Finally it was moving day, even though there really wasn't much to "move." Just the suitcases and such in the car, but we made a big deal out of it. None of us liked living in the hotel. Having our own place gave us a renewed sense of why we were here. To live on our own and start afresh. Our dream was becoming a reality and we were ecstatic.
"When I get a job, I'm going to buy curtains and other things to brighten up this place. It's so boring." Cameron said, practically dancing.
Oh yeah, about them finding jobs. Since they had pretty much combed the entire city without luck, they decided to take a break from job hunting for a month. Pretty smart eh? I just bite my tongue and work my hardest. No one can say I havent' been pulling my weight. In fact, I'm really the only one working. Sure Payton is working for the landlord, but that's just to keep the rent down. It's not bringing in any actual money. That's left up to me.
"So where are we all gonna sleep?" Derek asked. "Hey we should get a TV." He walked over to a spot in the room. "Right here would be a good spot for it."
Why don't you go out, get a job, and buy one then?
After I unloaded my stuff, I quietly slipped out of the building. Jade followed me.
"What do you think of it?" she asked.
"It's pretty good. I just hope we can keep it." Shoot. Why did I say that?
"What do you mean?"
"Well," I started slowly, "I hope we can keep up with the rent and stuff, since we're not getting much in the way of income."
"Yeah, but pretty soon the rest of us will have jobs and it will be easier." She picked up piece of grass and twisted in several knots. "It must be frustrating being the only one with a job and not being able to really keep any of what you've earned." She tossed the sad piece of grass aside and twirled her hair. "But, it must also be nice knowing that you're the first one to get a job get us started in the right direction. I mean, without you, we'd probably still be sleeping in the car in an abandoned lot somewhere, without any food."
It amazed me how this "emo" girl could be so optomistic. I mean, weren't they supposed to be all like "I hate life" and "leave me alone?" Hm..maybe I shouldn't pre-judge people based on stereotypes...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Oops
Sorry guys for not posting in a while. Life is just so hectic right now...I am working on ideas and i'll post them as soon as i put them together and have time. =]
Thursday, January 15, 2009
18. These broken lights, they shine on us tonight
I decided to analyze our situation. We were living off my small income, we had an apartment we were moving into in several days, we were all half-starved, and no one, except me and Payton, was having any luck with finding jobs.
Derek only applied to jobs that had little work involved and that gets him babes. He continues to mooch off me for money, and Payton for the car.
I have no idea what's going on with Jade. I never see the girl. She's never at the hotel. Sometimes I see her scribbling in a notebook at like 1 in the morning. I wonder what she writes in it.
Cameron has a set schedule; she looks for jobs from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M., then she goes to the beach and soaks in some rays or flirts with guys. When it rains she either comes to the shop and talks my ear off while I try to work, or tags along with someone while they go job hunting.
And Payton. He's already got a "job." I honestly don't know how that one's gonna play out. When he's with all of us, he gets kinda quiet, but when he's with me, he seems more open. Maybe that's cuz I don't talk much? Who knows.
I really am sick of these people. I know I shouldn't be because they helped me get here and I'm going to have to live with them, but I am. Ugh, I wish I could stop wishing for things. I feel even more tied down here than I did back home. I mean, I have 5 people and living off my earnings. Is it too much to ask for a little help in return?
Derek only applied to jobs that had little work involved and that gets him babes. He continues to mooch off me for money, and Payton for the car.
I have no idea what's going on with Jade. I never see the girl. She's never at the hotel. Sometimes I see her scribbling in a notebook at like 1 in the morning. I wonder what she writes in it.
Cameron has a set schedule; she looks for jobs from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M., then she goes to the beach and soaks in some rays or flirts with guys. When it rains she either comes to the shop and talks my ear off while I try to work, or tags along with someone while they go job hunting.
And Payton. He's already got a "job." I honestly don't know how that one's gonna play out. When he's with all of us, he gets kinda quiet, but when he's with me, he seems more open. Maybe that's cuz I don't talk much? Who knows.
I really am sick of these people. I know I shouldn't be because they helped me get here and I'm going to have to live with them, but I am. Ugh, I wish I could stop wishing for things. I feel even more tied down here than I did back home. I mean, I have 5 people and living off my earnings. Is it too much to ask for a little help in return?
