Almost Home

Ch. 1 - Welcome Home

"I'm going to miss you guys so much!" I pout as I pull away from the massive group hug.

"We're going to miss you more, V," my friend Lyla says, wiping away her tears. "This summer won't be as fun without you."

I've never even left the city before, excluding our single trip to Disney when I was seven. My mom thinks that living in New York City is like living in a vacation world.

"Call and text every single day," Kirsty demands.

"I will, guys." I sigh, turning to face the last person I want to leave. "Give me a kiss."

Cody, my boyfriend of two years, wraps his arms around me tightly and kisses my face repeatedly. "I'll miss you so, so much, V."

"Don't let those farm people change you," Olivia warns. "I won't be able to handle you with a country accent."

"It's only three months," I say to reassure my friends. "I won't change."

"I love you just the way you are," Cody says romantically, kissing me once more.

My mom walks out of the apartment building with my suitcases in hand. "Alright, Valerie, it's time to go."

"I love you all!" I say to my friends and Cody before getting into the taxi with my mom.

We arrive at the airport in under a half an hour. My mom takes me as far as the security before saying her goodbye.

"Now, you behave for grandma. She'll need help around the farm and you will give her no trouble about that, got it?"

I roll my eyes. "Got it. She loves me."

My mom nods and kisses my cheek. "Remember to have fun. Get to know the people in the town. Be safe."

I salute her. "Understood. Bye, mom. I love you."

"Love you too, dear," she says. "Go before I change my mind on letting you go."

I laugh and head through security. My mom planned the whole trip a few days after my grandpa passed away earlier this year. I wasn't too thrilled with the idea.

I mean, it's my summer. I love my grandparents, but I only see them during the holiday. Spending my three months of freedom with my grandma in her small town isn't exactly ideal.

I could be shopping with the girls or spending late nights with Cody. But instead I'm in a town with a bunch of strangers and my seventy-three year old grandma.

I'm definitely not the farm girl type.

On the plane ride, I sit next to a lady and her baby who never stopped crying. Sure, it was cute at first, poking at my face and giggling. But then the dang child started tugging on my hair and screaming bloody murder.

So, basically it was a great flight!

My grandma is waiting for me at the exit, a sign in her hands that read 'Val Pal'. It's embarrassing, but the airport is so small that there aren't too many people there to witness it.

"There's my favorite grandchild!"

I'm also her only grandchild, but I keep that to myself.

She embraces me in a bear hug, nearly suffocating me. "My, you just keep getting prettier. I'm going to have to keep a broom by the front door to keep the boys in this town away."

I laugh and pull back from the hug. "I missed you too, grandma."

She links our arms as we go to the luggage exchange. Once I have my suitcase, she excitedly rushes us out of the airport. We stop in front of a yellow buggie.