Hello! This is my second book, and I trust that it turned out a bit better than the first one I wrote, ever: Soccer, Lightning, and Love. Feel free to go check that one out, and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I am enjoying writing it. Shoutout to Sam__antha for helping me with the cover. Vote, comments are appreciated, and spread the word. :)
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I squinted my eyes at the sunlight coming through my window, and checked the time on my phone. 11:47. I yawned and stretched, appreciating summer and the ability to sleep. It was a shame there were only about three weeks until school started.
After sitting and lazing around for 15 minutes, I got up and went into the shower.
As I was singing along to a remix of Summertime Sadness, by Lana Del Rey, there was a loud knock on the door. I dried my hand and lowered the volume, peeping out behind the old shower curtain.
"What?!" I said, over the water.
"Hurry up! I come home once every two months and you take up the bathroom every time!" My older brother, James, was home from college for the time being. And he was a complete pain in the behind.
I ignored him and put the volume back on high and scrubbed my coconut body wash, still singing at the top of my lungs.
"PIPER!" James screamed.
...
I walked to my room, proceeding to get dressed in my favorite dark blue bikini, covered with ripped jean shorts and a white, loose tank top. I brushed my thick, long blonde hair and blow dried it, as if the endless California sun wasn't already going to dry it.
I walked over to my mirror and picked up the old Polaroid camera that was lying on the floor beside it. I took a picture, and waved it around to dry it, like I did every couple of days. It turned out pretty good, the light was hitting my eyes, making them a shiny blue. I was so ready for the beach today. I wrote the date on the back, and hung it up next to the hundreds of other pictures hung around my mirror.
I slipped on my white flip flops, and grabbed my Ray Bans, putting my phone in my pocket. I literally bounced down the stairs, to find my dad reading the paper in the kitchen, and my mom standing by him.
"I'm going to the beach with--" I started, grabbing an apple. Then I realized my dad was home. He was supposed to be at work. I stopped.
"Piper, could you please sit down?" My dad said, putting down the paper.
"Could this be quick? I'm going to be late." I was supposed to be down at the beach at around 1:30. It was almost one.
"We have something to tell you." My mother said, gesturing for me to sit next to her. I took a seat across from James, who was staring at my dad. I tried to read their facial expressions for any hint of the news, but they gave away nothing.
"Piper, you know your grandfather passed away last year." My dad began. I looked over at my mom. She nodded. "You also know he had a house down south. I recently got a call from my boss."
My dad's boss, Mr. Brooks, was a very powerful man. He owned an entire chain of large hotels, and my dad one of his best workers. The man was so rich that when he sneezed he blew his nose with hundred dollar bills. Well, that's how I imagine it.
"What did he say?" I bit into my apple.
"I got a relocation order, to South California. So we are moving into your grandfather's old house." My dad finished and waited for my reaction. I froze.
My whole body went numb. I couldn't even swallow the piece of apple I bit. It was stuck in my throat.
I was born here, in NorthBay. I grew up here, with the same friends since I could remember. And I had completely laid out my plan to graduate NorthBay High School, and move on to a college nearby with my friends. And now everything was changing.
"No. I don't want to go." I stated, my body still in shock. My brain felt fuzzy.
"We have to, honey. You know how important your father's work is." My mother reached over the table and put her hand on top of mine. I pulled my hand away.
My dad was always away on business trips, throughout my entire childhood. His work needed a lot of dedication, and the last time my dad took leave was when my grandfather passed away. For the past couple of months, he's been away more than usual.
"Why can't you just go on trips like you always do?" I asked, eyes tearing up.
"Sweetheart, I can't stay away from home for years at a time. We have to go, together." My dad said.
"I don't wanna go." My voice cracked, and the tears came tumbling down.
"Shh, baby it's not that bad. We'll still be in California." My mom soothed. James was silent.
"You knew, didn't you? How long have you known?!" I screamed at James.
"Piper. Calm down." My dad said.
"Nothing's changing Piper. I'll still be away at college, and you'll be with Mom and Dad. You'll graduate and come here for college." James said.
"Nothing is changing for you, James! For me, nothing's ever going to be the same! I hate you guys!" I stood up and grabbed my keys, running out the door. Grabbing my surfboard from the front porch, I hopped into my jeep and drove the five minutes to the beach. I know I was acting rashly, and a bit spoiled. But North Cali was my life. My chest hurt.
Parking somewhere along the boardwalk, I took my surfboard down to the water's edge. I had spare towels and sunscreen in my car, so I took them and headed over to my waving friends.
"Hey!" Marnie and Jesse greeted me. I burst into tears and dropped my stuff, hugging them.
"What's wrong?" Jesse cried.
"We're moving!" I sobbed.
...
"I can't believe this." Marnie said, once all my tears had dried up, we sat down on our towels, looking out at the water.
"Me neither." I whispered, running my hands through my wet hair. It was about 6:00, and we had spent our time surfing, trying to forget about what happened. But we had to talk sooner or later. And here we were.
"When are you leaving?" Jesse asked.
"I don't know. Soon." I sighed.
"Cmon, let's get you home." Marnie shook me, and we stood up together, shaking out towels and grabbing our surfboards.
"Call us. We'll help you pack." Jesse said as she hugged me, and the two of them headed towards their own cars. I got into mine and drove home.
It was about 6:15 when I got home, and my dad was on the porch.
"Piper!" He called out. "Why didn't you answer your phone?!"
I fumbled around in my bag and pulled out my phone.
16 missed calls from Dad.
23 missed calls from Mom.
7 Messages from Mom.
4 Messages from Dad.
3 Messages from James.
And I had ignored every last one.
"I don't know. I was surfing." I answered dryly.
"Piper--"
"I'm not in the mood." I shuffled past him into the house where my mom stood up when I entered.
"Piper can you--"
"Just tell me when we're going!" I said, more loudly than intended.
"Three days." James commented from the corner.
I trudged upstairs without another word. Too lazy and upset, I simply plopped down on my bed and went to sleep, before my thoughts could keep me awake.
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WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE FIRST CHAPTER?? Comment and vote, spread the word! Thanks hope you enjoyed,
----Sol Xx
YOU ARE READING
Sprinkles
Teen FictionPiper, notoriously known for her rebellious sense of fun, is finally in her senior year of high school. Before the summer could even end, her father gets a relocation call from work, and Piper is ripped away from everything she's ever known--North C...
