Butterflies (A Before You Exit fanfiction)

Chapter 1

Maria's POV


"But Mom! I don't wanna move!" I said.

My dad's job got transferred to Orlando, Florida just in time when I'm about to be a sophomore. I don't want to move again. I would leave behind all of my friends, well just Kristina and a few others. But I knew that there was nothing I could do about it. I'll just have to adapt to it.

"I'm sorry honey, but this is a big thing. Your dad is now the executive of his job. We can afford much more than we used to. Plus, this will be a good change. It's time to try something new," she said.

"At least Vinny didn't have to leave after his freshman year," I mumbled.

"I know this is unexpected but please try and be happy for your father."

"Fine. So Andrew is staying here?" I asked.

"Yes. He's looking at apartments as we speak."

"Okay. I'm gonna go pack."

"Okay. Be positive."

"I'll try."

And with that I went up to my room. I looked at all the pictures around me of all of my friends. I looked at everything. Then while I was reminiscing, my phone started to buzz.

"Hey! What's up?" I asked my best friend, Kristina. Without her, I don't know where I would be.

"Um, well, Belle took Dad to court today and the judge said he was an unfit parent because of his drinking," Kristina quietly said.

"Oh my gosh! Is there anything I can do?"

"Well, this is a big thing to ask and I totally understand if you can't, but um, if Katie and I don't find another home in a week, we'll be sent into a girls' home. So.. um.." she trailed off.

"Oh I see. You wanted to know if my family and I can take you and Katie."

"Well just me. Katie's staying with our aunt and uncle in Lakeland, Florida, which is an hour or two away from Orlando... And I begged the judge to ask someone if I can stay with them in a town nearby Lakeland.."

"Okay so you want to know if I can take you in?"

"Yes.."

"Okay I'm pretty sure we can since we can afford it because of my dad's progress in his job and you already practically live here and you get along with Vinny. But I'm not sure how he'll take it. So, can I talk about it with my mom then call you back?"

"Of course. And I completely understand if you can't."

"Okay. Talk to you soon."

"Okay. Bye."

Oh my gosh! I feel so bad for Kristina! It's so hard for her with her dad. She always has to take care of Katie while he's out getting drunk. It's a hard life for her but she's so strong and lives it with pride. Oh I really hope Mom will take her in. That's right! I have to ask Mom! I bolted down the stairs practically falling and scaring the crap of out Mom.

"Why are you running? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Mom, but that's not the issue on hand."

She gave me a worried look but I went on.

"Okay so Belle took Mr. Wolts into court and the judge said he was an unfit parent so Kristina and Katie need to find a home in a week or they go to a girls' home. Katie is staying with their aunt and uncle in Lakeland, Florida which is an hour or two away from Orlando so can we please take Kristina in since we can afford it? Please?" I said in one breath.

My mom stood there with a shocked expression, taking in everything I just said. Then, she started to think about it. Finally, she answered me.

"Well because she is your one of your only friends, gets along with Vinny, is like a second daughter to me, and we can afford it, and since she won't be that far away from Katie, we can take her in."

"Oh my gosh! Thank you so much Mom!" I screamed and ran to her and gave a tight hug.

"I.. can't... breath..." she mumbled.

"Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. But, I don't want to be the one to break it to Vinny."

"Okay. I'll do it."

I walked up the stairs to the bonus room where Vinny was playing whatever game he was playing. He was talking to one of his friends so I whispered to him that it was important so he said goodbye to his friend.

"What could be so important? Mike and I were just about to raid someone's base!" he exclaimed.

"Okay Vinny, I'm not sure how you'll react to this but um.. Kristina is coming to Orlando with us."

"Before I scream, tell me why."

I gave him a scared look but went on.

"Belle took Mr. Wolts to court today and the judge said he was an unfit parent. So Katie and Kristina have a week to find a home or they're going to a girls' home. Katie is staying with their aunt and uncle in Lakeland, Florida which is an hour or two away from Orlando. Plus, she gets along with everyone and we can afford it because of Dad's job."

"Okay I understand. I'm just glad it's her and not someone else."

"Okay..? Well I'm glad because even Mom was scared to how you'll react." I said while laughing at us.

Vinny just started laughing.

Once he was done, he said, "Okay. Now can I call Mike?"

"Yes."

On my way out I heard Vinny scream creeper. Wow I haven't even bothered to know what he was playing. Minecraft is a cool game, I just don't play it 24/7 like Vinny does.

"Mom!"

"I'm right here!" she said from behind me.

"Oops. Sorry. Well Vinny reacted fine to the news. He's okay with it. I gotta call Kristina back now."

"Okay. Don't forget to pack!"

"I wont!"

•

Kristina picked up her cell phone before the first ring ended.

"Kristina... I'm sorry to say this but-"
I was about to say she can come but she cut me off.

"I understand. I didn't expect you to-"

"YOU'RE COMING TO ORLANDO WITH US!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

All I heard was an ear piercing scream at the other end of this phone call.

"OH MY GOD! HOLY SHIT! THANK YOU SO MUCH! OHMYGOD! LET ME TALK TO YOUR MOM!"

I just laughed.

"Okay. Hold on."

I purposely went as slowly as I could out my bedroom door. Then the screaming came.

"HURRY THE FUCK UP YOU SLOW ASS!"

I doubled over laughing.

