"Goodbye, San Diego." Celeste whispered.
"We'll miss you." Angie added.
Our mother squeezed my shoulders lightly. Her dark brown hair blew every which way in the wind, covering her face with long strands of it. "Your turn, Ana."
I just stared.
My two sisters, Angeline fifteen and Celeste three, my mother Elaine, and I have been moving on and off since before Celeste was born. Dad hated staying in one place for too long. San Diego seemed like it would be 'it' for us.
It's off to Vancouver now.
"Lucy…? Luciana."
I frowned. Not my whole first name, please. How long had she been calling me? "I have to go get my bag." I left my mother's arms and she released me from the warmth of her embrace.
Ever since my dad, Anton Marandici, died two years ago visiting a construction site that his architectural firm was building, Mom never lets us stay more than eight months in a residence.
I climbed the stairs of our former house – a three bedroom town house – and went straight up to my room…er…old room. The solidarity of it had been comforting at first. But at the moment it made me want to be with my family. Shivering, I grabbed my messenger bag and fled the desolation.
In our minivan, Celeste played with her teddy bear in the back seat while Angeline listened to music. Elaine hummed show tunes to a Broadway soundtrack CD, off key. I sighed and shoved my earphones into my ears.
"Ew," Angelina said, "It's starting to rain."
"The rain is pretty." Celeste told her in a firm voice. "Look, Lulu! It's pretty isn't it?"
I looked out of the window. Drops of nature's tears fell leisurely. "Yeah, Celeste. It's absolutely stunning. I wish we could run in it."
"You're the complete opposite of your cousin," Mom chuckled.
The rest of the ride to Vancouver was ridden in silence. After a few hours, Celeste whined about being hungry. My mother was an advocate for fast food restaurants but, since I protested thoroughly, she stopped at a local diner. It astounded me how Mom managed to act so grown up and then so adolescent at the same time. The movers proceeded to our new house without us. While we were still in California, we stopped at a few places to gather supplies for the long trip.
We got back in the car again and I began sketching. Drawing became my pastime since I was eleven. Elaine said my drawings were fit to be hanging beside the Mona Lisa. The drawing in my lap was the only one which made me believe her.
His eyes were so exotic, even in black, white, and gray, that they sent a shiver through me. The planes and lines of his face made sharp, clean cuts into striking cheekbones, a straight nose, and strangely full lips. He looked like the man my father had been.
I caught Mom's eyes darting across my sketch book. She grinned. "Hey, who's he? He looks pretty hot."
Angie groaned. "Mom, you're too old to say that guys are hot. Lucy, I hope this guy isn't another one for your collection. All you do is fawn over the pictures–"
"Shut up, Angeline."
My sister loved her full name so that did nothing for her. "I mean, they're gorgeous and all but he's not real. That's not healthy. You've got to get back in the dating game. Every place we've been guys adore you and you just snub them–"
"Leave my Lulu alone, Angie." Celeste said. Her voice made me smile. She sounded as if she were scolding her older sister. "I don't want any cootie head boys to steal her. Right, Mommy?"
Mom laughed, "Of course, Celeste. No cootie headed boys will still any of my girls."
My nose wrinkled. Not if Angeline can help it, I thought. My eyes went back down to my drawing
I sighed. Vancouver would solve everything…
Reviews would be like rain and earphones for crappy Broadway singing. *shy smile* Can I have some? Please and thanks.