Descent

Chapter 10

Today was the day. My family was going to see me for the first time since I moved here. They were flying in on a plane and everything.

I knew they couldn't afford to fly out like this every month, but maybe once in between every break. My family wasn't rich, but we weren't broke either. Okay, realistically, I'm doing good if they can afford to bring me back home for anything more than winter break and summer.

I was loitering in the lobby, glancing out the glass doors every few seconds. I had my laptop out, peppy music streaming through my headphones. I had a ton of homework, but we get one free day a month, no way was I going to spend it doing homework. I'd heard a lot of kids saying they were going to spend the whole day in bed, just catching up on all the TV they'd missed.

I turned every time a car stopped out front. Most were taxis or rentals. There had even been a few limos. I had yet to see anyone's parents arrive in something they might actually own.

Finally, finally, it was them. They all poured out of a taxi, Mom, the boys, even Tia. I snapped closed the laptop and ran out to meet them, knocking into a high schooler on the way.

"Sorry, got to go. My family's here!" I yelled back to him.

I crashed into the crowd of people and gave them a giant hug. "I missed you guys so much! I have so much to tell you! This school is so huge, it's literally a skyscraper, but you can see that. I feel like the only thing I ever do is go to class, and that's because it's true. I have no free time," I said, putting it so it sounded funny.

Mom chuckled and ruffled my hair, shaking wavy blond strands across my face. I smiled and hugged her again. My mom was here. How awesome is that?

"Where's Dad?" I asked, looking around the group.

"He was sick," Sam said, kicking a stone around with his feet.

"Um, your father was feeling ill and couldn't make it. You know he would've moved heaven and earth to see you, but it just wasn't possible. I'm so sorry," Mom said.

"Oh, it's fine. It's not your fault. Is he okay?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, he's fine. Don't worry. How is school?"

"Uh, I'm still adjusting. I'm not sure about it, but I'm definitely not going to give up on this place yet," I said optimistically.

"Good for you. You know, if you ever want to come home, just say the word, I'll pull you out in a heartbeat. I don't want you to feel any pressure to stay here," she said.

"Are you trying to get me to leave?" I laughed uneasily.

"No, I just want--"

"To go get whatever's causing that smell. Good call! I'm thinking hotdogs, but I'm not really sure. Everything smells different in New York," Tony said.

We wandered around the city the whole day. I hadn't had a single chance to do this yet, and it felt so refreshing to be out of a stuffy building, even if the air here wasn't the cleanest.

We ate food from street vendors, and bought lame souvenirs, and went to the top of the Empire State Building. And the Statue of Liberty. And then some ranting lunatic screamed at Tia that 'the world is freezing over! Ice is everywhere!'

I think I got a real sense of New York today.

I waved goodbye when dusk settled, standing outside long after I'd lost sight of their cab. I didn't want to go back in and let the day end. But I had to, mostly because someone lit a cigarette while standing next to me and I kept coughing and getting glares.

"Hey, you're the girl whose face smashed into my cupcake," someone said as I came back in.

"Yup," I said, trying to walk on past. She grabbed my arm to stop me.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. For not apologizing earlier. That probably ruined your day, but I was just sad I lost a cupcake. You know how rare getting a care package is, and this one actually got here in time for my birthday, so I was really excited. Plus I was bummed about spending another year here alone. I didn't realize I might have hurt your feelings until later, and I just wanted to say sorry," she said. "Sorry."

"Oh, its okay. It's not that big a deal. And it wasn't your fault you tripped," I said.

"Still, I want to make it up to you. Me and a bunch of other girls here are going to this huge party tonight. Let me tell you, it is so much easier to get ready when you don't have to sneak around. There is always a party going on after Visiting Day. You want to come?"

Well that was kind of her. Maybe I can finally make some friends here. "Sure, I'd love to."