Tides of Tomorrow

CHAPTER ONE: A New Adventure

MADISON

"Mom, I don't understand why you're making me leave!" I scream back to her.

"It's for your own good, babe," my mom says. She is way more relaxed than I am about this.

It's definitely because she is not the one who has to pick up and move more than 15 hours away for the summer.

I woke up this morning getting ready for my last day of junior year and my mom dropped a hell of a bomb on me.

My grandmother decided all of three months ago to move to into a condo on the shores of South Carolina and my parents believed the perfect way to spend my last summer in high school was to stay with her. Good thing they didn't wait until the last minute to tell me... Oh, wait! They did. I'm leaving in three days. I have never even left my hometown in Wisconsin since I was in 3rd grade to go on a class field trip.

"How am I supposed to leave Gracie and Ryan?! You don't understand. You can barely even take care of Gracie when I'm here. Who is gonna watch her all summer? And Ryan? Mom! This is our last summer together before Ryan moves away for college!"

Gracie is my baby sister, she just turned two a few months ago. Mom and Dad are so busy that she can barely even watch her, making me the full-time babysitter.

Ryan is my boyfriend of three years. He is one year older than me, meaning he is graduating and moving away at the end of this summer. My life is falling apart.

Thinking about it makes me break down. I storm out of the room and quickly slam my door right before my mom can catch up.

"MADISON JANE HARTWELL YOU OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW," she is fuming now.

"LEAVE ME ALONE," I yell back, hysterical at this point.

"We are NOT done talking about this Madi. I will be back in an hour TOPS," her voice fading as she walks away from my door.

I immediately wipe my tears away and call Ryan. He always knows how to make me feel better.

"Hey babe, what's up. Are you okay?" he answers with.

"No, I'm not okay! I am so sorry. I am SO sorry, Ryan."

"Woah, calm down Madi. Tell me what happened."

"I'm visiting my grandma for the summer... in South Carolina," I sniffle out.

"Wait. The whole summer?! You're missing my graduation, Madi?" he asks, almost as if he is angry at me.

"Yeah, I am so so so sorry Ryan. I figured I would tell you now because if I didn't I don't think I ever would have."

"You can't go."

"I don't want to go, Ryan! Why are you so upset with me! It's not my choice," I squeak out.

"I know.. I know. I'm sorry I'm so upset. I just wish things were different. We can still hang out before you leave... right?" he pleads.

"I leave in three days. I have to pack everything up for three whole months. I'm not so sure," I say with regret, still kind of hurt by his anger towards me.

"Wow, Madi. I thought things were fine between us. I thought you loved me," he now says with a tone of snark.

"We do," I say.

"But that's not enough for you, is it?"

"Ryan, wait no. All I'm saying is that your leaving for college when I get back. We won't ever see each other. I want to make this work BECAUSE I love you," I say desperate.

"It's fine, Madi. I'll say it for you, okay? We're done for now. I get it, you get it. Have fun In South Carolina," he says right before he hangs up.

That was not how I was expecting that call to go. Maybe getting away from Ryan is the best possible solution at this point.

I get up and start packing. It won't kill me if I miss one day of the year-- especially the last day. I can't face Ryan right now. South Carolina will make me forget about him. My mom was right; it IS for my own good.