Laurie's Life: Meeting Grant

O N E

Laurie Grace was a strange girl, growing up in California with the beach just an hour away you would expect her to be tan but she wasn't. She was just normal, and that's what made her strange. She grew up with her twin sister, Sarah, the fighting of the sisters was normal, they just never agreed on anything and being identical just made it harder as everyone thought that they were the same. Sarah soon left the family after declaring that she couldn't deal with it anymore.

As the twins grew up they started not to look identical, Laurie hair became a long sandy blonde while Sarah's stayed their natural hair color,only being a shade off from Lauries'. The two girls being the 'midgets' of the family never grew to be too tall, they stayed just below average of a regular sixteen year old girl. Sarah moved closer to the beach and basically growing up surfing while Laurie took an interest in skiing and softball. Now was where the challenge began. Laurie was scheduling another trip with her friends as her mom knocked on the door.

Laurie Grace looked up, smiling at her mom "Hey mom, so me and Julia are planning to go to New York for my birthday, and we want to leave two weeks early so we can be in Times Square for New Years." Laurie's mom smiled sadly, how was she suppose to break the news to her daughter that she couldn't go? "Laurie, you know I support you with everything you do. . . but I don't want you leaving for your birthday this year. I think you should stay and get a job, settle down you know?" Laurie's mouth draped open, words unable to come out of her mouth. "Why?" Her voice sounded hoarse "Laurie, you've been traveling for three years straight and you're about to turn seventeen. You need to settle down and get a job." She placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. Laurie just nodded as she slowly pulled up a new browser in her laptop "I better tell Julia." her mother nodded as she got up to leave the room "Good luck on the job hunt!" Her mother exited the room as she headed outside to her car for work. Laurie exhaled and she quickly shot a email at Julia, knowing she would respond quickly.    

Laurie stayed up late that night, she had made the mistake to think that getting a job was easy. Laurie had torn papers all over her bed, job applications and pens scattered around the teens desk, but on the computer a site was up. Laurie saved the site and shut down her computer, too tired to work anymore she changed into a big t-shirt and collapsed on her bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light. Some papers fell off of her bed and fell to the ground, landing with a soft thump. Early that morning, Laurie awoke by falling off the bed, she groaned. As she opened her eyes and looked around she remembered last night and the trip she was so pumped for, now cancelled. She sighed as she got up, she pulled her hair back with a hair tie not bothering to pull her annoying bangs back that hung over her left eye slightly.

She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl as she prepared cereal. "Hey dad." Laurie muttered as her dad got a cup of coffee, Laurie's dad was another story. He looked only to be forty-five with his slick black hair and stormy eyes he looked nothing like either of the twins. "I'm leaving tonight for work, I'll be gone until next week." Laurie nodded "Have a safe trip." He nodded "I will." Laurie quickly ate her cereal and escaped to her room where she powered on her computer again. The one site was still open as Laurie read over it again. 'I can do this.' Laurie thought as she printed an application.

While Laurie filled out an application she worried what her mom would say, she didn't tell her that she wouldn't be around as much. Maybe that would change her mind! Maybe if she said that she wouldn't  be visiting as much her mom would drop the job thing and let her travel more! It was Laurie's best shot, she quickly called her mom hoping she would answer. With no luck of her mom answering, Laurie got dressed in a white tank top and a blue jacket, some pants that went down her leg and stopped right below her knee. She picked out her favorite pair of grey converse. She let her hair down and brushed it out. Laurie quickly made it out the small house, it was a hot day, but they lived in California, what did you expect? Laurie thought about going to the beach but quickly changed her mind and instead found herself at Maggie's house. Maggie was another one of Laurie's good friends, she loved to travel and often accompanied Laurie and Julie.

Laurie Grace soon left and started on her walk home as the sun started to sink lower in the sky. Laurie's mom should be home by now. She walked in the front door, the smell of spaghetti excited Laurie to where she was practically running into the kitchen "Who's cooking spaghetti?" Her mom turned around from the stove, "The only person home." Laurie chuckled grabbing a bowl from the counter. "Fair enough, we all know I can't cook." Dinner was silent until Laurie's mom asked how the job hunt was going. "Well. . . I've found a good job. . . but there is a catch." Laurie waited anxiously for her mom's response. "What's the catch?" she asked,continuing to eat. "I basically have to move, and I don't know when I'll be able to visit." Her mom nodded slowly "Is it something you want to do?" Laurie bit her lip "If you want me to get a job, this is what I'm doing." She got up putting her bowl in the sink "Very well. I'll miss you, but I'm overall very proud of you." Laurie's heart sank, she was suppose to say no, but she was proud of her. Guess this was the end of traveling.