G O L D E N | why don't we |

p r e f a c e

April 2018

"according to your heart, my place is not deliberate"

Emilia Francis just wasn't having it. Her messy curls were pushed back from her face this day as she stared out the window of the diner, wishing her brother was beside her but the space on her side was cold. Her plane was to leave in less than ten hours and she had yet to finish packing however her parents insisted on one last lunch together. But it became way more than that.

"You can't just abandon going to college Emilia! You've been planning on going to college all these years and now you just want to bail for some videos?" 

Emilia wanted to roll her eyes as she sat in the diner booth across from her parents but she refrained herself.

"They aren't just videos Dad! They are way more than that and we've got over two million subscribers now, we could really make a career out of this and I could give you guys the life you deserve."

"So your mother and I have been working our asses off, breaking our backs working these long shifts for you to want to back out of going to college to send you to a state on the other side of the country to pursue these videos?" 

Emilia leaned back in the booth and looked at the tired faces of her loving parents who raised her to make her own choices and to work hard, pursue her dreams and to never give up and for the first time in her life, she was finally ready to make the decision to turn the cards of her life and the lives around her.

"Yes."

"free fall inside your heart, feel every single part"

Charli Williams stood at the kitchen counter as her mother stared at her in almost amazement. She had spent her last day at home soaking in every aspect of it because she knew it would be long before she ever got to see it again. She had finally joined her parents in the kitchen where they were making her favorite: their original chocolate chip recipe. As they sat and waited for the timer to go off, Charli's mother finally spoke up.

"So it's really taking off huh? Like all this work, it's finally going somewhere?"

"Yeah Mom, I mean, our manager thinks its really it, we've been working so hard and so many tears and blood has gone into this. We are really doing this."

Charli's mother smiled and looked over at her husband who was looking at his daughter with an unclear expression.

"We will always support your choices, but this is big Charli, you're not even finished with your Senior year, what about Prom and Grad bash and all that senior stuff?" he asked and Charli just shrugged with a smile

"I think those don't even compare to this, this is going to change everything and I don't want to miss the opportunity. This is it."

"but you're perfect, poorly wired circuit"

Jessie Sanders loved her parents more than anything. She was completely sure of that but she could not wait until the day she didn't have to wake up to them anymore.

"No, Jessie. Absolutely not! You're not moving across the country, without our supervision and in a state where you don't even know anyone!"

Jessie's smile had fallen from her lips as her father walked out of the kitchen and walked towards the dining table. 

"I'm nineteen now, I'm moving out to be a responsible adult like you have been bugging me about since I've been born but now you want me to stay and abandon what we've been working so long on? Dad, please listen to me-"

"It's a big decision Jess, we can't move your siblings all the way out there and just leave all this." Her stepmother interrupts from beside her and Jessie ran her fingers through her hair.

"You guys don't have to! I can send money from there and pursue this dream! Just trust me on this, I really want this, it's time for me to branch out and this is my chance, I won't let it stop here."

"not the flawless one, i've never been, but i have my moments"

Leylah Caldwell had never thought she'd see the day she'd leave her mother's side. Since the beginning, it was always them, their backs against the world and no one could ever tear them apart. But after her mother had found a love interest, Leylah knew she wasn't the only love in her mother's life anymore. That's why she agreed so quickly for this move, she needed an escape from that silent feeling that was eating her away, she really needed this.

"You're going to just leave your Mama, like that?"

Leylah giggled and pushed her hair back from her shoulder, she sat on her bed, her legs dangling.

"I'll Skype you and call you all the time, plus you have Tony, you probably won't even miss me," Leylah said her smile fading a bit as she looked her mother. The sad smile on her mother's face pushed the situation into reality and she was realizing she was moving miles away from her mother, her best friend, and her soulmate. She stood up from her bed and hugged her mother tightly.

"You go out there and make me prouder than you already do, bring home awards and don't forget about me."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

✧

The four girls watched the face time ring before the five faces of the Why Don't We boys appeared on the screen.

"Hey! Are you guys on the plane yet?" Jack asked moving the phone back more so all five could be seen perfectly.

"We are on our way to our gate now, you guys better be excited to see us, it's been almost a year and you have been having all that fun without us!" Jessie exclaimed earning laughter from all the boys.

"Trust me rehearsing and touring, so much fun to do that 24/7." Corbyn remarks and Jessie rolled her eyes. "Whatever, you guys just get ready because we are coming and California isn't ready."

"Lies, anyway Jonah's picking you guys up from the airport so don't give him all your love," Zach warned and earned smiles and laughs from everyone.

"We promise not to, and when have we ever broken a promise?" Leylah asked

"Never, now hurry your butts here already!" Jack exclaims and everyone smiled because they all knew new experiences were headed their way but little did they know with every new moment, the old secrets and scars weren't far behind. 

✧