"MOM! I don't want to move to that stupid, freezing cold, wet and gloomy, depressing awful, little town. I don't care if Bella's there. I don't want to go." I shouted.
"You're moving in with your cousin and Uncle Charlie and that is that. Stop arguing with me. It's rude and annoying," mom replied, then shoved my suitcase in the trunk of her car. "Get in."
I stood on the porch and didn't move a muscle.
"Really, Emma? Are you four?"
"I wish."
"Get in the car, now." she said, giving me the evil mom look. I sighed, and got in the car with my arms folded and feet on the dashboard.
"Get your feet down right now." she said, as she sat in the driver's seat and started the car.
"Take me back home to Dad."
"Not a chance."
"Then there isn't a chance of my feet hitting the floorboard," I said, rolled down the window, and watched Florida fade away.
"Emma!" my uncle Charlie said enthusiastically.
"Uncle Charlie." I said, not even attempting to sound overjoyed to be staying in this stupid, cold town.
"Well, let's get your suitcase and I'll go ahead and take you home. I'm going fishing with Billy Black, so you're free to do whatever you want."
"Would you mind if I go with you?"
"Sure, if you want to."
"Thanks Uncle Charlie."
"No problem….let's get going then. We'll just leave your suitcases in the car until we get home then."
"Okie dokie." I said, then followed him to his car. Oh dear. I'd almost forgotten that Charlie was the police chief. I opened the door to the police cruiser and got in the passenger's seat. It was quiet the entire drive down to Uncle Charlie's friends house, and there wasn't that much more conversation once we got there. He introduced me to Billy, then we stood around for about five minutes, staring at each other.
"Well, I asked Seth if he wanted to come with us, and he said he'd love too. Jake's not coming; he's taking Hailey to the doctor. So it's just me, you, Seth, and Emma."
Three old people to spend time with? Fun, fun.
"Seth's about your age, Emma. Maybe you'll make a new friend."
My age? This whole fishing trip was starting to sound a lot more fun.
"Hi, I'm Emma." I smiled. For whatever reason, Seth looked nervous.
"Um, hi, I'm…I'm Seth."
"Hi, Seth. How old are you?"
"Fifteen, until tomorrow."
"You do not look fifteen/sixteen. I would've said you're like twenty. Anyways, I'm fifteen too. Until next month."
"You look older than fifteen too."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Oh! Yeah, sorry. You're pretty. Um, I think I'm just gonna shut up now," he said, blushing.
I laughed, "No, that's okay. I like talking to you."
"That's good, 'cause I like talking to you too," he smiled, then watched his fishing pole fly out into the lake we were fishing at.
"Oh, crap."
"Don't just stand there! Come on, let's go get it!" I said, then ran out into the water. Clumsy me, I tripped over a rock and fell flat on my face. I struggled to get up, but my shirt was caught on something on the floor of the lake. I kicked and flailed my arms but nothing helped. I was trapped, drowning. Then, suddenly, someone's arms wrapped around me, yanked me free, and then pulled me to the surface. I expected to see my Uncle Charlie holding me, but instead there was Seth, holding me close. Oddly, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.