Goodbye wasn't something that Maiya Jenkins was used to saying, considering she was never able to stay anywhere long enough to give proper goodbye. She stood in the living room of the East side girls home with the phrase goodbye at the tip of her tongue, she couldn't help but fight back the tears that burned at her eyes, threatening to spill. Familiar faces came running towards her in a hurry and in no time she was engulfed into hugs from those she started to love as family. Making it harder for her to say goodbye and let go of people that she loved so deeply.
I remember being nine years old, dreaming about being a student who attended Famu.
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This is going to be a really loooooooooooooooong trip, it's about a 5-hour plane ride to Tallahassee, Florida and about a 30-minute drive for the airport to the home of the rattlesnake... FAMU. Ever since I was 9, I dreamed of becoming a rattlesnake. I knew that going to Florida will give me a chance to get out of all the system and give me a chance to start over again. I looked at my phone checking the time- 9:00. I called Danny last night to make sure he could pick me up and take me to the airport. Danny has been my best friend since middle school. It all started with a simple game of 7 Minutes in Heaven, which turned into two hours in a room with no food. After that we were inseparable, we did everything together and I guess that this will be our last goodbye together as well. I dragged my suitcase and bag outside onto the porch and plopped down on the stairs. I called his phone and it rings about three times before he answers. "Hello?" Danny answers sleepily. " Where are you?" I asked practically yelling at him."I'm leaving my house now, stop rushing me... I only live 4 minutes from you." He says as he turns on the faucet to brush his teeth I guess. "Okay hurry up, I don't want to be late." I hung up the phone and stared at my home screen which is a picture of the girls from the group home at the annual BBQ. Looking at this picture now makes me miss them all over again and I am only sitting on the stairs outside. Danny pulls up outside in his black Lexus, hops out of the car and puts my bags into the trunk. I got into the passenger seat and buckled my seatbelt as Danny pulled off and down the block. As I look out of the window, I become clouded by my memories like the first day I arrived at the East Side girls home, meeting Danny, watching all the kids from the block running through the water shooting out of the broken fire hydrant on sunny days, getting my acceptance letter to FAMU, and my graduation bash. I remember memorizing the street name and the house number. "Hey, What's going on in the infamous Maiya's mind right now?" Danny said while pulling out of the parking spot."I'm thinking about all the fun times I had on this block and I am definitely going to miss it." "Awww... I'm gonna miss you too Mar". Danny says while making kissy faces at me as he drives towards the highway. " LOL I never said to you... but okay". I said sticking my tongue out at him and laughing as we made our way towards the highway. "What terminal are you going to?". Danny asks me as we go through traffic and towards the airport. "Terminal B." I said while scavenging for my plane ticket in my purse.
Danny: "What is your flight number, what time does it depart, and what time does it arrive to the ...?" Danny laid multiple questions on me like a platter. "Iight damn Danny, you wanna know everything... just know that I am flying with Bleu Jet on flight 0291". He pulls into terminal 4 of Bleu Jet and gets out of the car, then walks towards the trunk. I make the small effortless motion to get out of the car as Danny takes my bag and suitcase out of the trunk. As he effortlessly lifts my suitcase out of the trunk and places it on the ground next to me, I watch how his milk chocolate muscles flex in his black sweatshirt. Football has been doing good on his body, he is becoming more built throughout the years that have passed. For the past 3 months, He has been viewing all the colleges that have sent him full ride scholarships for him to play football and most likely get in the league. "You ready Mar?". Danny says while tapping me on my shoulder and showing his big pearly white smile to me. I take my bags and suitcase and drag it down towards the revolving doors of the airport, "You are ready for this girl." I continue to say to myself as I take a step closer and closer to what my new life will be like. I quickly lifted the luggage that I had from off the ground and placed it on the conveyor belt that takes it towards my plane cabin. As I put my luggage on the belt, I noticed Danny staring at the ground and playing with his fingers, a habit that he does when he is nervous. "Hey Danny, I am going to get ready to leave... I have less than 15 minutes to get on my flight and prepare for takeoff." I say turning back to face Danny. "Ooo... yeah". He says while shifting his weight back and forth between his feet. "Thank you Danny for everything". I say while putting on some carmex and grabbing my ticket from out of my purse." Yeah, No problem... what are best friends for?" He says while still shifting between his feet." No just listen, thank you for being my best friend, being someone I could depend on, someone I can always go to get advice from someone who...¨. I said touching his shoulder. As I was going to finish telling him about all the things that I appreciate him doing, Danny's plump chocolate lips came crashing onto mine. The kiss was sweet and soft, but very confusing. I didn't know if I should kiss him back or push him away from me. Caught in the moment, I let his arms snaked around my waist as my arms found their way around his neck. Finally opening my eyes and releasing him, I stepped back just realising what just happened. " I gotta go.¨ I said while holding my purse and backing away from him. ̈ ̈ Hey listen, I don't know what came over me, I ́m sorry.¨ He said reaching out for my hands. ¨ I just gotta go.¨ I said, turning towards the escalator.
