Oakley [ON HOLD]

01

I always liked driving, feeling the hum of the engine below my feet. We always went on drives, papa would always take me out to a field where we could see the stars and even though I was too young to understand what stars wholeheartedly were I could understand certain things. I could understand promises like when my parents said they would never leave me. I could understand familiar love. But I could also understand what it meant when someone's body stopping moving and their eyes dimmed. I could understand what it meant when a crimson coloured substance leaked from mamas body. I could understand that they had just died, and I had watched it happen doing nothing.

I don't like driving anymore.

♡♡♡

I slowly creaked open the large door praying that Donna and Reed weren't home. I had no energy left from the school day and the countless lectures from teachers to pay attention. I pulled out the earbuds and stilled my movements, trying to hear a creek in the floorboards to signal that they were here. Once I heard nothing I closed the door normally and fully entered the townhouse. I walked over towards the kitchen and opened the fridge, taking out a bottle of water. I cracked it open and brought it to my lips, letting the refreshing coolness flow down my dry throat.

"Hello, Oakley" Water suddenly erupted back up my throat and out my mouth, chokingly. Coughing, I looked toward the couches and saw Donna and Reed just eerily sitting there.

"Hello Donna, Reed" I said quietly after recovering from choking on water.

"Come sit down, won't you" Reed said, more like commanded.

Donna and Reed Arison, also known as my adopted parents for the better part of the last 4 years. I was tossed around in foster homes until I was thirteen, when they adopted me. At first I think they wanted to help a troubled orphaned child, but I soon realized that because they are quite known and are quite wealthy they just wanted me for publicity and attention. They never wanted a child, and they let me know that repeatedly. So therefore how I act is never up to their expectations, and the expectations they have are the same for all children related to wealthy individuals.

"Now Oakley, since you have repeatedly failed to adapt to our expectations over the years we have enrolled you in an academy that is more suited to you" Donna said calmly.

"You will be flying to Sweden in a couple hours, and you have been scheduled to return for winter break. We expect you back and your attitude to have drastically changed. There is an event the day you return from winter break that we all will be attending and we expect you to behave and show your improvement while attending the academy" she continued on.

Of course she's sending me to an academy. In Sweden. She doesn't like that the press are starting to pay more attention to the Arison's home life, which also means that they'd find out about their motives for adopting me. At least I won't have to be surrounded by them, their snotty events and expectations at the academy anymore.

Don't get me wrong I'm glad they adopted me because I got out of the system, and was brought into a world of wealth instead of abuse. But with their wealth comes neglect and unreachable expectations. But that's the thing, it's their wealth and they have no problem letting me know that and how unwanted I actually am to them.

I obediently nodded my head and was excused to go pack. I headed up to my room and grabbed my small duffel bag. I stuffed everything I needed into it before releasing a long sigh. No more events, no more pictures, no more headlines. Thank the gods.

I closed my bedroom door and headed down the stairs seeing Jacob standing by the door.

Jacob is an older man who is married to Esme, the chef here at the townhouse. Since I've been here the maids and them are the only ones I've felt comfortable with. I've always wanted to have a wholehearted love like Esme and Jacobs.

"Ready to go miss?" He said approaching me to take my bags.

"Yes, thank you Jacob" I smiled warmly. I looked behind me see if Donna and Reed were there but only an empty hallway resided. I nodded slightly and walked through the door. The start of the fall breeze blew hastily, I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck and pulled my hands into my pockets and headed towards the car.

Warmth enveloped my body as I entered the leather seated car. Jacob smiled through the rear view mirror as I returned the action. With that he took off, pulling away from the curb of the townhouse and headed towards the airport.

Soon we arrived and Jacob hopped out and grabbed my duffel bag.

"We'll miss you dear" Jacob said as he enveloped me into a hug outside of the car.

"I'll miss you all as well, let everyone else know I said goodbye" I said muffled as I was pressed into his jacket covered chest.

"Will do"

With that he smiled and got back into the car. I walked into the airport and checked my bag, heading towards the terminal.

The plane boarded shortly after and as I sat in the seat all I could think about was how I was so glad to be away from Donna and Reed and their superficial lifestyle.