Never 18

• Chloe Hardwick, Grade 6B
• Short Story
• 2019

I’m 17, running away from home with 500 dollars and a car. Nothing more sucks than being an adult so if I run away from my 18th birthday it’ll be like it never happened. I am going to Texas from L.A, only 18 hours of being in my Toyota Rav 4. I’m humming the song on the radio as I pull out of my parents driveway at 1:00 o’clock in the morning on Sunday, “My party’s tonight, it a shame I won’t be attending” I laugh. Setting the GPS is harder than I thought it would be, it keeps directing me to ‘Texas eats,’ a restaurant down the road, “Destination time 18 mins.”
“Damn it,”
“Destination time 18 hours and 34 mins.”
“That’s better,” I smile, independence feels good.
“EEEEEEEeeeeeKkkkkkkkkk!” Squeals the tyres of my car as the traffic light switches to red. “What a great start!” I think.

With only 11 hours left, I was starving, my stomach gurgles and turns. I look down at the glove box. A ring echoes through the box “No way!” I say astonished. Mum had left her phone in the car! I pull over the car at the nearest cafè. I open the glove box and see the phones last buzz. I listen to the voicemail. “Olivia Beth Johnson.” She spat, using my full name was a big threat. I breathed in as the voicemail continues, “ You can’t do this! it’s your birthday, you're not at any of your friends houses, the cars gone, your fathers losing his mind, just come home!”
“No!” I yelled, no one heard but it felt good to say something even if mum couldn’t hear. “Just a call would be nice.” The voicemail ended. I grab my purse and strut into the cafe to grab some breakfast and snacks for the day ahead.

“Welcome to TEXAS” a sign read as I drive past. I whip out mums phone and take a photo. I was about to press send when I remember. Mum was taking a business trip to Texas tomorrow.
“Stupid!” I think, surely she wouldn’t go if I was gone. If she found me there would be no point of this whole trip! “Oh no” I mumble.

Mum didn’t come, well not that I realised, living in Texas with 500 dollars was easy. Getting a job at Walmart was easy. Living without any of my old friends and family was hard. I’ve been living in my car for 7 months with mums phone ringing everyday, with the same message every time. “Come home”
“Buzz buzz buzzzzzz buzzzzzzz”
“Hello” I say shocked, did I really just answer the phone I’ve been ignoring for 7 months?
“Andrew it’s Olivia!” Mum yelled. “ I’m coming, where are you?” I hung up and sent her the Texas photo over text. That will help her, now all I have to do is wait. “Come and find me!” I whisper.