To The Moon

Part 1; Chapter 6

The streets were already hot from the early morning sun. Back in New York, it didn't really heat up until early afternoon but here the tar radiated heat and burned the soles of my feet.   

I opened the door to my mother's hom enad slowly walked in. Her purse laid on the kitchen counter so she was obviously back home. It was a sparkly clutch with a long chain that hung from her shoulder. Neither my mother nor Burton were in sight, and the doors to her room were closed.   

My stomach made a wretched sound and suddenly I felt like my stomach was eating itself. Starting to rummage through cabinets, I found three bottles of Grey Goose, seven bottles of club soda, and two six-packs of Bud Light stocked in her fridge. I found a pack of candy bars and grabbed three from the variety pack. I also picked up an orange and poured a glass of water to help numb my hangover. 

I plopped onto the white futon facing the television and looked at the three clickers in front of me. All were far too confusing and my head hurt too much to try and figure out which one belonged to which device.   

Giving up on the TV, I ate and looked out the window. The headache pounded through my entire body and I wracked my brain to try and remember what happened the night before. Nothing comes. The last thing that happened that I could recall was dancing in a large group with multiple guys and Claudia. I suddenly felt a surge of deja vu.   

Three weeks before in New York. Preston had invited me to a party one of his prep boys was throwing. There was a unique sort of relationship that me and Preston had. He had taken me in when I came to New York and in his mind, I owed him - big time. If I didn't do what he said he told me he would make my life a living hell. So I had no choice but to go. Yet, I still loved him. Dad didn't mind too much as he thought I was going out to eat and then to the library with Preston, otherwise my feet wouldn't have even touched the threshold of the front door.   

I was famous for loving parties - surely a trait coming from my mother - I was a regular at the universities in a forty mile radius, but this party was different. I resided in university parties and clubs (using a fake ID) and I hardly drank. Finding a guy and having a good time was my idea of partying, but that night I was handed a drink at the doorstep and Preston told me to drink it. Beer, nothing fancy. Typical of a high school party. The room started to fuzz and I felt a smile spread across my cheeks. Preston's hand stayed latched around my waist and a few other guys came up and kissed me. Tasting me, seeing how they liked me. Preston handed me another cup and I reluctantly swallowed all of it. The last thing I remembered was being ushered into a dark room off of the living room. I couldn't see but I could feel multiple hands on my body, then I blacked out.  

When I woke up I was naked and cold. There were wooden blinds on the window that allowed little streams of light in and Preston laid next to me in the bed.   

"Fuck," I whispered. "Just my luck."  

I had gotten up and found some clothes before I opened the door quietly. Outside was a maze of people, drinks, and paper plates. Stepping over everything, I pulled my skirt down and walked - shoeless - out the door. I didn't know where I was and my head pounded terribly, but I found my phone and made my way to a train station.   

Three days later the letter arrived, and then I was in San Diego.  

My mother's door opened and she walked out in a pair of boxers and a tank top. Her hair was in every which way and her face was flawless. Practice makes perfect, Mother. She yawned and looked my way.  

"Your home."  

"I am," I said.  

"That's good."