Lily

1.

Grey T shirt, blue jeans, standard hiking boots, and a Panic! At The Disco hoodie. A leather messenger bag in which was a gold flannel and a Hufflepuff long tie, a knife, my fire dancing gear, a blanket and a pillow. I got dressed, and left the house, five hundreds in my pocket.

Before the sun rose, I was nearly across the next town. By the time the sun was two fingers over the hill tops, I was five towns away from there. By breakfast time, I was at the freeway entrance I had aimed to be at by noon. I'd done it, I'd run away. Never will I look back; I held out my thumb, going south.

Walking along three hours later, after my morning ride had stopped for brunch, I realized I'd already taken off a day from my travel time. I should tell my future roommate, but I don't have change or a phone. They'll just be surprised, traveling from California to New York on foot is unpredictable.

I began tiring from hunger, but pushed onward, entertaining myself with thoughts of my ideal roommate. I wondered why they wouldn't tell me about themselves before I left. I pondered their gender, their appearance, their lifestyle, everything.

After near a quarter hour of pondering, I remembered I wanted to cut my hair. Pulling out my knife, I walked into the bathroom at the rest stop I'd found myself at. Using the mirror, my hair was cut jagged, and flyaway. I watched the dirty blonde locks fall, revealing someone I wanted to be. My green eyes stared back at me, smiling in earnest for the first time in my memory; I looked like a boy.

I walked out of the guys room with my head held high, and walked back to the freeway. Left thumb out, going over the information I had about my soon to be roommate. They're nocturnal, and wanted a morning person to stay at the house pretty much all night and make them dinner, but not have to pay rent. So far, I doubted I'd end up seeing them much, but that was fine.

They seemed nice, they'd transferred my credits as if I was coming from home school, and recommend I get a bird of prey because everyone needs a pet, but they're allergic to dogs. They'd put together a room for me, with California king bed, a yellow and black colour scheme, bookshelves lining the wall between my door to the hall and my door to my bathroom, and three windows on the third story. They'd even taken the time to fill the bookshelves with books I liked or wanted to read, a copy of each in Spanish and in English. They'd put up a Panic! poster, and a wood burned sign that said Hufflepuff.

Overall, my new life sounded ideal. I'd be known as Julian instead of Ava, my birthday was August 5th, my hair was short, and nobody would know about my past. I got to make it all up as I went. Start entirely from scratch, everything I'd been begging for of late.

A horn honking to my left brought me out of my thoughts. A Jeep had braked next to me, and was slowing to a stop a few hundred feet in front of me. I ran to catch up to the car, and the back passenger door was flung open for me.

"Where you headed, Kid?" Asked the man driving as I pulled to door shut. He looked near forty, red brown hair and a good beard. The brunette next to him had deep brow eyes and a bright smile as she turned to face me.

"New York, or as close as you can get me. I've planned a week to get there, leaving Cali this morning." I responded, looking around the car. The radio was playing ' boulevard of broken dreams' by Green Day, which I found oddly fitting for my life as a whole.

I was in a three row car, and in the back were twin boys of near seven, and a three year old girl. In the seat next to me sat a gorgeous blond with bright blue eyes, and a body like a super model. On her other side was an infant in a backwards facing car seat with the sun shade pulled down.

"We're actually on the way there, returning from summer vacations visiting the family. Where about are you heading in NY?" The man asked, surveying me in the mirror.

"Rochester, citrine street, to be exact. You guys?" I looked back at him through the mirror. But it wasn't him who responded.

"We live a few blocks from there. Are you the sophomore that's moving into 739?" The girl sitting next to me asked.

"Yes, Julian Fang." I held out my hand, and smiled as dazzling as I could.

"That's a cool last name!" Chimed the boy behind her.

"I'm Lillian Danielson. Behind me are Harley, Alex, and Ginny. On my left is Luna" she says, from right to left. Then gestures to the covered car seat.

"So your the Fang's kid. They told me they'd be adopting a responsible, respectful kid. I got to help decorate your room. Hufflepuff, right Julian?" He didn't take his eyes off the road.

"Yes sir, and thank you! They sent me a picture of the decor, and it looks really homey."

"How'd you end up in California if you live in New York?" Asked the twin in green, Alex I believe.

"Well Alex, you're Alex right?" I turned to regard him, and he nodded, "I'm a foster kid, and was last placed by the government in a house in California that wasn't a good fit, and the Fangs said I could only live with them if I could get there myself. So I grabbed what I own, and took off. I've gotten this far all today, and my trip is only looking easier. I'll probably be there half a week before planed. Thank you Mr. Danielson!" I added brightly.

"No problem kid, you can ride all the way with us. Mr. Fang was bragging about how he was adopting a young man perfect for when I want to introduce my Lovely Lillian to dating."

"Dad! Gross!" Lillian snapped.

"What, you don't want me to embarrass you in front of the cute guy?" Mr. Danielson smirked. "What would we like for lunch?" He pulled off the freeway.

"Burgers!" Chanted the twins in unison.

"I want a milkshake." Chimed Ginny.

"Steak sounds amazing just now, with baked potatoes and a big soda.." Lillian's mouth watered. Mr. Danielson chuckled.

"Well kids, I think burgers and stake it is. Julian, feel free to eat with us. They serve too much food, so if you don't mind you can eat the kids broccoli and Lilly's second potato. That sound alright?" He stopped the car and turned to face me.

"That sounds amazing, I haven't eaten all day, whatever food is thrown at me at this point will be devoured." I smiled gratefully at him.

"So that makes it ok to treat him like a dog! We can't just give Julian our scraps, it's rude!" Lillian burst out.

"Really, it's fine. I haven't eaten all day, and if y'all didn't give me your unwanted food I wouldn't eat at all today. And it's not like you've eaten half of it or anything, plus I'm a hitchhiker, normal people don't pick us up, much less give us food. Thanks for your concern, but I'll eat whatever's offered to me."

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And with that, we conclude the first chapter. I hope you've enjoyed it, and will be reading the next. If not, thanks at least for reading the first, and if so, see you next chapter!

-L. L.