"We're moving to San Diego this weekend."
The ladle my mom had been holding drops suddenly into the pot of sauce. Silence fills the room with the sudden news.
"Daniel, what are you talking about?"
Dad walks into the room with a smile plastered on his face. He looks as if he just won the lottery.
"Jim brought me in his office today," He stars and places his bag down. "He wants me to oversee a new department in California. This would be a huge jump for my career, Susan."
"I understand..." Mom trails and sits down. "I just don't know how we will be able to sell this house so quickly before up and moving to a brand new home in California. That is such a big decision and we have no time to really decide."
I look back and forth between both of them as they converse. I can't believe there's chance I'll be spending the rest of my senior year in a brand new school. It feels wrong to not be excited for my him but this is all I've known.
For 17 years this has been my home.
All of my friends, school, college sco-
"Olivia?"
I look back up and lock eyes with my mothers blue ones. The same pair of ocean eyes I'm blessed enough to have too.
She's my calm. She's always had a way of keeping me grounded when things change.
"Sorry... I was just thinking. I'm excited for you dad, I guess it's just a lot to take in."
Dad nods in understanding and reaches out to hold my hand. "I know this has been a big year for you, bug. I want you to know we will still make sure you have a great senior year in San Diego and get you ready for college."
He's a good man. A great man.
He really does deserve the absolute best in life.
He's worked with a small business that provides different softwares for clients to help manage and grow their own businesses better.
Lately, he has been working a lot of overtime and staying late during the week to try and prove his worth. I've seen him in tears over this job and that isn't his normal.
"I know, dad. I love you and I'm proud of you." I smile warmly and he pats my hand.
"Alright!" Mom shouts suddenly and stands up, "Who is ready for some dinner?"
The three of us laugh together as she passes out the plates.
Just a normal chilly night in New York.
Stuffed on pasta and breadsticks.
Everything perfect. The same
I never would've expected what was to come.
⟡ ⟡ ⟡
I step off the last step and take in a deep breath of crisp air. Clear, blue skies take me in along with the blistering sun overhead.
"Olivia!"
I turn back towards my mother and notice she's struggling to get our carry on's off the plane. A few people behind her audibly groan as she waves frantically at me.
Flying had been the quickest way for us to get here considering my father's new position was starting Monday. We were going to survive the weekend sleeping on the floor and eating take-out until the rest of our items showed up.
I apologize to the people standing behind my mom and grab the bags from her. "Let me help you."
"You're too good to me, Liv," She smiles brightly and adjusts her hat.
I have to admit it. California is beautiful.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEEs3OGMyK
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The sun was hot and beaming down brightly on my bare shoulders as if millions of little kisses were brushing against the exposed skin. It certainly was no New York City.
I pull our bags up into my arms and loop my arm with mom as we rush to find my father who had already been obnoxiously taking pictures of the scenery.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDSkbgYU3x
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The three of us eventually made it to the front of the airport where we waited for an uber to pick us up and drop us off at our new and final destination.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qrdhq1Cju
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The drive felt as if I was living some surreal dream. Everyone on the streets seemed to blur together as we passed by but it all looked so different, so unique.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihJdwbAwlH
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Girls in crop tops with golden tans and rollerbladers zooming down the sidewalks on skates with funky mo-hawks.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT3nej0f8Z
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It was almost like watching a movie.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO0QxsxrYe
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The thought of finishing high school here brought on so many emotions I didn't know how to handle it.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUeFWVvY6W
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Soon enough our driver came to a stop as we stepped out of the car and grabbed our belongings.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsx6hvj7Ff
1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMByQqzS7S5
We stood before our new beginning.
The house was a cute, multi-level family home that was soft white with a variety of vines and shrub seeming to crawl up the side of the house. It looked to be modern enough and was a lot bigger than the little apartment we had in New York.
"Welcome to our new home."
Dad sighs happily and motions for us to follow him up the stairs.
The home smells of fresh paint and our footsteps echo throughout its emptiness.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg684vinZyW
1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgCFZmEbWo
The split-level home went off in two directions from the entrance landing. Downstairs led to the basement and garage while the first set of stairs took us up to our new living space.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAV3no7abJ
1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF92Xx4WYcz
The smell of fresh paint was very noticeable and the carpet was free from stains. It was certainly cozy and thankfully not big enough for me to get lost in.
Dad finally speaks, "I know it won't be fun sleeping on the floor but we will make it through."
I walk up the stairs and start flipping on switches as I go from room to room.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFhOM3xvUD
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"That's alright, dad."1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxLYX3usy1
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I finally make my way into a spare bedroom at the back of the hallway and push it open. The same paint smell overwhelms me immediately and I rush over to yank the window back for some fresh air.
I peer around the neighborhood sidewalk for a moment until I realize there's a girl staring up at me with a big smile.
"Hello there!" The girl shouts and waves her hand at me.
"Hey!" I reply back awkwardly.
"Sorry to bother, I just saw you all moving in and wanted to see who you guys were. I live down the block," She explained and puller her phone out. Her long black hair hanging in loose curls around her tiny waist. "Where did you all move from?"
"We actually just arrived from New York."
She nods and taps away on her phone, popping gum between her teeth. "That's pretty cool. Why did you guys move?"1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyjarRMMbj
1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwyReJWlRM
Wow, twenty questions already.
I stammer," U-uh...my dad actually accepted a new job."
"Well, I hope you like it here! My name is Kimberly," She smiles widely.
"I'm Olivia."
She holds her phone up. "Do you have a cellphone? I can text you?"
"I do."
Kimberly starts yelling her cellphone number to me as I struggle to type it in quick enough.
"Got it!" I say confidently.
"Cool! What school are you going to?"
"I think Westview."
She squeals in a high pitch voice. "Oh myyy gooodd! I go there too."
"No wayyyy!" I mimic back in the same fake tone.
"Well, let's walk together Monday morning! I have to run back home and finish up some stuff." Kimberly says and blows a kiss with her glossy lips before skipping back down the road.
I sigh and close my window before any other strangers decide to find interest in the new family moving down the street.
I sit on the floor of the empty bedroom and pull my phone out. I flip through photos silently and feel a tear start to swell up when I come across the video of my best friend, Amy, and me on my 17th birthday.1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7B0LjsuT8
1237Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9rjerm2Jt
The two of us laughing together and cheering after she surprised me with my favorite cheesecake and ice cream at school. She's always been my rock and biggest supporter when it comes to my dreams of Art school.
I'm going to miss them so much, but I will do anything I can to get back to New York to start college off with my real friends.
But...for now, this is home.
San Diego
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