Chapter One: Preparing to Leave and Mushy Parents

It was 6:30 Saturday morning when my alarm clock woke me up. I slung my arm around to my bedside table to hit the snooze button, but just ended up knocking it off the table where it continued to ring.

Since I had no choice but to get up now, I put the alarm clock back on the table and headed to my bathroom to take a long, soothing shower.

On my way I accidentally stepped on something small and sharp. I let out a yelp and held my foot for a minute until it stopped hurting so much. I leaned down to see what it was exactly that I stepped on, and found out it was a tiny wooden skull.

I had got it from my best friend, Matthew Duncan Evans, but everyone called him Matty. He had shaggy brown hair, beautiful teal eyes, and an ear piercing last time I saw him (which was when I was 8). I never knew why guys got those anyways, I mean, my dad even got one when he was 12 and still wears it. Yeah, it kinda freaks me out a bit. Anyways, back to Matty. We were best friends, but in third grade he had to move. He was also beast at guitar because he started playing when he was only three, and had the most amazing voice I had ever heard. He had written tidbits of songs, six or seven stanzas at the most, and played them to me. It was something I'd never forget. Then, when his family was about to leave, he gave me the skull and said it was the first thing he had ever carved, and he did it especially for me. To be honest, I always had a little crush on him. Not that I would ever tell him that, but sometimes I just wish he was here when I got lonely, sad, or just need somebody to talk to. I would always turn to him. Now I only have my dog. Yeah, kinda disappointing. The worst part? He moved all the way to the east coast of Canada, when I'm still stuck here in Vancouver.

The good thing is that I still have the skull to remember him by, which I completely forgot about until I stepped on it.

I smiled down at the skull and started to reminisce about all the times we spent together and all the memories we had until I remembered I still had to take a shower. I went into the bathroom and set the skull on the counter while I undressed and stepped into the shower.

Once I finished my shower I changed into my Hollister faded ripped skinnies, my blue and lime green plaid American Eagle three quarter length polo, and blue Aeropostale flip flops. I went back in my room to check the time. 7:24. Plenty of time.

I went down the steps, skipping two at a time, and made my way to the kitchen. I smiled at my parents as my mom was making breakfast, and my dad was drinking coffee while they were making small talk. My dad had really white skin, blue eyes, and light brown hair with a blondish tint to it. My mom, on the other had, had deep tan skin, mocha colored hair, and blue eyes with gold in the middle that could be green at times(I get my deep brown eyes from my grandma). They looked completely different. Not the same in the slightest. Except for the blue eyes, sorta. I always wondered how they fell in love with them being so different and all...

"Morning Mom, Morning Daddy," I said as I went over to give my father a hug. "Something smells good." I commented as my mom set down a plate of pancakes for me, topped with strawberries and powdered sugar. My favorite. "Thanks mom," I said right before I started wolfing down my food.

"Whoa there sweetie, no need to inhale it. I swear, some of that food is gonna stick to you one of these days," my dad chuckled as he watched me eat my pancakes.

But he's right. I always eat a lot, but never gain any weight. I mean, I'm sixteen and only 113 pounds. I try to eat healthy, but most of the time I just end up pigging out. I guess I just have a high metabolism or whatever. Go figure.

"Oh, Tyler, relax," Mom said as she put the pan in the sink, "She's probably just too excited."

That was also true. Today, I was going to Brentwood College School for my 10th grade year. It was a co-ed boarding school, and Matty and I have been dreaming about going there since we were five, but then he moved. I wonder if he still thinks about going there sometimes. I doubt it. I mean, it's been 8 years since we last talked. Nah, he defiantly doesn't remember. Anyways, it was an amazing place; huge dorms, nice campus, awesome lounge, AP classes, and there's also a lake right next to it with a beach and everything. Now I'm finally going.

"Hey mom, what time do we have to leave to go meet the bus," I asked as I finished my pancakes at a normal rate.

