SomeTimes Its Black,SomeTimes Its White, SomeTimes Its Grey

Flying is one of those gray areas of life. It’s exciting, yet scary. I’m about to embark on a flight from New York’s JFK Airport to London’s Heathrow Airport so I can go for my Master’s degree at City University London. I’m quite excited, yet of course freaking out seeing as I haven’t flown since I was about 5 or 6-years-old. My mother, Anna, is seeing me off since my flight should be called any minute now.
“Misty, please be careful and call me when you land,” my mother said with a smile as she pulled me into a hug.
“Mom, relax, I will.” I pleaded. “Can you please let go? You’re squeezing me too tight.”
“Sorry Mist,” she gushed as she let go quickly.
I just looked at her and saw the tears welling up. You see it has just been my mom and I for as long as I can remember. My dad left when I was an infant so I don’t even remember him and my mom never speaks about him and honestly I’m fine with that. If he was willing to leave when I was just a baby I rather not bother having a relationship with him now. He never tried for one with me anyway, but his money is sending me for my Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism so that’s pretty generous of him. I feel like this is his way of apologizing for not being the father I needed or wanted while I was growing up. I rarely see him and now that I’m 22-years-old I really don’t care if I do see him. When I was younger it definitely bothered me that he wanted nothing to do with me, but I’ve learned to accept it.
Anyway, I studied Journalism for my Bachelor’s degree in the States and I always wanted to study abroad so now I get to and I’m totally thrilled about it. The only downside is leaving my mom. She’s been my rock through all the ups and downs I’ve faced thus far in my young life, but I think it’s time for her to be on her own as well as myself being on my own; at least for a little while anyway.
I’m most excited to start interning at Sugarscape, which is a major media outlet in London. I’ve already had great internship experiences in the States at some teen publications as well as freelancing gigs, but now I’m going to get to experience something totally new especially since the English language varies a bit between America and England, but I’m up for the challenge.
My mom snapped me out of my rambling thoughts by tapping my arm. I picked my carry-on bag up off the floor and peered at my mom. I let a sigh escape my mouth as I leaned in and hugged her just as my flight was announced.
“Have a good flight honey,” my mom cooed as she pulled away from our warm embrace.
“Thanks mom,” I said.
“Remember to call me when you land,” she called out as I began to walk away to board my flight.
.
I somehow ended up with a window seat, but I closed the blind on the window since I’m mortified of heights. I plugged my ear buds into my ears from my iPod and let the tunes of Kingston, Ed Sheeran, One Direction and Danger Radio occupy my mind as the plane took off.
At some point I dozed off and was woken up by a pretty blonde flight attendant who was wondering if I’d like a drink. I asked for a bottle of water and unbuckled my seatbelt and removed my ear buds from my ears so I could quickly use the restroom. Once back at my seat, I looked at my iPod to see we were only four hours into the flight with another two and a half to go. I plugged my ear buds back in to listen to some more music for the remainder of my flight. I was so thankful that I didn’t have any screaming babies or strange people near me. The two seats in my aisle were actually empty. I somehow really lucked out.
I got a bit fidgety, but who wouldn’t on such a long flight? I honestly don’t know how some people travel so frequently on constantly long flights. I let my mind wander off to my class schedule, what my professors would be like, if the editors at Sugarscape would like me, if I’d make any new British friends and so much more. Before I knew it we were descending. I frantically gripped my seat’s armrests after I removed my ear buds and put them along with my iPod back in my bag.
.
Once off the plane I took out my cellphone and pressed the screen where my mom’s name was lit up. It rang once before my mom answered.
“Hi sweetie! How was your flight?” she asked.
I yawned as I replied somewhat sleepily, “Hi. It was fine. I slept during most of it.”
“That’s good. Is there a car waiting for you to bring you to the university?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t made it outside yet,” I said as I continued walking towards the exit where the car pick-up was located. As soon as I made it outside I noticed a man holding a sign with my name, Misty Marcatelli, scribbled on it.
“Mom, I found the driver who is waiting for me. My luggage arrived at my dorm room a few days ago, right?”
“Yep. Everything should be in your room waiting for you to unpack once you get there,” she said.
Since I’m from New Jersey the university was fine with my luggage arriving a few days before me so it would be easier for my travelling. I was very happy since I don’t think I’d do too well with finding my luggage in the airport. I’ve heard such horror stories about lost luggage and with my luck I’d definitely be one of those victims had I brought all my luggage on the flight with me.
“Alright mom, I guess I’m going to go then. I promise I’ll call you tomorrow at some point since I’m pretty sure I’m going to pass out from jetlag once I’m all settled.”
“Okay, be safe. I love you.”
“I love you too. Good night mom.” With that I pressed my cellphone’s screen where the “end call” button was.
I approached the man holding the sign with my name on it.
“Hello Misty?” he questioned.
I simply nodded.
He opened the door to the backseat for me and said, “I’m John. Your father has hired me to be your driver whenever and wherever you have to go while you’re here in London.”
I gasped as I climbed in and just nodded once more. I guess my dad is overcompensating yet again for not being in my life, but I guess I’ll never have to worry about catching a cab or taking the Tube. I kind of want to though to get the whole London experience.
“Okay John,” I said as he got into the driver’s seat and took off from the airport towards my school’s campus. He smiled at me through the rearview mirror.
“Misty, which hall of residence are you staying at?” he asked as we sat in some traffic.
“Uh, hold on one second. The paper with its name is in my bag,” I said as I scrambled to pull the paper out of my bag. “Derwent Point.” I said.
“That’s lovely. You’ll have your own room with a great view of the city,” he said with a big smile plastered on his face.
“Oh, cool. How do you know?”
“I went to City University London and stayed in that building.”
“Oh. Did you like it?”
“Yes, I did. My neighbors were a little party crazy, but I suppose that happens in a college setting,” he stated with a shrug.
I cringed at that thought. I experienced one too many awful situations as an undergraduate with my roommates as well as my neighbors. I have cleaned up vomit one too many times. I hope to not have to deal with anything of the such ever again. I’m hoping the graduate students that are living in Derwent Point are less party crazed.
It was nice making small talk with John and I guess I should get used to it since I’ll be seeing plenty of him since he’s my personal driver now. I still cannot wrap my mind around that. I guess my dad does care more than he lets on.
.
Shortly after we arrived at Derwent Point. I programmed John’s cellphone number into my cellphone.
“Don’t hesitate to call Misty. I’m here for you whenever you need me.”
“Okay John. Thank you and good night, “ I said as I began to walk towards the entrance to my new home.
My floor’s residential adviser, Conor, welcomed me. I signed my paperwork and made my way up the four flights of steps until I came across room D12. I fiddled with the key in my hand before inserting it into the lock and turning the doorknob.
I walked in and saw my luggage lined up against the far left wall as I let out a deep breath. I let the door close as I began to unpack. By the time I was done it was 1:30 in the morning. I sighed and flopped down on my bed. My stomach grumbled, but I had no real food on me except for a granola bar that was hidden away in my carry-on bag. I ate it and decided to go to wash up and change before finally drifting off to sleep.

Notes

Hope you like this fanfic.
~E