“As I said in the ad and as you can see, the apartment is fully furnished.” The woman who answered my sublet ad continues to look around. In her response, she stated she was looking for a short-term rental until her boyfriend returned from his deployment. What I’m offering is exactly what she needs.

“Are your neighbors quiet?” June asks. She reminds me a bit of Elle except with blonde hair. Although I have a feeling, everyone is going to remind me of Elle if I look hard enough.

“They are. I have no complaints.” There’s an older couple on one side, and Elle and Quinn on the other. If Quinn is serious about curbing Elle’s partying, everything should be nice and quiet in this part of the complex. “There are a few college kids living here, but for the most part, they’re very respectable. My friend sometimes has her friends over to use the pool, but no one around here really parties.”

“Okay, that’s good. I start my job on Monday as a nurse, so I’ll have odd hours.”

“You remember that I’ll be back in ten weeks, right?”

“Yes,” she says. “Randy, my boyfriend, will be back in about eight. I think I’ll stay here and transition slowly into moving in with him.”

“Perfect.” There’s an awkward silence that falls over us. June moves from room to room looking over everything she can, including the size of my closet. Thankfully, I cleaned before she came over. Otherwise she might find something unmentionable on the floor. I show her where to find sheets and towels, as well as how to use the washing machine even though it’s probably pretty standard. “So, what do you think?” June is really my only hope. I didn’t get as many inquiries as I thought I would, mostly because I didn’t post the ad on campus. I didn’t want Elle to see the ad and ask me what I’m doing. As it is, I’ve had a hard time ignoring her, but it’s all for the best. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

“I’ll take it.”

“Oh thank God,” I say, exhaling loudly. “Sorry, I was just worried—”

“No, no, I get it. Believe me, you’re helping me out too, so I think this will work perfectly. I have my stuff in the car, should I go get it?”

“Yeah, definitely. I’m just going to grab my things, and then the place is all yours.” I hand her my spare set of keys and watch her walk out of my… well, now her, place. Once the door shuts, I relax a bit. The only thing left on my to-do list is to get on the plane and actually go to New York. Most of my belongings have been packed for a few days, so now it’s a matter of actually leaving.

Pulling out my phone, I send a quick text to my brother, letting him know I’m ready to leave. Brad said he’d hang out in the area and wait for me to call. It was his idea for him to take me to the airport. I think he volunteered because he’s afraid I won’t get on the plane. He’s right because right now I’m second-guessing my decision. I know it’s the right one to make, but making it is a whole other step.

June returns with an armful of her belongings. I realize I should be helping and immediately go to her and offer my assistance. “Here, let me help.”

“I got this load.”

“Is there more in your car?” Of course, there is, Ben! What a stupid question.

“Yes, it’s the blue Beemer. Here are my keys.” June slightly turns to the side. Her keys are dangling from her backside. I grab them quickly and rush out the door and down the stairs. Every few seconds, I look over my shoulder for Elle or Quinn, hoping I don’t run into either of them. I’ve thought about telling Quinn, but I know he’ll tell Elle and right now I can’t deal with her reaction. It’s best I leave and do my thing, consequences be damned.

Although, there shouldn’t be any consequences. Elle should be happy for me. A true friend would encourage and congratulate someone in my position, and the fact that I think otherwise of Elle, proves we need a break from each other.

June’s car is easy to find. I pile as much as I can into my arms and head back upstairs. Inside, she has the curtains open, music playing and she’s already making herself feel at home.

“Thank you, Ben. I promise to take care of your place while you’re gone.” June relieves my arms of her belongings, tossing them onto the couch.

“You’re welcome. You have my number in case anything goes wrong, but it shouldn’t. The management company has your information so there shouldn’t be any problems there either.”

“Perfect. Enjoy your trip.”

I feel like I’ve just been kicked out of my apartment. I suppose in a sense I have. I nod, gather my stuff and walk out the door. I glance quickly at Elle’s door, wondering if she’s even home. As tempting as it is to knock, I don’t.

My brother’s waiting in the parking lot when I finally make it down the stairs and out of the complex. For whatever reason, it took me longer than normal. Maybe it’s because I’m still hesitant about my decision or maybe it’s because deep down, I want to say goodbye to Elle, to share my news, and know she’s happy for me.

“Get in the car.” Brad leans over the passenger seat and yells through the window. I do as he says, and no sooner do I shut the door, he’s peeling out of the parking lot like he’s being chased.

“Slow down.”

“Buckle up.”

