A Heart Caught In Crime

Chapter 1 - Moving Away

"We need to break up." I stated as I walk into the small one bedroom apartment.

"What, why?" Nathan looked at me like I told him that his childhood dog had passed away.

"I'm moving away Nathan, I already booked my hotel room, after dad died I don't have anything keeping me here other than you and if we're not together I won't feel as bad for leaving" I said with tears brimming my water line as I desperately tried to not let them fall.

Nathan broke down in tears while collapsing onto the bed, he lowered his head in his hands. I stayed silent and started packing my clothes. Looking back up at me with red eyes and tears streaming down his face "I can't make you stay if you don't want to. Promise you'll stay in touch..." he trailed off.

"I promise I will, Nathan. I just can't stay here anymore. I'm ready to take the next step and go to the big city. Chase my dream."

"Here..." Nathan said standing up, wiping his tears "let me help you."

A few hours later Nathan and I had finished packing up some belongings of mine and looking back at sentimental items and all the memories they held. We walked into the bedroom for our last night together. As we lay down to try and sleep Nathan kisses my cheek and whispers "I'm going to miss you, bug." The name struck me hard as when I was little that's what my father called me.

***

RING! RING!

The alarm blaring in my ear as I lazily roll over and check the time. 3:30am. "Fuck..." I whispered under my breath, I'm not a morning person by any means... especially not this early. I sat up rubbing my eyes as I glanced over at Nathan sleeping peacefully. I hated leaving him and the life we had built behind but I need more than just small town no mans land, I crave the lights and sounds of the big city, I want to be know as more than 'Dakota Miller's daughter' or 'the girl with out a mom'. I stumble around the room with only the dim phone light illuminating the objects in front of me. After a few minutes I managed to gather my last minute items and had thrown them in my purse and walk out the door. I throw the luggage in the back seat of my 2010 Ford Super Duty king cab with extended bed. I get in the driver seat and start it up. I look up at the apartment in which my headlights are casting their light upon, took a sharp breath and backed out of the drive with tears in my eyes.

I stop at a gas station in Knoxville, Tennessee. Weigel's? Funny name for a gas station but I don't judge. I walk inside and it was rather empty to be 7:20 in the morning. I pay the attendant at the counter but not before grabbing some road snacks and a coffee from the machine. Never had a Carmel Macchiato before but I love Carmel flavored anything so I decided to give it a shot. After snacks, gas, a few waters, and the coffee the total was 180$, crazy!

I get back into the interstate and start heading to New York, only 11 hours to go. I stop periodically along the way in Harrisonburg, VA and Harrisburg, PA. I met a few people along the way who all wished me luck, the farther north I got the colder the people grew. Odd? I thought everyone was just as friendly as we were back home. Home. Seems almost repulsive to say now seeing as I left everything I know behind just because I wanted more.

Arrived. I finally pull into the hotel I had made reservations. I look at the clock on the dash, 6:18pm. I walk into the lobby it's brightly light and very colorful and modern, very beautiful to say the least. A bar was to the left upon entry and a lovely lounge area with colorful seating and wood tables. As I was looking around I heard a voice call to me.

"May I help you?" The small woman with gray hair and thick glasses piped up from behind the counter.

"Yes, I called about a room for a few weeks the other day, Natasha Miller."

"Oh yes! I remember you. I'm the one you spoke to. My name is Michelle, may I have your ID and credit card so I can get you all checked in?"

I give her all the items she requested and we made small talk about where I'm from and what my goal is here in the big city.

"Alright sweetie your room number is circled on the booklet the elevators are down the hall just past the mural and make a left. The gym is to the right and open 24/7. The pool is salt water and heated and that is passed the gym and the elevators, it's open from 9am to 10pm but if we don't get any noise complaints we won't make you leave. Breakfast is from 6:30 to 10. The water in the cooler behind me is complimentary everything else in the shelves is available to purchase. Someone will be at the desk at all times so if you have a questions please don't hesitate to call or come down."

I looked at her in shock as she said all that in one breath. She just laughed and told me that she says that same phrase about a hundred times a day for the past 10 years at least.

I carried my items to my room and just collapsed onto the bed and drifted off to sleep.