16 Reasons Why

New Beginnings

"Yolanda! Wake up! Your flight is in a few hours," my mom called from the kitchen.

Today was the day. I was flying to New York. I had somehow gotten into NYU, a college that finally accepted me. After about 8 applications, NYU accepted me.

I head downstairs to find my stepdad reading the newspaper while my mom cooks breakfast.

"Hey sweetheart," he says to me. I hate when he calls me that. I am not related to him, I do not like him, and I'm not comfortable with it. I put up with it anyway because my mom somehow loves him.

"Hey," I say in a cold voice. I sit down at the table as my mom puts down three plates of food for us all.

"So honey, are you excited for today," mom asks.

"Sure, mom." I don't know what else to say. It's just like every other first day of school, other than there being many more people, and a way bigger campus. Not to mention, living there for the next few years of my life.

I finish my breakfast and head upstairs to get ready. After picking out a comfortable outfit and putting on some light makeup, I look around my room. I pack a few last minute things and bring my suitcases downstairs.

I told my mom yesterday that I just want it to be her and me on the ride to the airport. Before we get in the car, my stepdad comes out and kisses my mom goodbye. I have to turn away to keep from gagging. We get in the car and embark on our silent drive to the airport.

As we walk into the airport my mom starts talking.

"You're going to call me every day, right?"

"Not everyday, mom."

"Okay. How about twice a week?"

"Sure, mom."

She starts to babble on about how lonely she would be if she didn't have my stepdad. I zone out. I love my mom, but I really don't want to hear about my stepdad. Or be near him. Or even think about him. Something is just off about him and I don't like it. That's one of the reasons I chose to go to a college far away.

We hear the announcer call my flight.

We head over to the gate and I head through, after saying goodbye and hugging my mom.

When I am on the plane, I find my seat. Opening Spotify, I put on my headphones and listen to the "Healing Heartbreak" playlist, I made. I'm not heartbroken, I just love the type of music on it. I close my eyes, blocking out the world, and fall into a deep sleep.

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Someone shakes me awake, lightly. I open my eyes. A girl dressed in a preppy uniform stands in front of me. She says something, but its muffled out by Halsey. I take off my headphones.

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"Oh uh, the flight is landing soon," she says.

"Thank you," I respond.

I wait for the plane to land. After getting off the plane and getting outside, I call over a taxi.

The taxi driver looks a little sketchy but I get in any way and ask him to take me to NYU.

"Why are you going there? Aren't you a little too young for college?" he asks.

"Oh my god! Why does everyone think I'm so young? I'm twenty-one! Ugh!"

"Sorry, sorry..."

We continued the drive, silently. I give him a twenty dollar bill when we arrived, and I got out. I walk up to the check-in table.

"Hi! Welcome to NYU," a preppy and overly positive girl says, "tell me your name, last name first, first name last."

"Reed, Hazel."

To be continued...

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