“So what’s the deal? Am I riding with you or Melissa?” Robyn asked me before Mel and her were supposed to leave.

“You’re riding with me, 7 and a half hours of driving’ and singin’ in the car,” I explained.

“7 and a half hours?!?!” Robyn exclaimed.

“3 of it will be resting and eating, don’t worry”

“So 4 and a half hours of you?”

“Yep”

“I’ve had worse,” Robyn said with a chuckle.

“Thanks go get a good nights sleep while you can. You will be put up in a motel or something for a few days. So you get free soap and shampoo for helping me out!”

“Yippee!” Robyn exclaimed sarcastically.

“Get some freaking sleep woman. You helped me out bunches today, thanks, I really appreciate it.” I remarked thoughtfully.

“Ok, no problem, anytime actually. I’ll go home now.” Robyn replied.

“Ok, see you tomorrow.” And with that said, Robyn and Melissa went home. And we all fell asleep.

The next morning my mom, dad, and two best friends came over to wish me off.

“Ok, picture op.!” Melissa yelled out.

“Mom, take the picture, will ya please?”

“Get in a group already!”

“Robyn, over here, hurry up!” I yelled out.

“Ok, ok, comin’, hold your horses!” She yelled back at me. The three of us gathered into a group and smiled like models for a braces commercial. My mother then took the picture, standing up from our position, I said, “As soon as I get settled in, I promise to get them developed and make copies for you guys, k?”

“Promise?” Robyn asked.

“Yeah, I promise.” I walked away from my friends and towards my parents.

”We are going to miss you so much!” my mother said while giving me a giant bear hug.

“I’ll call every day.” I replied.

“I love you sweetheart.”

“I love you too daddy.” I said while giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek. After that, I looked at them both,

“I’ll be back before you know it.” I then turned around and headed to my friends.

“Let’s go!” Melissa got into her truck and started the engine while Robyn and I got into my car. I turned the key in the ignition and started north, to my new home. About two hours after we began I heard Robyn’s stomach growl, “Ummmm……light breakfast?” she explained. I just shook my head and pulled into the nearest fast food joint on the street. When I pulled into the restaurant Melissa honked her horn a couple of times. Once in a parking space, I got out of my car and headed over to her truck.

“Sup’?” I asked almost breathlessly.

“There’s a Subway right across the street!” she yelled at me.

“Robyn, does Subway sound better?” I asked hopefully.

“Anything sounds better than, Burger Alley. Whatever that might be?” she yelled back. Instead of burgers, we had Subway. I was so relieved. After three hours of gabbing, we left Subway and started back on the road again. At about four o’clock we arrived in Newchester, but had no clue where the apartment was, so we spent an hour asking around for directions. Finally, a polite old woman gave us something helpful.

“Dear,” she said with a smirk, “it’s right around the corner, go up to 56th street and take a left. Go up about ten blocks until you see a street sign that says Brookhaven, it should be the house about the size of a church. You shouldn’t be able to miss it.”

“Thank you ma’am. I’m moving in and I don’t know my way around quite yet. If I could help you with anything at all, just let me know by calling this phone number.” I said while handing her a strip of paper with the phone number on it.

“Well, I live on a few streets behind you, so I might just come by instead. But, thank you. I might just do that.” She said smiling. I put the car into drive and did my best to follow the woman’s detailed instructions. As soon as I turned down Brookhaven St., I started barking out orders. “Robyn, look for 51237, it should be down here somewhere.” I said,

“K” she replied while searching every house.

“Whoa, look at that place!!” She exclaimed suddenly.

“That’s it, I know it is!” I said breathlessly. And sure enough, as we got closer and closer, the bigger and more elite building was my true dream home. I pulled over to the curb, Melissa followed suit and got out of the truck. “Geepers!” she gasped.

“All hail the mighty throne of Nikky!” Robyn said while getting on her hands and knees.

“Thank you thank you. Wait, didn’t come to my party, execution to thee!” I yelled playfully. “Loser! Get your ass up, people are going to notice!” I said while grabbing Robyn’s shoulders.

“Yes mastress, I am your humble servant, command as you please.” She said while getting up.

“SHUT-UP!” Melissa exclaimed.

“Cranky much?” Robyn asked.

“At least it’s not the finger.” I said playfully. I walked up the stairs and pulled the string doorbell. As I pulled it, a piece of paper flew down from the bell’s clip.

“Nichole, A key is hidden under the thing that helps this world breath, WELCOME!”

“Great, a loony roommate.” I looked around the steps and found a fir tree in a pot. I lifted it and found a key, my 5th grade teacher would have been proud. I went back to the car and opened the trunk, “Robyn, grab some boxes. Melissa you too.”

“Comin’” They both replied. Boxes in arms and hands, I put the key in the slot and unlocked the door. My hands we kind of tied up at that precise moment, so I kicked the door open. It was like a palace, just about exactly how it was described in the brochure.

“Holy Batcave Batman!” Robyn exclaimed.

“Cut the pop culture act Robyn!” I remarked.

“Well, home sweet home, right Nik?” Robyn said.

“Excuse me, what are you doing here?” A tall security guard said while taking out his gun and handcuffs.