1.PILOT
MY GRANDMOTHER DROVE ME TO THE GREYHOUND WITH THE windows rolled up and the heater on full blast. It was fifty-four degrees in Eugene, the sky covered in grey. I was wearing my favorite jacket - a black jean jacket with studs; I was wearing it as a good luck charm. My carry- on item was my old tattered backpack.
Located at the core of the Hampton Roads, a large city named Norfolk existed. It was this place that I was exiled to until I turned twenty. I was forced to live with my father, whom left me with my Grandmother when I was nearly three years old. That event happened after the death of my mother; overdosed on oxycodone. This was the year that he put his foot down; All my life I have been father-less and he has been daughter-less.
It was now to Norfolk that I was escaping. The action of it was more terrifying then I had thought. I detested moving and I detested my father.
I loved Eugene. I loved the bipolar weather and my friends. I loved how downtown was sprawled out with hippies and everyone had such a free spirit.
"Lua," my grandmother snapped me back into reality. This was the moment that we were going to be moving on from each-other. "We are here." She didn't have to tell me, out the window was the greyhound, patiently waiting for me.
My grandmother looks a lot like my mother, except with short curly hair and leathery like skin. I felt a wave of panic as I looked at her, we stared at one another for a second. It was scary to be leaving her, she had raised me ever since I was three and now that I was seventeen it was time for me to make adult choices.
"I'm ready," I lied, knowing very well I was frightened. I knew she saw that I was lying, I had always been a bad liar. I'd always smile or laugh, never being-able to be completely serious in certain situations.
"Tell Ash I said hi."
"I will."
"I'll see you soon," She insisted, I knew that I wouldn't be seeing her anytime soon and we both knew it. "You can always call me or email me. I'll come right back as soon as you need me." As I looked at her, I saw the look she was giving me. There was a sacrifice behind her eyes.
"Don't worry about me Grams," I urged. "It'll be great. I love you."
She hugged me tightly for what seemed like more then a few minutes, and then I got on the greyhound, and she was gone.
It was a four-hour train ride from Eugene to Kansas, another hour in a small plane up to Richmond. The train and plane didn't tend to bother me; the hour in a car with Ash to Norfolk made me slightly uncomfortable.
Ash had been relaxed about the whole situation. He seemed to be excited to have me walk back into his life. This was going to be the first time him and I lived together. He had already gotten me registered for high school and was going to help me with a car. I knew he was willing to try his best to support me, but it was sure to be awkward with him. Neither of us knew each other, and regardless to say; I had a grudge against him.
When I landed in Richmond, it was dark and warm. I didn't see it as a problem, it was like this in Eugene on summer nights. Ash was waiting for me with his old mustang. This was something I didn't expect, a mustang. Ash was a known man around town from what I had heard, but other then that he was nothing but a meat cutter and worked at the local meat packaging plant.
Ash gave me an awkward, one-armed hug when I got off the plane.
"It's good to see you, Lua," He said with a large smile painted on his face. "You have changed so much." He said to me, I slightly rolled my eyes. "How's your grandmother?"
