Seabrook, Hadley

Get Your Saggy Ass in the Car

My room was about as clean as a toilet seat.

At least my mom couldn't bug me about cleaning my room anymore.

I had clothes thrown here and there, books and underwear strewn across the floor, and random things that I found under my bed all over the place. My bed was unmade and I was a violent sleeper, my curtains were drawn and you couldn't see the surface of my desk.

I had finally figured out what I was actually going to bring to Seabrook, and I was going to leave most of my winter stuff behind, and by that I mean on the floor. I was still in my pajamas but my mother didn't need to know that, and my hair was in a messy bun.

I looked like a wreck.

I pulled on some red short shorts and a grey sweater, yanking a brush through my hair before putting it up in a ponytail, and applied some mascara to impress no one in particular. I zipped up my suitcase and yanked on some Toms and trotted downstairs.

"Are you ready? Have you eaten breakfast?" I shook my head, and groaned when I looked at the time. I didn't have any time to eat breakfast, so I would just have to grab something at the airport.

I sighed. "Mom, do I have to go to Seabrook?" I tried one last time. My mom rolled her eyes.

"Hadley, get your saggy ass in the car," she said. I didn't take offense, instead I laughed, and my mom and I walked out to the street and got a taxi before getting to the airport.

"Hadley, I'm sorry for-"

"Mom, believe it or not, I would rather not talk about it." My mom cleared her throat.

"I'm going to miss you, honey."

I looked over at her, and in all honesty, I didn't believe her. I gave her lots of kinds of hell throughout her life, not to mention I was an unplanned accident that probably cause her a hell of a lot more stress than she needed. Why would she miss me?

"I'll-" I began, but was cut off by my face hitting the seat in front of me, the cab driver honking his horn and cursing under his breath. I laughed and so did my mom.

"I'll miss you too." I didn't believe myself either. I was pissed. Beyond pissed, actually. She had hit me the other day and had been lying to me for my entire life. She didn't hug me or kiss me or talk to me like a mother should. She didn't sit down and eat dinner with me, she didn't make me dinner, or anything like that. And yet I would miss her.

~*~

I boarded the plane to Seabrook and clutched my carry-on closer to my body. I had never been on a plane before. I hoped it wasn't like in Drake and Josh where Josh was sitting in between the two people who were messy and had all the manners of a hog.

I sat in the window seat and looked out the window. I was leaving behind so much of my life. My mom, Reed, New York... it was all going to be a memory.

Of course everyone on the plane had at least one baby who liked to cry every time the plane made a noise. I sighed and tried to fall asleep, but every time I closed my eyes, someone would kick my seat. I settled for going on my laptop and typing an email to Reed.

When the plane finally landed, I practically jumped out of the window. I found baggage claim and got my bag before going to the drop-off pick-up section where there was a red Fiat waiting for me. My aunt stepped out of the car and wrapped me in a hug, an action I was not accustomed to, but I hugged her back.

"You must be Hadley," my aunt said and I smiled. "I'm aunt Sarah. Let's get a move on, shall we?" I nodded vigorously.

"I want to get away from all of those stupid babies and seat kickers," I said and my aunt laughed.