Catch Me

Chapter 1

When my alarm finally went off I was wide awake, and had been for hours. I had barely slept during the night, my mind and stomach had been a crazy mix of nervousness and excitement. Everything hit me last night, the fact that I would be in a new place, new people and the fact that'd it be a place where I could be the one to label myself, not my family, not my friends, me.

I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen where mum, dad and Dylan are already sitting at the island. There's a stack of pancakes in front of them. "Take as many as you want," mum says, gesturing towards the pancakes. I nod, grab a plate and pile 3 on and sit down beside Dylan. "This is the last time in a while that we'll  be sitting together like this hey," said dad with a small smile. I nod finishing off my first pancake.

I place my dish in the sink and turn to dad "when are we leaving for the airport?" I ask. "10," he says "but be ready by 9:50." I nod and turn to walk back up the stairs to get changed. It's about 9:30 so I have about 20 minutes to get ready. I grab my pile of clothes from my dresser and walk into my adjoining bathroom.

I pull my army green jacket over my striped, thin sweater then wiggle into my ripped, skinny blue jeans. Even though it's summer, it's still quite cold. My hand hovers over my makeup but I decide against it, it's just a flight and I'm never usually bothered with makeup anyway. I run my fingers through my dirty blonde hair and tie it up into a ponytail. Most people question the fact that everyone in my family besides me have dark hair, brown eyes and tan skin while I have dirty blonde hair, light blue eyes and pale skin.

The family I live with aren't my biological family but they're the closest I have. I don't remember much of my parents but from what the social workers had told me when I was 6 my mum had died and my dad was an alcoholic. From the ages 4 to 7 I was constantly jumping between foster homes but I had always ended up unwanted, I was an extra burden that no one needed. Until I was fostered by the Campbel family. They had been having fertility problems so after they were looking to adopt, which they did when I was 8. In the beginning I hated it, I felt different and even though they were trying their best to be warm to me it was weird.

I hated the way all of my friends were my friends because of pity, one way or another they had learnt that I was adopted, that I had been thrown away by so many people. To this day I still hate it but I'm grateful. I'm one of the lucky ones, I'm lucky that this family didn't give up on me, that the social workers came in before it was too late.

I look at myself in the bathroom mirror one last time before walking back into my bedroom, grabbing my tan backpack and suitcase. My suitcase is packed to the brim but I manage to heave it down the staircase without too much difficulty. Dad is already standing at the door with mum and Dylan. Mum opens the door for us and I hear her say shakily under her breath "this is it."

During the drive to the airport I end up playing a game of I spy with Dylan. He's only 4 so it wasn't very difficult. We park at the airport and step out. Dad drags my suitcase behind him while I hold hands with Dylan. Mum walks behind us and I can hear her starting to tear up.

Mum stands behind me as I hug Dad. She promised she wouldn't cry but her cheeks are wet and her eyes are red. Dad lets go of my and I crouch down to Dylan for a hug. "Avy?" he asks as I pull away. I look at him and he continues. "can I go with you?" "Why do you want to go with me?" I ask with a laugh "you have mummy and daddy here!" "But mummy and daddy don't play soccer with me or give my piggy backs." I think I literally hear mum explode with tears after he says that. "I'll come back," I say "and when I do I'll piggyback you as much as you want and teach you some new soccer tricks ok?" He nods a huge grin on his face, I smile back and kiss his cheek before standing back up.

"Facetime us every week," mum says giving me yet another hug "and don't do anthing naughty, no alcohol, no drugs..-" I interrupt her with a laugh "I won't, trust me," I say. "This is it," she says wiping her tears away "you grew up so fast." I laugh and draw her in for another hug "I'll miss you," I say.

 I walk into the Starbucks opposite my gate, the smell of coffee instantly hitting me. There's barely anyone in starbucks so I don't have to wait long to order. I order a caramel flan latte as not sleeping through the night has finally made an affect on me. When my name is called I grab my drink and walk out of Starbucks. I walk around searching for a newsagency so that I can buy some treats for the plane. When I find one I walk inside and grab a packet of M&Ms without thinking. I have an inhumanely large obsession with them.

I pull my backpack strap onto my shoulder when I hear my boarding group being called. Before I step onto my plane I slap my hand onto the outside of the airplane, something that dad always told me to do. My mind was buzzing with emotion, here we go.