flash back //
"alauna, sweetie. come down here please."
i know what's about to happen. i've seen it coming from weeks, mainly because i've been able to hear the arguments and phone calls from my quiet bedroom. sliding out of my bed, i slowly walk down stairs to see my mother and father sitting at the table both with their heads down. i take an uncomfortable seat in the middle and they look up.
"honey, we have something to tell you." I nod and she continues.
"I'm sure you know things have been rough here at the house these past couple weeks.. me and your dad have tried to work it out but we just think it's best that we split up. maybe not a divorce, but just some time away from each other."
i've known this.
"and when people split up someone usually moves out.. and in this case, me and you are moving in with aunt karry, to North Carolina."
what?
//
and now here i am standing in front of my single, kidless, aunts house with only two suitcases. one with clothes and the other with things for my room. I didn't have the courage to take my entire life with me.
the front door opens and my petite blonde aunt walks onto the porch.
"alauna! Barbra!" she yells with a glass in her hand. she's been known as one to drink. my mom plasters a fake smile on and walks ahead of me, hugging my aunt. i received one next before she leads us into her rather large home. i know my way around, so i head to my room and start to unpack the little belongings I brought.
around two hours through my packing i gave up and lay down but my slumber is interrupted before its started.
"alauna mae, get out of bed right now! it's a beautiful day, why don't you walk to the mall and get yourself some new clothes while i try and perk up your mother!" my aunt smiles handing me a wad of money.
"uh.. are you sure you want to give me all of this?" I ask looking at what she handed me.
"oh honey, when uncle ricky passed away in the army i received his veteran checks, and with that and my job i have more money than an average person needs!" she smiles, although i can tell the topic of my dead uncle is upsetting for her.
i uneasily take the money and walk downstairs. i slip on my white flip flops and try to think; I've been to the mall here before when we've visited.
not feeling up to getting physically lost when i already am emotionally, i pull out my phone and hold down the home button.
"Siri, give me directions to the nearest mall." i say in to my phone with my slight southern accent, directions coming up right away. i walk out the door glancing at my outfit, im wearing a white t-shirt from back home; lord knows where it's from, the writing is old and peeling off. along with regular Jean shorts with my hair in a side braid. I've never been one to dress up, especially when I don't know anybody here. I'm the type of person who lives the way she wants, regardless of anyone else. I'm an unhappy person but you wouldn't know. I enjoy the way I live, my life is just dull. i walk out the door and make my way to the mall with out getting lost. the heat pounds on my face and arms the whole time, hopefully not leaving any mark because if it does it'll show my t-shirt. i pull open the big doors and the rush of cold air hits me in the face feeling absolutely amazing.
walking in to the food court everyone looks at me, probably because im all alone.
i walk in to the actual mall and walk down one of the wings of stores and look at my options.
forever 21, Aeropostale, justice (no thanks), hollister, Yankee candle, and much more.
I decide my first store to go in was hollister. I'm not that big on shopping so this was hard.
everything in the store was clothes that have become popular, but really I'm pretty sure my mom wore some of this stuff her freshman year.
i wandered around the store for awhile and ended up with 3 or 4 pairs of jeans shorts; faded, dark, ripped black, white, lighter. all size 5. sure I'm not a size 0 or whatever but I'm not fat and I know it.
next i go to Aeropostale. I get a couple shirts and a even tried a romper. who knows if I'll ever wear that, but it was on sale. and cute.
next i walked into Yankee candle, my biggest pet peeve is when my room doesn't smell good. i looked around and smelled all the different scents until it was pointless because I couldn't tell the difference in smells.
i finally decided on a cinnamon apple flavor and turn to walk to the counter but i collide with something. I almost drop the glass candle but I manage to keep it in my hands, although my body falls to the ground and I land flat on my bum.
I look up for whatever knocked me down to see a boy with dark hair and blue eyes that were brighter than most, including mine.
seeing that it was just a boy who wasn't watching where he was going that caused me to collide with the ground i rolled my eyes and jumped to my feet, ignoring the hand he had held out for me.
"are you okay? im sorry, I really didn't mean to." he smiles. yeah, no thanks buddy.
"I'm fine." I say dusting myself off and walking to the counter of the small store.
"okay... well I've never seen you around, can i get your name?" he rambles following me to the counter.
"alauna." I say blandly while handing the cashier 10$ for my 9.99$ candle.
"well it's nice to meet you alauna, I'm hayes." he says smiling. can he take a hint?
"yeah." I say grabbing my bag and exiting the store, him still following.
"yeah? someone's in a bad mood." he says. I turn around to face him, right outside the door.
"you don't know me, so you wouldn't know if I'm in a bad mood. I just don't appreciate getting knocked to the ground by some careless idiot. so thank you for the bruised tail bone, but goodbye." I smile, turning around and walking away, leaving him in complete confusion.
i debate on going in any other stores but eventually decide i should just go home because it's almost dinner time. I exit the mall smiling; proud of myself for my confidence i had in Yankee candle.
for the rest of the way home I slip
in my ear buds and listen to Sam smith & Ed sheeran.
oh how i wish i was still in Ohio.
