Installment One

I only blamed myself for the whole situation, and them telling me I had nothing to do with it only made things worse. My parents of 24 years were splitting up. How could this be happening? I just turned Nineteen, but it still hurt like hell. I was moving off to Florida for College in 2 days. Why was this happening.
I lay still in my bed trying to figure out what went wrong. They used to be so happy together. Nothing in the world could go between them. Hearing them fight now as I lay there racking my brain, only made the now pounding headache worse.
I am the last of 6 kids and I'll be gone in 2 days. It was so hard to believe. After my sister Hannah moved out last year and into an apartment with her friend Jessica, I feel even more lonely in this huge house. An enormous 8 bedroom house. The thought of only my mom and I for the next 2 days, then leaving and she'd be here alone killed me.
My dad was now downstairs packing the rest of his belongings. They had been bickering for the past 2 hours. I just wanted to get a pillow and stuff it through one ear to come out the other and stifle the yelling. It was driving me crazy. All I wanted to do was go far away, and go now. Nothing was making me happy here anymore.
As I lay there thinking I thought about when I was young. The days my friends and I would spend together without a worry in the world. I remember the good times and bad. Like the time I ran off with my best friend Katie to New York City for a private signing my favorite band was having. Hanson. That is considered one of the 'good' times. God, I haven't thought about those boys for a long time. The crushes I had when I was an early teen always made me laugh when I think back at them. It wasn't really that long ago...3 years at most. As I sat there, I thought of what they were doing these days. I remember meeting them alot at their appearances they did in the different states around us. Katie and I would always get in the car and drive to see them. Even before we could drive we begged one of our parents to drive us until they let in. Sometimes we wanted to go so badly we bribed Hannah, my older sister, into taking us.
The funny thing is, the boys always remembered Katie and I and our names. We thought we were so kewl. Taylor would always walk out of the crowds of girls and up to both of us. He was so handsome. He probably still is! Haha. Just the though of him again sent chills through my back. The same chills I had every time I saw him. I remember how angry my parents were when I got back from New York four days later.
I was grounded for 2 months.
Katie would always sneak over to my house and climb the lightning rod to my window and let herself in. She would scare me half to death most of the time. One minute I would be sitting on my bed reading a magazine peacefully and the next I would be jumping out of my skin when she tackled me. I loved it though. Being daring and taking risks were what we did and we loved it.

I was so upset when I found out Katie hadn't gotten excepted to Florida University. Instead she was excepted into South Carolina. We both applied for over 5 colleges hoping we would get into one of them together and turn down the rest. At least we were in the same time zone and not like thousands of miles away from each other. Katie had left for South Carolina a 3 days ago to get settled into her dorm room. I had gotten an apartment about 2 blocks away from my college so no dorm life for me. No ways! I hated the thought of sharing a little incubator of a room with a complete stranger. That thought made my skin crawl.

Going back into thought again I remembered when Katie and I would laying out on her trampoline some night's back when we were 15, almost 16 just talking about every guy we liked, who was hot or who was nasty ugly. The same people ALWAYS came up...Hanson. The band itself had faded out a while back. They were long gone by November/December of 99' after their world tour but we still listened to their music and always remembered what Isaac, Taylor and Zac said to us. 'No matter what, you guys are our #1 fans and don't forget that!' Believe me...we haven't. The last appearance we attended with them was a small press conference at the Planet Hollywood in Chicago. We said our good-byes and hugged each other. Thinking we would see each other again like we always did. 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, a year...never saw them again. They faded out just as fast as they came in. Now I was 19...three years later and just now thinking about them again after like a year. oops. I smiled at the thought. 'Sorry guys' I whispered quietly.

The phone ringing caught me slightly off guard as I jumped. Sighing and holding my hand to my chest I picked up the phone.
"E'llo" I said into the receiver.
"Abby?! hey!" the voice of my best friend rang into my ear. I sat up straight almost too fast and caught my balance before taking a tumble for the floor.
"Katie! ohmigod I thought you'd forgotten about me"
"Hahaha how the hell would I manage that?!" she said laughing.
"So tell me! how is the college? do you have a roomy? what's it look like?" I piled her with questions.
"Everything's great! I have a kewl roommate, her name is Cathy, but I miss home already, how am I ganna get through 3 years of this?!" she said frustration in her voice.
"Katie, I'm heading down to Florida in 2 days. That means I'll see you in 2 weeks...your still making the trip down aren't you?"
"Heck yeah I wouldn't back out on ya, and I'm probably going to want out of this tiny dorm room any ways. I can't wait to see you Ab."
"I know, same here. Well I'm ganna go, I'm tired. I'm about to fall over any second." I said rubbing my eyes noticing I still had make-up on
"Alright, I'll let you go. g'night Ab."
"Night Kate" I said, then hung up the phone making my way to the bathroom at wash my face.

