Licorice Girl

I like New York. The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. They all seemed like nice attractions to visit. But never on my life would I ever want to move there. I might sound crazy, but over here in Florida is just fine. I mean nothing really happens in Florida. There are no real big shootings that wind up on the news for a few weeks. Florida, if you ever live there, is just a state where people can retire. Nothing happens in Florida. It's just cozy, boring, and hot Florida.

But my mom was a housewife. She didn't have a job and it wasn't easy to feed four children with only one parent getting the money. I totally understand where my mom was coming from about getting a new job. But New York?

Mom knocked on my door but didn't even bother to wait for my answer.

"We are leaving today, Scarlet. You need to pack. Now." She sternly said.

"Everything is packed." I replied.

"Well then help me pack." Chloe chimed in. Chloe was five and pretty much everything in her room was just dolls or stuffed bears. CJ was outside and I wasn't going to let him see me holding a doll to the moving truck.

"I'm not helping anyone." I replied and gave Chloe the death glare. She would always do this. I know that she knows I don't want to do anything. Torturing me was just her pleasure. I took a bite out of my black licorice.

"Ew," Chloe said.

"You are helping anyone who needs it." Mom assured. This was probably the longest conversation I had with mom. She never really talked to me because she has her favorite and that's Kyle. I really dislike Kyle. He was like a relative bully. If i was ever getting made fun of at school, he would just laugh and wouldn't even help.

What a brother.

When I entered Chloe's room, I've must've gone blind because I swear, the walls have gone more brighter and the sun was shining right through my eyes.

"What do you want?" I growled. Chloe handed me a pink rectangular box with a blue handle.

"I want you to put this on the truck. But, be extra careful because my best Barbie doll is in there." She batted her eyes with an innocent look and a devious, toothy grin. I never knew how my parents can fall for that.

As I walked outside, I see CJ scrolling through his phone at the stoop of porch. I managed to silently place the box in the truck. I did a mini celebration and pumped my fists on the air. But I had to be so oblivious to not notice that my shoes where untied. So then I fell

"Scarlet?" CJ came running towards me and he helped me up. "You ok?"

I brushed some dirt of my shirt and mumbled a yes.

"It's just so hard to believe that your actually moving. You know?" He grinned at me with his baby blue irises glaring back at mine.

"New York, huh? Aren't you excited?" He asked. No, not really but I managed to just mumbled a yes again.

"I'm really gonna miss you." He said but I couldn't believe it. Did CJ just say he was going to miss me? CJ is going to miss me!

"I'm gonna miss you too." I said and leaned on the side of the truck. We talked for a while and cracked some jokes. He even looked deeply onto my eyes and glanced at my lips. I thought he was going to kiss me. But it was too late.

Chloe,Kyle, Cassandra, Mom, and Dad were already carrying their last bags and heading out the door.

"Oh, wait, before you leave Scarlet, I have something to give you." CJ said. He sprinted over to his house and it probably took him about thirty seconds to come back. He had a small blue box in his hand with a purple bow on top of it.

"I was gonna give it to your birthday but your leaving." He explained.

I smiled at him and blushed at how cute he was.

"Open it." He said. Inside, there was a necklace that had a heart charm on it. Engraved on it.

Scarlet

It was a locket and when I opened it, it was picture of us ten years ago, when we were seven holding ice cream. We were both smiling in the picture. CJ was missing his buck tooth and so was I . It kinda looked like we got beat up. But it was so cute. I couldn't help but to just smile at it.

"CJ, this is so beautiful." I breathed out.

"Here let me put it on you. Turn around." He said.

I did what I was told. The necklace was cold at first but I got used to it.

CJ sighed. "I'm really gonna miss you, Scarlet. It's not gonna feel the same without you."

"I know, CJ I feel the same." I said.

He took me in for one big final hug.

"Just remember this,ok?" He whispered in my ear. "If you're ever going through rough times, just remember this necklace. Remember me, alright?"

I couldn't do anything but nod and cry. Everything was just going wrong at the moment. "Don't cry. I promise everything will be ok." CJ assured but I wasn't too sure yet.

CJ took me in for a long hug until mom called for me. This just made the situation worse and I cried harder. I held on to CJ for a few more seconds and then he finally let go.

"It's time to go Scarlet." He said. He kissed me on my cheek and told me to go.

"I will always miss you." He said.

I got into the car and just looked at the box CJ gave me.

I will always miss you too, CJ. My only friend.

I held back my tears as the engine the the car started. We passed CJ and he smiled and waved at me. I smiled and waved back. He mouthed, "Stay strong." to me.

I looked back and saw his body figure growing smaller and smaller and we moved farther and farther.