CHAPTER ONE
My dad hugged me so tight, I could literally feel my circulation cutting off. I knew he didn't want me to go, but I really didn't have a choice. My mom, Kim had re-married and her new husband Simon worked for the government. The government transferred him to some town I had never even heard of; Hawkins, IN. So that meant that my little sister Natalie, my mom and myself went to Indiana too. My dad, Nate Williams was a hippie living in a shack on a Florida beach, so he really didn't want to leave. To be honest, I didn't blame him. I loved Florida. I would miss everything about it; the heat, the palm trees. Hell, I would even miss the humidity. My step-dad told me that Indiana would have humidity, but I knew it would not be the same.
"Now you know I am just a phone call away, Nora. You only have one year left. Then you'll be off to college, which can be anywhere you want but the University of Florida really is…" My dad started to say before I rolled my eyes and groaned.
"Dad, you know I want to go to UCLA." I argued as he continued to hold onto me as I heard my mom telling Natalie she couldn't have another soda. My sister was only fourteen, but she already had a caffeine addiction. Simon had the car all packed and was now on the phone with his boss. He was never allowed to talk work while we were around. Simon was okay, he was just super quiet.
"I know. I know. I'm just going to miss you girls so much. I gave Simon an extra envelope of cash for you girls to go shopping with for school clothes. I know you have your own style though." My Dad said. We all basically lived at the beach, so flowy tops and short shorts were the style. But I heard things were different in the Midwest.
"Okay everyone we really got to get going. Nate, we will be in touch." Simon said as he shook my dad's hand. It made it easier knowing that my dad and my mom got along, including her new husband. My sister gave my dad one last hug and we all piled into my Simon's Volvo. Supposedly, all our stuff would be there when we moved in. Which still meant I had to unpack all my pictures and bedroom things.
I watched Natalie look out the window at her best friend Sophie's house and I saw a tear glisten from her eye. I reached over and squeezed her hand. She looked at me and smiled slightly. Most siblings that were four years apart didn't get along. But Natalie was my best friend. Sure, she got on my nerves sometimes, but I loved her so much. Seeing her hurt broke my heart into a million pieces. I would be fine, because I only had to worry about one year away from my friends and my home. Natalie had to start all over.
I knew my mom was happy. I knew that she loved Simon. I also knew that Simon loved her. He was good to us and his job paid more than I could even imagine. My dad didn't make much, he owned a surf shop on the beach, but it still made him nowhere near as much as Simon's job. I still wasn't even sure what Simon did for the government, but I knew he was smart. He was a scientist and they always needed him somewhere. Even though my home life was above average and not that bad, I still couldn't wait until I was off to college. Only one more year of high school and I would be on my own. Little did I know, this last year of high school would change my life forever.