Moving to Elizabethtown was the most exciting and scariest thing I've experienced. We packed the last of our belongings and headed off to Elizabethtown. Nearly a four-hour drive there, and it was our last trip there. We would stay in Elizabethtown for good. I had already seen our new home when we made the first trip there. A two-bathroom, four-bedroom, tan two-story home. No more small apartment, sharing a room with a younger half-sister, Adelyn. 

I would finally get my room and no more sharing with Addy or the rest of my family. My parents had me in their twenties. My Dad is older, and my Mom is younger. My parents broke up after I was born, and then they co-parented.  It gave me no choice but always to share a room with a family member. He abandoned me when I was young. I haven't seen him in years nor contacted him. Now he lives in my hometown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After my parents broke up, a few years later, my Mom met Victor, my Stepdad. They then got married and had Adelyn. My relationship with Victor has always been rocky.  

We finally reached our new home. When we parked, I jumped out of the car and stretched my skinny arms and legs. I started to unpack my stuff. It was nearly five, and it would be getting dark soon. I brought all of my belongings that were now into boxes in my room and set them in the corner. I focused on getting the main things unpacked, clothes, bedding, and toiletries that way  I could get ready for tomorrow. 

I finally got in the shower while the rest of my family was downstairs still unpacking. Once out of the shower, I drifted off to sleep. 

I woke up to someone digging through my drawers. I felt something hit me in the back of my head. I lifted my head and saw a pair of my jeans and one of my shirts lying on the bed beside me. "Get up, Kade. We're leaving in 30 minutes." She said. "Is Victor coming?" I asked. "No, just us three." She said, then walked out of my room. 

I got up and got dressed in the clothes my Mom threw at me. I went downstairs, and we left. I still had no idea where we were going. We got in the car, and I sat in the passenger seat while Adelyn was last in the back left of the car. "Where are we going?" I asked. "Walmart. Aunt Marilyn gave us money to shop there again." She spoke. 

The way to Walmart was silent. Mom only talked once, which was a task if we were hungry. I wasn't, but Adelyn wanted a Happy Meal, and Mom got her one. We waited in the parking lot for a little bit for Adelyn to finish eating. We walked out of Walmart with new clothes, shoes, and stuff for the house. 

We got home around 11 o'clock, and it gave us plenty of time to get the house tomorrow for our first day at a new school. I helped Mom unpack the stuff downstairs, and it only took us two hours. Living in a small two-bedroom apartment didn't give us a lot of space to have all the stuff we wanted. Our house looked so empty once we unpacked everything. I started unpacking the rest of my things in my room, and once I was done, It also looked empty. 

We would have to save up to buy more stuff for the house. Mom made dinner before Victor came home from work. I tried to avoid him as much as possible. When he gets home, the first thing he does is take a shower before he does anything. He'll then eat dinner with Mom and Adelyn. We don't eat dinner every day, but when we do, I eat dinner with Mom and Adelyn and finish before they do, so I don't have to make contact with Victor as much. 

After I ate, I walked upstairs and heard Victor walking out of the bathroom and into the kitchen to join Mom and Adelyn. I took another shower and decided to bed much earlier than I usually would. 

I woke up to my yelling my name. "Wake up. It's your first day." She said. I rolled over, and the sun shining through my window blinded my eyes. I quickly hid under the covers. Mom pulled them off me in frustration. Get up, Kade!" She yelled. "Fine!" I rolled out of bed and left my room to go to the bathroom to escape my Mom. 

I got ready for school and joined Adelyn at the table downstairs. She was eating cereal. Mom already has a bowl ready for me. "I'm not hungry," I spoke. "Are you serious? Stop wasting food, Kade." Mom said, taking the bowl from me. I guess I'll eat it again." She said. 

"You know I don't eat this early." Mom gave me a blank look. "Hurry up. Don't miss the bus." "The bus? The bus is for losers, Mom." Adelyn said. "I can't afford to take you both to school every day. Okay, I'll take you both to school for this day." She said. "Yes! Thank you, Mom!" Mom smiled. Adelyn jumped out of her seat and kissed Mom on the cheek. 

Mom drove us to school when they were done eating. Mom dropped Adelyn off first, then me since her school started earlier than mine. I was quiet most of the day. Only talking when asking questions about school work or classes. I ignored all the kids I saw near me. 

Most of them ignored me, pretending I wasn't there. I wanted that. To be invisible. Some kids started at me, and I heard them talking about me. Nothing bad, but good things. When lunch came, I ignored it and went to the library. Mom packed us lunch sometimes when we begged her, but not all the time. Most of the time, we ate school food. It wasn't that bad. I usually ate what tasted the best, so my hunger would go away. 

When I walked into the library. It was a big fancy library they had. Nothing like being back in Pittsburgh. I walked around for a bit. Then I walked across a section where there were just a couple of tables and chairs. There was a girl about my age sitting on one side of the room. I decided I would sit on the opposite side. As soon as I walked through the room, I smelt a light vanilla smell. 

Someone with good self-care. I sat down and pulled out the math homework my new teacher assigned us for homework. It was easy, stuff I learned back in Pittsburgh. I couldn't focus. I could feel the girl staring at me. I looked up and got a better view of her. She was White, a little chubby, with long brown wavy hair, nerd-looking, glasses, wearing comfy clothes even though it was hot outside that day, and nice looking. She looked kind. She had her lunch bag on the table beside her. It was a pink and black flower lunch bag. She was eating a snack while reading a book. 

Something about her seemed different. In a good way, though. She looked so nice. I knew how to do my homework, even though I had trouble with math. I didn't do it. I kept my head down, staring at the wooden, brown table the whole time until the bell rang.

I looked up and stared at her again for a good minute. Was it creepy? Yes, but something about her. I looked back down at the table until the bell rang. I felt relied on. I packed up my stuff in my bag and got up. I glanced at her once again before walking off back to class. She didn't budge. She kept her eyes glued to the book she was reading. 

After school, Mom picked us up, and we told her about our day. I didn't tell her about the girl. I spent all night thinking about her. Was that her vanilla scent I was smelling? What's her name? I wanted to see her again. I hope I will see her again soon. 

Published: April 20, 2023