Jason and the Events

"This is the dawning of the rest of our lives."

After a grueling 33 hour drive we had finally made it to our destination, my aunts apartment complex. I don't recall ever meeting this aunt, so I really have no clue what to expect. "She's in apartment 308, so third floor, and pretty close to the elevator, if I'm thinking right." My mom said as she opened her car door and stepped onto the Connecticut concrete.

"Jesus, this is fancy." I said as I wheeled my suitcase into the complex. "Yeah, it's way nice...already way better than that shithole in Bozeman." My mom said with a laugh as she walked over to the elevator and pressed the button. "We'll have to make a few trips down, but the bulk of our stuff is in the suitcases." My mom said as the elevator doors opened.

As soon as I stepped in the elevator my heart dropped. It had really set in that these were our new lives. We were going to be living here, not just visiting here. The elevator doors opened and we followed the sign to apartment 308. Once we found it my mom did her special knock...one that's recognizable...I don't know. After a moment, the latch on the door clicked and my aunt pulled the door open.

"Hi guys!!!" my aunt yipped with excitement. "Hi, Lori! Glad we made it." My mom said with a smile. "Oh my god!! Is this Jason?! I remember him when he was this tall." Lori said as she put her hand up to her thigh, measuring my height. My brain immediately responded with "I know this person? Clearly they know me...and obviously I don't know them." "Heh-heh, yeah." I said awkwardly. "It's okay Jason, you probably don't remember me, but I'm your mom's twin sister." Lori said with a smile. "Twin sister? They're twins? Oh, god." I thought to myself as I walked in. "I'm so glad you guys are here! Sorry about all the drama back home." Lori said with compassion. "That's okay, he was an asshole anyways." My mom said with a laugh. "Thanks for letting us live here." "Of course, things were certainly getting lonely here. I've been single pretty much all my life, I'm just a loner, I guess...but I'm happy to have you guys here." "It's okay, you're not missing out on much." My mom said with a laugh. "Love is just so complicated sometimes." "It really is. I've never had a boyfriend or anything in high school. Really, nothing. Nor, did I really try. Do you have a girlfriend, Jason?" "Ahhh! I ummmm..." I thought to myself caught off guard by the question. "No, I don't...I'm honestly in the same boat that you were. I've never had a girlfriend before." I said embarrassed. "That's okay Jason, sometimes were not all lucky. I feel like you need to fit into a certain category to have a girlfriend, you need to be popular and well known, if you're not...well, there go your chances. It's always the popular assholes winning the game. Sometimes too were not lucky in other regards, if we don't have obviously beautiful looks...we can't play...we can have the best personality ever, and still get nothing. It's a cruel world out there." Lori said looking up at the ceiling. "Yeah, it is...I hate how it works that way." I said awkwardly.

"Well, do you guys need any help getting the rest of your stuff in here?" Lori asked. "No, I think we'll get the rest of it tomorrow, we're pooped." My mom said as she sat down at the counter. "Makes sense yeah, 33 hours yeah?" "Yeah, it was a long ass drive, I think it was worth it though." My mom said with a sigh. "What do you think Jason, are you excited to start your new life here?" Lori asked, getting to know me. "I mean...it'll be different, but I'm sure I'll get used to it." I said with a shrug. "Fair point, hopefully you like it." Lori said with a smile. "Well, would you guy's like an apartment tour?" Lori said extending her arm out like a tour guide. "Sure! Let's see!" my mom said as she jumped up from her chair.

"So I was thinking...it's up to you guys, I figured you would want this bedroom here, and Jason would want this one over here." Lori said as she pointed to two different doorways. "Each bedroom has it's own bathroom, so you guy's wouldn't have to share one." "Jesus Lori, this place is huge!" my mom said with amazement. "It's pretty nice yeah, it actually wasn't too much more to upgrade either." Lori said with a shrug. "It was well worth it." "Yeah, wow! Thank you so much for taking us." My mom said with a smile. "Of course! I'm happy you guys made it safely!" Lori said while walking into the first bedroom.

Both bedrooms have full-sized beds, they're pretty much a mirror of each other...they're the same." Lori said with a laugh. "What kind of apartment has 4 bathrooms?" I asked appalled by this fact. "Well, that is a good question honestly, this was a family sized apartment...and well me and your mom both paid for it." Lori said with a smile. I gave a short 'what the actual hell' look to my aunt and continued onward. "Well, me and your mom have been secretly planning this out." Lori said while opening the door to my new bedroom. I was still a bit perplexed by the situation, yet felt more at ease knowing that there was in fact a plan, rather than a last minute decision. "Makes sense." I said as I followed Lori into my new bedroom.

"Wow, this is actually pretty nice. I get a bigger bed than I had at home, a nice big closet, a window that has a nice view of the city, and my own bathroom. Equipped with a toilet and shower. Perfect." "Well, how do you like it Jason?" Lori asked. In this moment I had finally felt secure, almost like all of my anger had just dissipated. I felt like I was floating, I was more than happy to have my own space.

"I'm happy with it." I said, but then it all set in. After winter break I'd be starting my new life at a new school, with all new people. Ugh, I was gonna be the "new kid" at the school, maybe it wont be bad, the school is probably way bigger than the small one in Bozeman. Hey, maybe I'll get lucky and get a girlfriend or something. For once in my life I'll have an open mind.It was at this point where my aunt would reveal that she's a teacher at the school. "God, I can't even escape her out of the house." I thought to myself in a somewhat joking matter. "Hey Jason, can I see your class schedule?" My aunt asked with a smile. I nodded as I pulled out my phone."Here" I said as I handed her the phone.

Period One: Math 11 (Mr. Eisenhower) Period Two: Physical Education (Mr. Armstrong) Period Three: English 11 (Ms. Moore) Period Four: Chemistry (Mr. White) - Period Five: Theater 2 (Mr. Lockhart) Period Six: Art 11 (Mrs. Lockhart) Period Seven: Comp. Science 1 (Mr. Clark) Period Eight: Health 2 (Ms. Taylor)

It didn't even register to me that my English teacher was Ms. Moore. I thought Moore was a common last name and I didn't even consider that they were RELATED to ME. Well, that will be interesting, at least she can help me with homework.

No doubt I was going to savor the last few days of winter break. Every day it got closer to ending I grew more and more nervous about my new life here in Hartford, Connecticut. "What's gonna happen at this new school? Am I going to be bullied and hurt for being new? Am I going to become popular? Is everyone gonna ignore me? (I'd honestly prefer this option out of the other two) I'm nervous but maybe it'll be okay."

Just like that, my break was concluded, my new life was about to unfold right in front of me.