Finding Carolina

Chapter Two

The drive was long and boring but Courtney didn't mind. As every mile passed she felt a sense of empowerment. She was doing it, finding herself. But she had a feeling in her stomach that was making her anxious.

Should she even call Emerson when she got there? She had no idea. She needed a friend, maybe her mom got her a room with two beds; she would offer to share if he didn't have a room. She really hoped their exploring didn't lead them to The Arch. She was terrified of heights. It seemed that she had decided; she would call Emerson. Maybe he was headed to a Carolina as well. They could find themselves in Carolina. Together.

Courtney shook her head. That was a silly thought. Honestly, what did she think, that they would adventure together? Trying to find oneself in the company of another would be okay, right?

In the nearly five hours it took her to reach St. Louis, Courtney thought about what she would do when she reached her final destination, find a home, get a job, gain residency and start school? Or would she go home and try again? It was the middle of June and she really wasn't ready to just arrive somewhere. Her phone rang again; it was her aunt calling.

"Hey," she smiled into her phone.

"Heard you made your escape and are due to be arriving in St Louis soon."

"Yeah, I should be arriving to my hotel in about a half hour."

"May I recommend your next destination?"

"Sure."

"I want you to go to Nashville Tennessee, I will get you a hotel there for two days from now so you have time to see St Louis and get there as well."

"What's in Nashville?"

"Something fun." She answered simply.

"Thank you Aunt Meredith."

"I'm rooting for you. Also, Hudson gave me a call this morning. You didn't tell him you were leaving?"

"He would have made me stay."

"I understand, but call him soon dear, he knows your phone works."

"I will when I arrive, I promise."

"Okay honey bunches, good luck and call me when you arrive safely in Tennessee."

"Alright, I will speak with you soon."

Courtney felt blessed to have such an understanding and supportive family as hers, not everyone was so lucky. She parked her Jeep in the parking lot of her hotel and grabbed her duffel bag and her purse. As she walked into the Holiday Inn the cool air conditioning blasted her in the face.

"Welcome to Holiday Inn, do you have a reservation?" The clerk behind the desk asked her.

"Yes, my name is Courtney Austin."

The clerk looked at her list and nodded, "I have you in room 375, it's a quick ride up the elevator, down the hallway and to your left." She handed her a room key and gestured in the direction of the elevator.

"Thank you!" Courtney gave her a smile and proceeded up the elevator and to her room. She pulled her long dark hair into a ponytail and set her bag down. She then pulled out her phone and called Hudson.

"Courtney Blair, where are you?" He sounded angry and concerned.

"I'm in St Louis." She said as she walked down the stairs and to her car again to grab her cooler.

"What are you doing there?"

"I left! I can't explain it. We have been talking for months now about how I needed to find myself and I decided to do it."

" Yeah, find yourself HERE! Come home and we can do this together." His tone was that of finality but Courtney wasn't going to let herself be swayed by him. She had been too often in the past.

"I'm sorry but this is something I had to do myself." She grunted as she picked up her cooler.

"What are you lifting? Court, just stop this and come home."

"I'm sorry H, I'm not coming home any time soon."

"Courtney!" She turned as she heard Emerson calling her name.

"Listen Hudson, I've got to go. I promise I will call you tomorrow and we can talk some more."

"Okay. Be careful Court."

"Bye H, talk to you soon."

"Bye C."

She hung up her phone with a sigh.

"Boyfriend?" Emerson had finished walking up to her as she had said her goodbyes with Hudson.

"Yeah."

Emerson quickly wiped the disappointment off his face. "I'm glad I bumped into you! Are you staying here?"

"I am actually."

"Okay, I really don't think it's a coincidence that we are staying in the same hotel."

"No way! You're here too?" She asked incredulously.

"I am, room 374."

"That's right across the hall from mine."

"Perfect! What are you doing tonight?"

"I'm not sure yet. How about you?"

"My dad found out I was in St. Louis and sent me baseball tickets on my phone. Would you like to accompany me?"

"Sure! Do we have time to get dinner? And possibly do a little shopping? I don't have a Cardinals jersey yet."

"It's four and the game starts at seven, we have plenty of time. I also need a jersey."

Courtney gave him a big smile. "Perfect! Let me just get this cooler to my room and grab my purse. Maybe I should change too." She grimaced at her appearance; her leggings and cropped t shirt were doing her no justice at all.

"I think you look fine but do as you wish." Emerson laughed and grabbed her cooler for her. "We think a lot alike Miss Courtney; I have a cooler as well. Although my food isn't quite as healthy as yours."

Courtney laughed and led the way inside. "Well maybe you could learn a thing or two from me."

"I plan to learn a lot from you."

She smiled as she opened the door to her room. Then she turned to Emerson. "Can we meet in an hour?"

"Absolutely." He said shutting the door behind him. She heard a faint "see you soon" as the door across the hall shut.

A/N: Chapter Two! Please leave a vote and a comment!