You inhaled the air filled with various smell of fast food and body odor, causing you to slightly flinch. Under your feet laid some tacky carpeting as your feet kept slapping against them, as you past countless faces that you will never see again, all in their own rush to their own destination.

Along with the roar of people talking, above you sounded the monotone voice of a woman, announcing departures and changing of routes along with times.

Your hand was held tightly by your mom, now that your luggage was in someone else's hands, leaving you with the backpack slung over your shoulder, holding things you found necessary for a 2 hour flight.

You finally found your gate in Bradley International Airport, causing the three of you to sit down in the cool leather seats, that gave you a perfect view of an advertisement board, holding the face that in the last 2 year's everyone knew. Halley Jones, the first person on Mars.

Your mom brought her bag from off her shoulders, too unzip it and bring something out the water bottle she kept in case anyone got thirsty. She popped off the lid, took a swig, then offer it to you, which you swiftly thanked her for, taking a sip before handing it back.

"Can you believe that it's finally happening? Merriwick Valley! So exciting!"

"Yeah Mom, it really is. But come on, we're not even on the plane yet."

"I know, but still! A new place, new people,-"

"Warmer weather."

Your mother was interrupted by your dad, stating the thing that was arguably the thing everyone was most excited about for leaving Connecticut.

"Well yes, definitely that. Everyone has everything?"

"Yep."

"Mhm."

You could tell just by staring into your mother's eyes that she was beyond excited as they held a twinkle in them and reminded you slightly of a child's wonder upon seeing something they never saw before. Your father was excited as well, having this smile on his face as you knew he couldn't wait for himself to not shovel out a driveway after countless blizzards.

And you were excited as well, but it was slightly covered up at the thought of missing your friends, plus you were just slightly more composed about the situation.

"First class now boarding. Please enter the line to get on the plane."

Your mom had started to bounce around her seat a bit, as she shook your shoulders.

"Ooh~ It's almost our turn!"

There was no doubting that your mom was a very lively woman, and very easy to get along with. She could get excited about the slightest thing, just one of the many reasons why you loved her so.

The three of you started to get up, checking that you had everything on you as the lady soon called out over the microphone,

"Business class now boarding."

The three of you fully stood up with your companions as you headed into the serpentine line, shuffling up every once in a while whenever someone entered the plane, until you were the ones stepping foot on the plane's cramped aisle, with people sitting down and conversing with each other as your family shuffled down to find their seats, and promptly sit there, except for your dad, who was picking up you mother's bag and putting it in the upper compartment. You could feel vibrations already as you didn't bother to look down, already knowing that your mom had started her usual habit of tapping her foot up and down. You felt her soft hands grab yours again, giving your appendage a comforting squeeze as you looked at her warm orange painted nails. Your mom always had this tradition of whenever you would go on vacation, before that the two of you would get manicures. She always stuck with a nice neutral, warm color, while you did basically anything depending on the season. This time you decided on a mixture of black and silver on every other finger to go with your usual dark attire.

But unlike most times, this was not a vacation, no matter how many times your mom would chant it. Your family was moving to one of the largest growing cities, down the country, going from North to South. It was finally happening.

"Y/n you should probably buckle your seatbelt soon, I think the plane should be starting to move in a bit."

~|~

Your teeth were squishing together, with only an ever so thin layer keeping the two rows of grinders apart as the fruity flavor filled your mouth, your ears slightly popping due to the pressure you felt as the metal bird you were residing in took flight.

You had just finished reading the little safety brochure, after the whole safety demonstration video done by Hailey Jones when there was a small blinking like noise, and the light on the cabin roof turned green, signaling that it was safe to take your seat belt off.

So your hand pressed down, and a soft click could be heard as the constricting fabric released you. With your newfound freedom you stretch out your arms, a slight popping noise could be heard as tension went away from your arms and your waist slightly turned around, with more popping noises being set off like dominoes falling on top of each other.

You popped a small bubble as you shuffled around your bag, your hand brushing past items you didn't need until your hand finally grabbed the smooth metal surface as you practically yanked the item out of the bag and immediately your eyes stared into the screen intensely as your hands automatically started its work as if it was something you were born doing.

