I sat on my window ledge staring out at the falling snow. Its January here in Hazen , North Dakota but that doesn't make a difference to me. Its always cold here and I absolutely hated it. Even though it was my third winter living in this dreadful state i still wasn't used to it. I miss my warm and sunny North Carolina weather.I have always been a warm sunny day kind of girl but now I've traded in my shorts and tank tops for hoodies and long johns. Funny how times change. I also missed my best friends that I had left behind. I sighed as I took a long sip of my hot chocolate. I wondered if they ever missed me? I hope so, we had all been best friends our entire lives and still would be to this day if my mom hadn't made us move. mom had been writing some guy named Dennis; apparently he was a real estate broker who lived in North Dakota. None of us knew anything about my mom having a secret lover, least of all my dad. Hallie and I were called inside and told the horrible news. At 16, i understood that things didn't always turn out how they were supposed too. Even though our lives were far from perfect, we still had it pretty good. We always had food, we never went without. I had the best life i could ask for: good parents, the best of friends and an amazing sister. I never could have imagined my mom and dad not being together. They were high school sweethearts been together since they were fifteen. It broke my dad's heart to not only lose my sister and me but to lose my mom as well.

I walked across the room and sat on my bed. Its bad that I was in my bedroom bundled up like I was preparing to go outside. I had a tank top on under my long sleeve shirt that was on under my hoodie. I had long johns on under my jeans and I was still freezing. I set my hot cocoa down on my nightstand, as I reached under my bed to pull out a thick binder. I got under the covers and placed my old photo album on my lap. It didn't take long to get lost in my memories. The first picture was of my dad, my sister Hallie and myself. I traced my finger down the picture. My daddy was a handsome man, I may not have seen him in three years but I was sure that hadn't changed. He was always so tall, he seemed to tower over our much shorter frames. He had the biggest smile on his face, as he held each one of us tightly into his side.I knew he was proud of us I smiled at the picture, we were so happy then. I didn't realize the tears were rolling down my face until the bed shifted. I looked up to be met with the warm hazel eyes of my sister Hallie.

"Don't cry Faith, you're almost done with your winter courses. Maybe mom will let you go visit." I wiped my eyes and shook my head. I may be nineteen now but my mom still had an iron hold on me. She knew I had every intention in the world on going back home when I turned eighteen. I knew my dad wouldn't mind. She knew he wouldn't mind so she made me an offer. If I stayed with her, she and Dennis would pay for my entire college education. I probably should have turned her down but school is expensive. I really didn't want to be in that kind of debt, so I agreed. Only three more years to go!

"You and I both know that deal was ironclad. At least when I get down there I will have a job." She wrapped her arms around me causing her hair to fall around my shoulders. Hallie was two years older than me, sometimes I envied her being older-other times I knew I didn't want the responsibility. I looked up at her and managed a smile. I could honestly say that my sister was a beauty, maybe common sometimes but always herself. Her golden blonde hair came down the center of her back and her eyes always glittered. Right now she had on a snug hunter green turtle neck and some jeans. She started to rub my head and I began to relax. It was exactly what I needed to get through and I like to think she knew that.

I flipped to the next page, and a small smile came to my face. It was the last picture we had all taken together. Shannon and Shane were squatted down front, my best friend Autumn was standing in between them, Matt and Jeff stood on both of her sides and Hallie was on Matt's back and I was on Jeff's. It was taken two weeks before we moved, back when everything was perfect.

"Do you miss them Hallie?" She kissed the top of my head and flipped the page to look at the next picture..

"All the time Faith,"I just nodded as a response and continued looking through the album. I stumbled upon a picture of Matt and Hallie. She was looking off into the distance but his eyes were glued on her. It was such a precious photo.

" Look how cute you guys were!" I said with a laugh. I knew she rolled her eyes without looking at her. Everyone always thought her and Matt were a couple; it irritated the hell out of her...now Matt not so much.

"Yeah yeah yeah old buried news Faith,"I shook my head as I flipped to the next page.

"He was crazy about you Half, and you were crazy over him even if youwon't admit it."

"Speaking of crazy..Shannon was a nut. He never sat still." I smiled at the picture.

"Yeah and a little horn dog too! He was always propositioning me." We both laughed. Our whole lives were down there and we shared some amazing memories together. It almost made me sad that I was lying to her, maybe not directly but by omission. Tomorrow after class, I was leaving for North Carolina and no one was going to change that.

a/n: rewrite of an old story! This ones been tugging at me for awhile so I decided to rewrite it! Hope you enjoy and review please