"Change is good"

Chapter 1.Alissa

Pic of Eva up top

My name is Eva Langston. I'm sixteen and life was pretty consistent. My boyfriend Zach, and I are have been together since freshman year. I was comfortable and content with what we have. I was comfortable and content with life. My mom wasn't. I tried to persuade her for months when she talked of marriage to have Joel move here.

She always argued back that Joel had more room at house. Now I didn't think they would get engaged before I graduated. Joel, (my mother's fiancee) had a daughter my age too. My mom and Joel have been together for three years. In that time, Alissa and I did not grow close. We were forced to spend time together and we get along but there was no connection.

She lived life more boldly than me. I'm not that outgoing, so I never made an attempt to be close to her. I always thought they were waiting to get married. Well I got a wake up call when my mom came home engaged one day. That was at the beginning of the summer, and now summer is about to end. Today is the day we move actually.

We're leaving my childhood home and moving across the city. I had packed up my things and said my goodbyes. My mom had even sold the house. This was permanent now and there was no going back. I looked at my house one last time and got in the car.

We arrived twenty minutes later at our new home. My golden retriever Molly, was very eager to get out of the car. I released her into the backyard and went to get boxes. Joel and Alissa came out to help, but we didn't have that much since they already had furniture. The biggest thing we had was my mattress.

We got into the house and to my room. This room used to be empty or a guest room but I guess it's mine now. Joel told me if I wanted I could paint it. I wasn't sure yet, I just wanted move my stuff in. It took me a few hours and I was done. The beige walls were so different compared to my aqua ones at home.

I sat around scrolling social media and passing the time. Alissa then came to visit me. She told me she knows it sucks moving and going to a new school. She invited me to hang out with her friends tomorrow. I was going to reject her and say it's fine I'll make my own friends but it was nice of her to offer.

I knew though that I would probably make little friends without her help so I accepted the offer. Her friends are probably popular and outgoing like her but it's one day. This is a good opportunity to step out of my convert zone. I know I told myself I would never change but change is good right. Before my dad died he always would say that to me.

When I started the sixth grade I was really lonely and didn't have any classes with my best friend. He told me that change is good and I'll make new friends. I made some new friends but my best friend was still my best friend. Angie was in fact my best friend since third grade. She stayed through my emo phase in seventh grade.

She was a true friend, and I'll always be grateful. So I accepted the offer and spent my time watching 'The Office' till dinner. Joel attempted to make spaghetti and we ended up ordering pizza. Alissa came to my room afterwards and sat on my bed. She told me that she wanted to be friends.

She could see I obviously wasn't great with the whole socializing thing and decided to help me. She turned on 'Pretty Little Liars' which I liked but couldn't see myself getting into it. After two episodes she asked me about myself. Surprisingly I didn't know much about her despite her being in my life for three years.

She told me she had Boyfriend named Issac and they've been together six months. Her best friend's name is Sasha. She actually loves rock. (Which I did too). That her favorite color is purple and she sees her mom every other weekend. I didn't know about her mom. I assumed she was still alive but I didn't know much about the woman.

She told me her name is Lisa and her parents divorced when she was seven. I never really thought about Alissa's mother. I never really thought much of Joel either. He made my mom happy and that's all I thought I needed to know. I thought it was appropriate to share about myself too. I told her my favorite color is Blue.

My dad died at the end of sixth grade. He was actually a soldier in the army. I told her about my boyfriend and my other bestfriends Jackie and Mia. I told her about my love of music and reading. I didn't tell her my deepest darkest secrets or desires. But she learned more about me. She was kind of my polar opposite but we clicked.

It got late and so she bid me goodnight and I turned off my lights. I didn't sleep much that night. I thought about what tomorrow would bring and I absorbed what has happened. I thought maybe I made a mistake not getting to know Alissa. I thought about my new room. Then my thoughts drifted to my dad.

He would be happy with who I am right? I always thought he would want mom to be happy. My thoughts got deeper and deeper. I thought about decisions and experiences. What I wanted from my new life. How I was going to stay true to my past. Would dad be happy with how hard I'm trying to resist change?

My desire to keep things the same is stronger than ever. I knew he would want me to move on. To start a new chapter. I always trusted my dad. But is change always good?