I'm Not In Love. I'm "In Like"

Chapter 1

Of course we were moving. It was only logical, right? Everything in my life was going right for once, so, of course it had to come to an abrupt end.

One month before my sophomore year was over, my parents announced the wonderful news to me. I had just gotten off of the phone with my friend Jones, who I was convinced was going to ask me out at any time. Feeling light-hearted, I gayly skipped down the stairs, which was not something that I did often.

"My, you're acting hyper," my father commented, getting up off of the couch.

"What? I'm not allowed to skip down the stairs?" I questioned.

My father chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "Well, I'm just glad that you're not in a bad mood."

I raised an eyebrow. "And why would that be?"

He started walking past me. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough," he promised with a shoulder pat. What was he talking about?

No sooner had my father stepped into the kitchen, I heard my mother's piercing voice come from the same direction.

"EVY!" she shouted. Taken aback, I flinched and let out a small gasp, followed my a growl. She don't have to be so loud all the time. "It's time for dinner! Come set the table!"

"Sshh!" I hushed as I walked toward the kitchen. The cat, Link, came scampering out of the kitchen after that noise had erupted from my mother's mouth. I rolled my eyes.

"You don't have to shout so loud,". I scolded, getting three forks out of the silver wear drawer. Being an only child, I was used to doing a lot of the chores around the house. I began setting them next to the placemats at the dining room table. "I'm pretty sure that Link is afraid of you now."

"Well, being loud apparently is the only way anyone listens to me around here." She exchanged glares with me and my father. The two of us looked at each other and shrugged.

I guess she was right. Dad was always out in the garage using his chain saw and other loud equipment, while I stayed in my tree house most days, reading, while listening to Mozart and Hayden through my headphones. You could say that shouting was the only way for her to get our attention.

I got three glasses and a pitcher. Setting them on the table, I continued the discussion.

"Well, please only try to shout when you need to, okay?" I politely asked, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind my bronze toned ear.

She and dad made their way over to the table. Mom carried a large bowl of some sort while my father passed me a plate.

"Force of habit, I guess," she excused for herself, sitting herself down at the table.

My father grabbed the pitcher and brought it into the kitchen, filling it with ice and some discolored liquid. He brought it back. I stared at it. It gave off a sweet aroma.

"Peach tea?" I asked. I looked up at my parents, who both smiled and nodded. I looked inside the bowl of food that my mom had prepared for our dinner. Taco salad.

I took in a deep breath as I began to get suspicious. This was my favorite meal.

"What's going on here?" I asked as I started to serve myself.

My father's hand rested on top of my mother's as they looked at each other and let out a sigh.

"We have some...news," my mother started.

My heart began to pound in my chest. I couldn't tell if that was supposed to sound good or bad. Either way, I didn't like the sound of it. Was she pregnant? Did someone die? Did dad have cancer?

"What is it?" I asked slowly and shakily, my hazel eyes bouncing between my mom and dad.

They exchanged one more glance. Mom gestured with her eyes for my father to tell on. He let out another sigh before doing so.

"Listen, Evangeline," he began, reaching his hand across the table to grab mine. I stared into his eyes expectantly. When he took too long of a pause, I lifted my eyebrows, waiting for an explanation. "I know that things are going really well for you right now, but...the office is relocating me."

"Re...locating?" I squeaked as I forced a swallow. "To where, exactly?"

He closed his eyes as if it pained him to say it. "New Jersey."

My eyes widened as my mouth gaped open. I slowly blinked.

"New Jersey?" I squeaked again. "Dad, that's like, all the way across the country!"

"Now sweat heart, don't get too upset," mom tried assuring. "This could be healthy for you! It could help you forget, you know...the incident."

"If you want me to forget it, then don't remind me of it!" I accused, raising my voice. My parents exchanged a worried glance. I pulled my hand out of my father's grasp and crossed my arms. "When do we have to be out of here?"

"Two weeks," my father replied.

That was when I lost it. I ran out of the kitchen and began thumping up the stairs, tears brimming my eyes.

"Evy," my mother tried calming me.

"Leave me ALONE!" I screamed, slamming the door to my bedroom.

I hurled myself onto my bed and cried into my pillow until the tears would no longer come. Whenever my life was actually going smoothly, something just HAS to come along and ruin it. Story of my life.