Page 1 of Introvert
CHAPTER 1
Follow your yellow brick road.
A young girl I knewsaid that.The kids were why I loved my job as an after-school volunteer, and even now, the words rang true.
Especially now.
Today, I knew exactly how Dorothy must've felt.Exceptinstead of a tornado, I got a lift here from my parents—whose endless questions kind of felt like a storm. And instead ofa gingham dress and ruby slippers, I was wearing my Chapel Hill Prep uniform—the standard black blazer, white shirt, plaid skirt, white knee-high socks, and black shoes. Icame straight from school, so there wasn't time to change.Oh, and unlike Dorthy, I didn't havea cute little dog.
Nope.
I was Toto-less.
It was just me and my violin.
And as I stood in the large parking lot, gripping the handle of my suitcase with one hand, tapping out a nervous rhythm on my thigh with the other, I felt so out of place.
Who knew my yellow brick road would lead to a tour bus with tinted windows?
Tworoadies walked by, and I ducked closer to the tree whose shade I was under.I'd always loved the shadows.That was possibly why I hadn't moved in the last five minutes.
But hey, maybe six would do the trick.
Sighing, I glanced down.
My phone was blowing up with texts from my family.
Viola:Adventure lives just outside your comfort zone.
Lottie:YOLO.Seize the freaking day—oh, and bring plenty of books!
Scarlett:Iam so jealous!!! But I love you,Ror. It's never too late to start living your life…unless you're dead.Which you're not, so yay!
Dad:Love you, baby girl. I know you can do this.
Mom:You're amazing, Aurora! I believe in you! Also…you can always come home.
My cousins and dad were all, You got this!So was my mom, but she was obviously worried.
Couldn't blame her really.
She was nervous about me leaving.
Iwas nervous. As an introvertwith a side of shyness and anxiety issues, I preferred staying home to being social. I'd never even gone tosleepovers orcamp. And then the summer beforemy senior year, I decided to accept an invitation to go on tour for two months.
With a rock band.
A band full of hot guys who I'd only met once—well, twice if you count my first meeting with their drummer, during which despite his hotness, I somehow was able to talk with him like an old friend.
Or like one of my cousins.
Speaking of which, Freya should be here soon.
We were doing this together, I reminded myself. The rest of our quintet had already made plans they couldn't get out of, but we all agreed.
Touring with HERS was the opportunity of a lifetime.
I loved playing violin.I'd always wanted to travel. AndI wouldn't let anyone—including me and my issues—stand in the way.
