Young Blood Princess

I

FROM A YOUNG AGE, the best was always expected of me by my parents; to have the best grades, go to the best school, the best university. It was no doubt a shock to the system when I told my parents I wanted to get into journalism rather than the old-time family tradition, law. Both my parents were high-class defence lawyers, two of the best in New York City. They weren't all impressed about me changing career paths but nonetheless, even after some time to think it through and of course, hearing my valid points, they came around - eventually.

While my parents had wished for me to attend Harvard Law, by no means an interest of mine, I had my heart set on New York University. It wasn't always like this though. We're actually not even New Yorkers, wait, scratch that, Americans. My father's father, my grandfather, held a law firm here in New York and when he passed away 6 years ago, my parents decided it best to up and move from the land down under. That's right, we're actually Australian. We moved from Sydney when I was 15, halfway through high school and moved halfway across the world... yippee. We all knew it would be an adjustment. Both my parents left behind their old law jobs to run the now left behind building of my grandfather - I mean, I don't think it was on their bucket list to leave over 500 employees jobless. My parents and I have always been close to each other, as an only child, I'm not ashamed to say that they spoiled me but I actually didn't really enjoy it all that much. I liked things plain and simple, pizza for dinner or a home-cooked meal. I wasn't one for parties. My parent's like parties. When my parents decided to move they had actually sat down with me to discuss it. You see my mum is a list person, she writes lists - some big, some small. So when the opportunity to move to the big city and I don't mean Sydney, of course, there was a pro's and con's list.

Pro's

Better job opportunity for Robert (my father) and myself

A new home

Better school for Adelaide (that's me)

People at the firm get to keep their jobs

It's a new experience

That last one was circled in a bright red pen. I think my mum liked the idea of me being able to interact with new people, in a new place.

Cons

It will be an adjustment for all of us

When my dad had asked if I had any objections I could only come up with two things; one, I would have to wear a different outfit every day cause there weren't uniforms and two, I would be leaving behind my only friend, Harper. My parents understood where I was coming, not so much in the sense that I would actually have to plan outfits, but that I would be leaving my lifelong friend behind. It was a tough choice.

6 years later and of course, while my career choices are varied compared to theirs, they have always been my biggest supporters, and I, theirs. At 21 I was sorta glad that we had moved.

Over the 6 years since we moved I had hadn't changed much. My hair was longer, often hanging down my back in loose wavy blonde curls, my eyes still the same dull colour they've always been, freckles lining my nose and cheeks. I had never thought of myself pretty, my dad had begged to differ. 

I ended up catching the subway and regardless of the fact that I've been travelling to the same place for 6 years, I was still fairly unsure where I was and which street was which. I was carrying my phone in one hand, my earphones plugged into my ears and a pop melody playing through my mind when I had finally arrived at the station. Walking to the building was the same as always - people dressed in their finest as they navigated through the posh streets of the business district. The building that my parents owned and worked in was a large skyscraper that included a fully installed and styled cafeteria, relaxation squads, libraries, file rooms and probably more. Over the last 6 years, I had only frequented their shared office and maybe like one library - which was before I had decided to go into the journalism career. Scanning my badge on the gate and nodding towards the security guard, I found my place in front of one of the 6 large elevators, my earphones still stuck gently in my ears, Harry Styles playing on a loop - sue me, his new album was a banger. When the doors had finally dinged, I moved, making my way into the somewhat larger space and to the back corner accidentally bumping into a tall man. Looking up I went to apologise only for my eyes to connect with dark circles and wrinkles. The man was dressed in a long dark green trench coat, a briefcase at his side. He nodded back before moving out of the elevator, disappearing as the doors closed. Crinkling my eyebrows, I shrugged.