My Messed Up Past

Goodbyes

Our house is oddly empty.

I've never seen my room properly bare, and now I have I'm scared. All the rooms are empty, all the pictures have been taken down, only the memories are still here, haunting me.

I'm so glad we're leaving.

Dad enters the kitchen, which no longer looks like a kitchen, and smiles at me.

"We're leaving in a hour-- why don't you say goodbye to your friends?"

I'd been dreading this. I've been so caught up with mum, I haven't spoken to any if my friends except Evie a week ago. As far as their concerned, I am seriously sick.

"Sure." I grab my keys and text them all, asking to meet at the park. They're all asking if I'm better, and I chuckle softly to myself.

Yes I text back.

Twenty minutes later, my bum is freezing from sitting on a metal bench, but I can see them. I smile and wave.

"Hi!"

We squeal(well, me, Fran, Evie, Gamma and Roxy, Eddie and James just kind of watch us) as we pull into a bear hug.

"We missed you!" Gamma exclaims, sitting next to me.

"You're better now? Not contagious?" Roxy asks as she shoots away from me worriedly.

"No, I'm not contagious," I laugh warmly. "You're safe."

I then look up at Eddie and... ugh, this is gonna be hard. "Hey." I say softly.

He smiles and sits beside Gemma, James following after him.

"So..." I'm not sure who to look at, so I focus on Eddie and Evie, "I've got some news."

They all grin, and I bet they are not expecting what I'm going to say.

"We already now," Fran blurts out, going red as soon as she says it.

"Huh?" I'm confused; did dad already tell them? "You do?"

"Duh!" Evie teases me while James playfully bashes my shoulder.

"Don't you dare hurt him," he warns.

Ok, I'm really puzzled. Did they mean dad? And why are they joking about this? Why is Eddie going bright pink?

"Hurt who?"

With that, they all stop giggling and stare at me, their eyes bulging.

"Eddie, of course," Roxy stammers.

"What about him?"

They all turn to Eddie and he holds his hands up in disbelief. "I told you we weren't dating!"

Hold up, what? That's what they thought I was going to say? Oh. Gosh.

"And that's not what she was going to say anyway," Eddie carries on, "So please carry on Lola." He doesn't meet my eye.

"Ugh, this is a nightmare," I groan under my breath, before preparing myself to just tell them.

"As I was saying," I give them a cold look, "I'm.... well, me and dad, we're moving house, to Knaresborough."

They were all silent, shocked by what I said.

"When?" Eddie manages to say.

I suddenly decide my shoes are super interesting. "Um.... in half an hour."

Evie leaps up from her seat, her face marked with hurt. "Some friend you are! You're moving to a town two hours away and only tell us half an hour before? You know, I'm so done with you! You treat us like dirt, Lola White, so good riddance." She turns on her heel and marches away, Roxy and Fran on her heels. Gemma flashes me a sad smile but hurries after them.

I'm left with Eddie and James. To be honest, James looks like he couldn't care less.

He high fives me boredly. "Good on you. I hope you like it there." And he runs in the direction of the girls.

I sneak a look at the last person left. His face looks numb and he is staring at me with pain in his eyes.

"For real?"

I nod.

"You didn't think to tell me?"

I shrug. "I've been kind if busy."

He stands up and only now does he look angry. "You know, Evie's right. You really do just treat us like dirt."

As he starts to storm off, I grab his hand. "Eddie. Eddie, stop!"

"No," he growls, snatching his arm back, "Just leave me alone Lola."

I let him go like I'd been burned. Well, that didn't go well.

Hearing a car hoot it's horn, I turned to see dad pulling up on the road. "You ok kiddo? Did you do it?"

"I did, and it went horribly," I complain as I jump in the front seat. "They all stormed off: well, James didn't care, but still."

Dad pattes my back sympathetically. "I know it's hard, honey, but you did good. At least you told them. But now, are ready to leave this town?"

Please, anybody, just take me away from this town.

I nod and settle in my seat, bracing myself for Knaresborough.

This town has been there all my life, which is a good thing, but can also be a bad thing. Memories of mum have followed me, everywhere I go, whether it's her favourite cafe, or her least favourite song, or her favourite park, a swing she used to swing me on, the see saw where I fell off and she had to carry me home... Fifteen years of memories.

The last few haven't exactly been the best.

I am so ready for the next chapter of my life.

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I'm rounding this book off! This might be the last chapter, or I might make an epilogue... we'll see ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I really liked writing this book, and I've already got a plot forming for the next one. Are there any suggestions or any genres you would like to see me try?

I love hearing your feedback!