Pretty Brown Eyes

Chapter 26

Months Later

"Is this all we need to pack?" I asked.

"I think so," my best friend responded.

"Taylor should be home soon," I said, "and we can let him and Cameron put this stuff in the U-Haul."

Madi and I are packing up our house we've lived in for years, and we're moving out to Los Angeles. We're going to be staying with Cameron and Nash for a little while, and go house hunting with Kian and Jc. We had our weeks planned out. With the followers and viewers we've gained in over the last few months from our three channels combined, if enough to live off on, for three people at least. Taylor moved in with us, also. Aaron and I had planned on moving in together once we turn 18, which would be next year. It was a scary thought. Moving out on my own is even scarier, though. Knowing that Aaron would be there with me made me feel a lot better. Our relationship has definitely improved over these last few months.

Just then Taylor came through the door.

"You girls ready?" he smiled, clapping his hands together.

"Born ready," I sighed, smiling.

I was sad. I didn't want to leave this house, but I wanted to move to Los Angeles more. Madi and I have had this planned out since we were kids. Now, she's almost 20 and I'm almost 18. Time flies by faster than I want it to.

Madi and I helped Taylor load up the trailer. We put in all the heavy boxes first, and then the small light stuff we didn't really give a damn about. The last of our stuff to put in was the stuff that was going in the back of Taylor's Rover. Our makeup, pictures, etc. All of it went in the back of the U-Haul. For this trip, we decided to drive rather than take a plane. Madi and I as kids always went on road trips. We were military kids. It's how we met. Taylor's done some traveling, but never like going from Southern Alabama to Southern California.

We packed up the car. I was bringing out the very last box to fit in Taylor's car. I looked back at the house once I sat the box done. It looked old, now that I think about it. It looked safe, though. I've lived here with Madi forever, since I was 9. Her parents used to live here, too, but they moved out when Madi was 16 and helped pay the bills until she was 18. Madi's family has always had money, so it wasn't a big thing for them to live a few hours away from her and still help out. They didn't really care, either. That's why she got to live with a 14 year old, by herself, when she was 16. I'm glad, though. I can't explain the stuff I've learned from leaving out with Madi.

Tears filled and brimmed my eyes. I was just reminiscing all of the memories that have taken place here. I took out my little handheld camera from my purse, one I used for vlogs. Madi had one, too, although she barely used it. I uploaded vlogs to my channel whenever they were taken. I flipped the camera to record myself.

"Hey everyone. I just wanted to record this," I wiped a tear away, "this is our house. The one I've lived in with Madi since I was 9 years old, whenever her family took me in. There's so many amazing memories that I haven't really addressed, and they deserve to be. I hated this house for the longest time and I wanted nothing more than to leave. Now, I want nothing more than to stay. I wish we could take the house with us to Los Angeles, but we can't move a house.

"Madi and I grew up here. I even had my first kiss here, in 7th grade. Madi and I decided to make a YouTube channel right on these front steps. We filmed our first video in the room we usually record in. That's why it's the room we STILL record in. Not anymore, I guess. We hit 100,000 subscribers and celebrated in that kitchen in there. We became who we are in this house. I went to the elementary, middle, and high schools here. I played at the parks, hung out at the basketball courts with friends, and shopped at the malls downtown.

"Point is, I grew up here. I became the person I am in this house. Now in starting a new chapter and moving across the country to California, so I can grow up and make more memories. I had my first kiss here, and I'll probably have my first kid in California. We made the YouTube channel here, we could possibly make a movie in California. We hit 100 thousand here, I hope we hit 5 million in California. I'll get married in California. I'll make a living in California. I'll get my own job, hopefully singing or acting, in California. Madi will get her job, hopefully in blogging or actor, in California. Madi will get married in California.

"So many amazing things are going to happen in California, but nothing will top the memories we had living in this house," I was officially crying.

"If I had makeup on it'd be running. I'm going to get off for now," I flipped it onto myself, "and I'll see you guys in California. I love you."

I turned the camera off and wiped at the tears falling. Madi wrapped her arms around me. She was crying, too.

"We listened," she muffled, "and we can always come back to visit."

"I know," I sniffled, "but it's just going to take some time."

"I understand," she hugged me tight then let go.

"Let's start this road trip. We can make the best out of it," she smiled, "it's summer! We can be free, and be happy it's not freezing cold."

"That's true," I smiled, wiping away a tear.

Taylor came over and hugged me before getting back in the car. I sat in the back seat, not buckling up. Taylor drove out of the driveway, and away from the house. He turned the corner, and it was gone.

We flipped the page to a new chapter.