'Wilting flower'

"Are you going on the 'summer adventure camp'?" Mandy's voice asked while we were lying in a field full of daisies.

Our eyes were closed as we lay under the August sun. I could feel the sun burning into my cheeks.

"I don't know…" I opened my eyes and sat up starting to make a little daisy chain. "I mean, I suck at all that sporty, climb up this wall stuff."

"You have to go! I'm going and it'll be during my Birthday you can't ditch me!" Mandy started whining, then threw a flower in my face. "Besides, we could meet some cute guys…"

I threw the flower back at her. "I'm sure I've meet every 'cute guy' in our class."

"You don't listen much do you?" Mandy sighed, "We're going on camp at Sloan Lake with some school from South Park. Then they place us into four groups that are mixed with the other school."

"So I might not even be in your group." I started twirling my milk chocolate coloured hair, bad habit of mine.

"Well, yeah… but it'll be really fun!" Mandy tried to convince me with a huge innocent smile. "Please! We'll probably get to choose our groups anyways."

I sighed, "I don't really want to ask my parents, they've been fighting a lot lately."

Mandy frowned. I felt bad she didn't really get along with many people in our class.

"Well the faster I get home; the quicker I can let you know I'm coming." I smiled.

Dammit, she always drags me into things.

Mandy and I stood up started walking towards our houses which were on the same street, and she was only five houses down from mine.

Mandy nudged me, "Are you okay? You don't look too flash."

I nodded kind of confused, "Um, I think I'm alright." I smiled then tugged on my skirt.

We reached my house and she hugged me goodbye.

"Don't forget about the camp! You have to pay for it by tomorrow!" She called a house away.

I waved then walked into the house and headed toward the kitchen where my mum was sitting on a high chair by the bench.

"Hey Love, how was school today?" She asked with a little smile and sad eyes.

"Um, it was fine." I said grabbing a fresh cookie.

"Isabelle… We have to talk." She said with a serious face.

Oh crap, something's up.

I jumped up onto the bench in front of mum using it as seat.

"Your father and I are divorcing." She sniffed keeping her strong face.

I dropped my biscuit in fright.

"Your dad will be staying here, and we'll be moving out of town."

I jumped off the bench and accidently stood on the cookie. "Where are we going?"

She stood up and hugged me. "I'll clean that up."

I stood there shocked. Then the phone started ringing and snapped me out of it.

"Hello?" I mumbled.

"Hello Isabelle. Is your mum home?"

It was Aunt Taylor, my mum's sister.

"Uh yes she is." I passed the phone to mum, and then she walked into the dining room.

I glanced at the clock it was 5.30pm. I didn't even get told of for not coming straight home after school.

~Meow~

I looked down and the house cat, Leaf who was rubbing her head against my leg.

She is so cute …Leaf is coming with me right?

I picked her up and patted her soft white fur and wondered into the dining room where my mum was watching me but still talking on the phone.

"Hang on Tay." Mum said putting the phone on hold. "What's wrong Hun?"

"Mum, Leaf is moving with us right?" I continued patting her as she purred.

"You'll have to ask your father." Then she put the phone back to her ear. "South Park? How far away is that?"

South Park… Oh yeah!

Leaf jumped out of my arms and I reached for the camp permission slip and put it in front of Mum.

She glanced down at it and I stumbled down the hallway to my bedroom, I passed the guest room where there were heaps of empty boxes and Mum had moved boxes of her things into. I guess I should start packing? Considering my parents are getting divorced, I think I'm taking this pretty well.

I walked down to my room with a few empty boxes I took from the guest room and then I started sorting through clothes I wanted to keep and clothes I don't even wear anymore.

There was a little knock at the door then Mum walked in, she smiled at the sight of me actually packing for myself.

"You want to go to camp?" She asked holding the slip in front of her.

"Yeah, please." I stopped concentrating on my clothes for a minute, "It would really take my mind off things."

"Hiking? Rock climbing?" She looked confused, "I thought you hated this kind of stuff."

I cringed. Rock climbing?!

"Uh no I love all those fin activities." I lied, I think she could tell.

"Oh. Did you know it was with a school from South Park?"

I nodded, "Yeah that's why I remembered to give you the form because you said something about South Park to Aunt Taylor."

"Well, your Aunt just moved into a house in South Park and she offered us room there while I work ou this divorce and things, like where Leaf will be going." She said taking a seat on my bed.

"And when we can buy our own house in Denver?" I asked.

"Well, since we will have to live with Aunt Taylor for a while, you'll have to attend the school there in South Park." She glanced at the ground, "And then when I can, we will move into our new house in South Park."

Silence fell. I picked up the daisy chain and it had already started wilting.

"Come down when you're ready for dinner." She walked out.

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