A/N: Here's chapter 2 of Déjà Vu.
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Bryce and Rae were now out on the balcony and Bryce asked, "So, do you take voice lessons?" "Nope, I'm more of a basketball person," Rae said, "But it sounds like you do a lot of singing." "I'm more into scholastics," Bryce said, "But you sounded really good." "Thanks, same to you," Rae complimented.
The two sighed and looked up at the sky as people inside the lounge started the countdown, "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Bryce and Rae looked up at the fireworks and then at each other. The space between their faces was decreasing by the second and before the gap closed, Rae said, "Well, I guess I better go wish my parents a happy new year." "Uh, yeah, same," Bryce said awkwardly. "Hey, I-I'll call you tomorrow," he said quickly. "Sure," Rae said. "Here, put your number in," Bryce said handing her his cell as she did likewise. They entered their numbers and snapped pictures before handing them back.
They walked back into the lounge together and saw most of the people had cleared out. Rae saw her dad looking for her, and Bryce saw his mom looking for him.
Suddenly, Troy and Gabi's eyes locked and widened. Rae and Bryce had seen this and were very confused.
"Do you think our parents already know each other?" Bryce asked.
"I don't know, but from the looks of it, yes," Rae asked.
Both teens watched as their parents crossed the room to get a closer look at each other.
When the adults were closer, Rae and Bryce walked over to their parents. "Uh, dad, this is my new friend, Bryce Montez-Armando," Rae introduced.
Troy was silent.
"And mom, this is my new friend Rae Bolton," Bryce said.
Gabi was silent as well.
Out of nowhere, Gabi said, "Thanks for waiting for me Troy." With that, she put her arm around her son's shoulders and walked away.
Rae, looking very confused, asked, "Dad, what did she mean?" "It's nothing of your concern Rae. C'mon, your mom wants you back in the suite," Troy said walking out of the lounge. Rae followed, still curious.
The next day, Troy ushered his wife and daughter out of the lodge earlier than planned, not wanting to have another encounter with Gabi.
He'd never told anyone about her, not even his own wife.
On the way to the airport, Rae called Bryce.
"Hey," Bryce said, picking up the call. "Hey, last night was kind of weird," Rae said. "You can say that again. Mom was acting all weird after she brought me back to the suite. She was all quiet and she's usually very talkative," Bryce said. "Dad made us leave early this morning, and I don't know why," Rae said.
"So that's why I couldn't find you," Bryce muttered. "Y-you were looking for me?" Rae asked.
She could practically hear him thinking, 'Did I just say that into the phone?'
"Uh, you know, just to, uh, talk and… stuff," Bryce said, mentally smacking himself.
"Oh, so, what do you think your mom meant last night? You know, the whole, 'Thanks for waiting for me Troy,' thing. She said it sarcastically, so something has to be up with them," Rae said. "Yeah, but what could it be?" Bryce asked rhetorically.
Rae sighed and said, "I'm boarding now. I'll call when we land." "Ok, talk to you later," Bryce said. "Bye." Rae flipped her phone closed and boarded the plane back to Albuquerque with her parents.
"Dad, do you know Bryce's mom?" Rae asked.
The Bolton's were eating dinner and Troy stopped, his fork halfway to his mouth. He set it down and said, "No."
"Are you sure? 'Cause it seemed like it. You know, how she knew your name and how she was talking to you," Rae asked taking another bite of her dinner.
"Troy, what is Reyna talking about?" Rachelle asked. "I haven't a clue," Troy lied.
"Dad, that's not true. You had to know her! She knew your name! She had to recognize you from somewhere!" Rae stormed, pounding her fist on the table.
"Troy, what is she talking about?" Rachelle repeated. Troy sighed and said, "I can't tell you."
"Why can't you Troy?" Rachelle asked. "I just can't," Troy said getting up from the table.
He walked away and Rae and Rachelle could hear a door slam. Rachelle sighed and cleared the dishes.
Meanwhile in Trenton, New Jersey…
When Bryce and his mom and dad got home, he noticed that there was a lot of furniture gone.
He dashed up to his room and saw that all of his posters had been taken down, his closet had been emptied, and one of his two dressers was gone, as was his desk, all that had been on it, and his bookshelf and books.
