Tεrribly Pεrfεct

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

“I can’t believe this rain,” I groaned, barely staying awake as we continued on our 2,400 mile journey to California.

"I know," She shrugged, flipping open her cell phone, "How much longer?"

"Two hours," I smirked, nudging her softly.

This was Jessica, my human guide to all things life related. If I ever had a question about problems or how to handle a certain situation, she knew all the answers. Jessica and I had been friends forever, her and I going through similar issues back when we were living with our parents. That was what had actually connected us in the first place, we were both forced to church youth group...by our mothers.

"Do you think we're going to be the only ones here without parents waving us goodbye?" She mumbled, suddenly turning the mood sour. I shot her a diminished frown, knowing that we probably would be.

"I don't think so," I lied, watching the sky grow darker. My eyes were burning because of how long we had been driving already, both Jessica and I hadn't slept since we began our trip to UCLA. We were both tired, cranky and extremely nervous about this new chapter in our lives.

"At least your aunt is coming," I finished, her deep blue eyes shooting my way.

We both fell silent, our conversation falling quite dull as my mind raced. I know she was probably more nervous about this than I was, but for some reason I just couldn't hold it together either.

You know those times where something super exciting is going on, but you just can't fight the nerves and anxiety? Well, this was one of those times. As happy as I knew this transition into college would better me, I still couldn't stop thinking about how much change was about to happen and how much I would have to discover this new life.

"And your parents...?" She asked me, her expression turning soft. I shook my head immediately, knowing full well they wouldn't be showing up.

My parents were back home in Georgia, right smack dab in a small little town that I never wanted to go back to. The town I grew up in was quiet, reserved and too sheltered for me to further my life. To say my parents were exactly like the town was an understatement.

My parents wanted me to stay in Georgia, they actually begged and pleaded for me to stay. It only got worse when they gave me the ultimatum that would change my life, "If you don't go to school where we would feel safe sending you too, then you're cut off, for good."

As you can probably assume, I left.

"Did your mom even say goodbye to you?" She cracked, leaning back in her seat as we continued to drive.

"Yeah right," I muttered, "The last thing she said to me was to call her when I changed my mind. Clearly she won't be changing her mind anytime soon."

Jessica sighed, a loud over exaggerating sigh that commanded all of my attention.

Jessica's story was a bit different than mine, but still to this day, I don't know exactly what went on. All I heard on her end was how her parents kicked her out because they caught her smoking pot in the backyard a few times and finally they had enough. I knew it probably involved more then that, but so far, that was all Jessica had spoken about.

"You know, I wonder how Stephanie and Hannah are handling this drive," She giggled, leaning back in her chair.

I smiled to myself, knowing full well that Hannah was probably talking and driving and Stephanie would be asleep. Hannah and Stephanie were my other two best friends and they were also going to be living with us for the next year.

We continued the last of our two hours in full blown music listening mode; even in the dark I could see the flourishing palm trees and the bright lights of the city surround us as we began to drive closer. Jessica and I were baffled, completely surprised at how warm and alive the streets of the campus were at this time of night.