Across the Maps

Chapter 1

As I stand in the upstairs hallway of my old house, leaning against the wall, Mom strides up the stairs, her long blond hair bouncing as she walks. She pulls me into her embrace.

"Are you ready Wimberly?" her voice is firm as she stares at me with her large light green eyes.

"Yeah," if I say anymore, then I will burst into tears.

"Well let's go," Mom exclaims as she starts to head down the stairs.

I take one last glance at my old room. It is vacant with only a few metal hooks in the walls from where my posters had once been hung up. The walls are still a light blue and from the large window I see the front yard. The trees are swaying with the wind and the colorful leaves are slowly falling to the ground. The large moving truck sits in the driveway, waiting. Beside the truck is my Mom's silver escalade. Well, this is really it. I take a deep breath and walk out of the room, down the hallway, and outside to the escalade. After closing the car door and slipping into the backseat, I take one more last look at the place I grew up, where so many memories have happened, good and bad.

The house looks so empty, so vacant, so sad. And this is it. After everything that has happened, this is it. Memories flood through my head and I cringe. There were so many happy times, and now there won't be anymore. As the escalade pulls out into the road, a single tear falls from my eye and I wipe it away with my sleeve.

"Are you okay?" my sister older sister Paisley leans over and whispers to me.

"Yeah," I reply. "I'm fine."

"No you're not. I know you and you aren't fine." Paisley objects, staring at me with her large blue green eyes.
"It doesn't matter."I say, not wanting anyone else to hear our conversation.

"Okay," Paisley gives up trying to talk to me and turns to face her window, not speaking a word.

"I don't know about you two, but I am so happy that we are moving," my younger sister, Hallie, retorts. "I mean our new mansion is so big."

"Yeah...I guess," my voice is so quiet that it is almost inaudible.

Hallie turns and smiles at me, revealing her strait white teeth and dimples. With the energy that I could muster, I return the smile and then turn to face the window. I grab my earbuds and put them in my ear, cranking my music up to drown out the outside world. And slowly, I fall asleep, my head resting on the window.

I wake up by my heading banging on the window. "Oww," I ask as pain surges through my head.

"Sorry," my Dad apologizes, looking at me through the mirror of the car. "I didn't mean to stop that fast."

"It's okay," I groan as I rub my head. I turn to see Paisley laughing at me.

"What?" I question, arching one eyebrow and narrowing my eyes.

"Nothing. It was just funny." She shyly speaks.

"Funny? You thought that was funny. You're retarded," I tease and she giggles.

"How much more time until we get there?" Hallie complains.

"Actually, we are here," Dad speaks and I look out of the window.

We drive up the own private road that leads to our new mansion. Trees with colorful wilting leaves stand on each side of the winding road. Finally we pull up to the driveway.

The towering mansion's walls are painted a creamy tan color and the glass windows are huge. The lawn is large with a huge flower bed that rests against the house.

"We're here!" Hallie screams, her voice loud and joyful.

The moving truck stops behind our vehicle and Maddie opens the door and jumps out. Mom sets the car in park and walks to the front door of the mansion, unlocking it.

The house is empty and the sound of my shoes hitting the ground echoes throughout the house.

I hear the sound of someone walking and turn around. My dad stands in front of me. His usually shaggy hair is neatly combed back and he wears a gray shirt with a v-neck and jeans. His blue eyes blaze brighter than ever.

"Do you like the new house?" Dad asks as he runs a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, it's nice but...I kind of miss our old one.

"It's okay. You will like this one a lot better once you get adjusted." Dad assures me.

"Yeah. I guess."

"Well," he says. "The movers are unpacking the furniture right now. Maybe you should go and take a walk," he suggests.

"Okay. You know where I want my stuff in my room." I quickly hug him and walk outside, rushing past all the movers.

As I walk down our private road, I stop at a large tree with orange, red, and yellow leaves. I crouch down, grabbing some leaves in my hand. They are crunchy and when I squeeze my hand shut the leaves crumble. I let the leaves go and toss them up into the air and they get swept up by the wind and float away. I watch as they disappear.

"Hey," a voice from behind me brings me out of my trance.

I turn around to see a guy around my age smiling at me. His hair is a light brown like mine and his eyes are green. He wears a long sleeved black shirt and ripped jeans.

"Hi," I reply as I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Not to be rude, but who are you?"

"My name is Cole." he pauses. "I am the gardener's son. You must be Samuel and Kendra Daughter."

I nod slowly. "My name is Wimberly. It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too. Do you...wanna go for a walk or something?" he asks nervously.

"Yeah." I say. "I'd like that."