Stay Courageous

Chapter 9

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Stella's POV
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"... And my friends are here and my school and I just don't wanna leave, dad," Max said in frustration when my dad asked him why he wanted to stay in Sandhills so bad.

"Well, about the school, what did you just tell me you wanted to do when you're older last week, Max?" My dad grilled Max again while handing him yet another load out of the dryer. It was Sunday and we were folding cloths to finish up our chores.

"I wanna be in the Air Force, but what does that even have to do with anything?" Max replied, folding a t shirt as angrily as one could fold a t shirt.

"There's an Air Force base right outside of the town we're thinking about moving to, once you get out of high school you can go and train there and still be with ing driving distance," my dad went on.

"James, who is this 'we' you keep talking about? Honey, you're the only one in this apartment that wants to move out west," Ms. Nancy said from the kitchen where she was making pancakes for dinner.

"Yeah, and what's so great about an air base? There's one about an hour away from here so what's the big deal?" Max said finishing up his pile of laundry. I was still listening quietly from the other side of the room where I was supposed to be polishing the glass door to the balcony.

"This one's better, trust me Max. You should look it up," my dad said before shoving the last load of laundry into the washing machine and setting it to cold water. Finally, we were all finished with our chores. I'd only gotten to half of the sliding glass door, but it's not like anyone would notice. After all, I polished it just last week.

"Dinner's ready, guys!" Said Ms. Nancy. We all rushed into the kitchen to get our pancakes. I loved the way Nancy made them with vanilla. Just as we were, sitting down to pray, we heard the door unlock and someone come into the apartment.

"I'm home!" It was Nick. He was back from his job at Captain George's, a really popular restaurant just down the street from Barefoot apartments where I live. He changed  out of his uniform and joined us at the table.

We said grace and everyone started chowing down. It's not every day that we get to have this special time to just sit and talk with one another. Sundays make me feel like I actually have a normal family. I was just savoring Nancy's vanilla pancakes when Nick of all people had to speak up and ruin it all.

"So, dad," my brother said through mouthfuls of bacon. He refuses to eat anything but protein.

"Yeah, Nicholas?" my dad chuckled. We were never this formal so he had to know something was up. He'd have been right if he did.

"I've been thinking about this whole California ordeal," he went on before taking a swig of orange juice.

"Oh, really?" Said Nancy, now intrigued along with me. Even Max perked up a bit at the name of that horrible state.

"Yeah," Nick wiped his mouth, preparing to say his piece. I leaned forward and stopped eating to listen. "You see, I've been talking to Emmet," his best friend from school that he's constantly working out at the gym with, "he and I have decided since we're graduating this year that maybe we do want to go out to California, you know, just to explore the world and get out of our comfort zone a bit? Anyways, his parents are cool with he and I getting an apartment down in Palm Beach where we plan to move. So yeah, I guess I'm on board now," having finished his testimony, Nick took another bite of bacon and chewed, waiting for all of our reactions.

"That's funny," Max spoke up first. "James was just telling me how there was a great military base out there."

"There is. Emmet and I saw it when we were researching Palm Beach," replied Nick.

"Better than the one here in Sandhills?" Max inquired. Nick raised his eyebrows and nodding, confirming that it was in fact better than Sandhills. In his opinion.

"Well that's good to hear, glad to know everyone is on board. Right, Nancy?" my dad looked questioningly at Ms. Nancy.

She opened her mouth to say something but closed it when I thrust my chair away from the table and knocked it over when I stood to storm out of the kitchen. I marched straight to my bedroom and slammed the door. I was right about how much my opinion counted to these people.

I went to my bathroom and rid myself of all the vanilla pancakes I had just gorged myself on, now realizing what 5 Seconds of Summer was talking about when they said 'broken' home.

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Zoe's POV

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Kat and Sam have been tried to give me a basketball private on Friday. I'm not sure it worked too well. I felt just as ridiculous as I do in practice but without as much self conscience. No Madison. Too bad they waited so long to start these little secret practices, cause our first game is next weekend, also the same weekend I was planning to have my birthday party. Great. Screw with my Saturdays too, why don't you, basketball?

I called Emily Sunday night to explain all of this to her.

"Just have a sleepover with a few friends then instead of a big blowout party. I'm sure it will still be the cat's pajamas," said Emily. It took all I had not to crack up when she said 'the cat's pajamas.' I was trying to be mad.

"You wouldn't be able to come," I said.

"Why not? I have about as much to do on my Friday night as I do my Saturday: nothing," was her reply. She didn't get it.

"No, I mean Stella will be there. You won't want to hang out with her, will you?" I inquired.

"Sure! I'd love to see Stella! I actually feel bad about all the crap I put her through. As long as she wants to see me, I guess it's cool," I didn't want to pry so I didn't expand on that.

"Alright, I'll ask her," thanks for that idea, Em."

"No problem. And hey, don't worry about those girls on the basketball team. They don't even know you."

"You're the best weirdo I know. Good night,Emily," I hung up and smiled to myself. I fell asleep feeling a lot better than I had the previous night.

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End of part 9

Guess things were just too good to be true for Stella, am I right? Thanks for reading! Please comment, I love feedback. ILY

-SJ