For You [Completed]

Chapter 1: For Those Leaving Family

"Play the laughter, pause the memories, stop the pain, rewind the happiness."

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"Elena, come here for a second! Your aunt's on the phone and she wants to talk to you for a minute."

I groan and slide out of my bed. Heading to the living room, I thought about how comfortable my bed would be the moment I slide back into my bed. I spot my mom lounging on the couch and walk over to take the phone out of her hands. I greet my aunt on the phone and move toward the empty dining room to take the call.

"Elena, I need your help. Would you like to fly over to Orlando, Florida to help out at Wrap House? My boss is short on people and since you are done with your finals, why don't you come over and work here during summer?" my aunt asks.

"I don't know... I could just stay and hang out with my friends in New York. We always meet up, eat, and shop during our breaks since we go to the same college," I politely reject.

"Are you sure? We are really busy during summer because of tourists near Disney World. He'll even pay you a decent salary and you can stay over at my house! I could even drive you to and from the mall since I can get you the same shift as I do. I know that you still haven't gotten your driver license yet."

"I'll think about it, but I can just find a job here in Manhattan. Won't it look ridiculous if I fly all the way to Florida just to work at a food court in a mall? Besides, I don't have a driver license because I have all the transportation I need right here in the city. Buses and the subway station isn't that far from my house, you know."

"Okay, think about it some more. Promise? I asked my son, but you know how he's like. All he does is just stay at home and play video games. I'm hoping that you'd come and somehow persuade him to work there as well. He says he wants to buy a car, but he doesn't even know how much that costs... and I didn't even tell him about auto insurance and gas prices too!"

"All right. I'll think about it overnight. I'll get back to you tomorrow about it, okay? I have an incoming call from my best friend on my cellphone. I have to go now. Bye!" I rush out right before I end the call.

"Hey, Elena. It's me. Look before we start on our hour long talk as per usual, I have some important news to tell you."

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead, Lacey. What's up?" I ask as I sprint to my bedroom before landing softly on my bed.

I roll onto my back and try to make out familiar shapes from the ceiling patterns as I wait for Lacey to begin her story.

"You know how we made plans this summer to hang out? Well, the thing is... I'm going to be going away for this summer. My brother graduated from college and as his celebration, my family is going to travel through some countries in Europe during the middle of June until July. I'm sorry to leave you all alone during the three month summer break we have before our junior year in college starts, Elena. My parents already bought the tickets and I kinda want to go with them to Europe. If I start at home anyways, I'd die from boredom or hunger. However, I'll be back in New York City by August so we can hang out for that month before we start school again!"

"Oh, this must be fate! I've sent some job applications, but I haven't gotten any e-mails or calls so I think I'll have to have a working holiday. Since you're leaving me for Europe and the hot guys over there, I'm too sad to stay in my home all summer. You know how my mom nags me to find a job, even though she doesn't even know I've applied to some places," I sigh dramatically.

"Working holiday? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I could work at the mall with my aunt and on the days that I have off, I can go swimming and hang out with my cousins! It's been almost a year since I've last seen them. My family normally goes to Florida to visit each summer, but since I'm in college now, my mom's making me spend my summer doing something more productive such as getting a job and saving up money."