The Boy Down the Street // Blake Gray

25

Some months later...

Steph's POV

I never thought this day would actually come; the day where I say goodbye to everything I once had. Yes, I'll be getting the exact same elsewhere, maybe even a bit more, but it just won't be the same. I guess it's like starting a new chapter in my life.

I stand in the middle of my now emptied room, looking at all of the places where I've created so many of my memories I have stored away somewhere in my brain. It's odd seeing my room like this, since I've always known this room to be decorated and arranged to match my taste. Never have I seen it stepped to the bone. It's like a whole new place in here.

"Steph, mom needs you downstairs to help load the last of the kitchen items," Trent says standing in the doorway to my room.
"Okay," I respond, taking one last look around my naked room, as I am about to leave it forever and won't ever see it again.

I follow Trent down the stairs where we once had a series of family photos against the walls, all from throughout the years we've lived in this house, which is more than my current age. It's going to be tough leaving this place.

"So what can I start packing?" I ask my mom as Trent and I enter the kitchen. There are a few empty boxes on the floor, and a few spare items waiting to be packed away into them.
"You can start on the pots and pans, hun," replies my mom.
As my mom ordered, I start placing the pots and pans inside one of the remaining empty boxes.

Once I finish, I seal off the box with duct tape and follow Trent to the moving truck so I can load it.
"Hey Steph, can I ask you something?" asks Trent.
"I don't see why not?" I reply.
"Are you sure you're okay with the move?" He asks.
"It's not like what I say will change anything."
"I know, but I still want to know if you're fine moving 6000 away from home."
"I mean, I'm defiantly going to miss it here, but I'm fine with moving."
"Aren't you going you miss your friends? You have a lot of them."
"I can always make new ones."
"What about your boyfriend?" He asks.

I feel chills go down my spine when he mentions Blake. Up until this point, Blake has been going on and on about how we are supposedly going to skype everyday and send each other love notes and all of that bullshit. He acts like we're some couple who will eventually reunite after an x amount of years then get married at 20. By all means, I'm not going to judge that lifestyle, but it's not my cup of tea. I don't  want to tie myself down to early.

"You're hesitating," says Trent stopping his tracks.
"What? No," I respond.
"What's going on Steph, did you guys have a secret break up?" He asks in a teasing manor.
"No," I respond.
"Then what's wrong? He seems to love you so I don't get what the problem is."
"That's the thing. The fact that he loves me is the problem."
"I don't understand."
"He wants to move quickly, and get really serious about this relationship. It's almost like he wants to settle down, at 15! I'm not about that life."
"So what are you about?"
"I want to experience other people, rather than settle down at such a young age. I want to explore my options, rather than be stuck with one the rest of my life."
"What if Blake is the one and you're about to let him go!"
"I don't think he is."
"Why not? Whenever I see you two on your dates it's all lovey dovey."
"I just have a feeling that we don't fit together anymore."
"Fair enough," Trent says as we resume walking to the truck.

We place the boxes inside and make our way back to the house. We decide to sit on the stairs, and look out onto the streets.

"Have you said your goodbyes?" Asks Trent. I nod in response.

My goodbyes were bitter sweet. My hockey team had a goodbye party for me at the arena, and they all signed my jersey (the boys did too!) and gave lots of hugs. My school friends had a little get together at Carly's house and we watched movies and cried together. I'm really gonna miss all of my friends.