One thought entered his mind, but he shook it from his head. 'She wouldn't. She promised,' Bryce thought.
Bryce was sitting on his bed, surfing the web on his laptop when his mom called him downstairs.
"Yeah?" Bryce asked as he sat down on the living room couch beside his dad.
"Bryce, we're moving," Gabi said.
"MOVING? WHAT?" Bryce shouted.
"It's for my job Bryce. I don't have a choice," Gabi said.
"Mom, we've moved five times in the last three years, moving here to NJ included. You promised that we were staying here! I can't believe you! You always tell me to never break a promise, and then you go against your own rule! I HATE YOU!" Bryce shouted.
"Bryson Lorenzo Montez-Armando, you will not speak to your mother that way!" Carlos shouted at his son. "But she promised dad! She promised!" Bryce shouted before running up to his room and slamming his door shut.
He collapsed on his bed and buried his face in his pillow. He couldn't believe it. His whole life had been moving.
Bryce was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was two years old, and had made friends with a boy named Braun Danforth, when his family moved to Westchester, New York. Bryce had just turned five, and had only just made his first real friend, when his mom said they were moving again. This time it was to Columbus, Ohio. Bryce made friends there, but only three months later, his family moved to Oregon. Bryce and his parents lived in Oregon for three years.
It gave him hope that he had finally found a real hometown, but he was wrong.
Only a few weeks after his eighth birthday, Bryce moved to Georgia. Six months later, it was Kansas. A year and half after that, it was back to Westchester. Bryce and his family lived in Westchester for two years, and then it was off to Sacramento. Two months later, San Francisco. Ten months later, South Carolina. One year later, it was Montana. Six months later, Colorado, and one month later, New Jersey.
'I wonder where we're headed now…' was the last thing in Bryce's head before he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Bryce woke up to the smell of his mom's famous chocolate chip pancakes.
He stumbled out of bed in plaid flannel pajama pants and a white under shirt.
He sat down on a bar stool at the kitchen bar next to his dad as his mom put a plate of pancakes in front of him along with a glass of orange juice.
"When're we heading out?" Bryce asked.
"Three days," Gabi answered.
Bryce finished his breakfast in silence, got dressed, and called Rae.
He needed to talk to someone since all of his in town friends were on vacation.
"Hey Bryce, what's up?"
"I'm moving," he said sullenly.
"Awesome, a new adventure," Rae said, trying to sound upbeat for him.
"Rae, my whole life has been moving. I've moved more times than I can remember, and my mom promised that we were staying here in New Jersey until I graduated from high school," Bryce explained.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Rae said.
"It's ok. Maybe we'll move somewhere exciting this time like Hawaii or Florida," Bryce sighed.
"Do you know where you're moving?" Rae asked.
"Unfortunately, not. My mom hasn't said, but I know I'm moving in three days, this weekend," Bryce said.
In the background, he heard, "Rae, will you hang up with your boyfriend? I'm dying to hit Yvonne's!"
Bryce could practically see her blush.
"Shut up Monique! He's not my boyfriend!" Rae shouted.
'I wonder if Rae's talking to Monique Danforth; man, I haven't seen her in a while,' Bryce thought.
"Well hurry up! The mall closes in five hours and I still need to find a pair of gray jeans," Monique ushered.
"I've got to go Bryce. I'll call you later or you call me," Rae said.
"'Kay Rae, talk to you later," Bryce said.
"Bye." Bryce sighed as he closed his phone.
Deciding there was nothing else do on his walk, Bryce went home.
There was a box in the corner of his room was labeled "Bryce's Books." He opened it and pulled out a book, hoping some reading would kill a few hours since he had nothing else to do.
Back in Albuquerque:
"Rae's in love! Rae's in love!" Monique sang.
"Shut it Monique. I'm not in love, and Bryce is only a friend," Rae said pushing her friend.
"Well I bet you have a secret crush on him!" Monique said, regaining her balance while still managing to keep her ten shopping bags on her arms.
"You lose a bet then, 'cause I only like Bryce as a friend," Rae said. "Whatever you say Rae, whatever you say…" Monique shrugged.