York City for crying out loud! Why would I want to drown my head with depressing thoughts? My train of thought was interrupted as my mother spoke from the driver’s seat.
“Amanda, I know I’ve told you this a million times already but I’m very proud of you. I hope you know that,” she said randomly. I turned my head to look at her and smiled.
“Thanks Mom,” I said. She smiled at me seeing I wasn’t really in the mood to talk so she rambled on with the usual speech.
“Just when you get there call me and tell me you’re alright. I still can’t believe I agreed for you to go by yourself but I thought you deserved this. Plus, you’re going to stay with Nicole so I feel a small bit better knowing that,” she said talking to herself.
I had already tuned her out knowing she was repeating herself for the twelfth time. Yeah, I counted each time she said something related to my safety. She started telling me the lecture about a week ago. I was ecstatic to see Nicole. She moved to NYC the summer of my transition from junior high to the almighty high school. Almighty? Ha, what a joke. She was now going to be a sophomore in high school after the summer and her school was tolerable. According to her e-mails, she had made a new friend that worked at Starbucks by her apartment who had a birthday close to mine. I found that pretty cool. I was up for making new friends from any place other than home.
Soon the scenery outside my window went from green to gray concrete as we got closer to the airport. The abnormal shaped glass buildings reflected light from the sun making them sparkle.
“We’re here,” my mom announced with the car slowly coming to a stop. The sound of airplanes lifting off into the air was everywhere. We got out of the car and walked to the front of the airport. My mom had insisted on staying with me until she saw me walk through the gate to the plane. Earlier that year, my dad and I had come to the conclusion that we would have to tie her to a chair when I left for college at the end of the summer. We would have to find a pretty strong rope though.
My mom assisted me on checking my luggage in and all that went along with the process. I was glad she was there because if something was to go wrong I would be clueless as to what to do. A couple hours later we finally got through all the chaos and plopped down in one of the worn leather seats in front of the big window looking out onto the runway. Every few minutes there would be a plane of every color, shape, and size zoom by. After getting bored of watching the airplanes I rummaged through my favorite bright red bag and found my trusty iPod. As I scanned through the names of artists I finally came to my favorite, the Jonas Brothers.
I had been of fan of those lovely boys for who knows how long. Of course, I was the one of the many loyal fans that participated in everything I could to help them. From voting on the Internet to calling into radio stations, I was on it. The only bad thing was that I never had been to a concert. Odd I know, especially coming from a long time fan. Well, when you have the parents like mine and your only friend that’s a fan of them moves away it was impossible to even attempt to go. I was happy with watching YouTube videos though. They never got old, they were complete classics.
I smiled as their voices filled my earphones and relaxed into the chair dozing off a little until a voice came over the intercom through the airport. I jumped and caused a young boy next to me to jump also. He smiled back at me with a faint laugh. His mother was talking on her cell phone and had no clue what was going on.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry about that,” I apologized. He nodded.
“Don’t worry about it. I would have done the same thing,” he replied, “I’m Frankie.” He stuck small hand out from me to shake and I did so. “I’m Amanda,” I said.
“Nice to meet you Amanda. What are you going to New York for?” he asked curiously. I laughed at his curiosity and smiled. “I’m going to visit a friend I haven’t seen in a while.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” he said looking to see his mother was still on the phone, “I’m going to see my big brothers. I leave on the next plane.”
“Really? I bet your excited,” I replied.
“I am. I haven’t seen them in a long time. They are-,” but he was cut off by another announcement over the intercom. This time it was the one for my flight.
“I’m sorry to cut our conversation short Frankie but I have to go. My flight was just called,” I explained with a sorry expression. His face became a little disappointed but I could tell he understood.
“I’m glad you scared me,” he said grinning, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we saw each other again in New York?”
I smiled and shook my head. “It would be but New York City is so big I doubt we would. I’m sorry but I have to go. I hope you have fun with your brothers,” I said grabbing my stuff and waiting for my mom to gather her things.
He nodded. “I hope you have fun with your friend. Bye Amanda!” he said waving vigorously. I turned back and waved to him. “Bye Frankie!” I returned, seeing his mother had flipped her phone shut. Wow, that must have been an interesting conversation.
My mom and I walked to where the line had formed to cross through the gate. She turned to me and smiled. It looked like she was going to cry but I knew she was strong enough to hold it in. She never cried that much to what I remember.
“Mom, I hope you know how much I appreciate you and Dad letting me go on this trip. I’ve wanted to go for ever,” I said breaking the silence between us.
“I know sweetie. Your father and I trust you so you know not to take advantage of it. I’m sure you remember what your father told you this morning,” she responded as we inched closer to the gate.
“Yeah, I remember but I can assure you I’ll fine.”
We soon came to the gate and I hugged my mom tightly. “Bye Mom,” I said.
She kissed my forehead and sent me on my way. I turned back to wave to her and she returned the favor. Right as I got to the door I saw Frankie waving to me also. I grinned and waved back then entered the long hallway connecting to the plane. Everything had gone smoothly so far, hopefully I can say that for the rest of my trip.
I entered the plane and settled down into the cushioned chair with the letter of my ticket to match it. I leaned back and closed my eyes and thought to myself. I couldn’t help but wonder what was to happen. Would I meet a lot of people? Would I meet a cute guy? Would Nicole and I still be the same friends we had been when she left? Would I meet my next love? I was such a hopeless romantic. The romantic novels I read every once in a while never helped that. I sighed and looked out the window realizing we still hadn’t taken off. Then I thought of another possibility. Would I just fall in love with the city or would I just fall in love with someone in it? I rolled my eyes and came to the conclusion I needed a life.
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