Moving Time

*Tessa*

"I can't believe it. Why do you have to move?" my best friend, Vanessa, asked me.

"Trust me. I don't want to either. But you know how my mom is." I stared at my first suitcase for a little bit before shutting it and moving on to my other one.

"But it isn't fair. You shouldn't have to leave. You could live with me!"

"Vanessa, I can't stay in California. My mom is making Mason and I move to New York and I can't do anything about it." I felt tears come to my eyes as I looked at my best friend. Moving across the U.S. meant more than not seeing her everyday at school. It meant never seeing her again. There was no way we'd be able to keep in touch. After a little bit, we would barely know each other anymore.

"But why New York? Why not Nevada? Why not just 4 hours away up in north California?"

"You know why Vanessa. My mom wants nothing to do with my dad anymore."

"It isn't fair! You shouldn't have to move because your parents can't get along. And you don't even look that upset."

"You think I'm happy about this?" I shouted. "Vanessa, I'm the one moving to New York. I'm the one about to living in a random town called Hillwood. You can still stay here and be with everyone. Your parents are still together!" We both stayed silent as my words sunk in.

"I'm sorry," Vanessa said after a good five minutes. "I just don't want to lose my best friend."

"Me neither." I hugged Vanessa and quickly wiped my tears. "Things are never going to be the same."

"I just wish I could go with you."

"No. You have a life here. A boyfriend. Family. College. Don't waste it on me."

"I don't think it would be a waste at all. The worst part about you leaving is that you leave tomorrow. All your stuff is already at your new house and in a couple days you will be in New York starting to create a new life."

"Crazy isn't it? I always thought we would go to college and live together and always be best friends."

"Life sucks ass."

"You think?" Vanessa and I shared a laugh and I hugged her.

"I'm sorry, but I have to leave. My mom wants me to make dinner since dad is away on a work trip." I chuckled as I remembered the last time Vanessa's mom tried to cook. She nearly burned the house down. Now, every time Vanessa's dad was on a work trip her family either ate out or Vanessa cooked.

"You better go then. I don't want to have to run to your house in the middle of the night cause your mom tried to cook." Vanessa laughed and picked up her bag.

"Will you text me when you land?" I nodded sadly and hugged once more. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you more." We separated and Vanessa laughed again.

"We sound like a weird couple. Bye Tess."

"Bye V." Vanessa left my bedroom and I stared back at my closet full of clothing I still had to pack.

"Well, Tessa, time to finish packing."

*****

"Tessa come on! We are going to miss the plane!" My mom shouted from downstairs.

"I'm coming!" I shouted right back and rushed down the steps, my suitcases slowing me down. When I reached the bottom of the steps I saw my mom and Mason waiting by the door while my dad was leaning against the pillar. "Here."

"Good. Now say good-bye to your father and then we'll leave." My mom took my suitcase and began to go outside to load them in the car.

Mason went up to dad first and hugged him tightly. "Who's gonna throw the ball with me now?" he asked. I looked down as I felt sadness run through me.

"Your mom and your new friends will. Plus, when you come home for Christmas, the ball will be waiting." Mason nodded and released himself from the hug.

"I don't want to go."

"And I don't want you to leave, but that is just how it goes. I'm sorry kiddo." Mason stepped back and I hugged my dad. "You'll be okay?" he whispered in my ear.

"I will."

"Just be careful. And watch out for your brother and your mom. They might need you. Scratch that. They will need you."

"Way to keep the pressure off." I joked. My dad backed up and looked at me in the eyes.

"I love you, Tessa. Your mom does too. You know why this is happening and you understand that it is unfair, but there's nothing you can do. Your brother doesn't. And your mom is...well you know." I laughed and hugged my dad again.

"I will."

"Good."

"Okay is everyone ready to go?" I turned around and saw my mom waiting by the door having moved our bags into the car.

"Yeah. We are." I released myself from the hug and wiped my eyes that were threatening to spill tears. I wouldn't cry. "My music stuff went with the moving van a week ago right?"

"Yes. Everything except your guitar."

"Good. Mason, come on." I nodded toward the door while facing my little brother. He hung his head low and stalked towards it.

"Well, good-bye John. I will send the kids here on Christmas."

"Good-bye Nora. Watch over them and don't be too harsh." The air was stiff as they spoke and I hugged my brother to my side.

"I won't. Okay kids, let's go." We exited the house and got in the car. I looked out the window and saw my dad standing in the doorway. I waved as my mom drove us to the airport, taking away from the only life we've ever known.

*****

"We're here." my mom called out. I looked up from my phone, out the window and saw a house. The house was cute. It was a two story house with gray outside walls and stone on the front as well. The roof covered the door as pillars held it up, giving some shade and rain covering for anyone coming to the front door. It had two garages and a big driveway. It had a modern look to it, and I actually liked it.

"It's cute. Modern."

"It was the best I could find in this area with our budget. It is a ten minute walk from the school you two will be attending." I nodded as my mom parked the car on the side of the road by the house. The moving van was in the driveway and people were already putting things in the house and on the driveway. I opened the door and got out of the car.

"Can I check out my room?" I asked.

"Sure, just bring something in the house when you go in. Preferably something that will go in your room." I smiled and grabbed my suitcase and a box with some of my stuff from home and entered the house.

Upon entering, you walked into a wide hallway where you could see the kitchen from. On the left were stairs that led to the second floor. On the right side of the wall was a door, but I didn't know where it led. The majority of the house was furnished. It had a new TV on the wall and appliances in the kitchen plus a dining table, though I could already see my mom replacing it.

I walked up the stairs and saw a couple doors I opened one and walked into the bathroom. Shutting that door, I went to the second one. It was a large room that I figured would be my mom's as the door to an en suite was in there as well. When I opened the third door, I saw a cute room of a good size. The walls were a white color and one wall was painted with light pink stripes.

I figured the room was mine and put my stuff in it. There were two windows so I looked out them and saw the front lawn. My mom and Mason were grabbing boxes as well as the people that helped bring our stuff here. I backed away from the window and looked around the room once more. I was already imagining what I could do:

On the wall my bed would be against, I could see a tree with bare branches and music notes hanging from them on trees. My desk in between the windows and pale blue curtains. A pale blue carpet on the dark hard wood that would match the curtains and a black beanbag in the corner to the side of my bed. My bed would be lower on the ground and a night stand to the right of it. A simple lamp that would light up the room along with the ceiling light that was already there.

"Tessa!" I jumped at the sound of my name and ran to the top of the stairs. I looked down and saw Mason standing there, a sour look on his face. "You know, moving in would go a lot faster if you bothered to help at all."

"Sorry. Got lost in thought." I said, making my way downstairs.

"Nothing new." I reached the bottom and smacked him on the head for his comment. "That was unnecessary." he said, rubbing his head.

"So was your comment."

"Just come on and help." I chuckled and followed my brother outside to get the rest of the boxes into the house. As I grab the first box, I kept thinking about how my life was quickly changing. But while it was changing rapidly, I was ready for it.