Misunderstood...

Chapter 1

School was over. Which meant another year of moving away. I usually try to not make friends because the less people on my case, the better. But no, Dalton Edwards just had had to come up and offer me a slice of pizza at a school football party. What a jerk.

"This is disastrous!" Dalton exclaimed as we walked home from school and to his place for celebratory pizza and pop.

"What's the matter?" I asked leaning in at his book.

He was reading The Fault in Our Stars. No wonder why he was upset.

He closed the book with a humph as he pulled my wrist and raced down the street to his house. Out of the course of the year I try to come here as often as I can. I don't really like being around my parents in all honesty. Made me cringe just at the thought of it.

"C'mon Dakota! Pizza is callin our names!" He yelled as we ran inside.

~

Practically all the pizza was gone now. Though it was just the two of us we were some hungry teenagers. I watched as Dalton ran his fingers through his hair. I turned to where I was laying on my back as I got ready to tell him the news. I wonder how he would take it. Only one way to find out.

"Dalton?"

"Yes Dakota?" He always says my name. He says he like the way it rolls off his tongue which is strange since my name is very bland.

I ran my fingers through my blonde hair before speaking. "I-I'm moving."

Dalton sat up and stared me, almost not believing.

"What? You can't! It's not been long enough! No no no you have to stay."

I bite down on my tongue. Does he know that I wish I could?

"Dalton-"

"No! Dakota you can't leave it's not fair."

"What's not fair?"

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. "Never mind."

I stood and began walking out the door when he grabbed hold of my hand one last time. He was so close behind me I could hear his heart beating. He rubbed his thumb on my hand as we stared there for a moment.

"I have to go Dalton."

"Okay but don't forget about me. Promise?"

I turn and smile to him. "Promise."

~

I got home faster than I anticipated. My mother was cleaning dishes while humming a tune that was so harmonizing it made the flowers dance, literally. The flowers are actually dancing. I ask mom where's dad but she just points up. I take an apple and bite into it to look up at the ceiling and see my father vacuuming the ceiling. I dismiss them and walk into the living room where Andy and Avery sit mesmerized by the tv. Strange children they are. They aren't my parents children but their co-workers children. Benny and Sarah.

"You two squirts ready to move?" I ask.

Andy turns to me and smiles. "Yep!" He exclaims.

Avery turns next, her face sad and almost emotionless as she shakes her head.

"Don't worry Avery I didn't like moving either."

She smiles a bit then turns back to the tv.

I see my mom smiling as she's washing the dishes. She looks up at me and smiles. "Don't fret Dakota. Everything will be fine."

I nodded trying to believe her but all I kept thinking about was a sad Dalton afraid of what would happen without me.