Mariah's POV
"Mariah! Alex! We have something important to tell you!" My father yells up the stairs. I jump off of my bed and rush out my door. Before I can reach the stairs my brother ,Alex, bursts out of his room and accidentally knocks me down.
"Mariah! Are you okay?" He yells. I get up and slap him across his face.
"Now I am." I smile cheekily and run down the stairs. Alex follows me with a hand on his cheek. We walk into the living room and sit across from our parents.
"So. What is the important thing you need to talk to us about?" Alex asks. My mom gives my dad a glance.
"We're moving to..."
"What!?! Why!?! Where!?! When!?!" I yell interrupting my mom.
"I was getting to that. We are moving to Chicago in a day." She answers.
"Why are we moving to Chicago?" I ask.
"Your dad got a new job and if we don't move to Chicago he won't get the job." She explains.
"What about my friends? Football? Soccer?" Alex complains.
"You can make new friends and the new school that we are enrolling you in has a lot more sports than your current school." I sit next to my brother dumbfounded. I can't move away when I have friends and good grades! Well I guess I could keep up the good grades,but it takes me forever to make new friends.
"I'm okay with it as long as I get my own room." I say surprising myself.
"Well that's good because you didn't have a choice anyways and yes you both will have your own rooms." My dad answers.
"What does the house look like?" Alex asks.
"You will find out when we get to Chicago." After my dad says that he and my mom get up and head to the kitchen. Alex runs a hand through his hair and sighs. When he moves I notice something black on his back.
"What is that?" I ask him. I point to the black ink on his skin that is just above the collar of his shirt.
"A tattoo."
"Duh,I know that,but what is it?" He nods his head stands up. He takes his shirt off and shows me the tattoo that goes down his back. He puts his shirt back on and sits back down.
"If mom and dad find out they will kill you. Literally." I laugh.
"Some things they aren't supposed to find out. Like how you had a boyfriend." I open my mouth to respond,but nothing comes out.
Dang it. Why does he always win at this?
"I've had more experience." He says.
"How did you know what I was thinking?"
"I could tell by the look on your face. I've been around you to much."
"You say that like its a bad thing. Is it?"
"Uuuuuummmmmmm. I'm going to have to get back to you on that."
"Do you want me to smack you again?"
"You do realize that I could beat you up with one punch?"
He's right again.
"I know,I'm always right. Don't even ask how I know what your thinking this time either." He laughs. I hear the front door open and my best friend's voice calling my name.
"Mariah!" Alana walks into the living room and gives me a hug.
"What's wrong?" After I say that Alex gets up and leaves the room. He doesn't like getting into girl business.
"James broke up with me for that slut,Christina. I thought he really liked me." Me and Grayson(our other best friend) already knew that James was using Alana. Grayson was supposed to tell her because he lost to me in Chinese fingers,but he was a baby about it and didn't tell her. I guess I am a pretty bad friend for not telling her,but she was so happy with him.
"It's okay,Alana. Go up to my room and I'll get you some ice cream." I pat her back and she goes up the stairs. I enter the kitchen and b-line to the freezer.
"What are you doing honey?" My mom asks.
"Getting some ice cream for Alana. James broke up with her today for Christina." My mom's smile turns into a frown.
"I thought James liked Alana." Apparently everyone thinks that.
"Yeah. Well,that's what Alana thought too." I reply,picking up the rocky road ice cream and scooping it into a bowl. My mom gives me one of those 'don't say that' looks,but I pretend not to notice.
"Stop pretending that you don't see my face right now." My mom says.
"Am I really that obvious?" I laugh.
"More than you think,sweetie." She kisses my head and goes into the pantry. I put the ice cream back and go upstairs. Alana is on my bed staring at my ceiling.
"I'm going to die." She says dramatically.
"Come on,Alana,"I say handing her the ice cream,"He didn't deserve you."
"I'm dying. Mariah,go get paper and make my will." She throws her hand across her forehead and shuts her eyes.
"That's it. I'm going to call Grayson to see if he can cheer you up. I grab my phone off of my bed and dial his number. After two rings he answers.
"Yeah,yeah. James broke up with Alana. I'll be right over." He hangs up before I say anything. How did he know?
Oh well. I guess news gets out fast. Grayson's house is just across the street,so he should be here any moment. I hear the door bell ring and my dog starts to bark loudly.
"Mina! Be quiet!" Alex yells. I hear the front door open and feet running up the stairs. Grayson opens my bedroom door and Alex follows him into the room.
"I thought you didn't want to get caught up in this?" I say to Alex.
"Well,I feel bad about it." Wow. That's a first. He didn't care when my boyfriend broke up with me. I was heartbroken and the only thing he said to me was: "Hey,Mariah. Do you want to play some Black Ops?".
Classy. Right?
"Mariah! Alex! Start packing!" My mom yells. Crap. I forgot that I have to tell both of my best friends that.
"Why do you guys need to pack?" Alana asks.
"Well,I'm going to go now." Alex says walking to my door.
"Oh no you don't!" I yell at him. I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him back.
"Fine." He sits in my desk chair.
"We're moving to Chicago in a day." I almost whisper. Grayson heard me,but Alana didn't. Grayson's mouth is open in shock.
"What,Mariah?" She asks.
"We're moving to Chicago in a day." I repeat a little louder.
"What! Why?" She asks.
"Our dad got a new job opportunity." Alex answers. The next few minutes were silent except for the tiny sniffles from Alana. She was crying about James,but now about me and Alex leaving. She seriously talks to me everyday and without me she practically goes insane.
"Dinner!" My dad yells.
"I should get going."Grayson says.
"Me too." Alana puts on her shoes and gives me a hug."I'll come back tomorrow." They leave my room after Grayson says bye. Me and Grayson go downstairs and sit down at the dining table.
My mom made steak.
Alex immediately grabs one with his fork and starts to eat. I do the same,savoring the meaty taste. My parents walk into the room and start to eat.
*After dinner*
I am currently playing with Mina,the family's German Shepard,when Alex walks into the living room.
"Do you want to go swimming?"
"When don't I want to go swimming?" I ask with a smile.
"Good answer."
"Who else is going to be there?" I ask.
"All of my friends and Grayson." This is going to be interesting.
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I know,I know. A crappy place to leave off,but I want to start writing the next chapter.
I hope you like this book so far!
-A
