MIRANDA'S POV
"Lizzie I can't believe you're gonna do this!" I said to Lizzie.
"I know, neither can I, but Isabella looked really serious about this and I have to know what she's on a about." Lizzie answered. The bell had just gone for the end of school and I saw Isabella waiting at the gates for Lizzie. I knew this was some kind of trick to get Lizzie into trouble, but she wanted to do it.
"Okay then, well we'll wait here while you talk to her." Gordo said.
"No, it's fine. You guys go ahead of me. I'll catch up. See you." She said. And I watched her walk up to Isabella.
"Come on." Gordo said as he tugged onto my shirt.
"No, I want to see what happens. Let's go behind that bush." I told Gordo as I walked quickly towards it. I watched the Isabella talking for a long time, and Lizzie was right, she did look serious. Then I saw Lizzie's facial expressions and it was hard to describe. She looked very taken aback and then began shaking her head constantly.
LIZZIE'S POV
"No Way! Please tell me that you're not going to believe that!" Miranda insisted after I told her what Isabella had told me. "I mean, as if!"
"Come on Miranda! It could be true; maybe not everything about Isabella is horrible." Gordo said. "What do you think Lizzie?"
"I-I don't know what to believe. I mean, you're right Gordo; it can be possible but...if it's told by Isabella it's hard to believe. You know what I mean?" I asked my two best friends and they nodded at me slowly.
I had finally reached home and said goodbye to Miranda and Gordo. I really needed to think about things right now and clear my head. I walked inside, and saw Isabella watching TV. She turned around and sighed.
"You still don't believe me, do you?" She asked. I just stood there, not knowing what to say and she sighed again. "Fine, don't." She said as she fixed her eyes back on the TV.
It had been two horrible weeks since the news Isabella had told me and I had decided not to believe it since my parents said nothing about it at all. In fact, they hardly said anything to each other anymore, except when it was necessary. Then, I felt a sick feeling at the pit of my stomach and thought maybe, what Isabella had said was real. I also told Miranda and Gordo that I wasn't going to believe it, but now, I wasn't too sure.
One night, while we were all having dinner, my dad was the first to talk.
"Hey kids, um, your mother and I have something very important we have to tell you." He said very seriously.
"What is it?" Matt asked with a mouthful of mashed potato.
"What you got to understand is, no matter what happens, we will always love all of you. Equally." My mom quickly added. "And what ever decision we make, is for the best, okay?"
We all nodded at her, looking completely lost. I began to feel sick as the thing I had been worrying about for weeks, was probably about to come true. I looked over at Isabella and she nodded at me, for some strange reason.
"Recently your father and I have been having...difficulties getting along and we are finding it hard to agree with certain things. And...um...with Lizzie and Isabella not being able to get along, it's made things a little harder for us. W-we just don't feel the same way about each other like we did in the past. So, uh, we have come to the conclusion that maybe living in apart would be for the best..." Jo slowly faded as she saw the expressions on her kids' faces.
"You mean, you're going to divorce?" Matt shrieked, spraying bits of steak from his mouth.
"Well not exactly Matt. We are going to...separate." Sam said while poking his fork into his cold dinner. I choked on my orange juice and started coughing continuously.
"Isn't that the same thing?" Matt asked again.
"No, no, no. It's not the same thing Matt. Divorce is not being married to each other anymore and not being involved with each other. Separating is just...living in different houses or apart. Your mother and I are still going to be married and see each other." Same explained as simply as he possible could.
"Does this mean I'm gonna have to change schools and leave my best friends behind?" I asked all of a sudden. Everyone's eyes turned on me and there was a moment's silence.
"No sweetie, of course not. Well, it does depend on which of us is going to take you where we are going to live." Jo said.
"But I don't want to leave Miranda and Gordo Mom, I'm happy where I am, I don't wanna move. And I'm happy when you guys are together! You guys separating is like...like a nightmare; I won't be able cope without you both! We have to stay here! We have to!" I demanded.
"I'm so sorry honey, but that's not an option. We've already decided that your mother is staying here and I'll be moving some where in New York." My dad said.
"New York? B-but that's like half an hour flight from here Dad! Can't you find some where to live in this town, somewhere that's closer to school? There's no way I'm moving to New York!" I insisted. I felt like bursting out crying but I tried to hold myself together.
