Delila

Hollard School of the Arts

6 years later

I took out my diary and wrote for the first time in six years.

May 6th of 2022

Dear Nonexistent Diary Friend,

Where do I even start? Do I even remember how to keep a diary?

I know I haven't written to you since my mom passed away--a long time--but I think I'm ready now. Speaking of mom, if you see her, tell her we all miss her very much.

It's my birthday today and my dad is gifting me with a permanent and excessively long trip to another state. We're moving. I know, what a pile of shit. Excuse my language, you know I never express myself that way, but I can't believe we're leaving Rosedale just because dad got a new job. Does he care about us at all? I don't want to leave my friends and neither does Emily--

My train of thought got rudely interrupted by Emily.

"Ou, you cursed, and you must mean your only friend, Emma," she said after quietly sneaking up behind me to read my diary.

Rolling my eyes while I took a deep breath, I told her, "How many times have I told you to stop doing that?! Dad!"

"Okay okay, fine, I won't do it again," she promised as she crossed her fingers behind her back.

Emily always had a way of ruining my mood, but I loved her anyway. Occasionally, she would get bored running around the apartment since her classes finished earlier than mine. Most of the time she'd entertain herself by skimming through my diaries, with or without me in my own room.

I kept writing...

I am writing to you today to tell you that I'm not only moving but going to a new school! You probably thought that was obvious because of course, I am going to school; I'm only sixteen and I was just in a school, so I must be going to another one, duh. Sorry that I am rambling, but I currently find myself in an extremely nervous state.

I'm not just going to a new school, I am going to Hollard School of the Arts (HA). It is the most prestigious high school in the City of Hollard. That's a big deal, and I can thank my above-average GPA for that. That's the one thing that is keeping me at ease with this big move. I am so nervous; I cannot describe it. Yes, I love writing and HA does have a Creative Writing track, but still, so nervous! I also don't do very well around new people or people in general. But I've been in many spelling bees, so I'm sure that was enough practice.

Yesterday when we were driving in Rosedale to get some moving boxes dad also took us to a uniform shop. I love a school that requires uniforms because everyone walks around looking very professional and you never have to think of what to wear every morning. What a perfect world, no?

Phew, that was a lot, thank you for putting up with me.

Love,

Deli

* * *

After seven hours of driving in a very smelly and uncomfortable pickup truck, we were finally driving into the street of our new home: "Santa Monica." I noticed the strangely peaceful vibe I had read about when researching the town. The warmth of the sun grazed my skin and a roasted barbecue scent filled the air. It was a completely different world. Back in Rosedale, the white noise of chatter and running trains took over you upon entering. People would dance, sing, and throw parties from their apartments... every day. Hollard completely changed my perspective of the word "different." But I had to admit, something inside me would always miss city living.