Unlikely Star

2009

Setting my stuff on the kitchen table, I hurried towards the fridge for an afternoon snack. I was completely exhausted from school, but since it was the weekend, I wouldn't have to worry about getting my schoolwork done until Sunday night. I had to get started on baking some cookies for tonight though because I was heading over to my friend Penelope's house for a movie night.

We had met our first day at Waterford Academy. My parents had decided to send me there since there were such great results from alumni. And I had obliged because the campus was absolutely gorgeous, and since it was an all-girls school, I wouldn't always be worrying about what the boys there would be thinking. There was another all-boys prep school nearby that was like a "brother-school", but we barely ever got together for any kind of events. The name of the school is slipping my mind, but I do know that their uniform blazers were always cleaned to perfection.

That's where we planned on sending my brother Charlie next year. He was still in the eighth grade, but he had his whole high school career already mapped out.

Pulling all the ingredients I needed for the mix out, I heard the front door open. I knew Charlie was already home since he got out before me, so I was slightly confused as to who it could be. Both my parents walked in around the corner, discussing something under their breath.

"Mallory!" my mother exclaimed, not seeing me in the kitchen. "You startled me!"

"Sorry. I'm getting the cookies ready for tonight. What are you guys doing home? I thought you would be at work?"

"Well... we didn't really go to work today," my dad said, earning a slap on the arm from my mom. They continued with their hushed discussion, going back and forth. I continued on with making the dough, assuming their silent argument had nothing to do with me, so I didn't need to listen in.

Finally, my dad cleared his throat. "Mallory, actually, we need to talk about something with you and your brother."

"Okay?" The tone he had taken concerned me, showing me that this discussion was far more serious than I had anticipated. My mom called for Charlie to come out of his room and join us in the living room. When Charlie walked in, he turned towards me, wondering what the both of us were doing there, but I simply shrugged at him.

Both my parents stood in front of me, hands on their hips. I know for sure I hadn't done anything recently that had warranted any kind of lecture, so I was trying to wrack my brain as to what we could be in trouble for.

"As the both of you may know, with the opening of your mother's bakery over in Lima, she's had to travel quite a bit for work everyday. And recently, my boss at the firm talked to me about a new office opening up over there. He wants me to be one of the heads of the transfer."

"That's great Dad! But, what does that have to do with Charlie and I?"

"Well... what we're trying to say is... your father and I think it might be best if we... move over there."

"What?!" Charlie and I both yelled out. Lima was a good forty-five minute drive from here. I would be moving a good chunk of my life to that town. And I've toured it before, and it is not somewhere I want to live for the next four years. Their main attraction is some off-brand Italian restaurant that's named Breadstix, but doesn't even serve fresh ones.

"I know this is not something you guys were expecting, which we totally understand. And we are willing to answer any question the two of you may have."

"When would we move?"

"Not until the end of the school year."

"Would I stay and do school at Waterford still?"