"OKAY OKAY JESUS!"

Then I ran down the stairs again, only to be met with the ground.

"Oh my gosh sweetie are you okay?" My mom asked as she ran over.

"Yeah I'm fine. Thanks. Kristina wants to talk to you. I suggest holding the phone a few inches away from your ear if you want to be able to hear for the rest of your life."

"Okay," my mom said with an amused smile on her face.

"Hello?" My mom said.

"OH MY GOD! THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM! OH MY GOD I'M LITERALLY OUTSIDE RUNNING AROUND SCREAMING! OHMYGOD! THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE! HOW CAN I EVER REPAY YOU?!" was all I could hear.

Yes, I wasn't on the phone. And yes, my best friend screaming was all I could hear.

She calls my mom, Mom. I think it's sweet. Like the mother she had for only a few short years of her life.

"You're like a daughter to me! I would do anything for you! Having you live with us is my pleasure! You don't have to do anything to repay me but give me all the papers and stuff I need to do!" Mom exclaimed.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I'LL RUN OVER NOW AND GIVE YOU EVERYTHING!"

"Okay! See you soon!"

Then Mom hung up the phone while scratching her ear.

"I warned you," I said.

"Yeah, yeah. Well Kristina is coming over now to give me everything."

"Oh god. Might as well get some armor." I said while laughing.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea." She said, also laughing a playing along.

"MARIA VINNY MOM I'M COMING!" Was what Mom and I heard from down the street. We looked at each other and literally fell to the ground laughing.

"I'M HERE!" Kristina shouted while barging in the garage door.

"God I should have bought ear plugs." My mom mumbled while still giggling a little.

We all looked at each other, then ran and hugged each other while laughing.

After we were done Kristina said, "Okay. I have all the sheets and stuff here. But there is one sheet in particular that I want to show you."

She handed the sheet to Mom.

"You want me to be your guardian?" Mom asked.

My jaw dropped. I never thought this day would come!

"Yes. Well of course if its okay with everyone.." Kristina trailed off.

"OF COURSE IT IS! IT WOULD BE A HONOR TO BE YOUR GUARDIAN! OH MY GOD! I THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK!" Mom shouted.

"YAYYYY!" Kristina and I screamed.

Then we all did a little happy dance until Vinny came down the stairs rubbing his ear.

"What's all this about?" He asked.

"I broke it to him last time. Now it's your turn." I said to Mom.

She glared in my direction and walked up to Vinny.

"Sweetie, I'm going to be Kristina's legal guardian. So, she's practically your sister now." Mom said.

Vinny looked shocked.

"Okay. I knew this day would come sooner or later. Welcome to the family sis!" Vinny said.

Mine, Mom's, and Kristina's jaws dropped.
Vinny just laughed. This boy.

After we recovered from Vinny's unexpected answer, Mom said, "Wow, Vinny. You've really been taking all this well."

"Yeah well when you're sister's best friend is here almost everyday you get used to it. Her coming to Orlando didn't surprise me and this didn't either. I knew this would happen. I just didn't know when."

"Smart ass," Kristina mumbled.

Vinny glared at her and she sweetly smiled in return causing Mom and I to laugh. Soon enough everyone was laughing.

•

It's now 5:00pm. Wow. It was only 11am when I started whining to Mom about moving. Well, time flies.

Kristina is going to come back after dinner so we can break this big news to Dad over dinner.

Mom is cooking dinner, which happens to be pasta tonight, while Vinny and I are on our phones.

"Hello!" Dad says while walking through the door.

"Hi!" Mom, Vinny, and I all say at the same time, then start laughing at ourselves.

"Why's everyone in such a good mood?" Dad says.

"That is for us to know and for you to wait until dinner to hear." I said.

He gave me a confused expression.

Mom noticed because she just smirked.

Once everyone was sitting down and prayers were said, Dad spoke up.

"So, what is this big news you all wanted to share?" He asked.

"Maria," my mom says.

Here goes nothing.

•

After I told him everything, and Kristina coming to Florida with us and that Mom was her legal guardian now, he just stated at me with a shocked expression, taking it all in.

"Okay! That's all okay with me! Kristina is a great girl!" He said. But I could see that something was wrong and so could everyone else.

"What's wrong honey?" Mom asked, worriedly.

"Well, I just wish that you would have asked me first is all."

"We're sorry. We were just caught up in the moment. I'm sorry Dad." I said.

"It's okay. I'll get over it. You're just lucky that I approve of her as a friend."

"Thank you!" I said.

After that we all ate in silence. Comfortable, happy silence.

•

I decided to take a small, 10 minute nap before Kristina comes barging through the garage door again. God I love this girl. I couldn't live without her. She changed me, and I changed her. We lean on each other in times of need. I couldn't ask for a better best friend than her.

I fell asleep thinking about how I got so lucky...


Kristina's POV

I am now walking home thinking about how much I love that family. I mean, who wouldn't love them? They're probably the best thing that's happened to me! And Maria is just, such an amazing friend. I'm so glad that I can call her my best friend.

Once I finally reached my house and began to pack for a night at Maria's, I was thinking about how got so lucky.
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Alright this is the first chapter! Comment to tell me what you think!

Okay. These next few chapters are filler chapters and they're really bad so just pleeassseee keep on reading!

~Maria💕