New York, New me

Chapter 5: Evelyn

"Everybody here wanted something more,
searching for a sound we hadn't heard before,"
                                                                         -Welcome to New York, Taylor Swift

  Lights flashed. Sirens blared. Streets swirled with blinding colours and deafening sound. Despite the approaching night, the city of New York was alive.

  "Evie! We're here!"
  Sighing, I unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed my purse from the seat next to me. As I opened the door of the small yellow taxi, my eyes were not greeted with the skyscraper of my daydreams, but with a three-story slab of dull grey cement.
  "That's it?" I asked, my voice dripping with disdain.
  "That's it," replied my father, who looked at the slab with pride in his hazel eyes. "That's our new home."
    "Richie!" A blonde blur flung open the building's door, dashed down the small flight of steps, and engulfed my father in a tight embrace. A whiff of strong floral perfume filled my nostrils.
  "Eliza!" Dad cried as he planted a smooch on her forehead, "I can't believe we're actually here!"
  Neither can I, I thought.
  "Oh, and this must be your daughter!" Eliza turned to me with outstretched arms. She was a petite woman in her early twenties, but her baby blue eyes made her appear even younger. She had a patchy spray tan and long red nails that looked like weapons. I stared at her coldly until she placed her arms back at her sides. She looked hurt, but I didn't care. Why should I?
  "Evelyn's very tired," my father chuckled, poking me playfully in the back, "It's a long flight from Washington, you know!
  "Oh, of course!" chirped Eliza, springing back into character, "How silly of me! You both need to come in and get some rest. I've got a lovely bed made for Evelyn right on the couch!" She snatched the purse from my hand and the suitcase from my feet and began to bounce up the stairs, chattering all the while. I shot my father a look, but he was too entranced with Eliza to notice. Sighing, I began to follow her up the stairs and through the lobby.

  "And of course there's a wonderful high school only two blocks from here! Seems like only yesterday I myself graduated. Term starts tomorrow, so you both arrived at the perfect time! Oh, would you look at that, here we are!"
  We had arrived at a small black door with 2B written on it in a swirly golden script. Giggling, Eliza slid the room key into the slot and opened the door to our new appartment.

  A small white living room came into view, adorned with a white sofa, white throw pillows white coffee table, and a white lamp in the corner. It was the kind of room you're scared to enter in case you smudge the pristine cabinet or wrinkle the spotless rug. Eliza strode into the room, so I slipped off my grey converse and did the same.
  "This is where you'll be sleeping, darling, just for now of course! I'm going to fix you up a little space in the spare room next week, but right now I'm using it as my workout equipment room. This body doesn't keep itself in shape!" she chuckled at her own joke.
"Now, dear, is there anything I can get you that would make you more comfortable?"
  "If you wouldn't mind, Eliza," said my father, "I think Evie and I would like a few moments alone."
  "Oh, of course!" she exclaimed, "I'll just be in the bedroom. Second door on the left when you're ready!" she waltzed off down the hallway, humming a little tune to herself. My father waited until she had closed the door, then turned to me with a smile.

  "So, Evie, what do you think? Isn't she amazing?"
  "She's very cheerful, that's for sure," I replied cautiously, "But Dad, I still think it was a little extreme moving across the country for her. You've only met the woman, what, four times? Five?"
  "Oh, Evelyn," said Dad, ruffling his fingers through my long black hair, "You're still so young and so naive. You'll understand one day, when you fall in love like I have."
  "Yeah right," I muttered under my breath.
  "And besides, you've always wanted to go to NYC! This will be an amazing opportunity for you and your fashion designing! Maybe Eliza could help you get started, she's really into cosmetics."
  "I can tell,"
  "Don't be like that. She's a great girl and I know you're going to love her. But first, sleep. We've had a big day and you have an even bigger day tomorrow."
  He unzipped the front pocket of my suitcase, pulled out my toothbrush, and handed it to me. I smiled as he turned on the spot and headed towards his new girlfriend.
  "Good night, Dad," I called after him.
  "Good night, sweetie," he called back.

  After changing, washing my face, and brushing my teeth and hair, I was finally ready to settle down for the night. I grabbed the fuzzy white blanket Eliza had laid out for me, snuggled onto the sofa, and opened my laptop. A wave of relief hit me as the familiar home screen came into view. Yes, my world was changing, but as long as there was wifi, I knew everything was going to be alright.
  Netflix, here I come.