The New Me// L.H

{1}

{A}

The warmth and bright light from the sun comes through the blinds on my window. I sit on my bed with my small notebook in one hand and a pencil in the other. My laptop sits in front of me with a music program opened. I click and drag a few different beats and melodies and mash them together. My mind is going crazy with different lyrics I could make into a decent sounding song.

I hum as I listen to the music play and smile in satisfaction. For about two hours I've been making new beats and lyrics. I think I finally got this one completed. I softly sing the lyrics as the music plays in the background.

"I've been thinkin about you,

Boy it's killing me and I got to let you know,

Baby (tell me)

Do you feel it like I do?,

'Cause we both know what could go - down,

If we get to close..."

I pause the music and save it into a new file with the title of the song. I write the title at the top of my notebook page where the lyrics are and close it. I place the notebook under my pillow. I love writing and singing, I'm just not super confident with my songs or my singing. I wouldn't say it's stage fright or anything, I'm just not sure if any of my songs would ever become successful.

As I turn off my laptop and place it on my desk, I hear my mother call me from downstairs for lunch. I open my door and make my way downstairs where my parents are standing at the end of the stairs waiting for me. This can't be good. I don't think this is actually a call for lunch.

"Um, is something wrong?" I ask.

"Ariana, let's have a seat darling, we need to have a talk about something." My mother tells me.

"Okay..." I say awkwardly.

I follow my parents to the living room where we take a seat on the couch. For a minute it's silent and my parents simply give each other odd looks. So I decide to break the awkward silence between the three of us.

"So what is it?" I ask.

"Ariana. We know you love it here in California" My father says.

"And that you love this house. But we have something we need to tell you that might make you pretty upset." My mother tells me.

"Guys just tell me whats going on"

"Okay, well your fathers job is moving to a new location. And he's been working there since you were a little girl"

"So we're moving with my job" My father finishes.

Huh. This is a joke right. It has to be a joke. We can't be moving. I've been here all my life and it's going to be my senior year in a few weeks. I love it here, I can't just leave my friends behind.

"This is a joke right?" I ask.

"Ari..."

"No we can't move. We can move to a different house, or maybe just a city over, but we're not going that far are we?"

"We'll be moving in about two weeks, so you'll need to help us pack everything up in the house." My father tells me with a stern voice.

"But where are we moving?" I ask.

"Ariana you're young and we think this would be a really good experience for you to go to new place-" I cut my mother off.

"Where are we moving?" I ask again.

My father makes no attempt to sugar coat the next thing he's about to say. He's more strict than my mother is.

"We're moving to Australia Ariana. Now whether you like it or not you're apart of this family and have to go with us."

I feel like my heart just dropped and my life is over. Yes visiting new places would be amazing, but we're moving there for my senior year. My last year of high school and I have to be the new girl.

My best friend Elizabeth lives out here. We've been friends since we were just kids and do everything together. Now I can't even spend my last year of school with her. I was so excited for this and now it's being ruined because of my fathers stupid job wanting to move. Why does life hate me?

"You guys can't be serious. This is my last year of high school and Elizabeth is here. Why can't I just stay and live with here?" I whine.

Yes I may be acting like a child, but I don't want to leave everything behind. After everything I've been through in this city with everyone and it is now just being tossed aside.

"You are not staying with Elizabeth. You're only seventeen years old" My father tells me.

"I'm not moving all the way to the other side of the world for my senior year. I can't be the new girl, and I'm going to be eighteen in June"

"Exactly you'll be eighteen after your senior year is over. You are coming with us to Australia Ariana."

"Who knows you may love it out there sweetheart, you'll make new friends and maybe something can change your life out there. Just wait, you'll see" My mother tells me.

___

It's been two weeks and my room isn't even recognizable anymore. Everything is packed up and was shipped a few days ago to Australia. The only thing I have left is a small bag of clothes, my headphones and my phone.

I said my goodbyes to all my friends last week and it was hard. We spent the rest of my days having a blast. Something that I'll miss so dearly.

"Ariana lets go, the taxi is here and we're going to miss our flight!" My mother yells from downstairs.

Oh lord I do not want to go. I'm going to miss this place so much. All I know is when I turn eighteen I'm definitely coming back. This will forever be my home.

"Ariana!" I hear again.

"I'm coming!" I groan.

I grab my carry on bag and slip my headphones into my ears. The song Electric Love by BORN plays and I walk downstairs. My eyes scan the now empty home one last time before I walk outside and shut the door. My father is placing his luggage in the truck of the taxi and my mother sits in the car.

"I don't want to leave" I say.

"Come on Ariana, we're going to miss our flight" My father says as he shuts the trunk.

I stand in my spot and my father groans. He walks towards me and picks me up off of my feet. I squirm around as he walks towards the taxi.

"No put me down, I don't want to go" I yell.

A few passing strangers give me an odd stare and including the taxi driver. My father opens up the door and shoves me into the middle seat. He sits down and shuts the door and the driver starts the car.

I pout as the car drives past all of the familiar houses. Where most of my friends live. All of the places we use to hang out. And this is probably going to be the last time I see them again in a long time.

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Word Count: 1,238