In Love, Against All Odds

New York, New Me-Right?

Welcome To New York – Taylor Swift 🗽✨
"Everybody here was someone else before..."

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I stared at the half-packed suitcase on my bed, my room a chaotic mess of clothes, shoes, and sketchbooks scattered all over the place. Tomorrow, I was finally leaving for New York. New. Freaking. York. Arymeline Fashion was waiting, and honestly? It still didn't feel real.

I reached for the last drawer, pulling it open to toss in a few more things when my fingers brushed against something cold. A tiny box, tucked away at the very back.

I froze. Oh.

With shaky hands, I pulled it out and flipped open the lid.

There it was. The silver necklace with a delicate heart-shaped pendant—the one he had given me.

A lump formed in my throat as the memory crashed over me like a tidal wave.

We had been out shopping for Adri's birthday gift. Patrick had played along, nodding at every choice I showed him. At one point, I had picked up this exact necklace, admiring how simple yet elegant it was. But I had put it back because it wasn't for me.

Except Patrick had been sneakier than I thought.

That night, when he walked me to my door, he pulled the tiny box out of his bag, looking almost nervous. Patrick. Nervous. That alone should've been a sign.

"Wear it to Adri's party," he had said with that soft smile that always did things to my heart.

And then...

I swallowed hard, shoving the memory back where it belonged. I didn't have time to sit here and cry over something that was in the past. Patrick was in the past.

With a deep breath, I closed the box and slipped it into the side pocket of my bag. I didn't have the heart to leave it behind. Not yet.

---

The morning I had been waiting for finally arrived, but instead of feeling excited, I just felt... off.

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my outfit for the hundredth time. My bags were packed and stacked neatly by the door. My reflection stared back at me, and for a second, I almost didn't recognize myself.

This was it. The fresh start I had been waiting for.

I took a deep breath. No looking back.

Downstairs, my parents and my brother were already by the car, loading up the trunk for the drive to Los Angeles. LAX was waiting.

"Be safe, Kat," Mom said, squeezing me like she was trying to transfer all her wisdom through a hug.

Dad just patted my shoulder—his classic I love you, don't do anything dumb move.

Even my brother, usually too cool to be sentimental, gave me a quick side-hug. "Don't forget us when you're famous," he teased.

I rolled my eyes, but it made me smile. "As if I could."

And just like that, we were off.

The drive from Coachella to Los Angeles took about two and a half hours, and the closer we got to LAX, the more real everything started to feel. My heart raced as I stepped out of the car, staring at the giant airport, people rushing in every direction, the sound of planes roaring overhead.