Chapter 2

Aubrey:

"It's true. I'm moving," I sobbed. My friends and I were in the girls bathroom. Every one of us had left our class to do our daily meet up.

"Oh my gosh, why?" Heather, one of my friends, shrieked.

"My mom is marrying some guy, and they want to move in together." I wiped my tears.

"It won't be that bad. You'll probably have a bigger room," another friend joked.

"No, you don't get it. I'm moving practically across the freaking world. I'm transferring, guys," I choked out.

"Oh no!" they all shrieked in unison. It wasn't long before they all surrounded me and engulfed me with hugs.

This was an emotional moment for me. I wouldn't get to wear my Catholic school uniform anymore, and I wouldn't have classes with my friends. In fact, I was getting picked up early today to finish packing up my room.

"I'm not talking to you," I said sternly, getting into the car with my mother. "That's fine. We're still moving to California." She shrugged, pulling out of my school's parking lot. I watched the large church fade as we drove off on the opposite direction.

"I really think you will like where we are moving. You will go to a public school, wear regular clothes, and finally have someone to talk to. I think you will get along with Hank's daughter just fine." She smiled warmly. "Whatever," I scoffed, sliding headphones in my ears.

When I got home, I ran up to my room. One of the main reasons I loved my life was because of my bedroom. True, it wasn't the biggest, but it was a nice glittery pink and kept all my treasures. A wall full of magazine cutouts and pics with my friends was now ripped off and packed into a brown cardboard box.

The only things left to be put away were the items on my dresser, which consisted of makeup and smell-goods, along with a few pieces of jewelry. I unplugged the earbuds from my cellphone and decided to play the music out loud. My favorite song was Muse by PARTYNEXTDOOR, so I let it flow on repeat.

By the time my room was in boxes by the door and my suitcases were packed, I was out of tears and ready to just go. There was no reason for me to sit where I would no longer be sleeping or spending most of my time.

The only thing I could think of was bothering my mother. Jogging upstairs to her room, I knocked on the door before eventually just pushing it open. My mother owned a lot of things. Her closet was still unpacked, and she sat on the floor wrapping picture frames in bubble wrap.

"Need help?" I asked, stepping deeper inside her bedroom.

"Oh wow. I'm surprised your speaking to me. I thought I was ruining your life," she scoffed.

"I was just being a brat." I shrugged, laughing a little.

"I know. But yes, you can help with the closet. Just put my clothes in my suitcases along with my shoes and anything else in there just throw it in a box. I'm so tired, baby," my mother sighed, yawning.

"Go take a nap. You've been packing all day. I'll finish everything up."

Since the day I was born, my father was never in my life. I'd seen photos of him and my mother in their teen years but never in person. My mom never brought him up and changed the subject whenever I asked. It was if he was just a big mystery that was never figured out.

My mother didn't really have a lot of boyfriends throughout my upbringing. It was always me and her. We did everything together. Nails, hair, shopping, and we even did Saturday yoga classes. My mother was definitely my best friend.

By the time I had finished up everything, two hours had passed and my arms felt like Jell-O. I had folded, lifted, carried, lugged, pulled, and taped a bunch of stuff. Not to mention all the labeling I had to do.

The only thing that brought me out of my packing daze was my cell phone vibrating from the inside of my bra.

"Hey, babe," he chimed.

"Hey," I responded, walking back to my room.

"We need to talk," he said seriously. Oh god, I hoped he wasn't about to break up with me. Yeah, I was moving. But that didn't mean we had to break up.

"Is this about me going to California?" I questioned, plopping down on my bed.

"Yes. What are we going to do?" he asked, sighing.

"Mike, things are going to be fine. I love you, and I really don't want us to break up. I'll visit whenever I can. Tell me this will work," I spoke, helplessly. Mike stalled for a few seconds before he eventually laughed and said, "This will work."

Mike was kind of good looking. He was a nerdy boy who I'd first run into at the sushi place with my friends. We didn't meet at school because we didn't go to co-Ed schools. His was all boys, and mine was all girls. His school was preparatory and sat on a steep hill across the street from mine. Mike would walk me to school and bring me lunch whenever he could. It was a nice little system we had going on.

Mike and I talked for about an hour before hanging up. I had to get back to my mother and make sure everything was ready before our flight tomorrow.

Of course she was already awake and putting her suitcases in the living room.

A few hours later, my mother and I had showered and changed clothes. I settled on dark coral True Religion capris, a black shredded tank top with a golden moon in the center, and gold platform sandals. My hair fell loosely down my back, and I slid my light purple Dior shades on top of my nose.

The flight was only going to be about four hours, and it was hot in California.

"Let's roll," my mother yelled from the bottom of the steps.

"I'm coming," I exclaimed. Picking up my carry-on, I closed the door behind me and ran downstairs.

On to my new life...