Letters For Indie

~Chapter 4~

Around 1 o'clock, my stomach and my mind were at war.

Yes, all I want to do is lie here on my bed with my face mashed into the pillows, but yes, I am starving.

My chest felt congested and my head was spinning like a Cirque Du' Soleil trapeeze artist.

If I was trapped in Hallowsbury until I graduated, I might as well take advantage of the one thing every teenager lives for....food.

I looked through my largest suitcase, to be met with the unfriendly surprise that my entire wardrobe consisted of outfits fit for any other rainy, cold day in Washington.

I threw on the least wooly outfit I could find, which was a plain white t-shirt and some stonewashed skinny jeans.

I styled my waves into a dishelved french braid and placed it to one side of my face.

With a whisk of Soft Berry Shine over my cracked lips, and some light mascara, I was ready to face my first actual experience of Hallowsbury.

I grabbed my purse and my favorite sweater. Favorite because it still smelled like home.

Careful not to draw any unwanted attention from Martin and Jewel, I creeped down the stairs and out the front door, praying they wouldn't notice.

The salty air that smelled, and tasted, like seasalt and pine touched my cheeks as soon as the light hit my face. So this is California.

I hopped off the front door steps and looked left and right --mothers and their infants in strollers making their way down the sidewalks, a few dogwalkers, and a group of guys playing basketball at the edge of the street.

I shoved my hands into my sweater pockets and kept my eyes focused on the ground.

A girl in a bright pink bikini listening to music on her phone jogged right past me.

A few guys driving past in their Mustang rolled down the windows and hollered at me.

I was intent on not making eye contact and just kept walking.

I could see Odessy Beach clearly now --the colorful blue and red umbrellas, the people playing volleyball and sunbathing, the kids building sandcastles, the couples making out in the water.

Grasping my purse close to my chest, I turned the corner of Point Avenue.

The smell of freshly toasted burger buns and pickles jarred my senses and I was craving a juicy burger before I even entered the restaurant.

"The Peach Pit" read an oversized board on top of the building. A little boy was taking a bite out of the t.

I smiled to myself and opened the doors.

The whole place was filled with people my age.

Teenagers dressed in beach wear sat huddled in booths and crowded onto the red and white tables. Workers buzzed around, shouting out orders and laughing and talking amongst themselves.

Everything was perfect and in place, except me.

I waited in line for about fifteen minutes, and finally managed to squeeze myself in front of a cashier to place my order.

"Three double stack surprises and two orders of fries," I muffled.

The cashier was a tall, skinny guy with multiple piercings and tattoos.

His eyes trailed down my figure, and he brought his lip piercing between his teeth.

"What was that, babe?" he asked.

"Three double stack surprises, two orders of fries. Please," I said, hoping he'd just let me pay and get out of there.

He licked his lips.

What a pig.

"Sure thing. That'll be 17.50 babe," he said, forcing a smile.

I handed him a twenty and reached for the check, careful not to touch him.

I shuffled into a corner near the bathroom, and waited for them to call my number.

Nine, nine, please call nine. Please. I just want to leave.

I looked to my right, and saw a red head sitting on her boyfriend's lap, eating his face off. I shivered in disgust.

"Order number nine! Order number nine, please!" I heard a feminine voice shout.

I rushed towards the pick-up counter, grabbed the paper bag in my hands like my life depended on it, and turned around quickly.

Crash.

Two gorgeous chocolate brown eyes met my own, and before I knew it I was on the ground.