Hannah's pov

I stare blankly at her grave. My mother is gone. Tears well up in my eyes again. My best friend, my confident, my mother was gone. Her funeral was a week ago but I still can't seem to except that she's gone.

"Hannah?" My fathers voice penetrates my thoughts. "Darling we need to leave soon."

"Just.... Just give me a minute." I say softly.

"Okay." He kisses my forehead and walks off towards the car parked a short distance away.

I drop down to my knees in front of her grave. Tears roll down my face and fall onto her grave. "I love you, mom. I always will." I cry harder as I picture her smiling at me not two weeks ago. "I'll never forget you." I kiss my fingers and press it to her gravestone that reads:

"Madeline Alaina Hopkins

Loving mother, wife, and daughter.

We will always love you."

I jump up and run into dads waiting arms. I cry my heart out as he holds me tightly. Then we get in the car and drive towards our new life. Away from all the pain and sadness that has surrounded us for the past to weeks.

                          •••

We ride in silence as we are both consumed in our own thoughts. Dads probably thinking about mom. I can tell by the sad smile on his face. Mine are on me. On the new life I'm being plunged into.

My mother was a dancer. Not the exotic kind. She was a ballroom dancer. She would travel around as a privet dance teacher but mostly she was a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars.

I always loved it. She would wear beautiful dresses and high heels. All my life I knew that's what I wanted to do too.

So, three months ago mom helped me apply for the best school in the country. Roth Academy for the Arts. It's a relatively new school opened within the last twenty years. My parents know the founders. My mom shared a dorm with the lady at Juilliard. A month ago I was accepted.

Now I'm moving from California, my home, to a little place right outside of Port St. Joe, Florida. In the middle of junior year. When mom was alive this seemed like a great idea. Now I'm not so sure.

"Dad?" I say hesitantly. "Are you sure we aren't making a mistake? I mean, what if I'm not good enough?" I say apprehensively.

"You'll do fine Hannah. You're an amazing singer and dancer. Just like your mother." There it is. That sad smile again.

I inherited more than just my talents from mom. I also inherited her looks. Her light chocolate skin and mesmerizing brown eyes. I also have the same unruly, black, ringlet curls that she had. Most people would hate the constant reminder of someone that's gone, but I love it. I love that no matter what I will always remember her because I look like her.

On the contrary, I look very little like my dad. He has sea green eyes hidden behind glasses. Bits of gray are mixed in his light hair. The only thing I did get from him is my perfect, clear skin.

My thoughts are forgotten as we reach the airport. Dad and I have to rush through security so that we can reach our gate on time. I sigh in relief as I take my seat in first class. Even though I'm scared of the life ahead of me, I can't wait to leave the old one behind. As the plane takes off I whisper a final goodbye to the only life I have ever known.

•••

"Hannah." My eyes flutter open at the sound of dads voice. "Hannah we are here." He says gently unbuckling my seatbelt.

We landed in Atlanta a little over five hours ago. Granny met us there and we drove to Port St. Joe. I guess we made it to granny's house.

"Just a minute." I mumble turning away from him and dozing off again. Next thing I know I'm being lifted from the car and carried towards the house.

"This was so much easier to do when you were six." Dad mutters. I smile slightly looping my arms around his neck. I fall asleep again and wake up to being laid down on a soft mattress.

"Daddy?" I say still half asleep.

"Yes Hannah?" He replies.

"Thank you." I mumble.

He chuckles. "You're welcome darling."

I kick my shoes off and climb under the blankets. Tomorrow my future here begins. But tonight, I'm going to forget about everything and just sleep.

                         •••

Waking up in granny's house is amazing. Everything smells like vanilla and coffee. I take a deep breath of the comforting smells and sit up in the plush bed. I look around the room.

The room is rather large with big windows on one side giving you a view of the ocean. A window seat runs across the wall under the windows. It's covered in blue and yellow cushions and pillows. The walls are blue with a yellow accent wall across from the windows. The bed is positioned in the center of the yellow wall. It's covered with white sheets and a blue quilt granny made. A white dresser is on the left wall. It has framed pictures of me and dad and mom on it. I smile softly at it.

