Heartbreak High: New Hope

Part 1 'New Beginings'

Everyone has their demons. Whether we choose to show them or keep them hidden, they exist—the thoughts or feelings that we know no one else would truly understand, so we don't bother trying to explain.
     Sometimes, the only way to escape those demons is to run as far away as you can and pray like hell that they don't follow you. In a way, that's what I was doing, even though moving to Seacrest was never something I wanted, I understood why we had to—or at least, I tried to understand.

     For my parents, it was because my dad had gotten a job offer that required us to move across the country. Sure, leaving my life behind was sad, but I managed to put on a brave face, knowing it also meant I’d be leaving behind the demons that haunted me—demons that had left my skin scarred. Scars that were invisible to anyone who couldn’t see past the thick walls of I’m-okay-nothing’s-wrong that I had built for my own protection—and that was, well, everyone.

     Gazing out the backseat window at the steady passing of suburban houses, I lost myself in the music coursing through my AirPods, pulling me deep into my private world, but the moment was short lived before I felt my, older brother, Liam's hand lunge in, swiping one of the AirPods from my ear.
     “What do you want?”
     I asked, irritation filling my voice as I shot him an annoyed glare.
     “I've been trying to tell you that we're here for the past ten seconds dumbass,” he retorted with a sly grin.

     My focus shifted as it dawned on me that the car hadn't just stopped so that our dad could make a call like I had initially thought, but we were infact parked outside our new house. A sigh slipped from my lips, accompanied by a muttered, “Oh.”

     “What’re you even listening to, anyways?” Liam asked, playfully trying to slip my AirPod into his ear provoking an immediate response.
     “Give me that!”
     I lunged for it, sparking a brief tussle.

     The sound of our fight was soon cut through by our mother, Sierra Carter's, stern voice. Her light brown gaze, locked with mine and my brother’s, was intense as her lips pressed tight. Dark curls framed her face, and her rich, honeyed skin seemed to glow with an inner fire.
     “Boys, your dad is on the phone!”
     Her firm gaze silenced our arguing. Reluctantly, we withdrew, casting continued glares at each other as Liam settled the AirPod into his ear.

     I watched his face contort in disapproval as he quipped with a critical tone, “What is this girly crap? Why can’t you ever listen to something good?” I swiftly grabbed the AirPod back from his grasp, my patience fraying.
     “Why can’t you ever leave me alone?”
     I shot back. The tension between us hung in the air as the car's engine purred softly.

     Our dad, Ryan Carter's, deep sigh would then follow as the call ended, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across his face. His strong, chiseled jawline softened as he turned his attention to us. His rich, warm brown eyes held a comforting depth that always made us feel safe.
     Dark stubble framed his face, adding a touch of rugged charm to his classic father-like look. With his short dark hair styled casually yet sophisticatedly.

     His posture was relaxed, but there was an underlying strength and confidence in his demeanor.
     “The movers are just around the corner,”
     He declared. His words continued, but I watched as Liam huffed and slipped on his own headphones, trying to evade the impending conversation.

     Dad’s fingers snapped in front of Liam’s eyes, prompting him to reluctantly remove the headphones.
     “What?”
     annoyance dripped from Liam’s tone.

     Sarcasm tinged dad’s voice as he fired back, “Sorry for interrupting, but I’m attempting to have a family discussion.”
     “I don’t remember us having a discussion before you packed us up and moved us all here,” Liam mumbled, his gaze fixed in a blank stare.
     “Liam!”
     My mom stepped in, her voice laced with warning as she uttered his name.

     Dad persisted, “Listen, I know that you weren’t as excited about this change, but I’ll be honest with you, things back home weren’t great. Here, at least, we have an opportunity for a new beginning.”

     As his words hung in the air, the distinct sound of the moving van pulling up behind us shattered the moment. Liam, already on edge, slammed the car door and stormed out, his anger palpable.

     Dad looked at me, a mix of concern and hope in his eyes. I met his gaze and smiled warmly, trying to offer some reassurance. “It’s okay, dad,” I said softly. “He’ll come around.”

     “Thanks, Lucas.” he breathed, and I forced a smile back as I stepped out of the car with a sigh.

     As the moving van’s metallic door slid open, I watched the movers go to work, pulling boxes out and ferrying them toward the house. Dad jumped in to help, handing Liam a box, who took it with another annoyed huff before he extended one toward me which was marked with my name in bold black Sharpie. I grasped the box and began the walk toward the house.

     Stopping halfway, I gazed at the front of our new house. From the outside, it was a modern, two-story structure with clean lines and a sleek design, a mix of crisp white and warm taupe tones. Large windows let in plenty of light. A stylish, geometric front door added a touch of contemporary flair, while the neatly trimmed lawn and well-manicured hedges completed the polished look. It was a decent place, I had to admit; but it wasn’t home, not yet.

     Suddenly, the heavy thud of a ball bouncing on the hard ground pulled my attention away. I turned to my right, to the neighboring house, where a shirtless blonde-haired-boy was dribbling a basketball in his front yard.
     His movements were smooth and confident, his muscles taut and well-defined. For a moment, I was captivated, my thoughts drifting far away from the task at hand as I watched him effortlessly control the ball. There was something magnetic about the way he moved, and I couldn’t help but feel a spark...a flutter of curiosity.

     The moment was as good as gone, though, when out of nowhere, I felt my dad's hand clap onto my back, startling me. I turned to find him looking at me with concern.
     “You okay, son?”
     he asked.
     I forced a smile, but deep down, I knew it just barely hid what I was feeling inside.

     And then there were some demons that no matter how far away you ran, still had a way of following.

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