Time to get out

Take a little plane ride

I woke up, my head pounding from last night. i rolled over, slightly being restricted by the doona that was wrapped around me. I saw Steph's brown hair fanning out around her head as she slept, makeup smudged under her eyes and I'm not 100% sure but i think thats a hickey just under her jaw. I chuckle at the thought of her disgiust when she remembers the guy that gave it too her. Some bearded toole from the club we went too who was all over. I kicked her with my foot and she slowly rolled over.

i crawled to the end of the bed, grabbing the four aspirin and two glasses of water we left there before going out last night. I swalled mine and then handed her the fizzy water. She sat up, gulped it down, then lay back down. 

"I'm having a shower." I mumble, rolling out of bed and pulling down the big shirt i slept in that had bunched around my stomach. I shuffled into the onsweet, turning on the hot water and stripping. After cleaning my face and washing my hair i began to list the things we had to do before we left. Yes, we are leaving today. Leaving home, leaving uni, leaving the country. We are getting out of here, finally.

As I wrapped the towel around me i started getting nervous. Could I really leave all this behind? My mum, my brother, Steph's little sisters who felt like my own. And what about my other friends? What about the people i saw at work, and the people i pass in the mornings when i went for a run. what if we follow through with our original plan and never come back? What if i never see my house, my street again? Oh god i need to stop this. I quickly ran a brush through my wet hair before chucking on matching black undies and bra that Steph, Kat and I had bought last week for this day. Steph and Kat are my best friends. I slept over at Steph's last night so we could leave together but Kat's mum wanted a bit more time with her so she is meeting us at the airport. My mum is actaully coming here to Steph's this morning which is weird but whatever, I am kinda glad. I mean, i wont see her for at least a couple of months, depening if she wants to come over for christmas. I sigh, unfolding the clothes i have had out for about a week. I dont think i could have been more prepared if i tried. I slipped on my favourite light wash jeans, black shirt and leather jacket and chucked some socks on my feet, deciding not to wear my shoes just yet. I emerge from the bathroom, Steph sitting up in bed waiting for me. She smiles weakly and i slip back into bed beside her. 

"Are we really leaving Harper?" She whisperes. I loop my arm around her and hug her. Not something we do very often.

"Steph, we are getting out of here. It's what we always wanted. Remember back in highschool, it was all we could talk about. just getting out and not leaving each other behind. We are gonna get on that plane, leave this world behind us and start again in Manchester. Like we always wanted." She tightened her grip around my neck.

"Thankyou Harps. You are the best." i hold her for a little bit longer before pushing her into have a shower. She quickly emerged from the bathroom though, shock filling her face and one of her matte black finger nails pointing to the not so small purple bruise at the base of her jaw. I shrugged, laughing, and recieved a pillow to my face as she retreated back to stare at herself a little more. 

I looked over at the clock, 10.46 AM. Our plane leaves at 3 but we decided to arrive there at 1, just to be sure. I could hear Steph's little sisters downstairs, laughing and a TV blasted the wiggles somewhere. I would miss them. Livi, the youngest was going to be a real bull buster when she grew up and Jess, the second youngest, took greatly after Steph, her obsession with cars and rap music slightly worrying the 7 year olds parents. but only a little. And then there was Abbi. She was 12 and although her tumblr was full of selfies and OBEY flat caps, she was still one of the coolest people i had ever known. I contemplated going downstairs to say good morning to them all but instead i put my shoes by the door and stuffed my dress and heels from last night into my suitcase, zipping it up and placing it next to my shoes. I then joined Steph in the bathroom as i did my make up and finally my hair. My blond locks didnt do very much, sitting just below my shoulders, but i parted it down the middle and tucked it behind my ears, just as Steph finished tying her shoelaces. She wore a tight black dress with a denim jacket on and her old worn out convers. she chucked on some jewellery and flicked her dark her to one side, the blond ends standing out nicely. her hair wasnt much longer then mine after we both cut of our boob length hair a few months ago. I turned to her and she turned to me. 

"This is it Harper." she said holder out her hand.

"Let's take on the world." i said giving her a high five before a quick hug. I slipped my black buckled boots onto my feet and grabbed our suitcasses, opening the door and saying a lst good bye to Stephs bed where it's safe to say i have slept in more then she has.

Once downstairs we were bombarded with kisses and hugs from Livi, Jess and Abbi and finallay a good morning from Kerry, Stephs mum. Neil, her dad, then walked in from the back door, an old soccer ball in his hands. 

"Stehpy, you are the closest thing i ever had to a son. You are the only one who will play soccer with me, so take this ball. It isn't needed here anymore." He said quietly holding it out to her. Now i dont know about Steph but that was enough to make me cry. I saw the shine of tears on her face she rushed into his arms and from that moment on, all the mascara i had put on washed right off, not helped by the arrival of my mother and brother. After alot more cying and some breakfast, of course, we piled into our seperate cars, the hour long drive to the Brisbane airport filled with every memory we could fit in. But it was over too fast and soon i was, with the help of my older brother, Mason, lugging my two suitcases through to the departures lounge. As i entered I saw Kat, her mum, stepdad and brother. I dropped my bag and ran into her arms a smallish scream leaving our lips.

"We are finally do this!" she whispered

"Yeh we are!" i said back pulling back and taking in her outfit. black leather leggings, a large white t-shirt and even bigger blue flannel that i think belongs to her brother, Liam. 

"Nice outfit by the way." I say to her as we both dissolve into giggles. Just then Steph and her family arrive and my mum and Mason catch up and we hug everyone alot more and cry a little bit more, then i am facing my mum.

"Is this really what you want, Harper?" she askes sadly. "To leave home?"

I sigh, i was ready for this. 'Mum, I love you more then i love anyone, but this hasnt felt like a home for a long time. Ever since dad died it's just not right. I am so sorry for leaving you here but I just can't walk around the same house that he will never come home to. I can't go to the beach that he loved so much. and seeing his picture all over the house, you know, they went from family portraits to mini memorials."

"Then move out but don't leave." she argued back

"It's not just that mum, I need to go and find myself. To creat my own roots somewhere. I need to do this for me."

she nodded, pulling my down to her. "Be safe babygirl. And you can always come home again." I stopped myself from telling her that i don't plan on ever comeing back and simply hug her one last time. I then pull my cases after my and join Steph and Kat by the customs door. I didnt realise how hard this would be. I wave, blowing kisses at the little girls and quickly run for one last hug with Mason before we stepped through the door and they dissapeared from view.