Where We Should Be

Chapter 6

Zoe's P.O.V

*ding ding* my phone goes off the hundredth time today causing my adorable teddybear-like dog to come bouncing up to me, barking. A wide smile spreads across my glowing cheeks as I stroke Alfie's soft fur and invite him up on my big pink bed in the middle of my modern cream room. My family isn't rich but I have everything I need and my ew room I saved for is perfect!

I sigh as I check my phone and see around 20 notifications: Instagram followers, group chats, but mostly Ariana. That girl just brightens up my day, as annoying as she is sometimes. Well.. Most of the time haha.

As I read through Ariana's messages the smile begins to fade from my face. In the last couple hours something seriously bad has happened but for some reason she doesn't say what. My heart pace quickens and I push Alfie off my lap as I quickly tap out a reply,
What's happened Ari? Come over ASAP xox

***

I wait anxiously for 45 minutes as Ariana walks to my house, she lives quite far away and for whatever reason she didn't want to go and get her bus pass. This is really worrying me now... It's not like her to want to walk all this way in the wind, messing up her hair and everything although she'll still look annoying good I bet. Not that that's the most important thing right now, I guess.

*Knock knock knock knock* I hear loud taps at the door and it doesn't stop as I race down the stairs, two at a time. *knock knock knock*
"YES I'M COMING!" I yell from the bottom of the stairs and I yank open the door, almost falling over as I do so because my Victoria Secret robe gets caught on the corner.

"Hay! What's wrong?" I ask her, frowning in concern as she pushes straight past me in her school uniform and hugs Alfie who's jumping up at his favourite 'Aunty Ariana'. Cute! But it's not until she turns round to look at me I notice her red eyes and tear stained cheeks. Oh my god.. what's happened??

"Z-Z-Zoe..." She begins, her hands shaking and her breathing sounds heavy. She must be panicking.
"Hey now, mango, let's go upstairs," I say, in a soothing voice even though my own heart is racing. It's always best to put her feelings first in these situation or I'd just make it worse for her. She's the one with the anxiety I guess...

I throw myself onto the dark, rosey-pink duvet and stare up at Ariana who's just perched her slim body on the end of the double bed. My hands get sweaty with nerves as I see a small tear trickle down her red cheeks. I need to what's up. Now!
"Ariana! Would you just tell me what the hell is going on." I snap, my patients running thin now but I know that really, I'm just scared. I can feel this is more than the normal boy or parents drama and I'm really, really scared.

"I'm moving." She says, her voice wobbling. My hand raises to my mouth in utter shock... What did she just say?!

"W-what.." I say, unable to comprehend what I'm hearing, "where are you moving too..?" I ask her, in a whisper filled with pain. Maybe it's not far, maybe she's just upset about leaving her beloved house right next to school and apart from that, everything fine. I cling onto this small piece of hope shining through what seems to be only darkness in this situation.

"New York!" She wails, not being able to contain her emotions any longer, tears spilling over her eyes - taking some mascara with them.  And that's the point when I throw my arms around her, tears building in my own eyes as that tiny piece of hope shatters and the only light left fades. "No no no no..." I mumble into her shoulder, "you can't go Ari!"

"I don't want to, Zo. New York may be glamorous but I can't imagine it's anything next to our little hometown, bursting with our memories.." She trails off slightly and sniffs back her tears but somehow finds strength to carry on, "I said I wasn't going - I can't leave you- but some how, I'm struggling to believe I'm gonna have a choice."

"W-when do you leave..?" I ask, pulling away from her because my hair is sticking all over my hot face.

"The second week of summer.. Only two and a half weeks from now, Zoe."