Isolated

Chapter one

Sometimes I ask myself what would've happened if life was different, like if my parents had never met. There's a one in 400 trillion chance of being born so somehow we're the lucky ones.

The song Dream by Fleetwood Mac played as my annoying parents and I drove to New York City, the Big Apple. My parents said that it was for a 'fresh start' but I don't buy that. "When are we gonna get there?" I groan looking out the backseat window my stomach swirling nearly puking. "Just a few more hours," Dad says as if that's not a lot. As I looked out to the endless fields and forests one thought kept on running through my mind, the one thought that has haunted me since I nearly died on that bus when I was eight. I keep on thinking every single day that anything could happen god I can die! My cheery old dad had our life in his 52-year-old hands. He could drive us off a cliff if he wanted to. I slowly close my hazel eyes blink by blink. I end up falling asleep in seconds. I don't dream of anything at least I don't recall dreaming of anything.

Once I wake up I see tall buildings out the window, at least ten times bigger than the ones in my hometown. My parents still singing along to the old songs on the radio. Minutes passed and we were finally at my new apartment. It was a black-bricked building that looked like it was older than me which was actually pretty young considering I am 15. I got out of the car and stared at the building so did Mom and Dad. "It's-" I almost said something but I was interrupted by Dad's voice. "Amazing!" That was clearly an overstatement. We head inside walking up the stone steps which within minutes turn into carpeted and before we know it we are standing right in front of our new home.

 "Well, here we are!" Mom says who been silent the whole ride other than the never-ending singing. Dad puts the metal keys into the lock wondering what awaits behind door number 811. The door creaks open just for us to see that the apartment was just like every other. White walls, wooden floors, two bedrooms one bigger than the other. I don't know what I was expecting for a small two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan but certainly not this. We stand still for a few long seconds then step inside. "Your rooms down the hall Chrissy," Dad says looking around the new environment in which we'd be living in. "Thanks, Dad" I thank him holding a cardboard box to my chest. I slowly walk toward the basic door which was soon to be covered in TV girl posters, Mistki posters, and Artic Monkeys posters. I continued walking staring at my shoes afraid of what was behind this next door. I finally reach the door to the room I would nearly die in later. I turn the door knob nearly dropping the full box of books. It was just another basic room within this apartment and again I don't know what I expected but again certainly not this. I place the box on the already made bed my arms exhausted. It sorta felt like I was staying in a guest bedroom but for a very long time. I imagined where all my stuff would go but suddenly I felt my phone buzz in my left pocket. I reached over to my phone to check who it was. It was Max. Max was my best friend back at home. I decide to open the text. It said "Hey Chris! How was the drive??" I smiled at my phone. Chris was the name he'd call me ever since grade 3. "It was horrible I nearly puked!" I told him. "Call?" He so desperately asks. "Can't I needa unpack:(" I reply wishing that I could. He didn't answer after that so I just decided to start unpacking, of course, the thought of something bad happening to him ran through my mind but that was normal for me. I just forget about it and put on my headphones. 

My girlfriend by TV girl starts playing as I unpack the endless boxes of books, posters, and clothes. Time passes and my room still looks empty so I take a break. I finally leave my room and there are my parents staring right at me at the end of the hall. They just stood there for a few seconds it was so unsettling. 'What the actual fuck' I think nearly saying it out loud. They continue staring for a couple of seconds until I break the silence. "Um hi..."  "Hi, honey. We were just making lunch." Mom stated smiling at me. It was almost like those people weren't my parents. "Okay," I say nearly tripping over my words. She started preparing a grilled cheese sandwich on the barely used stove. Mom handed it to Dad who handed it to me. Mom was always the 'boss' of Dad. He always followed her choices and wouldn't even think before saying yes to her it was nice. "Thanks" It was like I was talking to complete strangers. I ignored it and ate the sandwich avoiding my parents for the rest of the night.

 Hours later I text Max. "Hey, I can call now!" He replies immediately almost like he was waiting for me to text him. "K" I stare at the single letter until he calls. "Hey!" I press the green button my face pale as a doll. "What's wrong?" He frowns at the screen. Max could tell that something was off with me from a mile away he could always tell. "Nothing my parents are just acting weird," I whisper trying to make sure that they don't hear me. "What'd they do?" Max asks concerned as always. "I don't know they're just-" Suddenly I hear my mom's voice. "Time for bed!!" She yells from across the apartment. "It's only nine!" I argue confused as to why she's sending me to bed so early. "Just go to bed, darling!" Now I'm even more confused she never calls me darling. "Fine! Max, I gotta go." I say feeling down. "Okay, good night!" He says acting like he didn't even miss me. Now I was disappointed on top of confused. He had a girlfriend back at home a really pretty and kind one. Her name was Diane and they'd been together since middle school when they met. I always deny it but deep down I know I'm slightly jealous of Diane I mean she practically stole Max from me. Max had short brown hair and green eyes. Diane had black hair brown eyes and was gorgeous. 

I head over to the massively clean bathroom for a shower before bed but mom stops me. "I thought I told you to go to bed?"  "Oh yeah, I'm just taking a shower," I say. She just stares at me so I pass her. She looked exactly like my mom and even had her smile but something was definitely off about her and dad. After my shower, I head to bed scared of my deranged parents. I sleep terribly due to my mom and dad being scared for my life.