~08-On The Move~

It's been 3 months since we-Beth and I graduated high school.

We've successfully marked out everything on the list Beth, Will and I made of things to do with Clara.

I've made my decision on where I'm going.

Even though things are perfect with my mom now and I no longer wish to be away from her, I still have to do this. I still have to leave this town because I just know that I can't find the peace I need to live with my curse if I stay here.

A new, totally different environment is what I need and what I intend to get from Georgia. It's calm, quiet, serene and the best place for a calm restart or in my case the best place to understand and accept myself for what I am-JINXED.

As she stated, mom made some calls, pulled some strings and now I own a well-furnished apartment, a really cool job-considering I've only just completed High School. 

She was gonna get me a car too but I completely rejected that.

So instead, she's going with me all the way to get me settled in and make sure everything happens the way she's organized it to be.

"Hey, Shorty. If you don't come down now, we're gonna miss our flight" Mom yells from downstairs.

"No, we're not" I call back, glancing the clock on my wall "But I'm coming anyway"

Oh, I also don't have to pack any clothes as the closet in my apartment over there has been filled with all the clothes and shoes I could ever need-courtesy: my mom.

So, I just grab a small backpack and shove some tiny details like air pods,Mac-book , IPod and some other little things

"Oh, Beth's here" Mom calls just as I step out of my room.

Swift footsteps coming up the stairs is all the sound I hear next before Beth comes into sight.

"Hey" she mutters sadly.

"Hi"I offer her a weak smile.

"You ready?" She asks and I nod.

"This is it then?" her voice breaks.

"Come on, Beth, you sound like I'm going to die or be sold to the devil or something, relax I'm just leaving for  a while" I say in an attempt to eradicate her sadness.

It works a little bit though because she smiles "A really long while but you'll be back for my wedding, right?"

I nod "Wouldn't miss it for anything in the world"

"Who knows...you might come back with a guy" she teases, her earlier mood totally forgotten.

"You, of all people, know that the chances of that happening are pretty slim" I roll my eyes.

"I know, I know..Soulmate, Virgin, Got it but just maybe..." she wiggles her brows at me

"Just shut up, Beth" I groan and walk past her, pushing her aside in the process.

~∆~

At the airport, we're at the point where only passengers can proceed.

Clara, Will, Beth and Mom all stop and stare at me.

Ugh, I hate goodbyes.

"Take good care of yourself, darling. I'll miss you so much" Clara speaks first, her eyes watery "I love you"

"I love you too, Clara" I whisper and give her a tight hug.

Will is next "Bye, Danny. I know we didn't really much of each other before but having you 2 hours away is definitely something, but over 4000 km away, I'm not sure how I feel about that...One thing's for sure though, I'm going to f*****g miss you..so damn much"

"Oh, come here, you big baby" I whisper, trying to keep my tears at bay as I invite him into a warm hug.

"I still haven't met Allison though" I remind him in a hushed tone while holding him in a tight embrace "We'll do a video call sometime?"

His only answer is a nod and a sweet smile.

And then it's my best friend, my only friend, she's already in tears making my own tears threaten to gush out.

"You sure you don't want to change your mind about this now? We won't judge" she cries.

"Beth, I need this. You know that" I whisper.

"I know" she nods "But trying never hurt anybody, right?"

I nod and she smiles before saying "I'm gonna f*****g miss your restless a*s"

I laugh a bit as I recall all the times Beth swore at me for overworking her lazy body.

"Me too" I smile as one tear slips and rolls down my cheek "Make sure to be good while I'm gone"

"Don't be a stranger, Danny" she cries and pulls me into an achingly tight hug.

"I won't" I assure her.

"We'll talk everyday?" she asks, pulling away and I nod

"Promise?" she asks and I nod again

"Say it" she scolds, making me chuckle a bit.

"Bethany Shay. I promise to talk to you everyday while I'm in Geogia" I raise my left hand.

"Okay" she says softly.

"Passengers of flight 101 Seattle to Georgia, please proceed to the boarding area" The Air Hostess  announces for the second time.

"Well, I guess that's our cue" I huff 

"Clara, keep that face happy"I warn, pointing at Mrs Shay

"Shay, I'm counting on that video call" I say to Will

"Beth"my voice softens when I reach Beth "I love you and grow up, you overgrown baby. It'll be like I never left"

She simply nods, I suspect it's because she doesn't trust herself to not burst into fresh tears if she tries to speak.

Mom says goodbye to them quickly and then we're on our way.

~∆~

Mom-bless her- had booked first class tickets so while we wait for our flight to be called, we head to the first class lounge.

The first class lounge has many amazing features.

By the time our flight is called, I'm manicured, massaged and I've had 2 glasses of champagne.

We board the plane and I couldn't be happier, my seat is by the window and mom's is right next to me.

An over-made up flight attendant approaches us, asks us to enable the airplane mode feature on our phones and hands us soft blankets and pillows.

I drape the blanket over my knees, feeling pampered and content.

The disembodied voice from the flight deck announces "Cabin crew, doors to automatic and cross check"

The plane jolts as it moves slowly away from the gate.

When we're in the air, both mom and I take off our seat belts almost immediately.

Mom just sits back to enjoy the different features of first class while I pull out a tattered copy of Wuthering Heights-yes, behind my bad guy facade is a girl who loves novels.