Day 1

While scrolling on the gram, I got a phone call from Taylor. I was pretty surprised she wanted to go out, but this last week of school was hell, we needed a break. So why not? I know were underage, and if we got we would be in tons of trouble, but my boy at Syracuse got me these really legit fakes so I thought we would put them to some use. When we got to the lounge, the bartender asked for our id’s and my heart was racing. It would have been beyond embarrassing if we got denied but they worked! Drink after drink it was finally time to get going, so we walked to the Downtown 6 train. New York City is the city that never sleeps, so I was beyond surprised when we were the only ones in the station, I couldn’t find my metro so I jumped the turnstile, Taylor gave me that face my mother did whenever I messed up but at this point I didn’t care, I just wanted to be home in my bed. Were now on the train and all of a sudden the train comes to a screeching halt. Taylor grabbed my hand and we both screamed. The cart doors open and there is absolutely no one in sight. Its cold, dark and we were certain, we weren’t in the Big Apple anymore.

Day 2

Is it weird that I’m in love with this place? The sign I saw said ‘Welcome to Arzabia” so I’m assuming that’s the name. Arzabia sounds cooler then New York. It kind of sounds Middle Eastern. Anyways, we haven’t really came across anyone else, it’s just Taylor and me. I wish she would be as excited as I am but she’s over here babbling about prom and how she cant miss it, I think this place is a lot better then dressing up for pictures with a stupid date. This place is a mystery and I wanna figure it out. Well for the mean time were gonna rest; maybe some sleep will calm Taylor down. Lord knows she needs it, and I don’t have any Tylenol PM with me to knock her out, that’s what my mom usually takes when she’s anxious before bed.

Day 3

LOL… last night was a complete joke. Taylor kept me up ALLLL night; I couldn’t even close my eyes for more than 3 minutes. Sleeping on the floor, under a tree wasn’t the most ideal situation but it reminded me a lot when my dad used to take me camping out in Pennsylvania. I was used to it Taylor wasn’t. She kept going on and on about curfew and about getting home. She sounded worse then my mom! She wouldn’t stop nagging me. So to get under her skin I told her maybe we can find some guys, maybe a little PDA will make her wanna stay. Then she went off, like a rocket. She was going on and on about how horrible our lives here would be, but I just looked at her, and thought about my new begging her in Arzabia, I walked away, I didn’t run cause I wanted to see if Taylor would follow, but she never did.

Day 4

So far I’ve been pretty good on my own. I’m upset that Taylor didn’t come after me, didn’t make an attempt to stick together but hey, nothing-good lasts forever. Best friends come and go… right? I’m trying to look at it as a learning experience, just like I watched so many times on MTV. Like in Teen Mom when Farah let go of her boyfriend, or in Catfish when that girl tried to get back at her ex and manipulated everyone. Wow…now that I think about it, I kinda miss watching TV. It was my escape from reality and right now I don’t have one. I would be cuddled up in my blanket and my mom would start yelling at me in the background to get my ass up and do something. I quickly snapped my self out of this daydream and realized I really need to start doing something productive. So, I sat down on a bench to think of my next move. Im now sitting here contemplating what I should do, should I make that left at the tree? Or should I go straight till I pass the weird statue? I decide to walk straight and as I’m walking I see a small little house, with blue smoke coming out from the foundation, almost as it’s burning! … but its not. I got closer and see the back of a man, dressed in all black with a old beat up leather jacket embroidered with a snake on the lower back. He smelled like a mix of the Abercrombie store and cigarettes, I smelled him from where I was standing. As soon as I turned around to walk in the other direction, he shouted “Hey!”, I faced him and boy, I liked what I saw. He took the toothpick out his mouth and introduced himself, “Hi, I’m Dom. What’s your name?” I licked my lips and proudly said “Nicole” I couldn’t believe he acknowledged me he was by far hotter then any of the seniors at Prep.

Day 5

Wow… just wow. Dom really opened up to me; we have a sort of similar past. Dom was left by his older brother about two years ago and ever since he’s been alone. He told me how angry he was and that’s exactly how I felt when Taylor left me! We talked over dinner. Dom made us this weird kinda soup, had a bunch of leaves and tiny little purple potatoes in it, but I was starving so I just pretended it was Chipotle and it wasn’t all that bad. Talking about the situation with Dom, made me realize I really don’t need Taylor. I don’t need people to tell me what to do in life or how to do it. Dom was right! His brother and Taylor were exactly the same they were jealous of us and that’s exactly why they tried to destroy our free spirits. As weird as it sounds, I think I’m in love with Dom. He just gets me. He keeps saying that people like us will prevail, I’m not too sure what all that means but, he kept saying “us” so I guess we’re kind of a thing now.

