After what felt like an eternity on this cramped bus, I was abruptly awakened by the screech of the tires as we pulled to a halt at the bus depot.
"Last stop ladies and gents, welcome to El Paso, Texas." announced the driver as we pulled in.
With that, I collected my backpack and suitcase from the overhead compartment and very quickly made my way down the aisle of the bus while accidentally hitting everyone with my luggage as I squeezed past. I was so relieved to be finally here and for this painfully long journey to be over. I felt like I was on this bus for an eternity so I couldn't be more eager to get off.
"Thank you!" I exclaimed to the driver as I hopped down the steps, my feet hitting the warm asphalt from under me. It was hot in El Paso this time of year, but it's nothing I wasn't used to.
As soon as I stepped outside my eyes wandered around aimlessly as I took in my new surroundings of downtown El Paso. It seemed calm, which is foreign to me. No bright lights or overcrowded streets - rife with noisy tourists. It seemed tranquil, almost homely in a way. I liked it.
"Willow!" a familiar voice yelled from behind me. A smile grew on my face as I quickly spun around, revealing my sister Olive in the distance - vigorously waving her arm at me.
"Olive!" I squealed, running into her arms dropping all my bags to the ground as she pulled me into a tight hug, inhaling her rose and patchouli oil scent. God I missed her. We embraced each other for a couple moments before she let me go to hold my face in her hands.
My sister has fine strawberry blonde hair that reached her waist, porcelain skin and big doe eyes that sparkled under the sunlight. In those blue eyes were the sweetest threads of caramel.
Physically, we couldn't be more polar opposites. Olive has always radiated light and femininity, while I've always been attracted to the darkness. I possess wild, wavy dark brown almost black locks of hair. Smokey eye makeup and oversized clothes - paired with my beloved, dirty black Converses. They have definitely seen better days but I can't bring myself to replace them.
My sister and I reminded me of the sun and the moon in a way.
She has street smarts, I have book smarts. I am a people pleaser. Olive couldn't care less what anyone thinks of her. I avoid confrontation at all costs, she always speaks her mind. I value that characteristic in her. I sometimes wish I could be more like that. I wish I wasn't so weak and passive.
"I've missed you so much, Willow! How was the bus ride? How's dad? What was graduation like? Oh my god, have you cut your hair? How-"
"Olive stop!" I chuckled at my sister as she bombarded me with questions.
"Ah shit sorry Wil, we've just got a lot of catching up to do. You need to give me the full rundown of everything. So come on, let's get you back to my place." She laughed, picking up my bags from the ground to carry towards her car, which she says is parked just outside the bus depot.
She helped me place my suitcase and backpack in the trunk of her car before I sat myself down in the passenger seat of her little pale yellow 1975 Pontiac.
"Nice ride." I said, stroking the cream leather interior. My fingers looked out of place as they were embellished with several chunky silver rings and chipped maroon nail polish.
"Thanks." Olive smirked proudly as she put on her signature round sunglasses, adjusting her sleek hair in the mirror on the sun visor. She then proceeded to pull out her keys from her purse, decorated with plenty of pretty pink pom-poms and keychains. Classic Olive I thought to myself, smiling over at her struggling to find the actual key that was buried in a mass of random trinkets and tassels.
After a while, she finally managed to place the key in the ignition, roaring up the engine before pulling away from the curb and speeding down the El Paso streets.
I listened to the tires make their monotonous hum over the concrete roads and the wind that whistled along the curves of the car. I rolled my window down and slightly poked my head out, gently resting it on the car door, closing my eyes as I let the warm breeze drift through my now tangled hair. The sunlight beaming down on my pale, freckled skin.
"So, what's your plans for this summer, huh?" Olive spoke, breaking me from my trance.
I didn't really have a plan. I didn't really have much money either, just the $150 I've saved up. Well, not really saved up. It's the odd dollar bills and the random quarters I would collect up off of the casino and hotel carpets. It's just a simple way back home for the local teens to gain a few extra bucks. It wasn't technically stealing, so I enjoyed doing it.
I thought about it for a couple moments before replying.
"I wanna explore. Look around, you know? I just wanna have fun, maybe meet some friends, party a little, or perhaps even get a job for the summer. Shit, who knows. I'm just glad to get away for a while, to get a change of scenery. This will be my first summer away from home." I answered, twirling the wire on my Walkman around my finger.
"Well, whatever you plan to do I'm glad you're here. I'll try and spend as much time with you as possible. You know I gotta do this internship at this law firm most days. But I'm sure you'll be able to entertain yourself while I'm out." She responded, her gaze locked on the road ahead.
"Yeah. I know. Still, I'm happy I'm here with you. How's that going anyway? You know, the internship." I questioned, turning my head to face her.
"It's fucking tough, I gotta admit. Of course it sucks I gotta work full-time through the summer, but it increases my chances of landing a proper job after I graduate college. So it's worth it I guess."
"Speaking of that" Olive added, "You know you said you wanted a summer job? Well, I know a friend of a friend. He's the manager at the Holiday Inn a few blocks away from my apartment. I heard they're looking for weekend help just for these peak months during the summer. The night shift I think."
"Tidying up, bringing towels and stuff to guests. Shit like that. Are you interested?" She queried, slightly raising her brow at me.
You see, for most people that might sound like the worst job in the entire world. To be spending their Saturday stuck in a hotel, in the dead of night. But I kinda liked the idea of it. I weirdly love hotels. The quiet walls, flat carpets and the long identical corridors. I found it peaceful, almost comforting. I imagine I'll find the night shift to be fun. I could read a book if I get bored, or listen to music while I'm tidying up.
"Yeah!" I responded, "That sounds good. Also a little extra cash would help, I didn't bring a whole lot. Could you give him a call later and tell him I'm interested?"
"Of course. I'll let him know."
"But first let's get you settled in and unpacked. I'm thinking when we get back to mine we can have a movie night, just the two of us. How does that sound?" My sister said, flashing me a toothy smile beneath her silver rimmed sunglasses.
"Sure, I'd love to!" I smiled back.
Olive grinned while cranking the volume up on the radio, playing Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. I didn't normally listen to this kind of music, but this song in particular, it was one of those songs that's almost impossible not to dance to. We began to sway our bodies and nod our heads with the rhythm that pulsed throughout the car.
I felt a wave of happiness wash over me in this moment, like a warmth that filled my heart and soul. A feeling I never knew I'd been so deprived of until now.
It reminded me of how it used to be when she still lived at home. I glanced over at her, and almost simultaneously, she looked over at me too. I knew she was thinking the same thing.
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Fanfiction"One glance of those brown eyes told of a lifetime of struggle that had never been put into words."
