"But Mom," I began as I threw myself onto my bed angrily, "It's not fair!  Amy's parents went away for the whole summer and they didn't send her to her weirdo Grandma's house!  Don't you trust me!?  I am 18 years old!  I'm going to college in the fall, and on a scholarship no less!  Have some faith!"  I looked at my mom, who I knew was getting more exasperated by the moment. I hoped I would be able to wear her down.
 "Amy's parents were still in the country first of all, and secondly, I do trust you, but I'm going to be gone for months Amanda, and I don't want you all alone in this big house."  My mom threw another pair of khakis into the fourth suitcase she had packed for me, like I was incapable of doing it myself. 
  "Mom," I started again, but my mom angrily tossed the final tee-shirt into my bag and growled at me,
   "That's final!  I haven't had ANY peace since I told you you were going to stay with your grandmother , who, though a bit eccentric at times, is a very caring and well off woman.  It may do you some good in the long run to get to know her.  College doesn't pay for itself, and lord knows I can't afford to send you to both law school and college.  Your father probably won't be of much help either," she spat out.  I winced at her harsh words, even though she was right.  I was giving her a hard time, but I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, didn't want to go to my weirdo grandma's house while my mom was livin' it up in Europe and rubbing elbows with cool designers and models while I was stuck with the millions of old people who inhabited Tampa, Florida along with my grandmother. 
     "Okay okay.  Bite my head off why don't ya?"  I mumbled when she left the room. "Huge house... puh! We live in a STUDIO apartment in New York City. Not a house last time I checked Mom." I continued to mumble until my mother  returned to my room, zipped my bags and told me to drag them out to the car, since I hadn't even packed them in the first place. I was about to mention that I had wanted to pack them, but someone hadn't let me be an adult and do it for my own damn self... I trailed my thoughts off in anger, picked up two bags and drug them out to the car. My friend Maura was pulling up in her silver jeep.
    
 "Mo!" I called. "Help me out?" She jumped out of her car and took one of the huge duffel bags I was carrying to our Jeep Cherokee that was parked down the block, because my mom hadn't gotten home in time to get a decent parking space. We walked down the street, passing the usual odballs, chatting as we walked. 
     
"So I take it she didn't cave?" Mo asked, lugging the bag as best she could.
     "No! I can't believe her sometimes! She treats me like a dumb little kid sometimes Mo, it's like everything good and great I've accomplished to make her proud of me flies out the window as soon as it comes time for her to put a little faith in me!" I rambled on, angrily shoving a red lock of hair from my gold eyes.
     "Mandy, maybe it's best you go and see your grandma. I mean, maybe something really cool will happen. It's Florida! It's full of-" 
    "Old people." I finished for her as I pulled my car keys out of my pocket and unlocked the trunk.
     "NO, I was going to say cute surfer guys." Mo said, tossing my bag into the back.
     "Puh-lease Mo! Everyone knows Florida is overpopulated with old people! Heck, my grandma prolly lives in one of those communal old-folk's homes!" I ranted, angrily tossing my bag into the back next to the one Mo tossed in.
      "Oh Mandy, you're being overly dramatic! You're making this into too big of a thing. Besides, may just fall in love with Florida so much you decide to go to college there. Florida State is a pretty good college anyway." Mo said as we closed up the car and went to get the last two bags. My mom nodded to Mo as we went back to my room, picked up a bag, and went back down towards the car.
     "I am not being overly dramatic! Mo you try leaving your home, going to some weirdo state you've never been to before, and going to live with a woman who hasn't seen you since you were under three feet high! Then you can tell me I'm being overly dramatic! Until then you're just gonna have to listen to me whine." I said as the last two bags were shoved into the back hatch-trunk area.
     "Okay, so I don't know what it's like. But I do know I wouldn't be acting the way you are. You're acting immature. I love my grandma to bits, I'm sure your feelings for your grandma will change once ya get to know her." Mo said as we went back upstairs and into my room. I closed the door.
      "I'm being immature!? I don't think so! I'm just ticked that at 18, my mother still doesn't have faith in me. And I'm really angry that my best friend isn't on my side." I said angrily. Mo was about to reply when the phone rang. I dove for the fire box on my wall near my bed. I opened it and pulled out the phone. "Hullo?"
     "Hiya Chickadee! What's up? Did your mom relent?" Jaimey asked.
     "Nope, she's as strong as ever. Nothing's up really, me and Mo are just spending a few moments together before Mom hauls me off to the airport." I said with a sigh.
     "Oh, bummer. I'm coming over." Jaim hung up. Jaimey lived just down the block in a condo with her mom. All three of us- Mo, Jaimey, and myself, all went to school together. In fact, that's how we even met in the first place. 
     Jaimey poked her head inside my door about five minutes later. "Is it safe?" She asked, a grin spreading her face. I nodded.
     "Yep. Mom went to go do an errand or two, then we're off." I told her.
     "Coolio. So are you still totally bummin' 'bout havin' to go?" Jaim asked, crawling into a cheery yellow beanbag chair.
     "Yelp. Still bummin'." I told her.
     "Well get over it! Florida is a cool place to go. I'd wanna go. Tons of hot guys." She said with a smile. 
     "Not to mention Disney Land." Mo put in. I sighed. They were determined to cheer me up. Least I could do was act like I wanted to go, at least for their benefit.
     "Yea, that's true. " I said, letting a slight smile creep up on my lips.
     "See!? There is something good about Florida. Mickey's there!" Sony giggled. A knock came on my bedroom door. Mom poked her head in.
     "Time to go Mandy." She said quietly.
     I nodded. "Okay." I got up, walked my friends out, saying our good-byes. I then walked with my mom to the car. We were going to the airport.