Just One Voice

•Marrying My Best Friend•

~8~

The late August sun shines just a fraction warmer today as I load the limo trunk with my one suit case and carry-on. There's something almost exhilarating about taking so little across the country, like this really is a turning point for my life. A chance to start over and make my own name for myself.

It's been three months, eight days, and fourteen hours since the moment I sent in my audition video (Yes, I counted). I had never imagined that everything would align so perfectly, that life would actually boil down to this moment. I had tossed and turned all night out of pure excitement and nerves, which resulted in no sleep and a lot of list making. I must have repacked my bag at least half a dozen times before five o'clock this morning.

I close the trunk and wipe my sweaty palms on the leggings I'm wearing. Turning to Heather, I can already gauge the pride in her expression.

"Baby girl," she says softly, taking hold over my shoulders, "I look good today, so I don't want to cry."

I laugh, "I owe Max twenty bucks if I cry at all before I board the plane."

Her smile somehow grows even bigger, before she pulls me into a tight hug, "Don't second guess yourself, Brooklynn. Now you can finally show people the talented, amazing girl I know and love," Heather whispers.

"I'm going to miss you so much," I say, pulling my cheek from her shoulder, and taking note of her signature berry perfume for the last time in awhile.

"You'll be fine without me. You will be doing what you were made to do." She tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear and looks me over as if I'm her own daughter, "It's me I'm a bit worried about. I already miss you too."

She quickly frees me from her arms and fans her face, sniffing and then taking a deep breath, "That was a close one," she chuckles and I offer the same.

Max and his mother arrive almost simultaneously, and quickly bid their own short-lived goodbyes. Mrs. Witherson wishes me the best and gives me a quick embrace as well.

Mom is the last to come down to the parking lot, and before I know it, I'm waving goodbye to the two people being left at the complex gate as we pull out and into city traffic.

The trip to the airport seems longer than it should, but Max enjoys every minute of the ride in the expensive car, even if it's not a limo. An Acura or something? I really don't know cars. It's black, if that means anything.

Mom makes some rude remark about how he would never be able to afford something like it, but Max shakes off the comment, so I do too. At first I was surprised as to the fact that Mom was actually accompanying us on the drive, but then I overheard her declaring that it was on the way to her meeting anyway. I mean, that's pretty much what it always is to her isn't it? I'm either a convenience or not so.

Finally stopping the car in front of a main entrance close to our gate at JFK airport, Max and I look at each other. I know exactly what we're both thinking.

This is it.

He gives a small grin before hopping out of the slick exterior vehicle.

Mom turns to me for the first time in at least a half an hour. Her eyes fall gentle and she opens her palm, inviting mine, "My girl, going to one of the country's top arts schools."

I try to smile but my lip quivers. There are so many emotions flooding through me right now. I've been planning this moment for the longest time, playing out every possible outcome from the second I finally say goodbye.