"There's no way I'm moving to New York either! I have my boyfriend here and we are seriously thinking about our lives together! Plus, Miss Ungermyer said I could look to her for a college recommendation! I can't just throw away that opportunity, all the teachers think I have a really good chance of getting into Harvard!" Isabella said bossily. I rolled my eyes at her and knew that I had no chance of winning against who was going to stay here. She definitely was already.
"And Mom, Melina said that-" Matt began.
"Please! I know that this is going to be a hard for all of you, but we are going to have to make a decision no matter what, okay? Let's just not worry about it too much for now; we still have a little while to go." Jo said, looking rather stressed out.
"But can I just say one thing?" I asked desperately. "Dad, why do you have to find a place in New York? I mean, there must be a place you can find here that's equally as nice." I said, forcing myself to try and make my Dad stay here.
"Yeah I know Lizzie, but that's not the thing. The thing is, I've just gotten a job offer there. It's going to be fantastic! I'm going to be earning a lot of money! My office is at the very top floor with a magnificent view! And our home could be a dream home since I'll be earning a lot of money." My dad answered, sounding kind of excited.
"But dad, that's not the point! I may not be doing that well at school, but I have the best of friends here, there's no way I can leave them! I don't care if we have a dream home or if we are rich, I just wanna stay here with Miranda and Gordo!" I said impatiently. I was furious at him that he didn't tell us sooner about his job offer.
"Going to Harvard is way more important than best friends!" Isabella shouted over the top of us. I glared at her and thought she would take every opportunity it took for her to stay here, and have our mom all to herself. "This is my career we are talking about, hello!"
"All you ever talk about is yourself, and you never care about anybody except yourself!" I yelled at her. I could feel that there was another fight coming up and it was going to make things a lot worse.
"Isabella, Lizzie!" My mom almost screamed. We stopped yelling at each other, and stared at our mother. "This is what I'm talking about you two! About you guys fighting all the time. Can't you kids sort things out and learn how to get along? You are sisters after all. Lizzie, you can always see Gordo and Miranda in the holidays and then maybe they can fly over and see you too. You can always visit as well you know." She added.
"This is what I'm talking about! You are always on Isabella's side and defending her! Look at what you're doing now! You're telling me to go with dad so you'll get rid of me! How do you think that makes me feel? It's like Matt and I never existed since Isabella came! It's so unfair!" I shouted. "What has Isabella got that we haven't?" I asked with tears pouring down my face. My mom just stared back at me, looking shocked. I knew I was going to get into deep trouble after, but I didn't care. Nothing mattered much to me anymore, except that Mom and dad stayed together.
I couldn't believe that for once, Isabella was serious and was telling the truth about our parents separating. I just felt so empty and worn out.
"Uh, Lizzie. Why don't you and Isabella go upstairs and sort things out between yourselves. Your father and I have some things we need to talk about. Matt, you go too please." Jo said, looking at all of us seriously.
"See? And every time I tell you this you try to change the subject and sneak your way out of it! Well it's not going to happen this time mom! I've had enough of this and I'm sick of being treated this way!" I said, wiping the beads of tears that were running slowly down my face.
"LIZZIE!" She yelled, looking as though she was going to explode. "Please! Just do as you're told!"
Matt cleared his throat loudly and said, "Mom, if Isabella and Lizzie can get along from now on, will you and dad stay together?" Matt asked politely.
"We'll see how things go Matt. But it certainly will sort out a lot of things, okay?" My mom answered. Matt nodded and looked at me.
I sighed loudly with anger and stormed upstairs with Isabella and Matt following me. Isabella went and sat on her bed while I stood at the doorway. There was no way I was going into her room.
"So?" I asked her.
"So...what?" She looked at me as though I was stupid.
"So what are we gonna do about mom and dad? Who's gonna go with who?"
"We've already sorted that out. I'm staying here with Mom and you're moving with dad." Isabella said without making eye contact.
"WHAT? That is so unfair! Who said you could choose?" I asked angrily.
"Hey! What about me, where am I gonna go?" Matt said sounding offended.
"Go away Matt!" Isabella requested. "No! You can't tell me what to do! I'm going where ever Lizzie's going!" Matt said.
"Good! That's sorted then." Isabella said simply while inspecting her perfectly manicured nails.
"Wait, shouldn't we figure out how we are gonna keep mom and dad together? Isn't that the most important thing?"