Flipside

Chapter 1-Plot: warm welcoming

Do you ever wonder to yourself "who do I
see when I look into the mirror?"

"Laura. Laura! Wake up, we're about to go." A voice calls out to her. Laura wakes up to see her brother at the door, she sits up and yawns."Already?" She says with a sigh. "Yeah, get up." Noel says as he walks away. "I guess I gotta get up." She thinks to herself. She gets into a brown hoodie and some jeans. "Wrinkly? Sure, but it'll do for now."

She puts her shoes on and head downstairs with her bags but before she goes downstairs she takes a stop. It's her youngest brothers room, she sets down her bags for a moment and goes in.

"God, it feels so empty without him." She whisperers to herself. She grabs one of Gabe's teddy bears and holds it, just staring at it for a bit. Tears start to run down Laura's face, she feels a hand on her shoulder. She turns around to see Noel. "I know, Laura, I know." He says with a frowns. "This house holds so many memories, I hate to leave too." He says, there's a couple moments of silence as they look around the room. "We gotta go." Noel says, finally breaking the silence. Laura nods and takes the bear with her, they head downstairs.

Laura's mom and dad are outside getting things packed up, Noel goes to help them. "Sweetheart come on, we gotta go." Laura's mom, Sarah calls out. "Right, sorry." She takes a final glance at the house before getting into the car. "I can't believe it, Almost 17 years in that house just...gone." She stares out the window, Sarah looks back at Laura from the passenger seat. "Sweetie, I know it's hard, we all miss him. I promise we'll have a new start, okay?" She says softly. Laura doesn't respond.

"New start my behind. How can they just throw away everything we have?! It's like it means nothing to them...or am I just being the irrational one here?" Laura thinks to herself.

After a couple hours they pass by a sign "Welcome to flipside."

"Huh, so this is it." The car stops at a house. "Alright, we're here!" Laura's dad, Henry says. Laura and Noel share skeptical glances at each other, Laura can't help but feel a eerie feeling about this place but shakes it off. they get out and walk inside. The house is a decent size and pretty spacious, the walls are a nice beige with Walnut Creek flooring. "So this is the place..." Noel says. It seems already furnished. "Not bad, I guess..." Laura says. They Go upstairs and look at the rooms.

"I call this room!" Noel says. "Nope, I saw it first!" Laura exclaims. "I'm the oldest." "So?" They bicker back and forth. "They're the same size, y'know?" Henry says, finding the bickering slightly amusing. "Oh, well I want this one." Laura says. "You just won't give up, will ya?" Noel chuckles. "Fine, you can have it." He leaves the room. "Yes!" She starts setting her things up.

She hears talking downstairs, she goes down to peak her head out. She sees a woman with brunette hair and brown eyes talking with Sarah. Sarah turns around and waves Laura over to speak. "This is my daughter, Laura. Laura meet Kristel, she helped us move the furniture in!" Laura shakes Kristel's hand. "Ah, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard so many great things about you." Kristel says, smiling warmly at Laura. "Oh, uh it's nice to meet you too." Laura says. "You know, I have a son your age. I bet you guys would get along well! He's 17 too!" "Oh, sounds great." Laura responses.

"Well, I'll let you guys get settled in. I don't wanna keep you, it was very nice meeting you guys! I'm right across the street if you need me!" Kristel says, waving goodbye. "Hm, she seems nice. I guess it's just strange getting used to being in a new place." Laura thinks to herself. "So, what do you think about this place?" Sarah asks Laura. "I...I don't know, mom. It's just..." "I know, I know." They share a hug. "I just miss him..." Laura says. "We all do, nobody could've predicted it. But we'll get through this, as a family. Okay, sweetheart?" Sarah says, wiping Laura's tears away. Laura nods.