Don't Get Attached [ON HOLD]

Step 2: Let Go Of The Past

Now with my new identity I need to let go of all that happened to me before. 

I walked through the hallways of the mansion that I can now officially call mine. It was the last time I would walk through these hallways. Because I was no longer Lauren Jauregui. I now was Arthea Ares and that meant I had to pretend I wasn't my dad's little girl. That I didn't spend time cooking with my mom. That I never spend a second with the people I used to call my parents.

My fingers stroked the wallpaper as I entered my parents' bedroom. The bed was neatly made up. Tears sprung in my eyes as I walked up to my mother's closet. I opened the doors and looked at all her classy work clothes. My hands caressed the soft fabric of one of her jackets. They still smelled like her.

I closed the closet doors and moved to my dad's desk. All of his books and paperwork was still laying there. I never had the heart to throw it away. I fell down in my father's desk chair and started sobbing. 

"I'm sorry, dad. I'm sorry, mom. But to keep my promise I need to break away from you." I cried out. I knew they couldn't hear me but the guilt was killing me. 

I got up and left the room. On my way to what I used to call mine. The clean room with the 'The 1975' poster on my door greeted me. I felt like breaking down again but I didn't. I grabbed some clothes and pushed them into a bag. A few books, my charger and some shoes and I was on my way. I made my way to the door and turned around one last time. 

I looked at all the pictures on the wall. From when I was born until I was 15. My mom on my left, my dad on my right. Every year we used to take a new family picture until I was 16 and protested that it was stupid. My parents had given in and we never took a family picture again. Now I missed it dearly. The hours of preparation, my mom doing my hear and trying our best to sit still long enough for the photographer to take the damn picture. 

"I'll miss this." I said, looking at the house again before walking out and pulling the door closed behind me. I locked the door and put my stuff on my motorcycle before putting my helmet on and driving away from my past.

I pulled up at a cheap motel and rented a room. Once I entered the small space I immediately missed the smell of my own home. The comfort it gave me when I would lay on the couch. I missed everything. 

But it wasn't the time to get sentimental. I put up everything I needed to get started with the mission and grabbed my laptop. I typed in 'Ally Brooke Hernandez'. Time for some more research.

Ally was very religious. The site of the church featured a lot of pictures with her. She did charity work and volunteered at a nearby hospital. Above that she would help feed the homeless and was in the school board. In the school board she had apparently tried to bring the problems in Miami to their attention but as I thought a rich kids school didn't care at all.

Ally seemed like the only spark of hope in this messed up society. I like her. She was the only one that seemed worth sparing. 

I took the notebook out of my bag and looked at the list. It would take me years to complete it. I scanned all the names. I looked at my dad's handwriting. This was the last thing I had from him. I spent two hours to write down every name in another book.

I had to let get of the past and that notebook was part of the past. I put the my dad's notebook back in my bag and pushed the bag under my bed. 

My phone started blaring some pop song. Camila was calling. I pressed the device to my ear. "Hey, Mila." I spoke. 

"Hi, Arthea. So me and the girls are gonna go shopping later so I was wondering if you wanted to come with." She replied and I contemplated the thought. 

I really didn't want to but it would help to gain her trust. "Yeah, sure. Sounds like fun." I finally forced out of my mouth and I heard her cheer on the other end. She informed me where we would be meeting up and what time I had to be there.

An hour later I was sitting in the food court of the mall nearby. I scrolled through tumblr. God, how I missed that. How I missed laying in my room, scrolling on my phone mindlessly while hearing my parents downstairs. 

"Boo!" I jumped up and almost dropped my phone. Camila's laugh filled the air and I turned around to look at the girl. 

"What the fuck, Camila." I yelled angrily. 

"Sorry." She said between laughter and I forced a smile on my face. I'd be so happy when I didn't have to hang out with her anymore. She was so annoying. 

I turned back around and Camila sat down in front of me. "Where are the girls?" I wondered and noticed Camila's expression. 

"Not gonna come." She said and smirked. I frowned at her. 

"You said they were coming." I hesitated. She started to scare me. I should've started to train before getting involved with this girl. I underestimated this.

"You don't think I'd let you in my friend group that easily right? Oh no." That's when I realized that tonight was gonna be a long night. 

Hours passed by of shopping and talking. She asked me about my family and my previous house. She asked me where I lived now and what music I liked. She asked me about my hobbies. Literally everyone question I could think off. But I realized that I didn't mind it that much, it was nice to have a distraction. 

"Okay, so I have a little problem." Camila spoke up while we were waking towards the exit. "Dinah drove me here but she can't pick me up, can you drive me home?" 

I nodded. "Sure." I replied as we breathed in the hot Miami air. I walked up to my motor and Camila followed behind me. 

"Where are you going?" I heard her ask from behind me and I stopped in front of my bike. "Don't tell me you drive that." Camila complained and pointed at my bike.

"What's wrong with it?" I asked with a smirk as I put all of Camila's bags away. She looked at me with wide eyes. "Trust me, it's more fun than you think." I said while handing her the helmet. I climbed up on the vehicle and waited for Camila. "What are you waiting for?" I turned on the engine. 

Camila quickly put on the helmet and climbed on behind me. "Hold on tight, princess." I announced and drove off with Camila squeezing my waist. At first she was really tense but once we were properly on our way so started to ease up and enjoy the ride. 

She gave me the directions to her house and after getting lost twice I pulled up in front of the huge mansion. The girl behind me got off my vehicle and handed me my helmet. "Thanks for today, I had a lot of fun." She handed me back the headgear. 

"Anytime, Camila." I replied before driving off and leaving her behind.