Stay Courageous

Chapter 1

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Zoe's POV
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I glanced over at my friend Stella. She sat at her desk with her head down, buried in her arms. She'd been sulking around like that all day and I just couldn't figure out why. It was only the first week of school and there was basically no homework so it couldn't be just stress. Plus, I know Stella and she's one of happiest people I know. It would take a lot more than school work to bring her down like this.

What do you think is wrong? I mouthed to my other friend Kat across the room. The three of us just met but we became aquatinted with one another real quick. We just clicked.

No idea. Kat mouthed back at me before going back to her school work. I tried to do the same but I just couldn't focus on my vocabulary terms at a time like this. Something must be seriously wrong.

While Stella and I have just recently become friends, we have known each other a long time. We went to the same middle school and she's always been this happy, bubbly person and here she is about to break into tears on a Thursday afternoon. I was still wondering about it when the bell rang. Stella didn't lift her head.

"Stella, it's time to get to math. C'mon," I said to her. She gathered her stuff and got up sluggishly and trudged to the door. Okay, I had to fix this.

"Stella, want to go to my house after school to study with Kat and I?" I'd tell Kat later. I needed to secure a time for us to talk.

"Sure," she replied. She was looking down at her Converse instead of into my eyes.

After School

I joined Stella and Kat in my bedroom after running to my kitchen real quick to grab some snacks. Stella was quietly typing on her computer, not talking to either of us. Kat looked up when I walked into the room and gave me a look that said Are we talking to her now?

"Stella, close your Mac. I think you guessed that we didn't come here to study," I said to answer Kat's question. "Is everything okay? We noticed you were really sad today."

She sighed heavily before answering. "Well, I've been meaning to tell you guys but I didn't know how y'all would take it. Lately, my dad has been talking about moving to California."

I felt my stomach lurch. "What?" I said in unison with Kat. "Why California? That's so random. I mean, he can't just pick up and move  you!" I continued. That was so weird. The Ridleys have it going on here in Georgia. Why move the whole family all the way out to California on a whim?

"This summer when we went on vacation there my dad was going on and on about how great it was out there and how Sandhills is such a crap hole and that he wants to move out there because our lives would be better. Deep down, I don't really think it's gonna happen because no one in the family really wants to go except him but he's just been talking about it so much lately that it's been making me depressed. I don't like to think about leaving you guys and everything I have here in Sandhills," Stella looked down, waiting for us to reply.

Kat leaned over and hugged her. "Awh, and we wouldn't want you to leave! Don't worry, it's probably just an idea he's had. He'll forget about it in a month or two. Just remember that."

I was still in shock. I admit, the thought of Stella moving affected me a lot too. But to stay on the bright side, I said "yeah, don't sweat it. And if you're feeling sad, remember we're here for you." I gave her a hug as well.

"I hope you guys are right. Now let's get crackin'. There's a history test tomorrow and I haven't studied at all," Stella said changing the subject.

I hoped we were right also. It didn't sound like that big of a deal, Mr. Ridley just talking about moving to California, but something about the whole situation just didn't feel right.
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Stella's POV
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I just had to change the subject. Talking about California makes my stomach hurt. Those girls probably don't know, but other than my dad they're all I have. I can't bear the thought of being three thousand miles apart from them. Maybe they are right. Maybe this whole thing will blow over soon.
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End of Chapter 1
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Comment!! I'd love to hear what you think or if you have any suggestions!

And just so you're not confused, Stella, Zoe, and Kat are freshman and they're 15.

Technically this is not a fan-fiction but 5sos will be in this book in the near future. :3

Thanks for reading!

-SJ
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