Chapter Two

     My whole life feels like it droned by. Even when I was little, as far back as I can remember I couldn't see the beauty that others saw. While I had a few close friends, I was always more of a loner. I didn't ever really let people in fully. Don't get me wrong, when I was a teenager I partied my a*s off, trying to feel something. I tried dabbling with drugs, sex, friendships... Only those things made me fall on my a*s. The only thing that even helped a little was my daily marijuana intake I had after work, that I would sneak in my car so my room mate didn't catch me. Brianna has been my best friend since we were six months old. Our mothers were friends before that, and even further back then that, our grand mothers. We are more like sisters. Even though she is a pot fiend, she is on this health kick, trying to cut down to do a "healthy cleanse". Whatever.
    I watched my eyes in my rear view mirror, as I breathed the smoke out of my lungs. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this damn contract. Damn these blue eyes, it makes your eyes a dead give away when you're stoned. I stabbed the blunt into my ashtray and pushed it in, hearing the lock click into place. I dug my visine out of my bag and squeezed the cool liquid into my eyes the best I could. It felt refreshing.

Crap, smudged my make up.
Now I look like Alice Cooper.

    As I slunked my way to my front door, I could feel the contract weighing my bag down. Never, have I ever thought that a stack of papers could be so daunting on my psyche. Brianna was sitting in front of the TV, with her Xbox headset on, screaming at god knows who on the screen. I dropped my bag onto the wood floor, hearing a clunk, and plopped down in the recliner. "How was work, doll face?" Brianna said, not taking her eyes off the screen. She was still pounding away at the buttons. "Same old, same old," I wasn't about to let her know anything yet. Not until I decided everything. I mean, it was a lot to think about.
    I'd be leaving everything I know, everything I love. At the risk of driving myself crazy, I tried to distract myself. "So, how's Bentley?" I asked, looking over at the beautiful blonde haired baby sitting on the floor in front of us playing. He was my nephew, and probably the closest person to me. If you want to call it that. Brianna had Bentley when she was 18, she gave birth a little after his father took off. No one knows where he went, so I took over "daddy" role. I was the one up at 3 AM with him, so his mother could sleep, not that lazy b*****d. I swear, if I ever see him again...
    "Great! He played with his new monster truck today, and got spaghetti all over himself at lunch...he just got a bath!" Even though Bri's eyes were glued to the screen, she beamed. I could hear it in her voice how proud she is of everything he could ever possibly do. Bentley looked over at me and smiled. "Nenna!" he cooed. He can't say "Nessa" yet. I smiled as he ran over to me, eyes filled with joy, arms up. I scooped him up, and he immediately went for my necklace. How could I leave Bentley? I teared up a little, thinking about it.
    
    After dinner, I went to my room and brought up my laptop. I guess I should do a little research before diving right into accepting this offer. I had a knot in my stomach that night, when I went to sleep.
    The next morning, I awoke to both my alarm going off, and my phone ringing. I popped my eyes open, but everything was still blurry. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, looking at the clock. 9:30?

S**t!

     I slapped the switch to turn off my alarmclock, and grabbed my pants. While struggling and hopping on one leg to get my jeans to go onto my legs. My thighs were getting bigger, wonderful. "Hello?" I bellowed into my phone, in a strangled voice. "Hi, Miss Rose, it's Melanie Loveless. I know you said you would be joining us over in Australia, but I wanted to double check and ask you again... Have you looked over the paperwork?"

What?
It's too early for this s**t.

    I struggled to find my words, but she inturrupted me. "I am well aware that it is a very big step to take, and I am happy to answer any questions you might have." I pressed the phone harder to my ear, like it would help me understand her accent better. It was thicker than most. "Well, Miss Loveless...I do have a few questions-" I barely got this out before she cut me off, again.

Goodness.

    "You can call me Melanie, if you would like, we can set up a lunching and go over everything...how does 1:00 sound?" I looked at the clock. I guess it's to late to take a run anyway. I usually get up at 5:00 AM for such occasions. "1:00 is fine," I stated. "Great! I will see you at the Roadside Tavern at one then!" And suddenly she was gone. I sighed as I plopped my phone on the bed, and sat down, pants still at my knees. I slammed my back against my mattress with a thud as I contemplated this all.
    My door to my door creaked open a crack, Bentley was awake. I stood up, sliding my pants on as fast as I could. I didn't even try to button them yet, pulling my night shirt down. He was rubbing his eyes, still in his mutant ninja turtle PJs. Bri only lets him watch cartoons from the 80s and 90s. Once I let him watch Doodle bops, and she bust a nugget over it. "Hi Bentley!" he walked up to me, pushing his head into my thigh.

I really need to go running, now he is using my legs as a pillow.

There was a light tap on the door, and Bri busted in. She was wearing her running shorts, which exposed all her artwork, along with a tank top. Brianna was VERY into body modification. She had her lips pierced, along with her nose, and n*****s. Don't ask me how I know that, she is far to open with me.
"Come here, you." Brianna was holding a change of Bentley's clothes behind her back, inching toward the boy. Bentley giggled and ran behind me and hid. Smiling, Bri inched closer to the boy, making him screech with laughter.

That's it, I am not leaving.