"Umm...in about 45 minutes. I suggest you hurry up and double check and make sure you have everything," she said as she smiled at me and twiddled her wedding ring. She always did that.

"Gotcha," I said as I bounded up the stairs, way too excited.

I went up to my room, which was now pretty much empty. I took all the pictures off my wall, the bedding off my bed, clothes from the closet, and knickknacks all around the room. The only things left were my desk, vanity, dresser, and bed. The only color in the room was the lime green paint on my walls, which looked really out of place at the moment.

I went over to my lime green suit cases (noticing a color theme?) over on my bed to make sure I had everything. Shorts; check. T-shirts; check. Dressy clothes; check. Toothbrush; check. Underwear; check. Jeans; check. Tennis shoes; check. Flip flops; check. School supplies; check. Sports cap; check. Laptop; check. Bedding; check. Other decorations for my room; check. Shampoo and conditioner; check. iPod charger; check.

Once I was done with checking all three of my bags, I went over to make sure I had everything in my purse. Perfume; check. Make up; check. iPod Touch; check. Grey Aviators; check. Cell phone; check. Deodorant; check. Money; check. Pictures of my friends and family; check.

I checked everything off my list...but I still felt like something was missing.

I ran into my bathroom and frantically looked for the small object that meant so much to me. I smiled when I saw it on the counter, and picked up the tiny object in my hand. I went back in my room and put the fragile object in my purse.

I ran to the edge of the steps super fast because I only had ten minutes until we had to leave.

"Dad," I yelled, "Can you come help me bring my bags down. They're kind of heavy and I don't have that much time."

"Sure thing, Sweetheart," my dad said as he got out of his chair in the living room and started for the stairs.

I ran back to my room, zipped up my bags, and set them by my door right as my dad got there.

"Whoa Honey, we're not in that much of a hurry. Slow down," my dad chuckled as he grabbed all three of my suit cases and walked down the hallway. My dad's pretty strong for his age. He grew up with a brother four years older than him and worked out a lot as a teen and in college. I guess he never really lost his muscle.

I grabbed my purse and took one last look around my room, and that's when it hit me. I'm not coming back here for a year. A whole year. I let out a shaky sigh and tried to shake off my nerves.

"Sweetie, come on! We're gonna be late," my mom yelled from the bottom of the steps.

"Coming," I said as I took one last look around the room, then made a dash for the stairs. I scampered down the steps and got into the back seat of our red 2008 Shelby Mustang GT500 with two white stripes down the middle.

"I still cant believe you're leaving for a whole year," my mom said as my dad pulled out of the driveway.

"It's not like it's forever, mom. I'll be back before you know it, and you can call me any time from 4 to 10," I said as I gave my mom a warm smile which she quickly returned.

"I know but I wont get to see you everyday and tell you how much I love you and-" she started, but was cut off by my dad.

"Paige, I think you should stop talking about how much she means to you before you start crying uncontrollably and I wont be able to concentrate on the road," my dad chortled as he grabbed my moms hand.

She instantly glared at her husband. "Well excuse me for loving my only child and being sad that she's leaving. Goodness, do you not have a heart," my mom scoffed as she continued to glare at him.

"Now, if I didn't have a heart I wouldn't have married you, now would I," my father said as he pulled my moms hand to his mouth and gave it a soft kiss while my mother just giggled like a little school girl.

BARF. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, but when my dad starts to get mushy that's when I draw the line.

"Can you two please save the love fest until after I'm gone," I practically begged as my parents just laughed and continued to drive down the road.

Well this was my first fanfic sooo...what did ya think? Good? Bad? Amazing? Boring? Tell me in a review. I know I'm probably not that good, but this is my first time writing a story. Lame excuse, I know. And believe it or not, I got this idea from a dream and just started typing..except this came out wayyy different than my dream. I'll try to update soon, but my parents don't even know I have this account so it might be kinda hard. Well I guess that's it. Flames are accepted since I'm a beginner. Later :)

Love, xXduncanxloverXx