Your mom looked over your shoulder, smiling upon seeing your content expression as you played your own game.

"Having fun?"

Your only response was a hum of agreement as your mom soon turned her own eyes onto her book.

After around 15 minutes you looked over your portable video game and looked out of the window, staring out at the white cotton that is the clouds and the blue expanse of what is the sky, you let out a content sigh. It was such a gorgeous day today, and you couldn't help but think of what the farmers were doing on the fields below you. Up here you couldn't even see anyone, and even if you did, they would be so microscopic it would be like something you would study in science class.

You stretched your legs out again and started a small conversation with both of yours parents playing a game from your childhood your family called the "Alphabet Game". Your father chose the topics of food, and the three of you went in a circle of naming a food that starts with a letter of the alphabet.

After a small snack, beating a few levels, and a quick bathroom break you prepared wor landing down and right as you sat back down the seat belt light turned on, right on time.

~|~

Your mother was anything but dragging you down the corridors of the airport, as other voices swarmed around you.

Your dad had to yell at her to slow down a bit until she finally stopped and stood, waiting. You almost ran into her before you stopped, but you thankfully stopped before a pileup could be made on aisle 7.

Soon enough though your family was up and moving once you slung your luggage from the baggage claim and walking through the halls of the Charlotte Douglas Airport. As tempting as it was to actually go sightseeing, Charlotte wasn't the main attraction.

Among all the voices and people surrounding you, a sign could finally be seen, like a symbol from the skies. It read, 'Merriwick QuickLink' and your dad was quick to run towards it.

Your dad had always found public transportation intriguing from the vessels to how something so chaotic can be ran so orderly. And to add onto the fire in his eyes that shone with eagerness was the fact that the QuickLink was said to be one of the best public transportation systems in the world.

Your hands practically slapped the scanning card on the metal turnstiles, soon pushing past the metal rods.

After looking at a map for a bit you soon rushed towards the direction of your train, your legs practically leaping onto the metal step for the bullet train. Although the QuickLink was mostly made to travel to Merriwick Valley it is also connected to other cities and even other states, such as Georgia.

Your (e/c) orbs scanned across numbers until finally landing on the ones listed on your ticket, going to sit down at your seat, your parents right behind you. You sat at the end, your hand lifting your head as you gazed out of the window that still showed the station. You could see a poster for a new movie for "Illinois Jacob and the Lost Artifact" you could tell that it probably wasn't going to be good despite all the appraise the other movies received.

But soon a slightly scratchy voice announced that the train will be leaving and the train started moving.

~|~

Your eyes widened upon hearing your mother say, "Look! Look!" and point her finger across your body, making you wonder what she was talking about.

As your eyes drifted towards the window again your eyes widened more, if possible, and a small gasp left your lips. In front of your vision you could see the skyline of Merriwick Valley, and you were getting closer and closer to it.

Your view of the skyline soon started to decrease as it was soon being obscured by black until that was all you saw besides the light in the train. You passed by different lights in the underground tunnel until the bullet train coming to a stop, putting you in the hub of it all.

The doors smoothly slid open, and a voice recited the time, location, and station that you are located in. Everyone soon grabbed their luggage and stepped out of the sleek white train, onto the platform.

It seemed that the design of the station was inspired by Japan's, Washington D.C's, and New York's. This one definitely had less rats than New York's that's for certain. A lot of people mixed about, while your parents clutched your hands as you slapped your cards onto another turnstile, this time hopping on one of the Rocket lines that served as the subway system here.

Your hands slapped cards on the metal turnstiles once again, pushing through and heading towards the  Mars line that would take you on the corner of Algernon street, where your apartment was located. The great thing about the Rocket line was that there is basically a stop near everything, and if not there was a pretty extensive connecting bus line as well, making everything accessible for all.

Your hair blew back as the loud screeching noise of wheels on a track sounded as a train pulled up, soon stopping in front of you as the doors slid open and people poured out of the gateway like rushing water. Your hands clutched with both your mother and father you stepped inside the vehicle as a loud crackly voice could be heard,

"Now boarding Mars route, next stop Algernon street."