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"It feels selfish."
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The first day of high school is finally here. And honestly? I already hate it. Walking through the halls of Beavercreek High feels like some weird déjà vu. There are familiar faces everywhere—people from Belleville, even some of Lucy's old bullies. The one good thing? They still look scared of me. Some things never change.
But Lucy? She's not here anymore.
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"I don't want you to go," I sobbed, holding onto her like my world was falling apart.
"I don't want to leave you," Lucy whispered back, her voice cracking as she held me just as tight.
We stood there, crying into each other's shoulders while my dad and Miguel helped load the last boxes into the moving truck.
Turns out her dad got a big promotion at work. So, they had to move—to Lima.
"Quinnie, we have to go now," Judy said softly, her voice thick with sadness.
Oh, and after Lucy's attempt, she convinced her parents to let her get a nose job. But it wasn't just about looks. She asked everyone to start calling her by her middle name—Quinn. When I asked why, she said it was her way to cope. Like hitting the reset button.
"It gives me peace," she said. "Like I can finally leave all the bad stuff behind."
I teased her once, saying maybe she was turning into a plastic Mean Girl, ditching me and everything. She promised she wouldn't change like that.
"No! I don't want to go!" she cried, burying her face in my neck.
"Just give us a minute, please." I told her mom, who nodded and stepped away with her husband.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself even though my heart felt like it was breaking.
"Lucy, look at me, please."
"No, I can't," she whispered, shaking her head against my shoulder.
"Luce, please."
She reluctantly pulled back and looked at me, her tear-streaked face making my chest ache.
"This sucks," I admitted, voice shaking. "It really does. But this—"I motioned to the truck "this isn't the end. We've been through worse, and we're still here. You moving away? It won't change that."
"But it's so far," she said quietly.
"We'll call. Text. Visit during breaks. We'll make it work."
