Genie In My Room

Wish Me Well

"Make sure you keep your clothes clean! And your room, and your teeth, and your..."
"Aunt Terri! I'll be fine, really", I said, exasperated. Aunt Terri had been giving me advice on how to stay on my own, what to expect from college and some other two hundred and one things that I couldn't remember.

Or didn't want to remember.

"I know you'll be fine, sweetie. Just take care of yourself, and call me once you get there!".

Sophie had already said her goodbyes the night before. It had been an emotional night saturated with tears, tissues and Netflix.

Aunt Terri just dropped me off at the station, where I was to catch a train straight to Harcourtsville. She'd already had her friend (who lived there) get a place ready for me. Aunt Terri was wonderful.

"I will. I love you and I'll miss you so so much", I said while hugging her, tears just at the corner.
"I love you too, honey", she said plaintively.

After some minutes of waiting and making more promises, I was set to go. I walked really slow towards the train, like I just realised I was leaving the only place I called home. I was leaving Sophie, Aunt Terri, Ellen's Place and heck, even Ashton.

Is this the right choice?

I was scared of leaving. I didn't even have an inkling of what lay ahead of me.

And that's just fine 'cause I don't wanna know.
I finally got into the train, heavy thoughts in my heart, with Aunt Terri sniffling behind me. I walked to my seat, sat down and then I began waving madly at her through the window, even after the train started moving and I couldn't see her waving back anymore in the distance.

I faced the window, nostalgia and tears kicking in.

     _______________________

"Hey, wake up. Isn't this your stop?"

I opened my eyes groggily and I was about to complain about being woken up from my dream about dragons when I realised that:

a. I was on a train.
b. I slept with my mouth open.
c. I probably said something out loud while sleeping.
d. I was woken up by a cute boy.

Omg omg omg omfggg..

The mortification!

The cute boy in question looked at me with a weird look on his face and got off the train.
I quickly followed suit with my bags, and proceeded to look for Aunt Terri's friend Kayla.

I remembered her warning not to leave with anyone else but Kayla, and that I'd know her from her smile. Apparently she had the biggest smile ever.

I looked around for a while, before I saw a plumpy-looking woman who had a smile on, as wide as a river, waving at me.
Alright, then.

I walked towards her. "Kayla?", I asked. She nodded, still smiling. "Wow, look at you, Kella! You look just like your mother!"

I didn't say anything, I just looked at down and studied my sneakers. I'd never liked to get reminded of my parents and brother.

She must have noticed my changed expression, because she suddenly ushered me into her car and asked me how my journey was. I mumbled "fine", and she began talking about how the place she got me was just suitable and how I'd like it.

I just wanted to go back home.

Is that really what you want?
I thought about it and shook my head.

Do you really want to go back to where Ashton hurt you?
I shook my head again.

Do you want to go back and face Linda?
I shook my head again, this time wildly.

During the last shaking, my eyes locked with Kayla's through the mirror. She looked at me with confusion and raised a brow like, "You okay, there?"

I gave her a tight-lipped smile that so obviously didn't convince her.

Too tired to say anything, I looked out the car window and watched the trees and houses race by.
Harcourtsville looked really lively and we passed so many shops and stalls full of so many colourful things and goods. I had my nose pressed to the window as I made sure to take everything in.

There was apparently a show going on somewhere as I saw a lot of people, mostly teens, dressed in really cool vintage clothing.

Kayla laughed and asked, "So how do see Harcourtsville?".

I smiled. "Boisterous". She laughed.
"I mean it looks really wild and colourful and ....", I paused.
A little shop, almost like a kiosk, came into view. It was not as colourful and ... funky as the rest but it looked just as wild. It had so many twinkling lights decorating it and it made the whole place sparkle into the evening. It looked like a ...

"Oh, that's Greg's Antique shop", Kayla said with something like disapproval in her voice.
I turned towards her, realising that I had my whole face pressed against the window.
"You don't like it?", I asked.

She giggled, a bit nervously. "Just stories, is all. People don't go in there much", she replied. I looked her a for a bit and faced the window again. She started muttering to herself, something about "bad vibes".

I wanted to ask about these "bad vibes", when she suddenly announced, "We're here!".

    ______________________

I was dog-tired. Kayla was so helpful. She helped me arrange everything. I had never realised that I had much clothes, but I guess after shopping a bit every week with Sophie, I was supposed to expect an increase...

Sophie. I felt a pang in my heart. I missed her so so much already.

After checking the whole house with me, Kayla told me the place had already been wired, there was water and everything.

Yes!

I'd called Aunt Terri, who was at work and she'd thanked Kayla over the phone. Then she continued with the advice and made me to promise to call her at least every three days.

Talk about dramatic. It's not like I can't handle myself. Maybe.

Kayla left soon after the call, saying she'd visit me soon. I walked round the apartment, taking in everything again. It was almost surreal, I had a whole place to myself and I felt the urge to try to be responsible. Probably in the 3-4 years I'd be living in a mansion with a high-paying job, a husband and some kids...

I could literally hear my self rolling my eyes at me.

Even though I knew there would be no food, I still checked the cupboards in the kitchen. Indeed, there was no food, and I wasn't the type who knew how to cook.

Maybe I should have attended that catering course..

I decided to have a little walk around the neighbourhood and check for a grocery store later. But for now, I just wanted to sleep, before texting Sophie.

I settled into my bed, slept and dreamt of nothing.