Xandra with an X

Nice to Meet You

My heart is racing and I can't help but feel a little sick. I swear my lungs are about to collapse either from anxiety or asthma, and the dust isn't helping. Hopefully after being in Las Vegas for a bit I'll just adapt and it won't bother me anymore. I bet that wouldn't be for a while if ever. I'm just gonna have to make sure I carry my inhaler on me at all times. I'll bet I have an asthma attack even before I've been here full week. Damn it why am I here?

For some reason this is what my mom wanted and so that's how its suppose to be. I just need to get my footing in the world financially and all that then I'll be fine. As soon as that happens I'll move out of my "Uncles" and I'll figure it out.

The sun is getting low by the time the uber driver comes to a stop. The small neighborhood is practically abandoned and it creeps me out a bit. My entire life I've been told to never go places like this because that's where people get murdered, in the middle of the desert with no one around for miles. I guess it could be peaceful for some people but im so use to noise, at least just a little.

I exit the car and grab my luggage out of the trunk just before the car can pull away. Rude as hell but okay. I roll my eyes.

"Vita!" I look up from the dirt road to find my uncle walking down the driveway.

"Hi, Larry." I half smile and let him take my bigger suitcase from me.

"How was the flight?" He asks, leading me.

"Fine." I shrug. A tiny puppy bursts out of the door and meets us halfway up the drive.

"Damn it, Popper! Get inside!" He shouts as the dog circles me and jumps at my legs.

"I didn't know you have a dog." I try to hide my excitement.

"I don't.." He huffs. "He's Xandra's dog."

Once we reach the foyer and Larry locks the door behind us, I sit on the cold floor and let the white dog jump onto my lap. "Hi puppers!" I squeal as he licks my face. "Who's?" I finally remember to ask.

"My girlfriend." He nods before walking past her to the kitchen.

"Hi." Her raspy voice fills the room and feel my legs go weak as I try to stand. "I'm Xandra, with an X."

She's tall with a slim figure and long blond locks. Her orange crop top and white shorts cling to her body in a way I could only ever dream of clothes fitting me. A lit cigarette rests between her pointer and middle finger and as she takes a drag I can't help but admire her baby pink acrylic nails.

"Nice to meet you." I finally say.

She looks me up in down and my hands start to sweat. Thank god Larry comes around the corner.

"Jesus, she's white as a sheet, Larry." I can't tell if she's making fun of me or what but I bet she isn't concerned. She definitely doesn't like me.

"Your room is upstairs, first door on the left." He says, picking up my bag once more. "I'll show you."

I follow up the soft carpeted stairs and into my new room. The walls are an off white, like the rest of the house, and fairly plain. Right when you walk in there is a closet and after that a small dresser with purple accent colors. On the wall across from the door there's a window and a queen size bed in the far corner.

"Thanks."

"No problem." He says, setting the bag in the middle of the room. "Feel free to unpack and all that. Dinner in a bit, okay?"

I only nod and then watch him close the door behind him. I can feel the tears brimming in my eyes and there's no use in trying to stop them. I'm so tired of crying, but still I cant stop. I open my backpack and pull out the teddy bear my mom got for me when I was a baby. It may be lame that I still have it, but it's comforting, especially right now.

I climb into the bed and set my phone on the floor. Facing the wall, I let my tears spill and I try my best not to make a sound. After a bit Larry comes in and asks me if I want dinner but I tell him I'm not hungry. I can barley eat without it making me feel sick to my stomach so I've stopped trying. 

For hours I just listen for the noise of the house, the TV, dishes clanking. I can almost hear Larry and Xandra talking but I try not to focus on them.

"How long will she be here?" They're in the hall now, probably on their way to bed.

"As long as she needs Xandra. She's my niece."

"She's not your fucking niece!" Her whispers are bitter. "She's your ex-girlfriend's daughter, Larry. I know you guys were best friends and all but its weird."

Xandra scoffs and the guilt rises in my chest. I get little to no sleep but at least I don't have anything I have to do in the morning. At about 6 am I fall asleep but sleep restlessly. My head still aches from crying all night and my eyes are dry. I sit up, grab my phone, and check the time. 3 pm. Oops.

"Vita." I hear a knock on the door.

"Yeah?" I clear my throat.

"I brought some Chinese food. I'm heading out, Xandra is downstairs." Larry says before walking away.

"Thanks."

I side off the bed and pull my pajama shorts down so they're not riding up. Grabbing my toothbrush and toothpaste, I head to the bathroom to freshen up. Once I'm done I plug my phone up and head downstairs. Chinese sounds really good right now so I'll give it a try.

"You just sleep all day?" Xandra asks, chomping on some gum. She stands at the kitchen island with a clean plate in front of her as she opens the food containers. She's barefoot with a short white summer dress on.

"No." I mumble and look for a cup. I open the cabinet to the left of the sink, thinking I'll find some but instead find a handful of pill bottles.

"Hey!" Her shouts make me jump and I close the cabinet immediately. "Stay out of there, okay? I don't want you going through my stuff."

"Sorry... Just looking for a cup.

"Cabinet all the way to the right." She huffs. "Plates are to the left."

I grab a glass and fill it with water. The cool drink runs across my tongue and I feel significantly better. I never drink enough water and now that I'm living in the desert that definitely has to change. I take one more sip as if it'll give me courage before I turn to the island and set my glass on top.

"Look Xandra, I know you're probably not a fan of me being here, it's your house and I get that. I don't plan on being here long, just until I find a stable job and save enough for a place. I'm not here to be in your way. I just have nowhere else to go."

I feel the lump in my throat form again and I exit through the back door. It slides open with ease and Popper runs out as soon as there's a crack big enough for him to fit through. I follow him outside and close the door behind me.

God I can't wait to get out of here.

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I'll probably update again tomorrow so we can get the story rolling!