This Is Me

Chapter 1

I place the last shirt into my suitcase and zip it up, placing it down on the floor. I look around my bedroom one last time making sure I didn't forget anything and taking everything in for the last time. All the memories I've made over the years. good and bad, particularly the most recent bad memories start flashing through my head. I sigh and shake my head, wanting to forget certain people and events that happened, especially the last few weeks. My eyes catch a picture sitting on my desk, causing me to walk over and smile as I pick it up. It is a picture of me, my dad, my dad, my three older sister's, my sister's significant others, and my best friend. One of the few good memories I have before everything went to shit.

"I can't believe you're the first one to leave" Helen my oldest sister says trying to lighten the mood. "Not by choice" I say putting the picture down. "Osiris..." Helen says. "I'm fine" I reply grabbing my backpack and sliding my arm through the strap, "There's nothing you or anyone can do to change what happened." "Yeah but you're my little brother" Helen says walking over pulling me into a hug, "It's my job to protect you." "Oh not you too" I say, "Artemis and Kali have been beating themselves up about this and feel guilty for not doing anything, please don't start too. What's done is done." "Hey bud, you ready" Derek Helen's husband asks from the doorway.

"Yeah" I say as Helen releases me and I pick up my gym bag. Derek walks in and grabs my suitcase. The three of us walk to my parents car where the rest of my family and best friend are waiting. I hand my gym bag to Derek and backpack to my dad as my best friend Waylon walks over and hugs me. "Who's gonna do all the stupid shit I do with me now" he asks. "Don't worry" I say hugging him back, "I'm sure you'll make a new best friend soon to do stupid shit with you." "I can't just replace my partner in crime" he says. "You still got me when I come home to visit and summers" I say. "It's not gonna be the same" Waylon says, "And be careful, don't tell anyone." "I wasn't planning on it" I reply.

He lets me go as Artemis, my second oldest sister almost tackles me as she hugs me, "I'm gonna miss you." "I'm gonna miss you too" I say. "You better call me every night and send me hourly update text" she says. "Don't worry I'll keep in touch" I say. "I'm not kidding Osiris" Artemis says. "Okay" I relent. Artemis releases me so that Kali my "twin" sister can say goodbye to me, "It's gonna be so weird without you here." "It's for the best" I say hugging her back. "No its not" she says, "If that bitch-" "Kali" I say, "I love you and I'm gonna miss you." "Love you too" Kali says, "I wish you weren't leaving." "Me too" I say. We separate and Kali who is now crying falls into her girlfriend Zoey's arms.

I look at Zoey and Sofia, Artemis' girlfriend and smile. "Bye you guys, see you around" I say, "Keep an eye on them for me." "Bye Osiris" Sofia says. "Be careful" Zoey says. "I will" I say, "Bye. I'll come home the first chance I get." I climb into the backseat of my parents car and dad starts driving to my new school and new life for the next couple of years. I look out the back window to see all of them waving and I wave back til I can't see them anymore. After that I put in my ear buds and listen to music as I drive away from my old life and to my new one. I must have fallen asleep at some point because I wake up to my mom calling my name.

The car pulls up in front of my new school Southgate Academy as I stretch and yawn, trying to wake up a bit. "I know it isn't ideal starting at a new school several months in" my mom Claire says, "But we didn't want the-" "It's fine mom" I say, "I mean I'm the one that asked you if I could switch schools." I climb out of the car and grab my backpack while my dad Matthias grabs my suitcase and gym bag from the trunk. "Well, this is it" I say. "Don't hesitate to call if you need anything or if anything like last time happens" dad says. "Don't worry, I will" I say not wanting to think or remember everything that happened at my old school, "I promise."

"Good" dad says nodding, "It doesn't matter the day or time. We love you Osiris and just want the best for you." "I know" I say, "I love you guys too." "Now be good and don't slack off" dad say pulling me into a hug, "And be careful." "I will" I say hugging him back. "I can't believe my baby's all grown up" mom says crying while pulling into a hug. "Mom, it's just a new high school, it's not like I'm going off to college" I say hugging her back. "You're still my baby and I worry about you" mom says, "Especially after everything that happened." "I know" I say, "But I'm starting at a new school where no one knows me or what happened. This is a fresh start and I don't plan to make the same mistakes."