Taking Wild Strides

Chapter 1.

"Almost done." Cara mumbled to herself as she continuously swiped her stylus over her tablet. Her eyes darting back and fourth from her sketch book to the images on her screen. She had been working on this piece for two weeks and she had already missed her deadline for the band to she worked with. They were suppose to leave for tour in two weeks and Cara hadn't even finished the set design for them and she was becoming agitated with her self for being so lazy.

"Cara!" She heard her mother call but she was putting the finishing touches on the layout and she couldn't be bothered to answer her. She had a tendency to get lost in her own head and to her it wasn't a big deal to everyone else it was absolutely annoying. So when her phone started to ring as well she continued about her transferring process making sure everything was to her standard.

"DONE!" She shouted throwing her hands into the air and losing her stylus in the process. She finally snapped back to reality and heard the angry chatter of her mother down stair probably from her not answering her. She noticed her phone was still lighting up and she grabbed it noticing 'DAD' flashing across the top.

"What's up daddio?" She greeted him swiveling around in her desk chair connecting her tablet to her keyboard.

"Cara Lynn Parker what on earth could you possibly be doing that is more important than answering your mother?" He asked impatiently. This always happened.

" Dad chill I missed a deadline I had to get this done,plus she could have just came up here if she wanted me." She replied rolling her eyes as she set her phone on the desk and put him one speaker so she could email her latest creation.

"Excuse me? We put a roof over your head,we bought you a new car,we put you through college only for you to drop out and we are allowing you to pursue a career in art that has no future the least you can do is go downstairs and see what she wants." He huffed through the phone. 20 years old and they still treat her like she was 16.

"Okay okay geez,sorry my work isn't important,I'll go down right now okay sergeant ." She sighed turning around and walking toward the door.
"That's not what I meant Cara." He said but she was already walking out of the room.

Downstairs she found her mother pacing in the living room. She stopped as soon as she saw Cara hit the floor.

"Oh there's my daughter I haven't seen in 48 hours! Look at this mess! How many times do I need to tell you to pick up your art crap Cara! You have packages on the porch you're mail has been sitting on the table for three days I mean seriously what do you do all day?" Cara tried to hold it together as she quickly gathered all her stuff off the floor,it was their request that she stay at home until they thought she was responsible enough to live on her own that meant either join the army or getting a real job neither was something she planned on doing, but it was times like these she wish she had her own place and could leave her work all over the floor. To her this meant she made progress,that she had been productive and didn't just watch Netflix all day.
"I mean honestly Cara when are you gonna grow out of this stage? You've got to want to do something more with your life." Her mom continued. "Look at your brother," she motioned behind Cara and she caught a glimpse of her brother carrying all the packages into the house."Riley has a real job,he's building a future for himself I bet his house doesn't look like this! It's time to give up the arts and craft Cara!"

"Okay mom! I heard you!" She had heard enough for today. She desperately needed to get out of the house and away from her parents scrutiny. Lately they have been on her case about everything. She finally gathered the last of her supplies and retrieved her her mail from the table and went back up stairs and slammed her door.
Dropping everything on the floor she started to cry. When she was younger she learned not to take everything to heart and not let people's words hurt her being an artist that's one of the first lessons you learn. Other people's words about her work was fine,a little creative criticism never hurt anyone,but she couldn't take her parents constantly downing her. She knew that she wasn't what they had envisioned when raising her but they had put her through a lot moving every so many month when she was younger. She had to find something to invest in and it was this.

"Cara stop crying." Her brother cooed at her as he walked in placing her packages in the floor. She shook her head and feverishly rubbed at her eyes. He came closer and hugged her and patted her head he had always been the cliche big brother. "I think you need a vacation" he mumbled against her hair. They parted and she went back to her desk scrolling through the emails and quickly scanning over them.
"You have no idea,but they're not gonna let me go anywhere by myself I'm too irresponsible." She scoffed typing back replies and frequent thanks from the band for her work. She swiveled around and hopped on the floor and started oping her mail.

"They would if you went with me." He replied sitting across from her doing the same. They were almost 8 years apart and he had been her best friend since the beginning in this life family is really all you see,at least for her. Her parents weren't strict when it came to her making friends but she didn't need anyone really she was content by herself.

"Continue." She was interested now. She was always excited to see new places. That's the one thing she never really complained about because she enjoyed it so much.

"I have to go to Cuba next week for a few days to take care of some business I could use some company,are you in?" He asked with shining eyes.

She knew if he asked her parents would agree and she was excited to go. They had never been to Cuba and it excited her to experience another culture.
"I'm in." She responded eagerly plus she wanted to test out her Spanish.

After opening all her mail she realized she needed to make a trip to the bank and maybe splurge on some new supplies. Cara didn't want to cross paths with her mother again so she grabbed her skateboard and bolted down the stairs and out the front door her satchel and backpack tightly secured.

Living on a military had its perks everyone knew who you were if your parents held a decent rank and for the most par they were friendly but Caras favorite part about this base was how small it was.

Walking into the bank she was greeted but the same cheerful face she had gotten use to over the years.

"Hi Eddie!"
"Miss Cara! It's been a while,what do we have today?" The jolly man asked her.

"Just some deposits." She told him handing over the checks she had received in the mail.

"Working on anything new?" He asked her she was always thrilled when someone asked about her work. Nodding her head she went to reach in her pocket for her phone but quickly remembered she left it at home on her desk.

"I'd show you but I don't have my phone." She smiled.
"Next time." He told her a receipt Ashe quickly exited the bank and rolled down the street to the local craft store.

She buzzed around grabbing another sketchbook,some cans of spray paint,color pencils,tubes of paint and more canvases. She got to the register and took a quick glance at the clock on the wall her dad would be home soon but she would more than likely miss his homecoming this time.

By the time she got home the sun was on its way down her brothers truck still parked behind her SUV and their fathers truck behind theirs.

Still not ready to face her prayers she opted out and headed for the back year instead. Dropping her bags in the shed she grabbed her fume mask and a couple cans of spray paint and began to work a new piece to hang in her room. Caught in her own world she was content. It didn't matter the amount of spray paint she had gotten on her arms and legs,she was sure she even had some in her hair,but she was happy and unbothered by the events that happened earlier. Cara could always count on her art to make things better.

I STARTED A NEW STORY AND IM SO HAPPY WITH WHERE ITS HEADING! It starts out slow but it's only the beginning tell me what you think.