Bring Me Light

Chapter 1

      The day that changed my life was finally going off to art school. Wimbledon had been my dream since my freshman year of high school. I was born to be an artist. London was my dream. Now, it’s my reality. I saw through the rain and the person sitting next to me stared at me, and I couldn’t keep it in my head. I did my happy dance in my chair.

                      “Uhmm, are you ok, Miss?” the man asked. It was the first time I took a good look at him, and he was pretty handsome. Not the best looking guy ever, but he was cute. I hadn’t seen him before because there was originally an old man that sat next to me who accused me of stealing his juice. They put him in a “special place” they said. I don’t care where that was because when he found his juice he squirted it all on me. Apparently he had Alzheimer’s.

                       “Yeah, I’m fine. Just excited, I’ve never been to London before.” I said.

                       “Are you just visiting for the summer?” he asked. That’s when it occurred to me that I was actually living there, and my answer was not what he was expecting.

                                               “Umm I’m actually going to college here.”

                                                            “Ohh?” he responded.

                 “Yeah. It’s been my dream to go here.”  The man just nodded and then one of the flight attendants told us to prepare for landing. I was always nervous when this happened, but this time I was as happy as I could be. I closed my eyes and felt the slow descend of the plane, and couldn’t stop smiling. Next, it was time to meet my roommate. Her name was Yvette and we had Skyped a few times, but we haven’t met in person. Of course, we haven’t because I lived in Kansas and she lived in London.

            Once we had landed, it took a while to get off the plane, like always. Then I headed to baggage claim, where I organized to meet Yvette. Then, I saw her. She looked like an artist. She had red, fiery hair that she said was natural (I envied her from that) with dyed black streaks in it. She had a punk look, like me, but more enthusiastic and standoffish than me.

                                                “EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!” she squealed, bringing me into a tight hug “It’s so good to meet you!” she said out of excitement. 

                         “You too!” I resisted from squealing. I was still as excited as she was though.

           “Let’s go get your things, then we can head to your new home!” she said. I couldn’t believe it still. The only reason my parents let me do this is because they didn’t want me to be their problem anymore. Now I could finally live with someone who cared. She was one of the only friends I had. Yvette and I chatted every day. I had bought everything with my own money. Except this, I got a scholarship. I bought myself an iPod, that’s how I could chat with her. I had 2 jobs, one at Burger King every day except Friday and weekends off, and the other at Macy’s on Fridays and weekends. That was to buy all my paint and canvases for my art projects, my class for pottery, and other. My parents never supported me and I never cared as long as they left me alone on their drunk sprees.

                      “Yeah, I can’t believe this is you.” I said, still thinking that this could be a dream.

                                                “I know! It seems like yesterday you were skyping me from Kansas.” She said, and I laughed.

                                                “Yvette it was yesterday.” I smirked.

                                                “Right, well, you know what I mean.” I did, but this was my new beginning.

                                                “Yeah, I do.”

            We went to baggage claim and waited for my unique bag with an army green base and sewn on patches from my favorite bands and artists, buttons, too. They were super glued on there real nicely. The rest of my stuff was being shipped; I stole some money from my parents to get it here. It was the least they could do, leaving me independent from age nine.

                                                “M’kay, you must be hungry, want to grab a bite?”she asked. I was, I hadn’t eaten since before the flight. “Sure just no airport food, please.” I moaned.

                                                “Fine,” She laughed, nudging me. ”the underground is this way.” She said.

                                                “What? Wait where’s your car?” I asked.

                                                “No, no. We walk.” She said.

                                                “You’re kidding? With my bag?”

                                                “I’m guessing you don’t do this in Kansas.”

                                                            “You don’t say.” I laugh. She grabs my bag from me and starts down the stair next to a sign that says in big letters “UNDERGROUND”