Sunlight shinning in through my window woke me up at 8:30am. Ugh! why can't I just sleep in one day! I said groggily to myself." Once I wake up I can never go back to sleep and it pissed me off. Today I had to run into town and pick up some last minute things before I was off to Florida. I hated leaving my mom here, it drove me crazy. I'm going to miss this place I have to admit.
I slowly climbed out of bed and across the hall to the bathroom. I was relaxed after my hot shower. I've been so stressed lately it was crazy. I felt like I was the only one feeling the effects of this divorce my parents were going through. I was always the closest to my mom and dad and now everything had to fall apart just like that. It made me furious. After getting dressed I grabbed my car keys and headed out the door. My parents had bought me a 01' eclipse for my 18th birthday..my dream car ever since I was 15. I loved it. It was dark purple and had a big spoiler on the back and black lights underneith. It was sweet. I was taking it with me to Florida of course, but NOT looking forward to the 26 hour drive from Ohio. That's what sucks. I was just glad I was getting out of this house finally. I've wanted out of here ever since I was 16. I got into my car and backed out of our circular driveway. After picking up some junk-food for the trip down and some accessories I needed for my apartment. I headed to the mall to get me some new shoes, then home to finish packing.
When I got home my mom was sitting at the kitchen table sipping her mug of coffee while staring out the window at the passing cars.
"Mom?" She spun around at the sound of my voice.
"Hey, you scared me!" she said taking in a breath.
"Sorry. So how ya doing?" I asked in a concerned voice.
"As good as I could be right now I guess."
Looking at her I saw tears welding up in the corners of her eyes.
"Oh mom.." I said walking over to get embracing her into a hug. "I'm sorry you have to go through this." I began to feel the pricking sting in the corner of my eyes as well, but I couldn't cry...I had to be strong for her. I stayed there hugging her till her sobbing tapered off.
I looked her in the eye smiling.
"Mom, you have the number to my apartment down there. So call me anytime you want okay, and I'll call you all the time. Get Aunt Sue to come stay with you a few nights tomorrow after I leave. It will be good for you not to be alone in this house. Okay?"
The response I got was a small nod. I hugged her again then headed up the stairs to continue my packing.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye till December." I said bringing my mother into a tight hug in the driveway next to my fully stuffed car.
"I'm going to miss you sweetie, call me when you get there."
"I will mom, love you."
We came together for one last hug and I started for my driver side door.
"Abby.." my mother said turning around halfway across the lawn.
"Yeah?" I answered.
"If anything happens on the way down don't be afraid to call me, okay?" I let out a breath looked at her, smiled, jumped into my car and drove off.

Twenty-six hours, six restroom breaks, Three Wendy's and one rest stop later I arrived at my new home I would be living in for the next three years. I pulled out my apartment key from my pocket and headed down the hall through the huge building. 'This is going to be great.' I thought rounding the corner into yet another hallway "hmm...room A8, where is A8?" I muttered to myself. 'Ahh there it is!' I approached the door slipped the key in turning the lock. "Home at last" I said aloud to no one in particular. I set my suitcases down. The Uhal had obviously arrived yesterday and dropped off all my furniture. My bed, dresser, couch, coffee table, bedside table, Small dinning table and some other miscellaneous things scattered around. They left all my dishes and pots scattered on the kitchen counters. It looked like I had a job ahead of me tonight.

Later that night I gave my mom a call. My aunt Sue had picked up the phone. Relief came over me. I was glad my mom got her to come out to be with for a couple nights. Now I didn't have to worry so much...at least not for a couple days. After hanging up the phone with Mom I dialed Katie's dorm room number. First ring...second ring...third ring...fourth ring..
"Hello?!" Katie answered.
"Katie! hey. what's up, how are ya??"
"Abby! Hi, eh, could be better, how about you?" She said into the receiver sounding tired.
"I just got in, you okay. you sound funny?"
"Uhh, yeah I'm just tired I guess." she replied.
"Okay, Oh god..I can't believe we're almost 350 miles away from each other. This sucks!
"I know I miss you. So when am I coming to visit you down there?" She asked excitedly
"Oh that's what I called to talk about, when do you want to?"
"Soon!... just soon." she said laughing
"Okay, soon it is. How's next weekend for you?" I asked
"Sounds good to me. When's your first class?"
"Tomorrow at One, you?"
"Ahhh, haha...same"
"Well that's just great... we have the same schedule but different Colleges." I laughed.
"Yeah well ya know...Ab, I have to go, my roommate Cathy wants to take me out to dinner so I'll talk to you later okay?"
"Yeah that's kewl, talk to ya soon." I said.
"Later" Then I heard a click.
'Damn, I wish she was here!' I cursed out loud Frustrated. Getting up I walked into the small kitchen and started cleaning it up.

I lay on my bed that night trying to get my nose into a book but my thoughts kept drifting. I worked all afternoon and evening on this apartment and had got everything moved around and situated just how I wanted it. Tomorrow morning I would have to go to the administration office in the lobby of the college to get all my books. I didn't want to go through a year of college without Katie. I missed her so much and it has only been 6 days. 'Well look on the bright side..' I kept telling myself. She would be here next weekend and I couldn't wait! This week better go fast. With that last thought drifted of into a deep sleep. Little did I know, this was the beginning of a week I wouldn't forget anytime soon.
Well here I am. First day of classes. I woke up early this morning and picked up my books then ate lunch in the College cafeteria. The food wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Compared to my Sister's college back in Ohio it was actually great. Now walking to my first class my head was pounding. I needed a Tylenol. I stopped beside a picnic table and set my book bag down to rummage through it. I knew I had some in there on the way down to Florida, and it better still be here.
"Damn!" I muttered rubbing my temples. "This is just great, how am I supposed to concentrate today?!" just as I said that I heard someone clear there throat behind me. Forgetting about the stupid Tylenol and thinking that this person just wanted the table, I picked up my bag and started walking away frustrated at how rude people could be. Not even looking back at who was standing there.
"You never used to ignore me before, why start now?" I heard somebody say and spun around. My heart felt like it had stopped beating.
"Ohmigod! Taylor?!" I gasped.

Index
Installment Two