Anywhere But Here (bxb)

"it all started that cold, rainy day..."

It all started that cold, rainy day in a small town's Seven Eleven. It's funny to think of it like that, because if one thing, if one millisecond of my day had been different, then maybe none of it would have happened. If I had woken up a minute later than I had, if I had taken thirty seconds longer contemplating what to wear, if I had decided to actually eat breakfast for once, then maybe our paths wouldn't have crossed. If my mother had remembered to go get her groceries herself and hadn't sent me to go out and buy them while she was at work, then I probably wouldn't have gone out at all that day. If I had decided to actually listen to my mom and go to Target instead of being lazy and walking to Seven Eleven, then I may have never met him. I wouldn't have met the most amazing person I'll ever meet or discovered some new aspects of myself that I never knew existed, and I most certainly wouldn't have chosen to stay. Here's the story of the day it all started and every day after that.

"Oh, shit," my mom mumbled whilst combing through her purse, probably assuming I hadn't heard her. "Elijah, can you do me a favor?"

I ignored her. I guess I was physically capable of doing a favor for her, but pretty much every fiber in my body disliked the idea of getting up and moving around.

"Elijah," she grunted, obviously exasperated. "I need you to take a fifteen-minute drive over to Target and pick up some groceries. I forgot last night."

I looked up from the book I was reading for the sole purpose of glancing at my mom, ready to protest, only to see that she was already stepping out the door with her briefcase at one side and her purse at the other. She didn't bother waving goodbye or blowing a kiss or doing anything that anyone else's mom would have done, because

1. She was on her way to work, and her life pretty much revolves around it. Once she's in work mode, there's no going back.

and

2. My mom and I don't quite like each other. We don't dislike each other, either. We're just disinterested in each other and don't feel the need to make an attempt at having a close relationship. We each had our own lives and our own things to do, and neither of us were especially important in the other person's activities.

I sighed, watching the door slowly fall closed after my mom had left, running a hand through my brown, messier-than-I'd-care-to-admit hair. I eased myself up off of the ratty little loveseat I had been sitting on, carefully placing my book cover-up on the table next to me. I adjusted my glasses, smoothed out my shirt, and brushed some nonexistent particles off of my pants. I contemplated whether I should be a good son and go to Target as my mom had asked or if I should give in and do what I wanted to do, which was walk about two minutes down the road to Seven Eleven, where I could pick up some cheap, possibly-expired food. My mom wouldn't know. She wouldn't see a difference in the food. I could make a quick run to the convenience store and come back home where I could relax all day.

I decided to walk to Seven Eleven. 

A/N- I know this a pretty short chapter, but don't you worry. This is just an introduction to the story. This is kind of a backstory, in a way? Not really. I don't know. I also know that this is pretty terrible writing, but that's inevitable, considering I'm a bad writer. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the book so far! I plan on updating every Saturday. 

Love, Haley