darling, you're different

Part One~ Moving On

^^Girl above is Ivy, the lead female^^

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I sat under the cherry blossom for probably the last time. My bags were in Dad's black Sudan. Miya was packing a water cooler with hoagies and waters for the 19-hour drive. 

"Thank God for Miya," I thought to myself. 

Without her, Dad would still be overdosing and coming home drunk from 'work'. 

Or worse, dead.  

I pulled out the card from my back jeans pocket. The corners were rough and faded, but Hank Aarons was still there, in his stance, ready to hit another home run. I slid my thumb across the smooth surface of the baseball card, taking in the smell of the freshly blossomed flowers above me. My glove was next to me on the ground. Tommy was able to oil it before going back to college, so the smell of mink oil was strong. I gingerly picked up the worn-in glove and brought it to my face. I inhaled. I said I wasn't gonna cry, but the smells of the glove, flowers, and cut grass were forcing me to reminisce to when Ma was still alive and how she'd push me on the tire swing, Tommy passing a football out front with Seamus, while Dad cut the grass with the push mower. After she passed away, dad couldn't bear to remember those days, so he got the newer model mower. The one you drive. The old push mower was still in the shed he and Ma built before I was born. Stubborn, slow tears fell down my cheeks. 

"Darling, almost ready? We got to get going soon before the happy hour traffic breaks out" I heard my dad's tired voice from the doorstep leading into the kitchen. I quickly wiped away my tears and yelled back a quick "Yes". I jumped up from my spot under the tree. 

"Ivy!! Let's Go! We don't want to get stuck in traffic and make this car ride even longer" Miya yelled from the passenger side of the car. 

I sighed. So this, my worst nightmare, is actually real life. I gave one last look around the petite backyard. Quickly, but carefully, I grabbed a branch of the cherry blossoms. About five blossoms were on the branch. I know Dad was gonna scold me for taking them off the tree because of how much of a plant freak he was, but I can't just leave without one of these flowers. I gently stuff the branch in my bag. I grabbed the baseball glove with the white leather covered ball and ran to the car. As we drove through town, I felt more hot tears come to my eyes, but I pushed them away. We passed the soda shop I spent all my summers at, either helping Aunt Betty (she's not really my aunt) clean up after the rowdy highschoolers, sneak candy from the candy counter, or take orders. 

The tears really started to fall when we passed the old baseball field. I spent most, if not all my spare time there. I'd be there for hours with Tommy and his baseball friends. We'd play a game with the neighborhood kids or just have a simple catch. The boys usually wouldn't let girls play along with them, but they looked at me differently. I was known throughout this whole town as not only the best girl baseball player but the best baseball player periodt. Well, the best except for Hank Aarons. He grew up in this exact town. Mobile, Alabama. He beat Babe Ruths world record and was a famous right fielder. He played for Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves. This is also the town my Mom grew up in. One day, when she was in her twenties, Hank decided to pay a visit to his Ma, and he ended up bumping into my mom. I'm not just some crazy baseball player for no reason. Ma was even better than me. Not only could she play, but she also knew all the statistics. Literally everything. Specifically for Hank. When they bumped into each other, mom went crazy and asked him to sign her baseball card. Before she passed away 7 years ago, she gave me the card. I've had it ever since. I keep it with me wherever I go. 

"You excited Vye" Miya broke me out of my thoughts. 

"I guess" I mumbled under my breath. I didn't want to seem ungrateful. Dad and Miya were moving for a good reason. I just wish they'd let me stay in Alabama. 

"Look, honey," dad said gently. "I know this is hard, but moving is the best thing for us right now. Gram and Gramps are in Minnesota and Miya's family is there. Plus, it will be a good chance for you to put yourself back out there. After Tom and all his friends left for college, you've been lonely." he said, concern showing in his dark grey eyes.  I mean he wasn't wrong about the lonely part. Tom has been at college for two years now (he's a sophomore). The only real friend I had was him and his friends. Dylan, Michael, and Seamus. They're part of the reason I'm good at baseball. When they left, I tried to make friends with the girls at school, but I live in an isolated town in the middle of Alabama. There aren't many girls at my school, and the ones that there are, I don't get along with them very well. 

"You know Ivy, my sister can help you make friends at your new school. Rachel said herself that she's gonna make sure you have friends." Miya said in her smooth, calming voice. Miya has a sister named Rachel. So far, she was the only girl I've ever been able to really get along with. 

"We'll worry about making friends when we get there, but please Ivy, try to be happy. I know it's hard, but I'm sure you're gonna love Minnesota even more than Alabama" dad said, trying his best to warm me up to the idea. 

"Sure" I mumbled under my breath sarcastically. 

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Since the car ride from Alabama to Minnesota is 19 HOURS, we decided to stop halfway at dad's sister's house, my Aunt Rita. We stayed there for a day, then back on the road we went. I don't know why we didn't just get a plane. Dad said he's trying to save money for his and Miya's wedding, but how much can a plane ticket cost?

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Update: Currently dying. Still driving. I don't even know where we are right now. Dad keeps rambling about meeting Miya's family. Miya keeps nodding her head. I keep trying to ignore their conversation and sleep. Ugh, my ass hurts from sitting for so long.

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Update: Four hours later, I think we're driving through Iowa. Four hours to go...yayy.

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Yet another boring ass update: ONE FUCKING HOUR BEFORE I GET OUT OF THIS MUSTY ASS CAR!! MY ASS IS OFFICIALLY NUMB FOREVER AND I THINK THE LOWER HALF OF MY BODY IS PARALYZED. 

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IDEK WHY I'M DOING UPDATES LIKE WTF: okay I think we're fifteen minutes away from our new house. Now that we're close, I'm kinda excited, but still not happy. Also, we stopped at a gas station and Dad got an Italian hoagie. He left it on top of the car while he filled the tank. He wasn't paying attention and some bird shit all over it...yumm.

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We're here. At my new home. If I could even call it that. I mean it's a pretty house and all, but is it MY home?

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A/N~ yea yea, I know, it's a weird way to end the chapter, but I wrote too much for this chapter so y'all just gonna have to wait yo lil asses. tanks 4 reedin.

-kate