Odd Living

Two

"Mack, what's wrong? You seem different. Is everything okay?" Max says like any caring sibling should.

"Brandon broke up with me and he kicked me out and I've been staying with mum and dad and I have no place to stay" I manage to blurt out in between sobs.

"Mack, Mack, calm down. It's okay. He was an asshole anyway, you deserve better." Max is the best little brother ever.

"I just don't know what to do. Mum and dad really want me out of their house and I don't have friends that would take me in. I...I'm just lost." I hope he understands.

"Come stay with me. The boys won't mind. I can buy you a plane ticket. It will be better with you here anyways. We need a girls touch," Max says with excitement.

"REALLY? Oh my God Max, you're the best. Will there be enough room for me there? Will I need to sleep on the lounge? How much is rent? I'm going to need to get a job. When is the soonest I can come?" I am really glad Max is here for me.

"Shhhhhh. We can talk about where you are sleeping and rent when you get here. I'm literally buying your ticket now. The flight is tomorrow at 7am. Will you be packed and to the airport on time?" He asks.

"Too right! I'll ask dad to give me a lift. I cannot wait!" I say failing at hiding my excitement.

"I just sent you an email of the ticket. Make sure to have your passport and the printed ticket. I need to go. I'll see you when you get here, I love you Mack." The call ended.
Crap. Who is picking me up? I guess I'll find out.
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"Dad, Max invited me to stay with him until I find a place of my own. My flight is tomorrow at 7am, could you drive me to the airport?" I ask, nervous about the reply.

"You know I hate airports, ask your mum," he answers coldly.

"Dad, please. We both know she hates me. I'll be packed and ready by 5am. No one will be there at that time. All you have to do is drop me off by Terminal 5. It should take you 30 minutes, tops." More anxious for a response.

"Fine, but if you're not ready by 5 I'm not taking you."

"Thank you dad. Love you," hardly meant it but whatever.

For some reason both my parents hate me, my mum hates me most though. I don't know what I did as a child to deserve this, Max was always the better child. Doing what he was supposed to, listening, not chasing Roos. I guess I was troublesome.

I'm finally packed. I won't even bother sleeping until I'm on the plane. I have never been to America before. I can't believe I've lived in Oz -Australia- all my life. The time has come for me to adventure. I'm a toxicology major for crying out loud, I can do anything.
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Luckily I'm a heavy sleeper, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to sleep on the plane. The man sitting next to me said I slept through the whole 30 hours, only waking up when the food came around, because he woke me. I can't wait to see Maxy boy. I rang Max up when the pilot said we can use our phones again. He said Ian is picking me up, I don't think Max knows I don't know who that is. I am assuming Ian will have a sign saying "Mackenzie Stanley" or something.

When I got off the plane I went to look for my luggage with the man I sat next to on the flight, his name is Joe and he is quite nice. We found our bags but he found his family before I found Ian. So I had to find this boy all by myself. It took me 20 minutes to find him. He was wearing a shirt that said "I eat ass" with Japanese lettering. Interesting. He was holding a sign that said "Female 'assuming gender' Max". He seemed to know who I was. Which is good, I think.

We finally made it out of the airport before he said his first words.
"I'm Ian, you must be..."

"Oh, right. Sorry. I'm Mackenzie, Max's sister," Stupid. He knows I'm his sister.

"Cool name. Are you hungry? It's like a 40 minute drive." He says.

"Could we possibly stop at Maccas?" I ask.

"McDonalds? Sure. What do you want? A burger?" I nod. "It's on me" Offering to pay. How sweet. "Why the sudden move to the Big Apple? Kicked out of Australia?" He asks after ordering.

"Umm. No, actually. My boyfriend broke up with me last week and he kicked me out. Max saved the day yet again" I respond quite shakily.

"Oh shit! Sorry. Do you... uhh... need a tissue or something?" Not knowing what to do.

I shake my head just using my sleeve as a tissue. This is going to be a long 40 minutes. It was silent the whole time. At least I was able to eat my burger in peace.