"Iris, do you want anything?" We were parked outside of a local convenient store to stop for food and bathrooms.

"No," I replied in a tone that sounded cold, even to my own ears.

My dad sighed tiredly.

"Fine. We'll be right back." So he and my younger brother Spencer went on in to the shop while I sat bitterly waiting inside of our crammed Saturn. Crammed with all of my things, and Dad's, and Spencer's. Because you're moving… the little voice in my head whispered. I mentally growled at it.

"Not moving. Just… vacationing," I muttered.

Permanently.

No. Comment.

I leaned my head back against the seat, closing my eyes and trying to remember a place where it was always sunny. Warm and beautiful. We were just now entering Washington, and already things were too cold and wet. Too green.

"I miss California…" I moaned to myself. San Diego to be exact. The sunlit beaches had grown to be my home away from home, and now I was giving that all up to move to Washington. Not that it was my choice. My dad was offered a new job, a better paying job. I didn't really blame him for accepting, because I knew how hard it was for him to support a family after my mom had died. That was almost two years ago now, but it still made me wince to think of her. She'd been diagnosed with breast cancer about six months before she'd passed on.

Melanie Hartley. It was such a beautiful name, and it fit her well. I'd always hoped to grow up to be just like my mom. Perfect inside and out, my dad would always say, and she'd smile that smile that I missed so much. I'd inherited her large, colorful eyes, a well-blended mix of blue, green, and gray.

"Kind of like the ocean," I thought ruefully. I opened up the travel mirror attached to the sunshade, just to take a look at what was left of my mother. I saw her high cheekbones, small nose, and vibrant eyes staring back, but my father's dark brown hair and smooth, tan skin. I suppose I was rather pretty for a girl my age, with a relatively nice body, (short and thin with a minimal amount of curves, if you're into that,) but I never had a real boyfriend back in California. Not that I hadn't been asked, but I guess that I don't really like feeling attached to people. Just in case they decide to leave me. But I suppose this time it's backwards. I'm leaving California, and all the things I loved. Not counting Dad, Spencer, and my possessions, that is.

I glanced up out the window to see my father and brother exiting the store with armfuls of snacks and drinks. Dad opened the driver's door and took a seat, throwing me a water bottle. I allowed myself a brief smile, then returned back to sulking mode. Grabbing my iPod from my purse at my feet, I plugged into a playlist full of mind numbing music, and settled down to a car ride of silence.

---------------------

PLEASE REVIEW! I've had a ton of people add me to their author alert list etc, but it'd be really nice to get some feedback!

PLEASE REVIEW!