Casey and The Quints

02

~ Two weeks later ~

"So C, when do you leave again?" Brett asks as he steals a chip from my bag. I try to swat his hand away but am unsuccessful.

"Ugh, don't remind me," I say putting my head on the table and sighing. "We leave this afternoon."

"Awh babe. Don't be sad, it's only a 40-minute drive. We'll visit you every weekend, won't we Brett?" Sophia says reassuringly. I know for a fact they won't visit.

"Yeah for sure." Brett agrees. "Make sure to tell us when your siblings are town too. We want to see them again."

I groan inwardly. Honestly, I'm pretty sure that Brett and Sophia are only my friends because of my siblings. Scratch that. I know they are only my friends for my siblings. Brett adores Jensen and he has a dream to make it to the NHL just like my big brother. Brett better keep dreaming because playing on a B team instead of a AAA team, like my brother, won't get him to the NHL. Sophia, on the other hand, is obsessed with being the new "Taylor Iverson." She almost went as far as to ger her name changed to Taylor. Still, they are my only friends at this god-forsaken school. They get me into some awesome parties and always know how to cheer me up when I'm down. Plus everyone else likes to keep their distance from me because I'm the screw up of the Iverson family. With mediocre grades and no special talents, unless you count being able to shotgun a beer in under 4 seconds, I seem to bring shame to the Iverson household name.

Glancing at my phone, I see lunch is almost over which means I have to get back home and help with the last bit of packing. "Well I gotta get going, so I guess this is goodbye." I stand up and Brett and Sophia follow my lead. We exchange hugs, promising to stay in touch (we won't) before I head to my locker. When I open the rusted metal door, there isn't much for me to look at. I returned all my textbooks this morning, my school supplies are already packed away in a box, except for an old pencil and a blue pen, and I didn't have many personal belongings or pictures. The only picture I have is of me, Brett and Sophia at some party last year. I suddenly become lost in thought as I stare at the nostalgic photo of a smiling brown-haired girl smushed between an awkwardly tall teen boy and girl with platinum blonde hair and too much highlighter.

I used to be so happy. What happened? I hate everything about this school but yet moving terrifies me. Why is that? Maybe it's because I'm afraid I'll be more unhappy or more lonely. But my mom could be right. This could be a new start for me. New town, new school, no famous siblings. And then something seems to click and it's just the solution I needed. Maybe now I can be just Casey Iverson. Not Casey Iverson, sister of the quints.

As I close my locker door, my mood brightens as a plan forms in my head. I swing my bag over my shoulder, as I exit the school with a hop in my step and smile on my face. I head down the steps to the parking lot and I look at the photo one more time. This is the old me. Starting today, we are reinventing Casey Iverson. I rip the photo into half and throw it in the garbage can, as I leave this school for the very last time

***

"Done," I say as I tape up the last of my belongings. My clothes. My awards. My life. All packed away in just 20 cardboard boxes. I don't know why but I feel sad. Way sadder than I should be. I always hated this town and hated this house. Here I am the sister of the quints. Here I am the family screw up. Here my life sucked. So shouldn't I be glad to leave? Shouldn't I want to leave?

"All ready to go?" Paul asks opening my door, forcing me out of my thoughts.

I nod my head, not trusting my voice. I just want to cry. Paul seems to sense that as he comes and wraps his arms around me.

"I know this hasn't been easy for you. Having to leave your friends and your childhood home. But I see this as an opportunity for you to be happy again. To be the Casey Iverson I love. That happy little girl you were when I first met you." Paul kisses me on the head, giving me one last squeeze before allowing me a few moments alone in my empty room.