Pathways

Caroline

Caroline White, born May 2nd, 1995. Born with blonde hair, blue-green eyes and a jawline to kill. She may have had the most impeccable jawline but she also had the musical talent that would wipe her competition to the floor.

Today obviously wasn't going to be as heart-wrenching for me as it was everybody else. I wasn't one of the three that would be taking a train journey to somewhere they knew nobody and would have to restart their lives all over again. My decision to stay in the city I'd called home for the past 6 years, was one of ease. It took me all of two minutes to decide I'd done enough moving around as a child and now was not the time to restart that lifestyle. 

Especially not with how well everything was going in my love life. Eric Matthews was the school stud; the most athletic, most loved, he definitely had the best smile and, he was all mine. It started how any other relationship in high school starts; we had to be lab partners. It was one of those times when you sit next to your best friend in the class and the teacher walks in and says in their patronizing voice that all science teachers seem to have; "I've assigned you lab partners, please come and see where you'll be sitting and then open up your books to page 206."  At the time I thought my life was basically over, I would have to spend an hour and a half everyday talking to somebody I don't know, and probably hate, about physics. Little did I know, it was the second best thing that happened to me, the best would be moving to London, but that's beside the point. 

We've been together for over a year, and things we're going amazingly. Everyone always thought our relationship was really strong. For one, we never acted like 'lovers' in front of people; we always acted like we were best friends and then later on we'd go make out. His parents loved me, and my mum loved him. She said it was the purest love she'd seen in a while and that made me feel ecstatic.

When I got into the Royal Academy of Music and he got into University College London, it was one of the best days of my- our lives. We knew we wouldn't have to be far apart, and this relationship could still survive.

Today was not the day to be thinking about my tremendous love life, it was time to think about how a chunk of our group would be leaving today. Hannah, Heather and Ellie would all be heading off, starting their lives over, cleaning their slates. It was terrible for me, it must have been terrifying for them. I couldn't imagine having to up and leave everything behind, everything they'd grown so accustomed to would just be pulled from under their feet and suddenly they would be falling into the unknown. Those three girls were much stronger than me, so I knew they'd be perfectly fine but that didn't numb the pain in my chest that was steadily growing as the hours ticked away. 

10:59 was when the first text arrived. Yo, what's the plan for today then? - Addyson.

I was appreciative of the fact that we were all able to just plan something within an hour of the event, it was something we were very skilled at. My mother on the other hand, didn't appreciate it at all. 

"Caroline?" My mum called from downstairs.

"Yeeeeees," I prolonged, making my way to the door to see what she needed.

"Me and Anthony are going to the store, can you get a ride to the station?" She asked, tilting her head to the side awaiting my answer.

"Hold on, I'll ask Grace." I said, whipping my constantly vibrating phone out of my back pocket. 

Can I hop a ride with you Grace? I asked, not really paying attention to the previous parts of the conversation. They didn't involve me, so I wasn't really that fussed. I knew I had to be there at noon and by all means I would be. As a group we never disappointed each other.

My phone vibrated, alerting me that I had a message. Sure I'll be there in 20 Grace answered.

"Grace is giving me a ride, I'll see you later," I yelled to my mum.