On the wall to the right is a door leading into the hallway and a white desk. The desk has a vase of white daisies and a yellow lamp on it. 

I take one last look around before pulling myself out of bed and walking over to my suitcase by the door. All of my other belonging were shipped straight to the Academy so I won't be seeing the until I get checked in later today.

Going with the color scheme of the room, I pull out a sky blue sundress and my white sandals. I pull my crazy hair back and head to the bathroom across the hall to shower off. I quickly dress after my shower and brush my teeth before heading downstairs. As a last minute thought, I grab a yellow headband and put in my air, hurrying to breakfast.

Granny and grandpa are ate the table eating cinnamon rolls when I reach the kitchen.

"Grandpa!" I exclaim rushing to hug him. "I haven't seen you in ages!" Grandpa has back problems and was unable to come to moms funeral so I haven't seen him since last summer.

"Careful princess. I'm old." He says jokingly. I smile slightly. "How are you holding up baby?" He asks concern lacing his voice.

"I miss her." I whisper tears stinging my eyes. "I miss her a lot."

He smiles sympathetically. "We all do." He says pulling me close. "It'll get better over time." He promises.

I nod wiping my eyes. "Good morning granny." I say kissing her check. "Where's dad?"

"He went to take a shower." She tells me. "He figured it would be a bit longer before you woke up."

I smile. "You know I would never sleep through breakfast. I'd miss out on the cinnamon rolls!" I exclaim.

Granny chuckles. "Your father would have eaten them all I've I would have let him."

I laugh lightly. Dad loves granny's baking as much as I do. If not more.  I sit down and eat while granny and grandpa update me on what they've been doing. Apparently grandpas started a poker night for their elderly friends.

"Are you serious?" I ask in disbelief.

"Absolutely." Grandpa thumps his cane on the floor for effect.

"Your grandpa has had some pretty good competition from the dean of that school you are going to attend. What's his name dear?" Granny asks turning towards grandpa. "That's right. His name is Samuel Roth." Granny says answering her own question. "He used to teach at Juilliard. Can you believe that? A former Juilliard professor gambling with a bunch of fellow old men." She giggles. "He's the only one who can beat your grandpa."

I smile in amusement as granny continues her one-sided conversation. If mom were here she'd probably joke about grandpas gambling habits. I blink away the tears.

"Umm I'm going to find dad." I say interrupting granny's story and leaving the table.

I run into him on the stairs and wrap my arms around his waist. He seems surprised but hugs me back.

"I don't think I can do this." I whisper.

"What?" He asks. "The school? I told you, you'll be amazing."

"No." I interrupt him. "I can't live without mom. I need her." I sob.

"Look at me." Dad says gently tilting my head up to look at him. I stare into his green eyes. The same ones mom fell in love with. "Your mother was strong. Way stronger than I could ever hope to be. And you inherited that from her. I've seen it. You can do this. Remember what she told you?" He asks softly.

"Never give up." I reply.

"That's right." He smiles. "We both miss her now and we probably always will. But it will get better." He kisses the top of my head. "Go get cleaned up so we can head to your new school." He tells me.

I nod and hurry off to wash my face and apply a little bit of make up. Once I was ready, me and dad got in the car and drove to the school. It was about a thirty minute drive from granny and grandpas house. It's literally in the middle of now where. We drive through a clump of trees and what I see on the other side leaves me speechless.

The gravel drive leads to a large Victorian mansion. Two identical mansions are situated back a bit on the left and right of the main building. In front of the building is the circular drive bordered by flowers. A lush green lawn rolls out from that. Behind the mansions several other buildings.

We park in the driveway and head towards the daunting mansion. I glance at dad apprehensively as we walk up the sweeping steps to the main building. We cross the porch to the large front doors. Dad gives me a quick smile and opens the door.

•••

Hey guys!

Here's chapter one! I know it's sad but I promise it gets better. Please comment what you think.

Also for those of you who have read Teenage Dream, let me know if there are any characters from it that you want to see again in this book. I can't write what you want unless you tell me. :)

I hope you enjoy the story!

Mara :)