11/28 by uliaj06

eleven

Flashback

August 3, junior year

Tate Woods

I hear a knock on my door.

"Your father wants you to come down for dinner." My mom tells me.

"I'm not hungry." I say without looking at her, my attention on my phone.

"It wasn't an option." She tells me then closes my door, not giving me a chance to respond.

I huff and get off of my bed.

Having no choice, I open my door and start to head towards the dining room.

We don't even have a reason to live in such an unnecessarily big house, other than we can because we have money. My dad bought this house only because he can.

It's always cold, and empty most of the time. My dad brings over people for business and has meetings here, but it's big enough that it still feels empty.

Our house doesn't feel like home at all. An interior decorator even decorated this house. It isn't a home. It's just a bunch of furniture and other unless shit to fill this emptiness.

I go down the stairs and head towards the dining room. The table is already set up with food that the chef prepared. Syd is on her phone like usual, and my mom and Nick are having a conversation.

My dad isn't here.

What the hell?

Why even call me down when you're not even gonna be here?

I sit down at my usual seat, next to Syd, across from Nick.

I was about to ask my mom where dad is, but he walks in and sits down before I get a chance.

We have an assortment of food to choose from like usual. Mom has her usual red wine, Syd has her water, and Nick has water today too. He usually has some energy drink or soda.

I'm really not that hungry.

Just being around my parents make me lose an appetite.

"I have news." My dad announces.

Mom and Nick stop their conversation, Syd continues going on her phone.

"We're moving." He tells us.

My stomach drops. What?

Nick stops eating, Mom just drinks her wine, and Syd looks up from her phone.

"What?" Syd asks, her brows arched in confusion.

"New York. We're moving." He repeats like it's the most casual thing. As if saying today is Tuesday.

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

"Why?" Nick asks looking confused and pissed off too.

"Business is doing well and we've upgraded. It'll do a lot better there too." He explains briefly.

"When?" I demand. I swear, if he says we have to leave tomorrow...

"Sometime in the last week of this month." He answers.

3 weeks.

"I was literally just texting my friends to go shopping for sophomore year." Syd complains and shows us the screen of her phone.

"You'll find new friends." He assures like it's the easiest fucking thing to do.

"But I really like them. Your business is doing well here. I don't want to leave." My sister says with a sad tone. She really does like it here.