Chapter 1
Carson stood at the airplane gate around 5pm and said goodbye to her mother for the tenth and final time. She knew leaving her mother was going to be hell but going to New York meant chasing her dreams and that was too good to pass up.
“Be good, be safe and make good choices, I love you kiddo,” he mother practically sobbed.
“I will mom, I love you too,” she hugged her mother tight tucking her nose into her nook of her mother’s neck and inhaling her perfume. A small whimper escaped the older woman’s mouth and Carson took that as her queue. She loosened her grip around her mother and pulled away looking into her mother’s pale blue tear filled eyes.
Carson approached the gate slowly and handed the lady standing at the front her plane ticket. The short blonde haired lady took the ticket and scanned it, “have a nice flight ma’am” she wished. Carson offered a shy smile in thanks.
As she got to the gate she turned around mouthing a final ‘goodbye’ to the woman who raised her. In response her mother placed one hand over her mouth to trap her sobs and the other hand slightly above her chest waving a farewell. Carson turned back around and walked down the long gray tunnel that lead up to the plane. Flight attendants greeted her as she walked onto the plane.
“May I help you with your bag ma’am?” a male flight attendant probably in his early 30s offered.
“Yes please” she responded handing the tall man her bag. Handling the bag with extra care he placed it in the overhead compartment. “Thank you” he nodded in response leaving to help the next passenger. Carson sat in the row under which her bag was finding herself in the seat next to the window. Sitting next to the window gave her a sense of relaxation and fascination. She loved to know where she was going and being able to watch what was beneath her and how small the world really was gave her such a large feeling of awe and wonder.
Within a couple minutes of finding her seat the pilot came onto the intercom and introduced himself as well as told the passengers to fasten our seat belts. Doing what she was told Carson fastened her seat belt and took a small glance of her surroundings she was sitting next to a young woman probably only a few years older than her. The woman had amazing olive skin with beautiful curly hair that fell perfectly in place.
“Hi, I’m Allison” she greeted, extending out her arm for a handshake.
“Carson,” she responded shaking the other woman’s hand firmly.
“So why are you headed to New York?” Allison asked curiously
“School, I’m starting at NYU in two weeks, what about you?” Carson flipped the question around.
“I’m visiting my brother; he lives in Brooklyn, What made you decide to go to NYU?”
“Well for one I’ve always liked the city, bright lights and a diverse set of people. However the main reason was I was offered a scholarship.”
“Nice, what for?”
“Academics, my high school GPA was a 4.3”
“Damn girl, that’s great. What does your scholarship cover?”
“Tuition and boarding, my mom is paying for my food so the only thing I have to worry about is my books and entertainment of course.” Carson smiled
“Well I wish you the best, Carson” and with that Allison put in her earbuds and Carson did the same. The plane ride was relatively smooth and enjoyable. Carson loved quiet car rides or flights. She saw it as the best time to read and think. She thought about what she was going to do when she arrived in New York. She thought about her mother and how she would be without her there. Carson’s father died when she was seven and ever since then it was just her and her mom in that house, and now that she was gone it was just her mom. The sudden grief of leaving her mother alone suddenly hit her. She looked out the window and absorbed the view, breathing slowly she closed her eyes and drifted into a light slumber.
The plane landed about two hours later and Carson unbuckled her seat belt and slowly stood up. Grabbing her bag in the overhead compartment she quickly exited the plane. Walking up the tunnel she reached the gate of the airport, looking out the window she took in the amazing New York sights. “Wow” she muttered under her breath. Carson was blown away by the bright lights and tall buildings. She stood there for a brief moment taking it all in before searching for the baggage claim.
She searched around the airport for a sign that said baggage claim when she felt someone tapping her on the shoulder.
“Looking for the baggage claim?” Alison asked
“Yea, do you know where it is?”
“Mhmm I’ve been here quite a few times, follow me” Alison took a left down a long wide hallway and Carson happily followed.
“First time in New York?” Alison asked
“Yea, is it obvious?”
“Little bit” she chuckled “It’s just the way you looked out the window, your face, you seemed so… mesmerized”
“Is that a bad thing?” Carson asked nervously
“No, not at all” she laughed again. “Baggage claim is that way” she pointed to the right “hope you have a good school year”
“Thank you so much, have a good time with your brother” Carson smiled and waved good bye. As she arrived at the baggage claim she patiently waited for her black and blue bags to come through. Bags started to circle around the baggage claim like kids on a carousel. One by one new bags were added on. It didn’t take Carson long to spot one of her bags. She reached down onto the track and lifted up the suitcase that must have been well over fifty pounds. She set the suitcase down next to her beside the bag she had on the plane. She quickly spotted her other bag and lifted it as she did with her other one, this one slightly lighter but still quite heavy. After mentally checking to see if she had all of her luggage she made her way out of the airport. Again she was amazed by the view around her, something she could definitely get used to.
Hailing down a cab was not easy at all especially for someone who has never done it. However she managed. She loaded her bags in the trunk and hoped inside the yellow cab. The minute she entered the cab she smelt an awful stench of fast food and cheap perfume.
“Where to?” the cab driver asked in a low husky voice
“NYU please”
“You got it,” and with that the older man took off out of the airport.
The city got more amazing the more they drove into it. Lights were brighter and buildings seemed taller. Everything surrounding Carson was like nothing she had ever imagined. Growing up in a small town this was a huge change. On her way to the school she must had passed over a hundred places to eat. The driver pulled up to the main office of NYU and Carson payed him for the drive and added a ten dollar tip.
Stepping out of the cab she took in the sight of the enormous school that surrounded her. The driver of the cab handed Carson her bags.“Thank you” she said quietly, he nodded in response and left. She walked hurriedly towards the front door, it was surprisingly cold outside for it being only August but then again this was New York. A young gentleman with dark brown hair and hazel eyes held the door open for her. She nodded in thanks. Carson approached the front desk with a wide smile upon her face.
“Hello,” she greeted the lady at the desk “I’m here to pick up my class schedule and dorm assignment.”
“Ah yes welcome to NYU, may I get your name?” the lady said in a raspy voice
“Carson Williams”
“Here you go, now Stacy is going to be your dorm adviser and she will show you to your room” she pointed to a woman standing next to her. Stacy was a tall thin woman about twenty years old with long red hair and teeth white as snow.
“Right this way, Carson is it?” Stacy said as she started to walk outside toward the dorm.
“Yea, it’s Carson. Thanks for showing me to my dorm by the way.”
“No problem” and with that it was silent. Carson followed Stacy to a tall gray building that must have been three stories high. The place was surrounded with large trees and bushes covered with lush green grass.
“Alright this is dorm G and your room will be on the second floor, follow me and I will show you to it” Carson nodded in response and continued to follow Stacy. Considering that Carson had two suitcases and a duffle bag Stacy took her to the second floor using the elevator. Upon reaching the second floor Stacy took an immediate right and at the end of the hall stopped.
“Okay this will be your room, now here in dorm G we have a few rules” Stacy said in a serious tone. “Rule one if you make a mess clean it up, rule two no extravagant parties and the last and most important rule no boys in the room after 8:30. Can you manage that?” she asked
‘No boys in the room after 8:30 that won’t be a problem’ Carson thought “Yes ma’am” she said respectfully
“Oh one more thing please don’t call me ma’am it, makes me feel old” she laughed
Carson laughed as well, “Alright see you around hopefully” Stacy handed Carson the dorm keys and waved as she left Carson to her room.