what now » h.s

02%

“What do you mean you're moving?”

“I mean, the company is moving down to Texas. I’m their best driver Allison, and the pay is good, I'm not just going to quit.” My father explained to me.

“But I moved back up here because you were here! So I can go to college here and spend time with you because you practically missed you on my whole high school years, I figured you could make up for college,” I defended myself, still trying to figure out why he had allowed me to move back up here if all he planned to do what leave me anyways.

“Then stay here! I'm not asking you to come with me! Stay here!” My father yelled at me, raising his voice in every syllable he spoke, obviously not noticing the tears that brim my eyes.

“Then where am I supposed to go, huh? Tell me; tell me where I'm supposed to go!”

He doesn’t answer me; he grabs his keys and phone, leaving the apartment, “Yeah, just leave dad, it’s what you're good at!” I shout as the door slams behind him.

I can’t believe him. I moved out with my mom to be with him. He would always complain that I never spend enough time with him, but he’s just going to pack up and leave without me. Yeah, the company he’s working for is moving but, he must’ve known that it was going to. It’s not like he got a phone call in the middle of the night saying, ‘the company is moving be ready in a week.’ It doesn’t work that way.

I grab my purse and the keys to the apartment, and head out the door. It’s not like he’ll miss me anyway. Taking the elevator down to the main floor, I step out into the brisk weather. I pull out my phone and find Google Maps, considering it’s necessary because the city is foreign to me. Taking a couple minutes for it to load, the closet Office Max is a twenty minute walk… not bad.

I pull out my head phones and plug them into my phone, playing some music to distract me from the outside world. I'm not exactly a people person, I suppose you could say. I won’t just go up to someone and ask for directions, I find that quite weird to be honest.

Steps away from the entrance of the Office Max, I walk inside and head towards the notebooks and pens. I search through the notebooks, finding college ruled and preferably the brand Five Star. I don’t know what I like that certain brand so much, but growing up, I never really like non-name brand things. Picking up at least three notebooks, I turn around to go pick out some pens and pencils. I search through the multiple brands of pens, finding my favorite ballpoint pens. Next, I grab myself some mechanical pencils and leave the aisle. I'm not sure what to expect in college, so I'm not exactly sure what to get. I grab a nice binder, sheet protectors, and some dividers. You never know what you’ll need.

I line up at the cash register and pay for all my supplies that I need when I start college on Tuesday morning. I thank the lady at the register and head out of the store. Looking back down at my phone, I see it’s only two thirty in the afternoon. As I'm walking back to the apartment, I spot a help wanted sign. I walk closer to the sign to see what it said. It was just a sign that was taped to the side of a building:

___

HELP WANTED

LA BOXING

FRONT DESK ASSISTANT

CORNER OF STATE AND 9TH

___

I mean, boxing wasn’t really my thing, but I needed a job and its right around the corner from the apartment, literally. I continue walking down the streets until I come in view of the Astoria Tower, where my dad is currently staying. I turn down the corner and sure enough, there’s the LA Boxing building. I walk inside, my Office Max bag in hand, along with my phone and purse.

“Um… Excuse me?” I say to the man that’s standing, back facing me, right by the front desk. He turns around and smiles.

“Hello, how can I help you?”

“I saw your help wanted sign a few blocks down, and I was wondering—”

“Oh!” He cuts me off, “Are you interested?”

I smile and nod.

“Great! We really need one as soon as possible, so I'm just going to skip to the major questions first and if you pass, I’ll give you the paperwork.”

“Sounds great,” I look to see if he has a name tag or anything on his shirt, nothing.

He nods, “Where did you last work?”

“I worked at a Dunkin Donuts and did Babysitting on the side.”

“So you’re good with kids?” His eyebrows were raised.

I nod and he continues to ask the questions, “Are currently in school?”

“I'm starting at UIC on Tuesday morning.”

“Are you capable of transportation?”

“I live in the Astoria Tower around the corner.”

“And lastly, how old are you?”

“I'm eighteen.”

He nods and smiles, “Perfect, I believe that covers all the basics. If you’re still interested I can start you off part time, considering you start school, and you could tomorrow if you’re willing.” The man informs me.

My smile widens, “That’s perfect,”

“Great!” He reaches into the drawer in the desk, pulling out folders and papers, walking towards me, “Okay, now here is just some of the paperwork I'm going to need you to fill out, along with a pamphlet about the building, and then just some little things to look at, along with requirements.”

I look through the papers he’s showing to me, nodding every few seconds.

“You could take these back with you and just bring them in tomorrow around… eight thirty?”

I smile at the brown eyed man, “I’ll be there.” I begin to walk towards the front door.

“Awesome, I didn’t catch your name by the way.”

I turn back around and look at him, “Allison.”

“I'm Luke.”

Nodding, I head out the door and turn down the corner to the apartment building. I walk inside and catch the elevator, pressing the fourteenth floor. Cautiously walking to the door, not knowing if my father is back and if he still has his anger along with his temper, I turn the key into the key hole and open the door, its pitch black inside. All the lights are off, the blinds are closed, the curtains are shut, and I can’t see a thing. I close the door behind me and flip up the light switch, turning on the foyer light. I walk deeper into the apartment and switch on the kitchen light.

And there’s a note on the counter:

___

Allison,

I left to Texas today.

I moved out most of my things, leaving you with enough to survive. I’ll be giving you money for rent for the next year and a half until you get on your feet. There’s still cable and internet connection.

Don’t forget to keep the dishes clean and take the garbage out when full.

I’ll miss you mucho mucho.

Be good kid.

Love, Dad

___

My bags slide down my arm, leaving me standing in the middle of the kitchen, reading the note over and over again.

He left me.

He left me.

He left me.

I'm alone.