Perfect

Chapter Two: Do I look like someone you want to be rude to baby doll?

"Keep calm and watch 90s chick flicks."

Zoella

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Chapter Two: Do I look like someone you want to be rude to baby doll?

When I was a kid, younger then twelve, I always wanted to go explore. To go hunting for the faires in the woods and stick my head as far into my wardrobe as it would go, looking for Narnia. Mum used to pack me a little picnic in a tiny basket and I'd set off on a massive adventure to the back of the garden with my dolls and stay out there for hours, playing that we were on holiday. Then, when my mother and my brother died and my dad liked to look down bottles of achohole more then he looked at me, I just wanted to get out of his house. When Prim's family took me in, I hated being a burden on them so I waited patiently for the end of the school year so I could get out from under their roof and start taking care of myself. On my own. Just me. Alone. No one else to bother me.

But playing that you're off on a huge adventure in your back garden and dreaming about striking out on your own is nothing like actually doing it. Sitting in the back of the Collins car, squashed in the back between Prim and the window, on the way to the airport, I couldn't stop my hands from shaking. I had them clamped firmly between my knees, clenching my jaw so hard my whole head ached. I'd never been away from Minnesota for more then a day, everything I knew was here. Even though I tried not to show it, the idea of getting on a plane and flying hundreds of miles to L.A terrified me. I've always tried to keep my emotions masked since Mum and Sean died, because I had to hide everything from my dad, but now, it was harder then I ever thought it would be. Prim must have noticed how I was digging my nails into my palms because she reached out and took hold of one of my hands and clasped it both of her own, giving it a gently squeeze. I couldn't bring myself to look at her, but I squeezed her hand right back, telling her without words that I was thankful for her being there for me.

When we got to the airport, it took a lot of persuading to get Mr and Mrs Collins to say their goodbyes there at the doors with Brad and then leave me and Prim to say goodbye inside. I knew that if I had more then one person there, I wouldn't be able to stop the tears. I hated crying. And the best way to avoide it was to avoide all things emotional. That had always been my tactic and it had always worked.
Mrs Collins crushed me in a huge hug, her perfume over poweringly strong, but surprisingly comforting, telling me I was welcome in their house hold any time I needed a place to crash. Mr Collins was quiet and gently, smiling and telling me he loved having me around and that he'd keep me posted on news of my father. Brad didn't say much. He just wrapped me up in a hug and told me to stay in touch. I promised Mrs Collins I'd call her when I got to my apartment and then I grabbed my cases and followed Prim in through the double doors and into the airport.

When I checked in and had my luggage sent through on the conveyer belt, my hands were still shaking. I squeezed them into the tightest of fists I could manage and stuffed them into the pockets of my coat to hide them from Prim. Even though I know she pretended not to notice.

I'm not sure how long we stood there, talking quietly by the gates enterence. I think it was about half an hour, though it felt like forever. When they finally called my flight number, I turned and wrapped my arms around Prim as tightly as I could. She hugged me back and we stayed like that for a good minute before my flight number was called again and I had to let go.

"Thank you for everything Prim." I said. Prim smiled and nudged her shoulder into mine as we made our way closer to the line.