Growing up I always heard the 'big people' say change was inevitable. I always thought they didn't know what they were talking about, after all, if everyone was happy, why did things need to change, couldn't it just stay perfect forever? But of course, you grow up and you find out that life isn't like that, most especially when you lose someone. And now it was happening again. Someone was leaving me again.

Joy and I went over to see Liam after school. Joy as usual was narrating how her latest storybook mafia don billionaire had bought his girlfriend an island. But all talking stopped as our legs entered the Smith's driveway.

The Smith's had always been known for their house's homely vibe, manicured lawn, and the welcoming smell of food in the kitchen. But right now it felt like a hurricane had swept through it. Joy was already ahead, maneuvering her way across the cardboard boxes that filled the lawn, probably going to give Liam the beating of his life. And me, well I just moved at snail's pace, half angry, half sad, and completely shocked. I...

"Hey! Watch it, kid"

"Oh. I am so sorry. I didn't see you there" I apologized. I was lost in my thoughts again.

The man just snarled and went back to moving a couch with his co-worker.

By the time I reached Liam's room, I heard the argument before I saw it.

"Why the fuck didn't you tell us you were moving to New York!?" Joy screamed, or at least tried to.

"I-I didn't mean to."

I had reached the room by now and took a step in, instantly noticing how bare and plain it was, posters of horror movies and rock bands so ancient, I doubt even my dad knew about, framed pictures, math trophies, endless calculus textbooks, all gone. 

"So I guess you just forgot to tell your best friends that you were moving?" All eyes turned to me now. Silent tears rolled down Joy's eyes and Liam couldn't even look up to face us.

"I was hoping you guys would be happy and understand."

I snapped "Happy? It's not about being happy, it's about the fact that our 'best friend' didn't tell us he was moving all the way to freakin New York!"

Joy's hand traced over memories, now stuffed inside boxes. "Did you ever even plan on telling us? If we didn't plan on surprising you, would you have just upped and left?"

Liam turned to Joy helplessly. We could see he was sorry, but that didn't matter right now, we had been betrayed. "I am so sorry you had to find out like this. But I would have told you, I don't leave until next week, so I would have told you guys." Tears started to roll down his eyes " Please I am begging you guys to believe me!"

"You better not be lying to us, you dumb redhead" I finally spoke. If there was something both I and Liam shared, it was the inability to say goodbye, so I knew he would delay in telling us but never leave.

I pulled a silent Joy to sit on the bed, the only thing left in the room.

28, 29, 30

"Why?"

Joy staying quiet for 30 whole seconds, a new record.

"My dad was transferred to their New York. Better pay and stuff. And in my defense, I only found out last week."

I might have been smiling trying to make everyone friends again, but I secretly hated it. I just simply didn't want him to leave.

"So, if it's all settled and there's no way to change your parents mind, there's nothing we can do about it. But ... we can't let you leave on a bad note" I chipped in trying to stay positive.

"Let's go to our spot!" Joy exclaimed.

"If not for your future CEO billionaire husband. Am sure you would have proposed to ice cream already!" Liam added.

"No you got it wrong, he'll propose with ice cream." I chimed. Any opportunity to tease Joy was never wasted.

"Yeah, I don't even need a diamond ring. Just a lifetime promise of faithfulness and ice cream."

We all laughed and gathered our stuff ready to go our spot.

"But you'll stay in touch right?" I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"And call all the time and never ever ever forget us right?" Joy said.

"Of course, it's called best friends forever for a reason you know." Liam responded, looking as optimistic and genuine as ever.

And we set out. We chose to believe him.If the powerhouse of our gang hadn't given up, then neither would we.

We can make it work.... right?

--------------------------

After an extremely exhausting day of surprises, ice cream and reading thriller novels. I was so ready to relax, with my love Netflix. But it seems, life just can't get enough of the Astro show.

"Astro, you didn't forget about the dinner right?"

Shit

"Of course not Dad."

I totally forgot

"Good be ready in ten minutes and um .. Lucy is joining us."

Now, I know why he bribed me with a hundred dollars.

"I thought you said it was a family outing?" I didn't even bother hiding my annoyance that Lucy was joining us.

"She is family." My dad replied back, obviously tried of telling me that for the thousandth time.

In ten minutes, I dressed in the only clothes I had that didn't threaten to slip off me. As I got to the door I could see my dad and Lucy kissing.

Kill me right now.

Now, my dad Dr. Nicholas Winston is the best dad anyone can ever have and I love him to the moon and back, but then we have Lucy. Its not like she's an evil stepmother out to kill me and take over my dad, although I might have told my dad that when they first started dating. But anyway she's cool and nice, but when I see her, I just can't seem to play nice, no matter how hard I try.

"Why hello Astro. You look very handsome tonight!"

My heart froze over and I could tell I was making an ugly face from the way my dad's eyes glared at me. But instead of answering her, my legs walked past her and went to the car parked out front.

"Ast--"

She placed her hand on my dad's shoulder. "Don't worry Nicholas, he hasn't been this cold to me before, am sure he just had a bad day at school." She smiled sweetly up at my dad, but any moron could see she was hurting.

My dad looked like he could burst from rage, but he didn't want to ruin the night and calmed himself down before entering the car with Lucy, and we headed out to Mr. Morelli's.

Maybe the reason I was so cold, is because I could hear a proposal in the nearest future, and I didn't like it.

So many freakin changes.