The Love to Live For

I can't wait to leave this city and move back the home that I know. I moved to Michigan when my parents finsihed building our mansion. My dad is a successful businessman and my mom is a stay at home mom so that she can take care of my siblings. She used to be a doctor until she had my two youngest brothers. I have a total of six siblings. I am the oldest child. My parents have more than enough money to spoil all of us. Because of them, I get to go to the University of Pittsburgh for free. I grew up in Pittsburgh. I have lived there until I was twelve. Then my dad built this mansion here because this is where him and my mom met. He came here on a business trip and met my mom, who flew back to Pittsburgh with him to get married. Then they decided to move to where they met. I was disappointed to move away from Pittsburgh. I miss it there. My uncles and other family members from my mom's side of the family don't want me to move to Pittsburgh, not because they will miss me, but because they are huge fans of the Detroit Red Wings and they hate the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are my favorite team.

I take one last look at my empty room and I close the door behind me, trying not to cry. I am only eighteen and have never lived alone before. This is going to be the first time I have ever lived away from all my family. Most of my family lives in Michigan, but some other family members live in New York. I go downstairs to see my family getting all emotional that I am leaving. I will be back in a few weeks for Thanksgiving and then I will be home again for Christmas. I know this is hard for me to leave them. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be going to college. I love my parents so much. My mom won't even look at me. She is crying so hard and my dad is standing by her side trying not to cry in front of us. That's how my dad is. If he wants to cry, he goes somewhere so he can be alone. I think that's how a lot of men are. My parents wrap me in a hug to where I can barely breathe. They don't want to let go.

"Call me when your plane lands," whispers my dad. He is crying now. I start to tear up, but I break free before I decide not to go.

"I should get going. I love you guys."

I give all my siblings hugs and say my goodbyes. I grab my things and head out to my taxi. Off to the airport I go.

***
About twenty minutes later, I arrive at the airport. I hand the driver thirty bucks.

"Keep the change. You earned it."

I grab my stuff and head inside to get through security. This is going to take hours.

***

I cleared secuirty and I get on my plane that takes off in twenty minutes. I take out my iPhone and my Beats to listen to music. A flight attendant offered me some water, so I take it.

"Thanks."

"Can I get you anything else ma'am?"

"No, I'm all set for now, thanks."

I turn back to my phone to continue looking through my songs. I play Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding. The plane starts to move and I drift off to sleep. Soon, we will land in Pittsburgh, the home that I have known for twelve years.

***

I awake by a flight attendant shaking my shoulder. We are at the airport in Pittsburgh. I get off the plane and head out of the airport. I call a taxi. Shortly after, a taxi pulls up to me.

"Ms. Bauer?" asks the taxi driver.

"That's me," I say as I grab my bags and put them in the taxi. My name is Alysha Bauer. I just turned eighteen. I am into Biology, which is what I am going to college for. I want to be a biologist.

We arrive at the University of Pittsburgh. It is late night, so I'm just going to grab some dinner from a nearby pizza shop and then head to bed. I pay the taxi driver and I grab my bags out of the trunk of the car. I head to the dorm to find my room. I come to room 307, which is my room number. I unlock the door and walk in.

"Oh you must be Alysha. My name is Tiffany. I am your roommate!"

"Nice to meet you Tiffany."

She gives me a big hug. This is going to be alright. I have been so worried that me and my roommate wouldn't get along. That has been my biggest fear for awhile.

"Do you need help unpacking?"

"No, I think I got it, but thanks."

"Are you hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Let's go to the pizza place down the road," says Tiffany as she grabs her purse. I nod my head and grab my purse too. We walk out the door to the pizzeria. I love pizza. My favorite kind of pizza would be pepperoni with green peppers.

"Are you old enough to go to a bar?" asks Tiffany as soon as we walk into the pizzeria.

"That's random," I chuckled. "No, I am not old enough. I just turned eighteen a few weeks ago.

"That's a bummer. My friend says that she always goes to this one bar and some of the Pittsburgh Penguins hang out there. She has seen them a bunch of times, but I never did. I really want to meet them sometime. "

"You're a Penguins fan? That's cool."

"Yeah, aren't you?"

"Well, of course but my family likes the Red Wings. I never liked them. I have always had a thing for the Penguins."

"The Red Wings are trash. Always be a Penguins fan. Gotta love Sidney Crosby," says Tiffany as we are next in line to order.

"Honestly, I am more of an Olli Maatta fan," I say blushing a little bit. Maatta is so cute.

"Giiirrrlll, he's such a babe," says Tiffany as we get ready to order. We order a medium pepperoni pizza and a few sodas. We take a seat at a table until our pizza is ready. Maatta is such a babe, she is not wrong.

"Yeah, I have liked him ever since he was drafted by the Penguins. I have always liked Sid and Geno too, but Maatta is my favorite."

We get our pizza and we head back to campus so that we can eat. I have a big day tomorrow. My first day of classes is in a few days. I need to unpack and get ready for class.

We get back to our room and we start eating. I used to work in a pizza place just for something to do. I want to work for my money. I don't want my parents to help me get my money. I feel like I would start relying on them for everything. They only gave me a few thousand dollars to get started.

We finish eating dinner and we put the leftovers in the fridge. We have a pretty big room. There has to be room for two of us. I make my bed and crawl in so that I can get some sleep. I have some unpacking to do tomorrow. Tomorrow should be a good day.

Notes

This is my first story. I hope you guys like it! I would love to hear some suggestions for next chapters!!!