Senioritis

Chapter 1

     Packing has never been easy for me. I mean, how does one manage to put their entire life into just a few boxes. After almost a week, I managed to fill up about twelve. Each box filled with perfectly folded items of clothing, and labeled a little too descriptively. After packing the final box, I placed it in the corner with the rest of them.Taking one last look at the room I spent my entire life in, my heart fell to my knees.

     I had spent the last fifteen years of my life in this place. In my entire life, this was the only space I could call my own. These four white walls gave me a feeling no other place in this world could. Once I walk through my bedroom door, I feel safe. Like nothing bad in this world could pass through it. I thought about all the long nights I spent in this room writing essays. I chuckled as I thought of the time I almost started a fire in my apartment building when I accidentally placed a candle too close to the curtain. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at my window.

     "I come bearing gifts!" I heard Jeneva scream from the other side of the glass. She was holding a jar of Nutella and a pint of vanilla ice cream. 

     "Your favorite," she cooed.

     I chuckled as I unlocked my window and let her in. She stuck her chunky, black combat boot in before she launched herself through the window. Somehow, she managed to stick the landing and held her superman stance, waiting for applause.

     Her long, curly hair was peeking out of her black beanie. She wore a bright, mustard yellow t-shirt under her favorite burgundy overall dress. I couldn't help but admire the way the colors complement her brown skin so perfectly. Jeneva had the best style of anyone I had ever met. One day she would dress like she just hopped off the first bus from Woodstock, the next day she would look like an extra in Clueless. Yet, somehow she always managed to pull it off so effortlessly. 

     "Well," she started, "let's get this show on the road!"

     "You know you could have used the front door, right?" I laughed.

     "Duh, but the fire escape is more fun. Plus, the moving trucks were all lined up in the front of your building, and I didn't want to get in their way." She threw herself onto my bed and stared up at me. Her hazel eyes getting sadder as they meet mine.

     "I can't believe your mom is making you move all they way across the country ONE MONTH before senior year. Plus, school already started in California! Isn't that, like, illegal or something?" Stylish but not the smartest.

     "Sadly, it isn't. But my mom seems really excited about her new job offer so I'm not going to rain on her parade. Plus, I heard Bay Area guys are hot. Maybe i'll find the love of my life on the beach or something," I laughed. 

     She popped a spoonful of Nutella in her mouth. "Maybe? Hopefully! You've been single your whole life, Yas. I'm starting to feel lonely for you," she laughed, "You always have your nose buried in a book. That's why guys never notice how hot you are. It's frustrating."

     "You know I hate attention. That's your thing." She let out a dramatic gasp as her jaw dropped. 

     "How dare you say such a thing." I couldn't help but laugh at how much of a drama queen she was. I mean, she was the best actress in our school. Jeneva was the star of every production since she stepped foot in Woodland High, three years ago. There wasn't one person in that entire school who didn't know who she was. Attention was her drug of choice.

     After the laughter died down, she stared sadly into my eyes. "You know, you're the only thing that makes living in Washington Heights bearable. I can't believe you're leaving me." A tear fell down her face. In our eight years of friendship, I had only seen her cry twice. Once at the end of the final Harry Potter movie, and the other when her father left her family last summer. "How am I going to make it through senior year without my best friend?"

     By this time the tears began streaming down my face, too. "Don't say that. We're always going to be there for each other. We're going to FaceTime every night and I'll let you know how horrible the Bay is, okay?" I laughed through my tears.

     "Promise me you wont forget me after you make new friends in California."

     "I could never." Our moment was interrupted by a faint knocking at my door.

     My mom gently opened the door and poked her head in. Once she saw Jeneva, her eyes filled with sadness. She walked towards her and gave her the warmest hug. "Ay, mija, I'm sorry. You know we love you so much and we're going to come back as much as possible." My mom released her, and looked directly into her eyes. "You've always been like a daughter to me, and it pains me so much to have to separate you guys, but it's for the best."

     Jeneva nodded and gave my mom one final hug before walking back to the window. "I'm going to miss you guys so much." she said before climbing out of my window and descending down the fire escape.

     My mother turned to me and wiped the tears away from my face. "Come on, hija, the movers are ready to take everything out of your room. It's time to get on the road."

     I nodded, taking one last look at what was left of my room. I let out a sigh, and followed my mom to the truck. Once she started the engine, I popped my earbuds in and reclined the chair. It was going to be a long ride.