Tattoo Your Name On Me

1. Oh The Places You'll Go!

Farrah

"How much do you still need to pack?"

I looked up at my best friend Nyla Wilkins lying on her stomach on my bed, swinging her legs back and forth. Her dark chocolate skin contrasted against the bright red, polka-dot dress she wore for work. Her curly hair was frizzy and stuck out all over the place, despite the short length of it.

"Well, if you would help me pack, it wouldn't take as long," I drawled with a grin.

Nyla rolled her dark brown eyes as she rolled over. "I could help you...but I don't really want to."

I tossed a ball of tape at her, which smacked off her head. "Come on, lazy butt. There's not much left to do."

Nyla heaved a dramatic sigh and slid off the bed. "Fine, but only because you asked sooo nicely."

I smiled back at her and slid a box her way. "Can you label this?"

Nyla grabbed a marker and labeled the box. "Are you excited to head off to college?"

I graduated a year ago, but I took this time off to work and build up some savings so I can pay for my bills while I'm away, and it was the longest year of my life.

I stretched my arms above my head, releasing the tense muscles in my back. Butterflies jumbled around in my stomach at the thought of leaving tomorrow. "Yeah, I'm really excited."

I am beyond excited to go to college. I couldn't wait to explore the city and experience life outside of our tiny town. We live in a tiny town in coastal Florida called Seahorse Ranch (the name's pathetic, I know), and it's been awful.
You always see these dream towns in books and movies where everyone knows each other, and everyone is so hospitable, but it's all a lie. Most small town are full of judgmental pricks who know you for your entire life so you can't keep a secret to save your life. I learned I couldn't trust anyone with personal information because the second I told someone, they shared the news without my permission, and it got twisted into some awful rumor. The girls in small towns have nothing better than to gossip about each other behind their backs, and every girl in my school has spread rumors about me behind my back. Summer before Sophomore year two of my ex friends Missy Worthington and Jamie Briggers told everyone I lost my virginity from a one-night-stand (when I told them I had my first kiss). When school started they told everyone I would give head to any guy that asked (even though I had never given head to anyone before). On and on it went. So I learned to shut myself off from everyone.

Nyla was the only person I could tolerate speaking to because I knew she would never talk about me behind my back.

Nyla rolled her eyes. "Me too. I'm so jealous that you get to leave when I have to stay here for another six months."

"But you'll be going to your dream college when you leave, so the wait will be worthwhile."

"True, but that'll make the wait seem even longer," Nyla agreed with a pout. "I just want to head to New York and be as far away from this shithole as possible."

"You're lucky you're going to New York. I'll still be within driving distance of this place." I shuddered and got up to grab another box.

Still be within driving distance of everyone that has ever broken my heart or abused me. Especially, him.

"But you'll still be away from here." Nyla wrinkled her nose. "Anywhere's better than here."

"How's the packing going?" my dad asked us as he came in.

I rolled my knickknacks in some newspaper and put them in a box. "Its going well. We're almost done."

Dad glanced around at the boxes that were full of my belongings. My walls were empty of artwork and paintings from my favorite artists, revealing the dingy beige color that lay beneath. My bookshelves and desk were clutter free, and they looked sad and empty without anything on them. This didn't even feel like my bedroom anymore, it felt like an empty box.

Dad started tearing up. "I still can't believe my little girl is going off to college," he muttered.

I went over and gave my dad a hug. His warm embrace was sad, but comforting at the same time. "I'll only be a couple of hours away, Dad. I can still come see you guys."

Dad sighed and brushed my hair out of my face. He and I shared the same brown eyes, and light brown hair. It was like looking at an older version of myself when I look at him.

"I know, honey, but it's still hard to think about. You won't be around here everyday, and you won't be joining us for dinner every night... It will be very different."

A tinge of sadness wiggled it's way into my heart. "I know, Dad," I said sadly as I smoothed his beard over.

He gave me a hint of a smile. "You've grown into such a wonderful young woman," he said proudly. "You'll do great things one day, Farrah."

Tears pricked in my eyes, and my heart squeezed. "Thanks, Dad. That means a lot."

Dad kissed my head then stepped away. "Well, I'll take some of these boxes out to the garage." He grabbed a stack of boxes on a metal dolley and headed out with them.

Nyla gave me a wobbly smile from where she was sitting. She got up from the floor and started packing my knicknacks in a box. "Your dad is so nice," she commented, a hint of longing to her voice.

"Yeah, he really is," I murmured as I headed over to Nyla. I gave her a side hug, and she leaned into me. I knew Nyla was jealous of my parents. For how annoying, overprotective, and bossy they are, they still love me,  which is more than Ny can say about her parents.

Nyla pulled away from me. "I'm surprised we've managed to pack this shit up so quickly," Nyla said, changing the subject.

"Me too. I thought this was going to take forever."

Nyla and I packed the final things up, and I labeled the last box. "There we go. That's all of it." I surveyed the bags, boxes, and suticases that littered my bedroom.

Nyla fell onto the bed dramatically, her arms spread out to her sides like she was doing a backflop into a pool. "We're done!"

I fell on the bed beside her. "I know. I'm so tired of staring at cardboard."

"Cardboard is ugly," Nyla agreed, then she gave me a teasing grin. "The only good thing to come from today was I got to see your sexy ass all sweaty."

I rolled my eyes and gestured to myself. "I'm dusty, sweaty, and covered in cleaning products. How do you find this attractive?"

Nyla gave a wide grin. "I find you attractive all the time. No dust, dirt, and/or cleaning products is going to stop that."

I snorted. "You are such a raging lesbian, Nyla."

"No, I'm horny. There's a difference," she retorted.

"So go get laid," I countered.

Nyla giggled. "If you were even slightly into girls I would probably be banging you right now."

"And if I was into girls, what would you do if I refused your advances, like I already do?"

Ever since Nyla found out she was a lesbian she's been teasingly flirting with me. Both of us knew it wasn't real, and that it wasn't going anywhere, but Nyla still flirted. And it's become an inside joke between us.

Nyla faked a pout. "Then I'd be stuck in the same predicament."

I laughed and stared at the ceiling. Nyla and I just sat in silence for a few moments.

I was thinking of all the memories that we'd shared since we were little. She and I have been friends since we were toddlers, and Nyla's the only friend I've ever genuinely had. She's the only person I can be myself around, and she's the only person I've ever fully trusted. It made me sad to think we'd be moving on.

"You remember that one time we were dared to kiss at Alex Finicky's party..?"

We sat on my bed and talked for a while about old memories, and we laughed our butts off discussing stories from when we were kids. I was definitely going to miss this. Just talking with Nyla, and being able to hang out with her whenever I want. It made me sad to think about, but knowing that both of us would be so much happier if we didn't live here made it a bit easier to think about.

Growing up is scary, I guess, but it's also one of the most exhilarating things about life.