"You gotta roll with the punches and smile with the sad"
-Paradise Fears

Alice

Here we go again.
This happened every time I got attached. Every time I got too close. I had to leave.

Every time my mother found a new job, one that she claimed would be great for us, we had to move. I had been all over the continental United States because of her work and I still had no idea what exactly it is that she did.
Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Miami,  Atlanta, New York. We always moved to a major city, which was the only solace I received with every move. The idea of being in a new place with thousands of people who didn't know my name. New York had been my favorite place by far. The city, the people, I loved everything about it.

And now I was being ripped away. Again. But not to a big city like before. No, this time we were relocating to Middle-of-Nowhere-Ville, USA. Somewhere in Washington, that's all I knew at the moment.

I hated this. I hated constantly moving around. I hated having to leave friends behind. I hated plastering a smile on my face for yet another new day of school. And most of all? I hated the hollow-eyed, soul-deadening stares that I got every damn time I went somewhere new.

So I promised myself something. I promised myself that this time would be different. This time I wouldn't care what people thought or what they whispered behind my back.

When I turn eighteen, when I get out of high school I would leave. I would go back to New York. The one city where I was actually happy.

And with this silent promise burning in mind I shut the suitcase that was laying out on my bed. Sitting down beside it, I glanced out the window of our New York City penthouse apartment.

Whatever it is that my mom did for a living certainly payed well. Not that I showed it. Not one person I've been friends with had ever known that my family was rich. And I wanted to keep it that way. Once people found out that you had money they turned fake. Pretended to be your friends so they could get things from you. But that's not going to happen. Not on my watch. I don't want to get hurt. Not again. Never again.

"Hurry up Alice, we were supposed to be at JFK ten minutes ago!" My mothers irritated voice drifted into my bedroom, disrupting my thoughts. I sighed, dragging myself off the bed and down the hall, pulling my freshly packed suitcase with me.

"Finally! Alice, you know I have a meeting as soon as we land, we have to go. Now." I just nodded at my mother and turned back around to look at the now empty apartment. I would miss this place, I really would.

I just wanted a moment to say goodbye, but my mother was having none of that. I felt her professionally-manicured nails dig into my wrist as she dragged me out the door without so much as a glance back.

~~~

"The local time is 2:46pm. Thank you for flying with us. Have a happy stay and welcome home," the pilots voice was much too loud over the plane speakers. I grumbled at the sound of it and shrunk further into the uncomfortable plane seat.

"Wake up Alice. We're getting off." Great. Yet another shrill voice to distract me from my dreaming. Only I knew this voice. This one belonged to my annoyingly-insistent mother.

Groaning, I peeled my eyelids back all the way. Time to face the music.

~~~

"Here, take some cash. You've got your bag and the new house keys. I'll text you the address. Take a cab to the house and get settled in, I'll probably be home late so don't wait up. See you soon darling." With that, and a swift kiss to my cheek, my mother turned her back to me and marched off across the airport, to god knows where.

I looked at the three, hundred dollar bills she had shoved in my hand.

Fantastic. At least I can be alone and won't have to endure my mothers false terms of endearment. I plastered a smirk on my face and strolled lazily towards the exit.