Over and Over Again

Ch 1

Ch 1: Destination 1, New York City

It was Thursday, June 1st, 3am I was later in the morning for the Ruth Travel Foundation trip. I was excited. And mortified.

I'd gotten all the way to the door with all of my suitcases when I turned back and thought of Miles. I couldn't get the image out of my mind of my little brother waking up, scared as hell, because I was gone.

My mind was telling me to leave now before Mom or Mike woke up but my conscience wouldn't let me.

"Fuck you, heart." I muttered as I dropped my bags.

I quickly and quietly made my way to Miles' room. I wanted to get out of there as quick as possible but my conscience wanted to be a bitch.

I lightly shook my brother awake. "Miles." I whispered to him.

"Art? What time is it?" he asked with sleep-deprived eyes.

"It's 3am, baby."

"Why are you awake?"

"I have to leave for a little while."

I saw tears beginning to well up in his eyes. "H-how long?"

"Um. Tha-that's not important-"

"Artemisia, how long?"

I looked away from his pleading eyes. "A year, love."

"A year?!" he said, a bit too loud for my liking.

"Shh. Shh. It's okay."

"Do Mom and Dad know?"

"They don't. And I don't want them to. Pinky promise you won't tell?"

He stuck up his pinky. I did the same and linked my pinky with his, making an unbreakable promise.

"I love you, Miles. Be good for Mom and Mike."

"Okay, Arty. I love you. Here, email me on this," he said as he grabbed a piece of paper off his desk and wrote down an email address.

"Okay, M." I smiled.

I exited his room and got to the door quickly.

I took one last look at the first floor of our house before I got out of there and climbed into my car. I hesitated and almost went back inside but something stopped me.

Do it. You need it. A voice in my head told me. I listened to it and drove towards the airport. I slept for a bit longer in my car then headed inside twenty minutes before my plane was supposed to leave.

There was a man in a suit standing with five other kids around my age. He was holding a sign that said "Artemisia Morgan" with the words "Ruth Travel Foundation: RIsing Stars Winner" in smaller letters underneath it.

I walked towards them with my bags.

"Hi. I'm Artemisia Morgan." I said.

"Eli Calderas. Bodyguard." the man in the suit responded simply, not looking at me.

"Nice to meet you."

He half-smiled but that was the most reaction I was going to get out of him.

I walked back towards the group of people my age.

A girl with long, wavy black hair and tan skin popped up to greet me. "Hi! I'm Georgia. People call me Georgie." she smiled.

"I'm Artemisia. People call me Art."

"It's super nice to meet you. I am so, so excited for this trip."