𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 - 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒄𝒊𝒐

Trees Fall, So Do Planes

Natalie, smoking a joint out of the window of her cramped trailer park bedroom, Natalie had driven me back home then driven herself back to her home.

Laura Lee, on her knees, saying one last prayer to the small Jesus painting on her bedroom wall.

Lottie, being served breakfast by the maid. As the maid pointedly hands her a bottle of loxipene, watches carefully as Lottie shakes out a pill and swallows it with juice.

Van, coming into the living room to find her mother passed out on the couch. A bottle of Scotch on the coffee table. Van seems unsurprised. She tries to rouse her mother. Nothing. Calmly, Van slaps her mom hard across the face. Holding up the car keys as she starts awake.

Coach Martinez, loading the trunk of his station wagon with luggage as his two sons, Travis and Javi climb in the back.

Taissa, kisses er mother and father on the cheek saying her loves before leaving out the house, waiting until a taxi pulls in the driveway.

Shauna holding a piece of paper. " Official Brown University letterhead. Dear Miss shipment, we delighted to inform you... ", Shawna stuffed letter in a vanity drawer. Then, picking up her suitcase, she takes one last look around her childhood bedroom. As though sensing she's leaving something some part of her behind.

Y/n, Goes to her bedroom after eating breakfast, grabbing her luggage, she comes back down with two backpacks, one on her back and one in front of her chest, she goes towards the living room, hugging her mom then her father.

" I'll be back soon. Love you guys. " I said to my parents before leaving the house.

Natalie is in the driveway, in her black mustang, I open the back door and throw my bags in then closing the door, I get in the passenger seat, buckled up, and ready to go.

~

All of us, together now, make our way onboard. Excitement palpable, talking in the interior of the plane. It pretty much looks like any other commercial flight, but this is all ours..

" Wicked. " Natalie says

" I can't believe your Dad paid for a private plane. " Van says to Lottie, who is in front of her.

Lottie shrugs " it's pretty much his only form of parenting, but I guess I'll take it. "

Me, Nat, Van, Taissa, and some other girls say

" Thank you Mr. Matthews! " In a sing-song tone, then chuckles.

" Alright, hustle up, ladies, take a seat. We've got a long flight. " Coach Martinez says

Ben was helping a few of the girls load their crazy-ons into the overhead compartment.

Shauna and Jackie, sitting a few rows back, as they settle into adjoining seats. Shauna looks pale.

" You alright? They probably have a puke bag, if you need it. " Jackie asks

" No, I-- I think I might be afraid of flying. "

She glances around the cabin nervously. Jackie smiles, rummages in her bag. Pulling out a balled-up tissue tucked deep into one of the bags inner pockets.

" Remember when you came with us to Hilton head in second grade? You cried the whole flight. "

She opens the tissue, revealing two pale blue valium pills.

" I swiped these from my mom's medicine cabinet. She's got like a neverending supply, so I doubt she'll even notice. "

" Yeah, I'm basically the best. And here... " Jackie continued, taking off her pendant necklace. Fastening it around Shauna's neck.