Day 6

Dom let me sleep in his bed, and he slept on the floor right next to me, he wanted to keep me safe. From what I wasn’t sure but I didn’t sleep that night. My restlessness reminded me of our first night here in Arzabia, when Taylor couldn’t sleep. I miss having her around but I couldn’t tell Dom that he would think I’m weak and he might even get jealous! I should be grateful to have a guy watch over me as great as Dom. When I woke up Dom had the radio on and he was sitting there smoking his carton as always. It had this weird Caution sign on the front stating something or another about hazards, I saw something similar to this in my health class. My teacher Mrs. Fiteni used it in one of her power points where one point in history cigarettes were considered healthy. Oh how times have changed. I never tried a cigarette before, so I thought id as Dom for a try. He laughed when I asked so I say down and grabbed the pillow. When I grabbed it, I felt something hard on the corner. I look down; the sensor was still on it. “Dom the store left the sensor on this pillow, why don’t we take it back and maybe you can show me around the town?” He looked at me with a smirk on his face and exhaled the cigarette smoke. “Nicole dearie have you ever yet asked me what I do for a living?”, I didn’t know what to say so I sat there with the most confused face. “Everything in this shack I got on my own, on my own terms.” I looked around, almost everything had tag on them, or sensors, or were so old they looked antique. Just a bunch of chaos. “I’m the most infamous robber in all of Arzabia, I make my own rules, play my own game. Those other people out there don’t get people like me and you were different. Very different.”

Day 7

At this point Dom and I have became very close. He’s my savior here in Arzabia. I was telling him how much I miss watching TV and you know what the man of my dreams did? He went out and bought me one. Well not bought, but bought sounds better then stealing. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea that he steals everything possible, but that’s what I like about him, he’s a hustler, he gets exactly what he wants. As were watching TV one of my favorite movies come on, The Wizard of Oz. I’m surprised they even have normal TV shows and movies here in Arzabia. Dom tells me, “You see dearie, they always have it so good. Just because were different, just because were more powerful we get categorized as evil. You don’t see me as an evil person now do you?” I exclaimed, “How could I? You’re the only person that has ever cared about me!” I ran over to hug him and he softly pulled my chin up for a kiss, his stubble scratched my face. I liked it.

Day 8

This morning I woke up to Dom packing. I woke up panicking wondering if he is now leaving me too. “Dom what’s going on?” He replied, “ We are going on our first spree together today, and I can only do it perfectly with you!” I was honored. He needed me for once, I felt like his savior when in reality he was mine. I started to pack as well. He told me to pack a blade, a gun and two pairs of black gloves. He had an all black leather outfit laying out for me already and he was kind enough to remove the sensor for me. I had to know where our first spree was going to be today, he told me the Duchess’s Estate. As soon as we got there we ran into some trouble. Clarabelle, the Duchess’s daughter was home, we did not expect for anyone to be home. Clarabelle wishes for the help of a fairy. As she wishes and wishes for the fairy, I was shocked to see Taylor accompanying her. I ran to Taylor and she ran to me. We hugged and it was a great feeling. She asked me how I was doing and I told her the truth I’m great, far better off with Dom then I ever was with her. The Dom yells for me to go, so I rush back to Dom and we left the Estate. As soon as Dom and I got home he lectured me on how all fairies are just jealous of him and his power. “They are the most jealous creatures in all of Arzabia”

Day 9

FAST FORWARD 5 YEARS 2021

Can’t believe I even found this, my old diary! I haven’t written in over five years. Things got sohectic, I lost track of almost everything. Things have changed, and when I say changed, they have really done a 180. I am now a mother to a beautiful boy named Tyler. He is the brightest star in my sky of blue. He’s my everything and I look at him when I’m missing Dom. Dom has been in prison for almost a year and a half now and things have been rough for me. Dom got caught at the museum when trying to steal Orion’s Constellation. It was a plan that was bound to fail but he didn’t listen to me. When does he ever? He wanted money to support Tyler and I but now I have to go off on sprees (robberies) alone.

 

Day 10

FAST FORWARD 10 YEARS 2031

Gee would you look at what I found after all these years. Its now 2031, many years since I first started my journey here in Arzabia. And I’m proud of what I became. I am not a very independent woman, yes I may not be rich, I may smoke like a chimney but I have my pride, and my son. Tyler is now 12 and he looks just like me. I’m very proud of him, he takes good care of me and always makes sure his mama has her cigarettes and I give him a meal on the table. He doesn’t do too well in school but it’s a phase. The teachers don’t understand our ways of living so I told him once he turns 13 if he wants to drop out and learn the trade, that’s entirely up to him. Update on Dom I haven’t visited in jail for 8 years, its too much of a hassle and all we do is argue. Just like I said before all good things come to an end. Tyler was finally home from his spree, he wanted to get some stuff from the toy store today so when I got up to see what he managed to get I was surprised to see Taylor. She didn’t say hi, or how are you, she started off scolding me just as she did 16 years ago. Some things never change. She didn’t care to ask how I was or how Dom was she just wanted to pin point all my flaws. I wanted to know what she was up to but if she didn’t care to ask why should have I? But there was no one in this world that I loved more then Taylor, and in a way I just wanted her to know it.