Again, he’s my big brother, and I do what he says, but he’s laughing, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. “What’s so funny?”

“You,” he says.

“Do you want to explain yourself?”

Brad shakes his head. “The look on your face when you saw my car, I thought for sure you were going to run back upstairs and profess your love for Elle.”

Sighing, I look out the window at the passing buildings and cars. “I thought about it, but no.”

“You need this, Ben. You’re better than the rest of us. You’re going to make all of us proud.”

“Thanks. Oh, by the way, I haven’t told Mom yet. I thought I’d call her from the top of the Empire State Building or something like that. Do you think she’ll want to come visit?” Once I left Beaumont and Brad followed, our mother sort of became a drifter. Not in the sense that she’s not taking care of herself, but more so that if a job transfer was up for grabs, she’d sign up, and would take whatever. After awhile, you start to lose track of where your mother’s living because she moves so much.

“Where is she these days?”

I shrug. “Delaware, maybe? Like I said, I’ll call her when I get to New York.” I would love to have the relationship Quinn, Elle, and Peyton have with their parents. I think Brad would too, but our mother has never been the type to stay in one spot. She gets bored and moves on. My father, while he made sure I had a college fund, has also been absent from my life. For the first few years he was around, but our relationship quickly became weekends, phone calls, and cards. When I entered high school, it was just cards. I suppose I could have a lot of resentment toward my parents, but I don’t. They just weren’t meant to be parents.

“Maybe I’ll come out and see you.” I look at Brad, who has his eyes trained on the highway.

“You should. I’d like it if you did.”

Brad scoffs. “You say this now, but you’re going to get there and forget all about Los Angeles. Some socialite is going to set her eyes on you, and you’ll never come back here.”

“I highly doubt it.” Personally, I’ve had enough of the socialites.

“Maybe the girl next to you on the plane is a hottie, and you join the Mile High club.”

I laugh. “The last time I was on a plane and had to use the bathroom, I hit my head on the ceiling because we hit some turbulence. I plan to stay firmly in my seat.”

“A co-worker then. You’ll meet someone, and you’ll call me at the ass crack of dawn because you will have forgotten about the time difference, professing your love for whoever this woman is.”

“And you’ll mumble something I’ll never be able to decipher.”

“And the next thing I know, a wedding invite will be in the mail.”

“Brad, you’re sounding like a girlfriend I’m leaving behind.”

He laughs and signals to get off the highway. Anxiety starts to build as the looming airport grows closer.

“Which airline?”

“United,” I tell him quietly.

“You’re doing the right thing, Ben. This will be good for you.”

I hope. What if I get there and hate it? It’s not like I can leave and return to class. This quarter depends on this internship. If I screw up, graduation is in jeopardy. Brad finds a spot along the curb and pulls over. He hands me a white envelope.

“It’s not much, but maybe it’ll help. I did some research for you. There’s a corner store two blocks from your apartment, and the laundry mat is across from the store. The subway is three blocks in the opposite direction. Don’t splurge on anything unnecessary like Starbucks. Use the dollar menu whenever you can and eat ramen.”

I clench the envelope tightly in my hand. “Thank you. You didn’t have to.” He really didn’t, but I can’t embarrass him by telling him I’ll be paid while I’m there, plus I have the money from my work study and the stipend I get from my dad.

“Just be smart, Ben. Go out there and kick some ass.”

“I will.” We’re not an affectionate family, but right now I don’t care. I lean over the console and pull my brother into a hug. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be going right now. I’m taking his advice and spreading my wings. Brad lets go, which is my signal to leave, and I get out of the car and grab my luggage. I don’t wave goodbye or even watch him pull away from the curb. However, I do send him a text, thank you.

Inside the airport, once I’m checked in, I open the envelope. My brother has given me a couple of hundred dollars, money I know he doesn’t have to spare, along with handwritten instructions on where everything is. As I read over his notes, tears prickle my eyes. I wipe them away quickly, not wanting anyone to see me crying or ask if I’m okay because I am, and Brad has made it as such. This gesture, the thought he’s put into making sure I’ll be okay in New York, means more to me than I’ll be able to tell him.

It’s two hours of waiting before my flight is called. I’m at the back of the plane, in the middle with two men on either side of me, with a chair that doesn’t recline. So much for joining the Mile High club on this flight, not that I ever would, but when Brad mentioned it, the thought did sound appealing. At least I’d have someone to talk to. The guy on my right is on his phone complaining about his wife, and the man on my left is already snoring. It’s going to be a long flight, but worth it.