San Diego Sweethearts

Prologue/chapter 1

My mom picked me up from school and broke the news to my brother, Joseph and I. “Sometimes marriages don't work out very well and things fall apart. Your dad and I are getting a divorce.”

 To be honest we expected this for a long time. My parents fight all the time about the dumbest things. Whats for dinner, or who should stay home, who should go out, who should get groceries, they’re like 6 year old brothers bickering back and forth all day. Then comes the serious stuff, arguing about money, the house, the kids, and of course their marriage.

My family has been in Kansas for our whole life. Joe’s a year older than me but we’re practically the same age, I like to say, at least. I hate Kansas. There is nothing to do and it’s so boring here. The next thing my mom told me was unbelievable. “We are moving to San Diego, California this May, after school.”

What?! California? I can’t believe this! At that moment nothing in the world mattered, I was moving to freaking California in two months! Sure, I would miss my home in Kansas a bit, maybe miss my boyfriend a little. Well, Brayden and I, we weren’t really working out anyway. He’s a jock and I never really liked him very much, but we had some great memories. So I guess we don’t really have a ‘thing’ for each other anymore. I am pretty sad because I will be leaving my best friend Jennifer and all my other friends from school.

My mom interrupted my deep thoughts about moving with another shocking statement, “Your dad will not be coming with us. Because of the divorce, we decided to split up, so I am moving to California and your dad is staying here in Kansas. You’ll visit your dad for periods of  time, but we decided I get custody in California.”

I looked at Joseph who was sitting calmly next to me, probably in deep thought like I had been, until he blurted out, “Mom, you can’t just interrupt our lives here and move halfway across America. I can’t leave all my friends and football, oh football, how can I ever leave that?” My brother cares about football a lot, he is an amazing player, quarterback of course.

“Honey, you’ll get started with football in San Diego next fall. Don’t worry about it we’ll figure it all out, you’ll make friends.” Still angered, Joe gave a reassuring nod, implying he would deal with it and soon get over it.

After finding out my dad would be stuck in Kansas I felt pretty bad for him, I mean I hate Kansas, so how could he live here the rest of his life? And he’d be alone, even worse. I wonder when I will visit him. How often? Spring break? Summer?

This moving thing is getting a little stressful. I am going to have to start all over in a new state, a new school, and a new community.

***

Later that afternoon, I called Jennifer to tell her everything I had learned.

“Hey Jen, it’s me.”

“Hey Abby! why do you sound so down?”

“I have some bad news and good news, I guess.”

“What is it? Did you and B break up?”

“No, no, well not yet at least. I am moving to San Diego with my mom because my parents are getting a divorce.”

“OMG! When do you move? How are you going to tell brayden? When did this happen?”

“Jennifer, calm down, just hold on. I move in two months, this May at the end of the month. My mom told me after school today. I’m going over to Brayden’s later today to break the news.”

“Do you need me to come for moral support?”

“No, i’ll be fine. But I don’t know what I’m going to do with my best friend who will be 1,500 miles away from me!”

“Abby, we’ll work this out, don’t worry. I will call you all the time, we’ll video chat, and maybe i’ll come visit sometime!”

“Oh yea, Jennifer? I forgot to tell you my dad is staying here in Kansas so I will also be a thousand miles away from my dad too.”

“Hey abby it’ll be okay. That means you’ll be able to visit me more often, right?”

“Yea I guess that’s good, but I don’t like how far away my parents will be from each other. Well anyway I have to go start packing. Ttyl?”

“Ttyl.”

***

That evening, I went to visit Brayden. When I got to his house, I stopped in front of the door and realized I couldn't open it. How was I supposed to tell my boyfriend, whom I'd been dating for 9 months that I was moving and I probably would not see him again. Maybe we were more than a stupid childhood relationship. He really cared about me and I know it to be true because he was such a sweetheart around me.

Maybe I should live with my dad here so I don't have to go through all the stress of moving. No, I can't do that. I have to go with my mom. I have to break up with Brayden. I have to do this today.

I knocked on his door. For what seemed like hours, the time passed slowly. His mom soon opened the door. I froze. His mom was always so nice to me and she made the best home-cooked meals ever. After calming my internal self down I asked if I could talk with Brayden, I told her it would be quick.

"Sure, honey, I'll go grab him from his room really quick. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's fine, thank you."

Brayden opened the door within the next few minutes and gave me a hug. Awkwardly I sort of hugged him back. "Hey do you want to take a walk really quick? I have something to talk to you about."

"Yea, sure. Let's go."

He didn't seem very worried so I tried to keep my cool and keep my breathing under control as we started walking down his street. This was the hardest thing I've had to do this year.

"I have some news, Brayden."

"Is everything okay babe?"

"Well, my mom just told me this afternoon that I'm moving this May."

"Oh okay, well I'll help you guys out. What neighborhood are you guys thinking about?"

"No, Brayden, we're moving to San Diego."

"Wait you mean in California?"

"Yea, that's the one."

"Um, I don't know what to say, I mean will I ever see you again?"

"My dad is staying here, because my parents are spliting up, so I'll be back a few times I guess."

"So, this means we are breaking up?"

"I'm really sorry brayden. I wish I didn't have to do this."

An awkward silence lasted for about 3 seconds before Brayden spoke again.

"We have so much together. Abby, I love you."

That is what I was afraid of. Three words, eight letters. Enough to change a girl's life. Brayden told me he loved me for the first time when we reached 4 months together. I loved him too at the time, but after a while I lost interest in him. I should have dumped him a while ago but I couldn't. He was too sweet.

"Brayden, I'm sorry, I have to do this."

We said our goodbyes and I started to walk home. It wasn't as hard as I thought, but for the next two months I'm going to be living here with guilt.

***This was between a prologue and chapter one. Hope you guys enjoyed, chapter two will be released soon***