A Dozen Reasons

Chapter 1- His Decision

"Jay, you can't possibly be happy about leaving. Can you?"

"Kevin, no matter how I feel about moving. I can't change my Dad's decision." I threw my suitcase onto my bed. And started packing it to capacity.

"But you're just going to sit back and let it happen? You grew up here. You have all your friends here. I'm here," he sighed in defeat.

Does he really think that I want to leave? Kevin had to know this, we grew up together. He was my best friend since I was able to talk.

I turned to him," Kevin, please don't make this hard. I don't want to leave. I love this place, but it's my Dad's decision to move to Chicago." I gave him a pleading look.

"Okay. But I can't help to think that if your mom was here, she would've changed his mind." He sat on my bed.

Every time my mom is brought up, I flashback to the times we used to do the most craziest things together. One time when' I was 8, we were in the backyard planting some geraniums, and we came across a toad. I screamed, but my mom, the brave women she was, grabbed it ( with bare hands mind you). She placed it in an old fish tank we had in the garage, and brought into the house. Later that day, it escaped. My mom convinced me that the only way to catch a frog is on roller blades. So we roller bladed around the house looking for "Freddy the Frog".

I silently laughed at the memory.

"Jay, I  know that not having your mom is too much for you, but moving to a completely different state and not having me there to protect you is waaay too much for you to handle!" He laughed.

I pushed him off my bed, and was very pleased to hear a big thud followed by and "Ow".

Don't get me wrong, I miss my mom terribly. It's just I know she would want me to be happy and enjoy life. And there are times when all I can think of is her. And I missed the way she would make me feel safe in her arms, the way she smelled of magnolias and warm vanilla, but what I missed the most, was talking to her and telling her how my day went at school.

"Ow. What was that for?"

I laughed," For being a smart butt!"

" Look Jay, there are other methods to handle this situation without resorting to violence." He stood up and shook off the imaginary dust.

"Like what, Kev?" Arms akimbo. I grinned at the mock hurt expression on his face.

He gasped and placed his hand over his mouth to complete the "hurt" role. " Jasmine Elizabeth Alva, I am deeply hurt. I never knew you to be so violent. Look at what this move is doing to you. It's...it's turning you into a monster!"

I rolled my eyes,"Kevin, relax. I never knew you to be this dramatic!" I punched his arm softly.

" Whatever, Jay. Well, I got to go. I have a paper to finish for English. Some of us aren't as lucky as you to escape Mr. King's mad assignments," he said sarcastically.

I laughed.

 "So when are you leaving tomorrow?" I led him downstairs to the foyer.

"We're going to finish packing tonight and head out around 10 in the am." We stood in the doorway.

He sighed," Okay, well, I see you tomorrow morning before you leave. Goodnight Jay." He pulled me into a big bear hug.

I was trying so hard to hold in the laughter. He is so dramatic! " Night, Kev. See ya later"

 He gave me a huge grin. I watched him as he ran down the front steps. For a moment, I stared at the million stars that glittered the dark sky. I remembered when I was 6, before my dad was too busy, before I lost my mom, we would all lay on blankets on the grass and stare at the stars and drink hot cocoa. I hope I'll be able to see the stars as clear in Chicago.

I jogged back upstairs to finish packing. This was my last night in this house, and we set off in the morning. I'll miss it here and all the memories.

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A/N: Ok , I kinda edited this chapter again. So, it has more details.

Please comment. I appreciate each and every comment! Thanx!! =)

                                                                              <3 Sara