Starting Something New

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CHAPTER ONE:

I couldn't believe we were leaving. The place I've spent my whole life. Leaving behind all the memories of my mom and just... starting a whole new life.

"Ava, c'mon, we have to get going or we will never reach the new house by sundown," my dad called upstairs to me.

"Coming," I said quietly. I didn't want to leave. I had all my friends here and I've never been outside of town except for cheer competitions. But, those were all with mom. When she was in the hospital, I had to quit competition cheer.

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My brother is so annoying. The whole car ride he has been blasting his stupid music without headphones. We are in the back of my dads pick-up truck. It's a 12 hour car ride so my dad put the roof up in the back part of the truck so my brother and I could just hang out there together.

Except, it's annoying me a lot because he keeps spilling his stupid water or eating the chips I packed for myself. He can't sit still for one minute. I feel bad for him though, he's been saying he has to pee for the last hour.

My brother, Connor, is only ten. He started crying when my dad said we were moving because he is obsessed with football. Of course, he had to quit when mom was in the hospital too, but after she passed away, he started training again.

My brother and I are both very athletic. I do cheer, dance & gymnastics and Connor does football, & baseball. When my mom was so sick that she had to live in the hospital, I had to quit cheer and dance and Connor had to quit football and baseball. I didn't have to quit gymnastics though because I needed a break from my mom some days and needed to try to get my mind off her dying. My friend, Olivia, drove me to gymnastics because we took 2 classes together. Being 17, I'm on the highest gymnastics level that we have at my gym-well, my old gym. I didn't want to quit but I also didn't want to leave my mom's side. But, my dad urged me to go and still continue to have a life. When my mom was awake, she would talk to me about gymnastics and she would tell me that she was glad I was still living my life and not sitting around, moping.

I was startled out of my thoughts by Connor waving in front of my face.

"What?" I asked.

"I need to pee," he pleaded.

"I already know."

"But can you tell dad?"

"Why can't you?"

"Cuz I don't know how to open the window."

"So learn."

"Pleeeeease Ava."

" Ughhh," I got up and unlocked the window separating the back of the truck to the front seats of it. I slid it open and heard low music playing. I soon realized it was my parents' wedding song. My dad was humming very quietly to it.

It felt like my heart was breaking. I have always known our whole family was sad about loosing mom, I've helped Connor cope and sometimes I find myself unable to stop crying. But, my dad was our rock and seeing him upset made me feel like our family was falling apart.

"Dad," I managed to choke out.

He jumped a little, obviously startled that I had been listening to him. He turned his head slightly so he could see me but was still watching the road. I could see his eyes were shiny.

"What's up, Aves?" My dad tried to smile but it didn't reach his eyes. Ever since I can remember my dad has called me 'Aves'. I used to think it was stupid and babyish, but now it makes me feel warm inside and I don't know why.

"Um, Connor has to go to the bathroom."

My dad sighed, "Alright, looks like there is a little traffic so we are moving kind of slow. Can he wait 20 minutes?"

"Lemme check," I slid back into the back of the truck. "Can you wait 20 minutes?" I asked Connor. He shook his head. He was jiggling around and couldn't sit still. Gosh, this boy was a lot of work. I told my dad that Connor couldn't wait and he sighed and pulled over. It was near the end of June so it was warm. I assume that my dad wanted Connor to just go on the side of the road. I popped open the back trunk door and helped Connor slide out. I got back into the truck and turned away from the window so I didn't have to see Connor doing whatever he was doing.

This was going to be a long ride.

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