Career /// Jack Avery

1

Here I was, 17 years old and sitting on a flight taking me across the country with no intention of returning. I had packed very lightly for the simple fact that I didn't tell anyone I was leaving, I just left. The nervousness kicks in as the plane is in the air; my parents, who were so strict are going to freak when they realize I left and am not coming back anytime soon. They just would never understand why I made this decision and they never tried throughout the 4 years I spoke about doing this. They pushed me so hard to use my high school years researching the medical field and becoming a nurse, which was definitely something I was interested in but not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I loved the arts, I sang a lot; even posted a few covers on youtube which got a few thousand views and I worked a lot with makeup, costume, and photography in my high school drama club and in my everyday life with new looks. My parents saw these things as 'hobbies' but I sure as hell didn't and didn't want them to brainwash me into thinking so. I adored my parents, they always want whats best for me and I respect that 100% but sometimes what they think is best for me is just what they wanted to achieve. My dad never made it through high school and my mom never went to college and ironically all she wanted to be was a nurse. Explains why they're pushing me so hard to become one. My parents were always people that tried to live vicariously through their children and they succeeded in brainwashing my older brothers but not me, I refused. So that brings me here, thousands of feet in the air running from the people who I always believed would support me to live with someone I've known for about two years online.

This plane ride was so uncomfortable, I was sitting next to this creepy man who reeked of cigarette smoke and alcoholism. I sat here with my curly hair semi contained on the top of my head in a messy bun, no makeup with the only decoration on my face being my hideous granny looking glasses that i wish i didn't need but not all wishes come true. I was currently blasting blackbear through my headphones and texting Aspen; my lovely internet friend that I am going to be living with out in LA. She's definitely not a person me from three years ago would imagine being friends with as we are polar opposites; her being very outgoing and model-like and me being sort of reserved and always hiding behind a camera; well except when I was standing in front of one singing for my few thousand subscribers.

After what felt like days, the plane finally landed and I was anxious to get the hell off this plane, far away from this smelly man. I tried to dress as thin as possible considering it was going to be slightly warmer in the daytime here than the 60 degree nights that New York has been facing so hard this summer. I walked around LAX with my small suitcase with maybe enough clothes for a week and my makeup and my backpack carrying my camera and macbook. I finally spotted Aspen wearing shorts and a black tank top with her hair laying gracefully on her shoulders and sunglasses resting above her head. I instantly thought about my terrible outfit which consisted of red baggy joggers and a gray boxy crop top with a pair of adidas decorating my feet. I literally looked like garbage. I walked up to her to be greeted by her forever bubbly personality,

"Makkie!" her voice shouted, lord I hated when she called me that and she knew it. She ran to me and instantly threw her arms around me hugging me. I hugged back, happy, which is odd because I hate affection.

"Aspen, oh my god am I happy to see you, that flight was awful." I said to her breaking our hug and adjusting the strap on my shoulder. She linked her arm with my free one and dragged me through the crowds of people towards the exit of the airport where I am literally smacked in the face with the LA heat. Lord it's hot, and it's literally 8 am. She led me to a car that I assumed belonged to her father and then got into the drivers seat and began driving to her house; or should I say home... for now.