Miles Away (A Squad Fanfiction)

Chapter 1

Sunlight glared into my room and I groaned as I woke up to my phone buzzing on my dresser.

I made a grab for my phone and squinted at the screen. The name "George" was on the screen. I cursed as I answered the call, sitting on the edge of my bed. "George, what are you doing, calling me 9 in the morning?" I complained into the phone.

I heard a laugh on the other end as George heard my remark. "Waking you up, Sleeping Beauty." He replied. "Well I don't want to be woken up." I muttered with a scowl on my face. I made a feeble attempt to close my curtains singlehandedly. When I failed, I sighed and plopped down on my chair. "What's the matter?"

"Remember what I asked you when I graduated?" He asked. I nodded, then realised he can't see me nod. "Yes."

"Well, isn't that the perfect way out of your current situation right now? Your brothers bullying and all?" George questioned me. "Half brothers." I corrected him. "I suppose so. But I can't just leave my mom." I protested.

"Oh sure you can." He scoffed. "You and I both know that she doesn't care for you enough to step up and protect you." I bit my lip. It was true, of course. My half brothers started bullying me when they knew I was playing Minecraft for a living, a game they considered retarded. As if they're not retarded, I mentally scoffed. My mother knew about this but she did nothing to defend me. In fact, she seemed like she stopped caring for me ever since we moved from the UK after Dad divorced her. As if I was the reason why Dad divorced her in the first place.

Living in Philly, if it weren't for George, would've been a living hell. George was the one who rooted for me and stood behind me. Always encouraging me. It kept me going. He also stopped me from committing suicide, so that's a plus.

Point is, if George weren't here for me, my whole life would've been different. I might not even be living in the present.

When he offered to take me in and let me stay with him and Ariel, I was so tempted to accept his offer. I almost did. But the thing that was holding me back, was that although Mom doesn't care for me, I do for her. Which sucks, but what can I do?

Though now, looking at how everyone in the household is treating me, I'm really starting to doubt my decision before.

Noticing my hesitation, I could hear the smile in George's voice. "Well?"

I pursed my lips. "I'll mull over it tonight, George, but don't expect too much, alright? And the bigger question is, did you call me this early in the morning just for THIS?!" I complained.

- - ❁ - -

"Mom, can I talk to you?" I asked her when she was washing the dishes. "Sure." She said. My stomach twisted. She used to call me sweetie or honey.

"I want to move to Miami." I blurted out. She stopped what she was doing before continuing. "You want to what?" She asked me. Nothing dangerous but I'd rather safe than sorry. "I would like to move to Miami." I rephrased.

Silence. I almost made a mental note to edit in the awkward silence cricket noise.

"I'll come to your room in 15 minutes." was all she said.

- - ❁ - -

Someone was knocking on my door. I jerked my head towards the door and put away my notebook filled with video ideas.

My mom swept into the room in her nightgown. I took in her appearance. From her chestnut locks to her lavender night gown to her bunny flip flops. I pressed down the urge to smile.

"So, you want to move to Miami." She said, handing me some jasmine tea. My eyebrows shot up in surprise. When was the last time she brewed tea for me?

"Yes." I told her, trying to make sure my voice wasn't shakey. "Why?"

But she didn't let me answer. "Is it because you don't like Philly? Is it John? Or is it Nick and Dean? Is it... me?" She whispered the last part. I pulled back slightly, tensing up before relaxing again.

"No, I love Philly." I reassured her, "But I just want to go and see the world! And plus, my friends have a house there, so I'll be perfectly fine." I promised.

She didn't reply for a long time, I could almost hear the gears turning in her head. I wanted to yell at her "Why are you thinking about it so long?! You never even cared for me to begin with!"

At last, she looked at me. Sadness flashed in her eyes for a moment, but when I looked again, it was gone. Or was it a trick of the light?

"Alright, but how are you going to get there?"

- - ❁ - -

"Lexus is moving out." Mom told John, my stepdad. "Well good for you, girl. It's about time."

I narrowed my eyes for a moment. Nick and Dean are 21. They're darn well ready to move out. Why am I the one who's "about time" to move out?!

Forcing myself to smile at him, I said "That's right. I'm moving to Miami."

Dean smirked as he came down the stairs. "Miami? Do you even have enough money to book a plane ticket? And what about your house?"

"I've been paying for my own garage this entire time. I have all my stuff stacked into my Gallardo Spyder and I am getting out of here." I growled.

"You have a Lamborghini?" Mom yelped. "You have a licence?" Nick shouted at the same time.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, now if you'd excuse me, I'm going to hit the road."

- - ❁ - -

Sinking into the seat of my Lamborghini Gallardo, I let out a shout of joy. I can't believe I'm moving out of this place.

The engine roared into life as the garage door opened. I hit dial on my phone when I drove out of the small garage, my grin spread across my face.

As George picked up the FaceTime, I heard a crash on his side. "Everything alright?" We asked at the same time.