Friday, January 9, 2009
17. Words and Whispers
Hey Mom...
Just thought I should let you know I'm ok. It's been an interesting journey, and I really love it here, so far anyways. I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye or telling you where I was going, but I just needed to get away. Virginia wasn't where I wanted to be, and I knew that if I didn't leave then, I never would. I hope you and Dad didn't worry too much. I mean of course you probably were worried, but just know that I am an adult and can take care of myself. I'll write again sometime soon.
-Jamie
I clicked Send and shut my laptop.
Just thought I should let you know I'm ok. It's been an interesting journey, and I really love it here, so far anyways. I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye or telling you where I was going, but I just needed to get away. Virginia wasn't where I wanted to be, and I knew that if I didn't leave then, I never would. I hope you and Dad didn't worry too much. I mean of course you probably were worried, but just know that I am an adult and can take care of myself. I'll write again sometime soon.
-Jamie
I clicked Send and shut my laptop.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
16. We are the youth of the nation
We sat down and looked out at the ocean for a while. Then I laid back and closed my eyes. I heard Payton get up and walk down to the water. I laid there for a while enjoying the sun's rays and feeling the ocean breeze on my face.
I felt someone looking at me, so I opened one eye and saw Payton staring at me. I hadn't even heard him walk back.
He quickly leaned back and said “I was just checking to see if you were sleeping or were just laying there.”
“Just laying here.”
“Well we gotta head back now.” He said looking at his watch. “Derek wants the car so he can look for a job further away.”
“Whatever.”
We got up dusted ourselves off and headed back to the car.
When we got back to the hotel, Derek was pacing out front.
“FINALLY! I've been waiting for like 5 minutes!” He grabbed the keys from Payton's hands and rushed off.
“You're welcome!” I shouted after him. I doubted that he heard me. Seriously, this kid was beyond annoying.
Cameron was the only one in the hotel room and she was busy straightening her hair, and since I didn't really want to get my ear talked off, I decided to go for a walk.
I walked down the road and sat on a bench. The same bench I'd sat after I got my job.
I wondered what my family was doing right now. I hoped they hadn't called the police or anything. I DID leave them a note saying I needed to establish some independence and that I needed to get away.
Maybe I should call, or write a letter.
I hadn't turned my phone on since I left. I really didn't want the possibility of being tracked. I probably had a million missed calls. I hadn't checked my e-mail either.
I got up and walked back to the hotel. I decided to send an e-mail to my mom.
Hm...What to write...
I felt someone looking at me, so I opened one eye and saw Payton staring at me. I hadn't even heard him walk back.
He quickly leaned back and said “I was just checking to see if you were sleeping or were just laying there.”
“Just laying here.”
“Well we gotta head back now.” He said looking at his watch. “Derek wants the car so he can look for a job further away.”
“Whatever.”
We got up dusted ourselves off and headed back to the car.
When we got back to the hotel, Derek was pacing out front.
“FINALLY! I've been waiting for like 5 minutes!” He grabbed the keys from Payton's hands and rushed off.
“You're welcome!” I shouted after him. I doubted that he heard me. Seriously, this kid was beyond annoying.
Cameron was the only one in the hotel room and she was busy straightening her hair, and since I didn't really want to get my ear talked off, I decided to go for a walk.
I walked down the road and sat on a bench. The same bench I'd sat after I got my job.
I wondered what my family was doing right now. I hoped they hadn't called the police or anything. I DID leave them a note saying I needed to establish some independence and that I needed to get away.
Maybe I should call, or write a letter.
I hadn't turned my phone on since I left. I really didn't want the possibility of being tracked. I probably had a million missed calls. I hadn't checked my e-mail either.
I got up and walked back to the hotel. I decided to send an e-mail to my mom.
Hm...What to write...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
15. He's not afraid to go down
We walked back to the car and started heading towards the hotel.
“Let's go to the beach.” Payton suggested, already turning in that direction.
“Sure, why not.” I was up for something fun. “Do we have to pay?”
“Not if we park somewhere else and walk in.”
“Oh.”
