Here For You || Tyler Down

chapter one: new things

Not everyone gets what they want. And that is me, at this moment. 

I begged my dad for three weeks to just leave me here in New York. 

"No Harper, you are not staying with aunt Mary, you're leaving with us and there are no other options!" He says as he places the last boxes into the truck.

 "C'mon Harp, you know we need this. Besides, It'll be fun." Fiona adds smiling, giving me a small hug. 

Fiona was my dads girlfriend (now wife) since I was six years old and she came along with two sons around my age, Zion and Dallas and have been living with them every since in New York. 

That is, until now. "Harp, stop whining like a little bitch and get in the fucking the car," Zion yells from his bedroom window, "Ugh."

Our way to California was depressing. I couldn't stop thinking about what I was leaving behind. My best friend, James was crushed and I miss him already, the track team. 

I had everything I needed.

All of this wouldn't have happened if Zion and Dallas didn't fuck up everything adding to the pile of problems my parents were dealing with at that time.

 They were in a gang, didn't do a bunch of shit their leader asked them to do, had drugs hiding in their rooms and in the end, both had been fucked up physically and emotionally.

 Fiona, on the other hand, had too much complicated drama at work. One day, she was in that "fuck everyone!" mood and then boom, she was fired.

 Leaving me and my dad, we had no issues in New York but my dad saw in Fiona's eyes that she really wanted a fresh start and he did that for her which is why we're our way to San Luis, California.

One week later...

After everything was settled in with our new house and all, we all sat down for dinner. Me, Zion and Dallas knew exactly what my parents were going to say at the table. 

"Kids, I hope you guys are excited and ready for your new school tomorrow, Liberty High School." Dad says, adding emphasis on the 'Liberty High School' 

Damn, I am not ready. Socializing isn't really my thing anymore and to be in high school, it's so important to socialize, it's something we do everyday. Maybe coming here is what I needed as well, trying new things.

 "Yeah dad, you've been telling us ever since we moved here about schools to go to blah blah blah." I say.

 "I've heard so much about that school, they take care of their students and have very high, excellent standards apparently." Fiona says, then drinking from her glass of wine.

 Dallas laughs, "Oh really now, where did you hear that?" 

The thing that eases me is having Zion and Dallas by my side, to know I am not going through life alone.

 Zion is the eldest at seventeen, having me and Dallas at sixteen. They were always absent at home, having the excuses like: "we had this going on..." and so on. Little did we know that they were just being little shits dealing with drugs. But they've changed now, for the better and for their mom. Hopefully.

"One of the ladies I met today as me and your father were at Walplex, she told me her name. Hold on... Nory? Nora? Not sure but her son attends the school." Fiona continues, grabbing her plate and cutlery, heading to the kitchen. 

"So, are you three okay with the new school? Make the most of your time there and join some sports or clubs, yeah?" Dad said, with a soft expression on his face. 

"For you two boys, don't even get me started. Please," he pauses for a moment, "try to avoid trouble, focus on what you wanna do and work towards your future, it's important you take care of yourselves and Harper." He finishes and gets up from his seat.

 "Good night and be ready for tomorrow kids."

"Definitely not listening to that man," Zion whispers, "Yeah, I know. That school is lucky to be having us," Dallas replies, also whispering, "Uh, why are you guys whispering? He's gone upstairs." I laugh, gathering all our plates into the kitchen.

 "We're joking."

 So far, the area we live in is nice and peaceful, "Why here in San Luis?" Dallas asks me as I finish washing the dishes.

 "It's where my dad grew up, I guess he wanted to come back here to just remember everything, meet with a few of his old friends and a fresh start for you guys, especially mom." I finish up.

New life, new me. I guess.