The Love in Dance

The Long Road Trip

The next few days flew by. I only had four days left before I left. My parents would drive out with me helping bring all my stuff out and to help settle me in. I wouldn't be keeping my car up there because there isn't really any parking. So I would get to really experience the New York life.

My room was full of boxes and bags. By the looks of the apartment I would be living in, it was fully furnished and all I would need was personal belongings. It was really nice and surprisingly my parents agreed.

The next few days were a clutter. Packing everything into the back of my dad's truck, not sure if it all would fit. Saying goodbye to Evelyn, my brother in law, my nephews, my dog peanut, and my close friends from high school. My best friend Claire will be going to Columbia so we'll make plans to visit each other.

My dad hopped in the front seat, my mom in the passenger, Hudson would be staying with my grandparents not wanting to miss football camp, and me sitting in the back seat we got on the road. There would be a long thirty six hours ahead but I would be so much closer to my dreams.

With taking many road trips when I was younger it was really nice having the whole back seat to myself. I had a few bags with me because they couldn't fit in the bed of the truck. The radio was turned on to my favorite station and my parents were having conversation to themselves. It was kind of nice just having some me time with my parents.

A few hours passed. We stopped to get some dinner at a fast food restaurant. It was 6:00 and I was over sitting in the back already. I put my earbuds in and plugged them into my iPod. I started my classical music playlist and dozed off.

The music came on and I knew it was my cue. The curtain came up and I was in position. My body took over muscle memory taking over. I moved with the music like I was floating. It came so easy. The music started coming to an end my body moving towards my final position. The crowd roared. The applause filled me with such joy and an overwhelming feeling. The dream ended with an abrupt jolt. I sat up looking around remembering I was in the back of the truck. I saw brake lights in front of us and as far down the road as I could see. You could see the faint flashing lights of a police car. "There must've been an accident" my mother said quietly. "I wonder what happened", I responded. My parents both surprised by my voice obviously surprised I was awake. We shuffled along until the next exit noticing a hotel. It was a Best Western. My parent pulled their little carry ons out of the truck as I grabbed my backpack from the cab. We walked in to find a very tired looking concierge sitting at the desk. "Oh hello", she said as she looked up. "Hi, do you have any rooms available?" My dad asked. "Yes would you like a two bedroom or a one?" "One will be okay I think" as he looked at my mother. My mother nodded encouragingly. As my father continued going over details with the concierge, I sat down on the couch in the lobby still very tired from my awakening. "Honey are you ready" my mother asked politely. "Mhmm" I replied.

We entered the room. It was quite small but good enough for one night. Two full sized beds next to each other. I decided to shower before going to bed. The bathroom was really nice and the warm water felt good after sitting in a car for more almost a full day. I stood under the water for a long time before deciding I was done. I dried off real quick and changed into a pair of pajama pants and a t shirt. I dried of my long dirty blonde hair as best as I could. I opened the door and immediately heard the sound of my dad snoring. I quietly tiptoed to my bed and climbed into the sheets. One of the best feelings in the world is the feeling of clean hotel sheets. I fell asleep right away.

"Honey, it's time to wake up. Annabelle..." my mother shaking me quietly. I groaned not wanting to leave the comfy bed. I slowly rolled over to see my mother all dressed and ready to go. Her short blonde hair pulled as best into a ponytail as she could. She was wearing a pair of athletic pants and a sweatshirt. I sat up still not awake, seeing the hurry behind my mother's blue eyes. I climbed out of bed and found my bag. I picked it up and went into the bathroom. I tried to hurry but I felt like a zombie. I undressed and put on the first things I grabbed. I brushed out my hair which in the end still looking like I had bed head. I braided it quickly in a side braid and brushed my teeth. The minty taste helped wake me up. I stuffed my pj's back into my bag and put on my converse.

Welcome to Oklahoma. A sign we just drove by read. Oklahoma I thought. I had never actually seen anything cool in Oklahoma, it was just a common state we always drove through whenever on a roadtrip. I google on my phone 'cool things to see in Oklahoma'. "Oklahoma City Memorial and Cowboy Culture" sounds pretty cool to me. I'm going to have to come back here and sight see sometime.

I ended up watching a movie on my phone.

A few hours passed and we stopped to get something to eat at a little diner. It was really nice to get up and walk around. I ordered a cheeseburger and a strawberry shake. Thirty minutes later we were back in the truck. I decided I would try to take a nap.

It felt like hours later when I woke up. The clock on the dash read 4:38. 'Yikes" I thought, I really was tired. "Where are we?" I asked. "We're in still in Oklahoma". "Ugh", I responded. I was done being in the car. I started watching dance videos on youtube. I watched this one where it was absolutely beautiful the way the couple moved together. It was as if they were one. I've always wanted to dance with someone that way.

With dance being one of my most important dreams, I never really had time for boys. I had many crushes throughout high school but never a boyfriend. I always tried my best in school hoping to impress my parents or give them something to be proud of me for. I've dreamed and imagined having a boyfriend but it never really happened. I've always wanted someone who I could dance with and who shared the same love towards dance as me. I wanted someone who I could dance as one with like the couple in the video.

Thinking about this had me dreaming. A couple of hours passed by and we stopped for gas. We picked something up to snack on. I went into the gas station to go to the bathroom. It was a nasty bathroom but I really had to pee and I didn't think I could hold it until the next stop. I suffered through it and went outside to the truck. My mom had picked up some gold fish, chips, a lot of candy, animal crackers, and a couple of sodas. I started snacking right away. I turned on another movie on my phone and laid my head back.

We pulled off as soon as we got to Missouri. There was a small Holiday Inn that we decided we would stay in tonight. It was really late and we were all surprised they were still open. We got a two bedroom this time because that's all they had. I showered quickly, very tired. I climbed into the bed and as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out.

I woke up to the sun shining through the window. It seemed way too early to be up. I looked around the room looking for a clock. I was unsuccessful in finding one so i started lo I looked around the room for a clock. I couldn't seem to find one. I started looking for my phone. It must've fallen off the bed during my sleep because I found it underneath the bed. 6:34 my phone read. It did not seem like it was 6:34 in the morning. I rolled out of bed. Changing quickly before opening the door that connects with the other room.

My parents were sound asleep. I gently shook my mother. "What's going on?", she asked sleepily. "Nothing, I was just wondering when we were going to be leaving?" "what time is it now?". "6:46", I replied. She sat up and shook my father awake.

An hour later we were checked out and ready to get on the road.

The day seemed to go by very slow today. We have about sixteen hours left before getting to New York.

I slept most of the day, being bored and having nothing else to do. I read a book for a little bit, listened to music, watched a movie, and watched each welcome sign we passed.

Finally we arrived to the hotel we would be staying in for the night. It was some local hotel. It kind of looked like a little cottage. It was quite cute.

I didn't sleep at all. I kept trying to but sleep just wouldn't come. I layed awake waiting for the time to pass. I guess I was too excited. Tomorrow I would finally be in New York, beginning my new life.