Payton pulled into a restaurant across the street from a deserted spot of beach and parked the car. He pulled his shirt off and threw it into the backseat.
“Alrighty let's go.” He said, getting out of the car.
“I don't have a bathing suit.”
“On you, or at all?”
“Um. At all?” I started chewing my lower lip.
“So when you were packing to come to California you didn't think to bring a bathing suit?” His mouth was curved into a mocking side grin, and his eyes were laughing at me.
“I don't like the way I look in a bathing suit.” I kicked a rock close to my foot.
“Well get over it. This is beach heaven. Everyone wears a bathing suit under their clothes.”
“You don't know that. You're just assuming all Californians love the beach and go there everyday. Some people hate the beach!” My voice was getting a little louder.
“Whatever. But you should invest in a bathing suit and learn to carry it with you always.” He said, turning to go towards the beach.
I had no reply, so I just sighed and followed him across the street.
“Let's go to the beach.” Payton suggested, already turning in that direction.
“Sure, why not.” I was up for something fun. “Do we have to pay?”
“Not if we park somewhere else and walk in.”
“Oh.”
Payton pulled into a restaurant across the street from a deserted spot of beach and parked the car. He pulled his shirt off and threw it into the backseat.
“Alrighty let's go.” He said, getting out of the car.
“I don't have a bathing suit.”
“On you, or at all?”
“Um. At all?” I started chewing my lower lip.
“So when you were packing to come to California you didn't think to bring a bathing suit?” His mouth was curved into a mocking side grin, and his eyes were laughing at me.
“I don't like the way I look in a bathing suit.” I kicked a rock close to my foot.
“Well get over it. This is beach heaven. Everyone wears a bathing suit under their clothes.”
“You don't know that. You're just assuming all Californians love the beach and go there everyday. Some people hate the beach!” My voice was getting a little louder.
“Whatever. But you should invest in a bathing suit and learn to carry it with you always.” He said, turning to go towards the beach.
I had no reply, so I just sighed and followed him across the street.
Monday, January 5, 2009
14. Close your eyes and make believe this is where you want to be
On Friday, after work, Payton drove me to the new apartment and I finally got to see what it looked like. It had most of the appliance essentials, a refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, with the exception of a dishwasher. There was a small closet in each room, and a large one in the living room. It was on the bottom floor, so we would have a back door and could come and go easier.
“So what do you think?” Payton asked as I walked out of the kitchen.
“It's ideal! I'm just kinda concerned about beds, furniture, and other important stuff.”
“Meh. We'll figure it all out”
Oh that's comforting
“So everyone's seen this place already?”
“Yeah. We came this morning.”
“Ah. So I'm guessing they liked it?” I started inspecting the bathroom and it's scary corners.
"Yeah, Derek thought it was too small for parties though."
"What the freak? We've barely got a place and he's already thinking about parties?" I finished inspecting the bathroom, ducked under his arm, and went into the living room.
"You could just say excuse me you know."
"I'll pass"
"Anyways, Derek likes to live it up, or else he gets bored."
"So I see. Well he needs to find a job first and help earn money before he throws any parties."
"Gosh you sound like a mother."
"I freaking feel like one." I gave one quick glance around the room, "So are we done here?"
"Yep, let's go." He started fishing in his pockets for his keys.
“So what do you think?” Payton asked as I walked out of the kitchen.
“It's ideal! I'm just kinda concerned about beds, furniture, and other important stuff.”
“Meh. We'll figure it all out”
Oh that's comforting
“So everyone's seen this place already?”
“Yeah. We came this morning.”
“Ah. So I'm guessing they liked it?” I started inspecting the bathroom and it's scary corners.
"Yeah, Derek thought it was too small for parties though."
"What the freak? We've barely got a place and he's already thinking about parties?" I finished inspecting the bathroom, ducked under his arm, and went into the living room.
"You could just say excuse me you know."
"I'll pass"
"Anyways, Derek likes to live it up, or else he gets bored."
"So I see. Well he needs to find a job first and help earn money before he throws any parties."
"Gosh you sound like a mother."
"I freaking feel like one." I gave one quick glance around the room, "So are we done here?"
"Yep, let's go." He started fishing in his pockets for his keys.
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