Wanderlust

Chapter One:

Grace Above^
Have you ever just wanted to run away and never look back? No sappy goodbyes or feelings, just a new beginning. Forget about everyone and everything and just start again. Be who you want to be, be happy.

Well my name is Grace Hazel Harper and I feel like this every day of my life. I'm seventeen and in my junior year of high school. I am also the second oldest of five siblings. But the eldest is in collage leaving me with all of the younger siblings.

My dad runs a multi billion dollar company and doesn't really pay attention to any of his kids. My mom is dead.... she died two years ago and of course I miss her a lot.

So my siblings go like this; Drusilla is two, Jude is five, Cody and Cole are both eight, Isabella is fourteen, I'm seventeen, Ethan is nineteen.

That is our little family. But since my dad is a workaholic, my moms dead, and my older brother is in collage; I am left all alone to take care of everyone. I get all the youngest kids ready for school and church on the weekends and I make everyone's food and drive everyone everywhere. I help everyone with homework and still manage to get straight A's for myself.

But just because I am able to accomplish all of this every week doesn't mean it's even close to easy, in fact it is sometimes nearly impossible to even wake some of them up. I higher the baby sitters and take the kids to their after school programs and such. Of course my dad pays for it but that's all he does. I take care of everything physically.

The only person who really knows how hard my life is, is my best friend Mason Landon. We've been best friends since fourth grade and I'm really grateful to have him in my life. He makes sure that I'm still alive and covers for me if I need to stay with one of the kids or something. He also helps me take care of them sometimes, but it's mostly me who does everything of course; they are my siblings after all.

I sigh and slip on my high top converse shoes before walking out of my room and across the hallway to the twins room.

They are still peacefully sleeping and a small smile crosses my face as I look at them for a minute. They are both so cute. Shaking my head I walk over to their bunk bed and pull the covers off of both of them.

"Time to get up boys! Be ready in twenty minutes!" The both grain but sit up in their beds anyways. Walking out of their room I walk into Isabella's room just to check if she is awake and she is, so I head to Jude's room.

Sitting on the edge of his bed I lightly shake him and when his Hazel eyes pop open I smile. "Good morning buddy, time to get ready and go see Linda." Linda was Jude and Drusilla's babysitter. She ran her own home daycare and she's a family friend so I trust to leave them there for the day while I am in school.

"Ok sissy." He climbs out of his bed and walks over to his bathroom. While he brushes his teeth like the smart little boy he is I pick out an outfit for him and lay it on his bed.

"Hey Jude put this outfit on and come downstairs for breakfast when your done alright buddy?" He calls back ok and I head to Drusilla's room. The walls are light pink and princess things hang up around the room. I walk over to her small white dresser and pick out a sparkly pink dress, with white stockings, her favorite white fluffy jacket and some pink shoes to match the dress.

Walking over to the sleeping two year old I wake her up and get her dressed then put her hair into pig tails, all while she is still half asleep in my arms.

Grabbing her special pink bear, from our mom, I let her fall asleep on my shoulder and walk downstairs where everyone is sitting and eating cereal. The twins know how to make their own breakfast and Isabella makes Jude's while I take care of Dru.

"Alright everybody into the car!" After eating and making sure everyone had warm clothes on we head out to the van and hop in the car. The twins get in the very back while I put Jude and Dru into their car seats. Isabella sits in the passengers seat and I start the car.

"Ok everyone let's try and have a good day." I put my fake smile on my face and set off the Linda's house first since it was closest.

Three hours later;
"So you'll never believe what happened!" I look at my hyper friend Jamie and lean my head on my hand. The rest of my friends are listening to her story while I just zone out, too tired to care. "Hey, you ok?" Mason nudges me in the side and raises an eye brow. I nod my head and give him a tight lipped smile.

"Well Gracie and I have to be somewhere, see you guys later." Mason gives everyone a wave and pulls me by my hand out of the lunch room without another word. A few minutes later we are seated in the bleachers at the football field where few people are, pretty much the outcast or druggies are the only others out here.

"Ok now tell me what's really going on because I know your not ok." Mason links our fingers together and I smile at the comforting gesture. "I'm just super tired I guess, Drusilla was awake all night because she had a stomach ache and then Jude woke up in the middle of the night wanting some food... I got literally twenty minutes of sleep."

Mason gives me a sad smile and wraps his arms around me allowing me to lean my head on his chest. "Well since there is about two hours left of school do you just wanna head back to your house and chill then I can pick up the kids from school while you actually get some rest."

I look at him with thankful eyes and kiss his cheek. "Your literally the most amazing best friend ever Mase thanks." He smiles and gives me a piggy back ride to my van. He drives and once we get back to my house I lay down in my room with him watching a movie.

The bright light is beautiful and nearly blinding but then I look at everything else and feel content. Finally at peace for once. Walking further into the wonderful garden I see a blonde haired women standing near a glowing section of roses and daisies. As soon as I get closer the women turns around and my breath hitches in my throat. "M-mom?" My voice is barley there but my mom smiles at me and steps closer about a foot away now. "Hello my beautiful Hazel." I reach out and grab her hand surprisingly I can actually grab it and it is soft and warm just like I remember. "G-gosh I miss you so much mom. Why did you leave me! I'm all alone with the kids now...." I let a few tears slip away and she wipes them away with her hand. "I miss all of you too but stay strong. God has a plan for everyone and yours is still in play. I love you very much. Keep being amazing and I promise it won't be this hard forever. Good things are coming soon." She starts to fade and I let out a sob. "N-no come back! Come back!"

With a scream I jump up and look around to see myself laying in my bed. It was just a dream.... but it felt so real. I let out a sob and Mason rushes into the room. "Grace are you ok!? I heard a scream and came as soon as I-" he stops speaking when he sees my tears and the puzzle pieces click. He walks over to me and envelops me in a big hug letting me sob onto his nice shirt.

After I'm done crying he pulls away and wipes my face. "Wanna talk about it?" I shake my head and burry my face into his chest. He lays us down and cuddles with me until eventually I sit up.

He stays laying on his back and I push his dark hair out of his face smiling at him. "Thanks Mase... for always being there for me when I need you. I really do love you best friend." He stares into my eyes and gives me a big smile grabbing my hand. "I love you too Gracie."

Sighing I look at my door and slowly stand up. "I guess we better go check on the kids?" He nods and stands up after me.

I'm really glad I have such an amazing person.