Stronger Than You Think

Chapter 28: Moving Out

I put the last of my stuff into the box and I lift it up. Walking out of my room for the last time and then walking out of my house. The place were I grew up.

The movers are loading my bed into the truck. I stole a couch from our living room and Tani's parents let her take a recliner. I have my mini fridge and reluctantly Tanika has one too!

We have our beds and clothes and our rooms are practically bare. My family is standing at the gate and Seth is out the front. Little tears running down his little pudgy face.

I kneel down and open my arms. He runs into them and I hold him tightly to me. Out of everything this is what I'm going to miss the most. "You can come and visit" I whisper to him. Tears starting to fall down my face.

He lifts a little baby hand and whipes them away. I smile and kiss him one last time before standing up. I blow a kiss to my family and walk to the truck.

Tanika is sitting in the back so I hop in next to her. The trucky shuts the roller door and we are submerged in darkness. The truck jolts to a start and I know that we are heading towards a new life.

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"I dibs this one" Tanika calls from the large 2nd bedroom down the hall. "You've said that ten times already" I call from my bedroom. The movers are putting my bed in it now.

"Next to the window thanks" I say and they place it next to the giant blinded window on the wall. They nod there heads when they leave to go and get the bedside tables and tall boys.

We've moved the couch and the television stand into the living room and mine and Tani's mini fridges into the kitchen. We're practically set. Tani's going out today after they finished putting all the furniture in to go and get a TV.

I flop down on my bed and let the sun blare through the window. The movers come in and I tell them where to put the tables. I thank them and they leave.

I get up and walk to the doorway and down the hall where my boxes of clothing are. I lift one and Tanika comes running down the hall. She pushes past me and runs out the front door. I shake my head. That girls is nuts.

I carry the box into my room and start to unpack it. I hang up the dresses - there are only two - and then place everything into its rightful position on the shelves.

I hear footsteps race past my bed room an then I hear a bang. Tanika groans and I try to stifle a laugh. She fell over. I empty the box and then crush it with my feet.

Walking out of the room to get the other box I spot something on the floor. I pick it up and take a look at it. A piece of paper with Tani's name on it. I turn from side to side to see if she's around but she's gone.

I open it and inside is a rose petal. I lift the petal off the card and see a little note.

Meet me behind the old barn at 9:00

I giggle. Tanika's got a boyfriend. I lay the rose petal on the note and put it back in the envelope before I place it on the floor. Picking up the box with all my books in it I head back into my room to do some more unpacking. Yay!

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Tanika left a couple of minutes ago but I didn't tell her that I knew where she was going. It isn't any of my business really. I invited Eden over anyway so now we are sitting on the couch watching cheesy romance movies.

I pull the popcorn bowel towards me and take a handful before shoving it all into my mouth. Eden laughs beside me. "God you're attractive" he says. "I know wight" I say with a mouth full of popcorn.

That just makes him laugh even harder. I swallow the chewy bits and lean my head against his shoulder. I can feel the rhythm of his breathes on my cheek. It's reassuring.

The movie ends and Eden turns the television off. We sit there in the dark in silence for a while and I count the beats of his heart. He turns his head and kisses my forehead. I smile and close my eyes letting the power of Sandy take me into Dreamland.

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The door slams shut and I bolt up off the couch. I check the time and see that it's 1:00am. Tanika locks the door and storms into the living room sitting in the spot where Eden was a moment ago.

I look at the counter and see a note.

I had to go. Parents. You know. I love you
Eden xxx

I smile to myself before turning to Tanika. "What's up?" I ask and she looks at me. Tears are forming in her eyes. She blinks them away but it was too late. I saw them.

"He... he.. le-eft me-e" she hiccups as she lets the sobs and the tears come. "Ohh baby" I say and rub her back. "He's not worth it". She wipes her eyes and hugs me.

"You know what you're right" she says and I let her go. We lean against each other for a while before she reaches to turn the television on. I yawn and lean against her letting sleep take me once again.
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2⃣ Left!! That's all I have to say!! 🌊☁🌏