~AJ~
I tried. I really tried, but the ongoing battle downstairs found its way under my door and into my head.
Yet another argument between parents, about what, I'm not too sure.
Probably money, or me, or both.
I let out a scream, so loud that my throat felt like it was on fire, but not nearly loud enough to compete with those of my father.
I heard a glass smash. The screams continued.
Every minute of every day, I couldn't escape it.
Finally growing tired of the battle of the banshee contest, I pulled open up my laptop and opened up Google.
Flights from London to LA
I scrolled through until I found what I was looking for. I clicked the link and did what I needed to do before closing my laptop and sliding off of my bed. I pulled on my tatty old black converse and an oversized black hoodie, before grabbing my phone, bag and skateboard and jumping out of my bedroom windows, and rolling down the street and into town.
There's a place in ocean avenue..
Yellowcard played through my headphones, becoming the soundtrack of my shopping experience.
I browsed through the clothing racks of primark, trailed through the third eye and wandered around Sports Direct, picking up the things that caught my eye along the way.
Once done, I made my way back home, sneeking back through my bedroom windows and setting myself back on my bed, pulling up my laptop and researching.
At about 11pm the screaming stopped and i heard the door slam. I then heard dad's car back out of the drive and speed down the road.
This was it. This was my chance.
I grabbed my backpack and packed clothes, shoes and the obvious things like a toothbrush,hair brush, make up etc.
When done with that I shoved my laptop in my back pack, grabbed my guitar and skateboard and scrawled a note.
'I'm sorry'
I took one last look around at my tiny box bedroom and let out a sigh. Then something caughty eye, a picture. A photo of me and my grandparents. I smiled and let a few tears fall down my face. I grabbed the silver frame and shoved it into the front pocket of my bag. I let out a big sigh and had a final look around and then took off out of the window.
I'm going to do it, eventually. I'm going to make nana and pops proud. I have too.
*****
I rolled through the airport, straight to the ticket desk.
The lady behind the desk smiled at me.
"how can I help you?" her voice was nasaly and annoying, her tone suggesting that she really didn't want to be here.
"uh, yeah. I booked a ticket to LA earlier, AJ Smith" my voice was small. I wanted to speak to her just ad much as she did me.
"ah! Yes, you paid by card earlier, did you not?"
"uh,yeah"
"okay, just sign here and you can be on your way."
I did what she said, grabbed my ticket, thanked her and made my way towards the terminal, my board beneath my feet.
People pushed and shoved, trying to form an orderly line. I just slipped into any possible gap I could find, trying not to get in anyone's way.
Soon, I was finding my seat and loading my bag and guitar onto the storage above my head. I then settled in my seat and put my headphones in.
This is it. No going back now. I was going to do it, make nana and pops proud. I had to.
It's times like this, I silently thank myself for saving every bit of money I received, and for not touching my savings account as soon as I turned 18. If I had, I wouldn't be leaving that deadbeat town, I wouldn't be leaving all the shit behind. I would be stuck, working 9 hours a day, 6 days a week at a stupid grocery store, having to tend to snotty, rude customers all the time. I would have to put up with the constant war between my parents and the pure hatred from my brother.
I let out a sigh and looked at my phone, I frowned. Just as I had expected, no messages. From anyone.
I dropped phone into my lap and settled further into the uncomfortable aeroplane seats. I looked out of the window, taking one last look at the town I had been stuck in since birth. The flickering street lights slowly faded away as we lifted off into the dull, lifeless sky.
I had to make it.
I needed to.
