That One Summer

Chapter One - "Moving"

     I stared out of the window, the world flew by me as we drove along the road. The cool summer breeze drifted through my hair, sending tingles up my back. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine a life outside of Virginia. Ohio seemed distant, like a place on the map but it wasn't really there. I sat in the passenger seat next to my mother. “Everything will turn out just fine.” she promised, keeping her eyes glued to the road.

     “Right, because after seventeen years of living in Virginia, I'm supposed to be perfect with living in Ohio.” I scoffed. My mother looks nothing like me, she has bright red hair and cold blue eyes. She has a figure, and I have no curves. My dark brown hair was pulled into a pony tail, my dark green eyes changed between orange and its current color. I drummed my fingers to the beat of the song playing.

     We passed a sign that read "eWlomce ot usCoblmu" I put my head down in shame, I'm dyslexic. “Mom…” I slowly trailed off, she understood. “Welcome to Columbus.” she translated. I nodded and stared back out the window. Mom never mentioned my dad, she was lonely. As the sun hit the horizon, sparks of blue, orange, purple, and yellow streaked across the sky. Clouds shifted above us, but it didn't seem like it was going to rain.

     From the passenger mirror, I could see the moving trucks behind us. I kept a single bag close to my feet, I don't trust those trucks. My fingers curled around the necklace that fell just above my breast. It was in the shape of the infinity sign. My brother gave it to me before he passed away. He was a year older than me, I looked up to him.

     Tears threatened to spill at the thought of him, it was six months ago. My mom didn't speak to me for the first two months, she shut herself in her room and closed out everyone. We pulled into a small street. All the houses were packed close together, each one looked exactly the same. My mom hesitated before pulling into the driveway.

     I pointed to the one on the end, it was our address. She smiled and pulled into the driveway. The house was two story, the outside was painted grey. A small tree sat in the front yard, and a series of stones lead up to the front porch. I got out and carried my bag into the house. It looked sad, no pictures were put up, no furniture was anywhere, not a footprint dirtied the floor. A staircase sat to the right of me, its oak wood banister was decorated with carvings.

     The wood floors lead into the kitchen and stopped at the living room. I'd only be living here for the year, after that I was going to college. The walls were painted eggshell, the wood was a red tint. I walked into the kitchen and looked around, a island sat in the middle, three barstools sat on the side. The counters were a sleek grey marble. The cabinets had the same red tinted wood as the floor.

     To my left was a pair of glass double doors that lead outback, to my right was a wooden double door that was pushed open. Inside was another empty room, except this one had a fire place against the wall. A metal gate surrounded the stone fire place, the carpet was grey. To my right was a small bathroom, to my left was the fire place. I turned around and walked back twords the stairs.

     A series of doors were spread apart, four in all. I pressed open the first one I saw. The walls were a shade of light purple, grey designs of flowers printed the walls. The trimming was white and a large window sat in the middle. A second door had a oval mirror pinned to it, it lead into a large bathroom. A closet sat in the corner of the room, it was large enough to store all my clothes. I just hope this room is mine. The carpet was spotless white.

     I ran downstairs where my mom was telling the moving men where to put the furniture. “Can I call dibs on a room?” I asked, she nodded and I smiled on the inside. “A few people are here, they want to talk to you.” muttered my mother. I narrowed my eyes and she pointed out back. I bit my lip as I pushed the glass double doors open. A trampoline sat next to a large privacy fence. I looked around but didn't see anyone. “Over here!” I turned to where I heard the voice.