UNCLE KIMMY TRIES to cheer me up about moving to a dangerous place, but I can't stop thinking about it. I'm never leaving the house. I'm staying indoors, always.
"It's okay, I promise. Our family lives there. Including your Aunt Lucinda."
He knows how much I love her, but I'm way too scared to move there.
"But what about my friends?"
"Make new ones," Cassy chimes in. She doesn't care about how I'm feeling like Uncle Kimmy does. I go to him for everything and he goes to me. We trust each other to hold deep secrets that we tell each other, or at least I hope he kept the secret about Ray away from everyone, but I don't even know what's real anymore. I give her a dirty look as she leaves for work.
"You'll make new friends in Southwood."
"But what if no one likes me there?"
"No one will know you," she urges.
"I know, but I feel judged a lot."
"All teenagers do, kid. Look, when my dad moved me and my siblings here, he would always tell us, "don't let the people scare you, just be yourself."
"Yeah, that's what you always tell me. I miss Gramps," I add trying to switch the subject.
"Hey, wanna help me make dinner?"
"Sure."
"Good, start peeling potatoes, knucklehead," he jokes making me crack a smile. If something were to happen to him, I don't know what I would do.
I peel them over the trash can, I hope our new house has a garbage disposal.
The next morning I go for a run with Britney. She's super fast but she jogs to keep the same pace as me. She has long blond hair that's full and all-American blue eyes. I think, in today's society, she's rare. Just like I'd be in the 1800s, no wonder why Rey rejected me for her, she's beautiful.
"Hey Britney," I say out of breath.
"Yeah," she says handing me her water bottle because I drunk all of mine.
"I'm moving next week."
Instant shock runs down her body, "No."
"Yeah, I wish that I didn't, but I am."
"Where?"
"Oh, to South Dakota, I think."
"My dad lives there."
"Really? Do you see him?"
"Used to, before he killed my mom."
I gasp.
"It's fine, he's in prison, now. Thanks to my sister, Kayla."
That just made me even more scared to move there. I quietly gulp as the wave of air slides down my esophagus like the great white whale looking for little fish to eat in the deep blue sea.