Chapter 3

Francisca's POV

"I can't believe you're leaving," Jenny says.

I'm sitting in an ice cream place with my two best friends Jenny and Lori.

I've known Jenny and Lori since we were 13. Someone was picking on Jenny so I kind of sort of got in between them and punched the kid who was making fun of her braces at the time.

Don't judge okay, Ivan - my brother - always told me to stand up to bullies and I did and I'd do it again. Even if it got me in a lot of trouble with mom haha.

Jenny and Lori were already friends so I kind of just joined their group. I was lucky to find them. Can’t imagine my life these past years without them,

I just told them about Matt's new Job and us moving to New York in 4 days.

They're not taking it well.

“I was so excited to start our new year as sophomores together man" she frowns.

I smile sadly at her. "Yeah me too," I say. "We can still video chat like every day! And visit!".

"But that's not gonna be the same" Jenny pouts.

"Honestly, as sad as I am that you're moving, I'm kind of excited for you," Lori says.

I raise my eyebrows urging her to explain, as Jenny turns to look at her.

"New York is a cool place, definitely more interesting than here that's for sure". She pauses "And... you might reunite with some interesting people too" she shrugs.

I tense. Of course, I thought about how I was going to live so near to my family now but I guess I never really imagined that I could possibly see them again.

"New York is a pretty big city," I say. "So, I doubt that I'm going to see them" I chuckle nervously.

"You never know," Lori says.

Suddenly I feel like I might throw up, I have never even imagined that I would ever see my family again, it was always just a dream.

I think the nervousness and how I'm feeling is showing on my face because Jenny grabs my hand.

"Don't stress okay, you're probably right" she says smiling slightly. "New York is pretty big".

"And you said you're gonna move to Brooklyn right? They live on the Upper East Side" Jenny continues.

"But would it really be that bad to see them again?" Lori asks. "You miss them, Fran. I know you do". She says. "Wouldn't seeing them again make you happy?".

I look at her.

"Thinking about seeing them again makes me anxious". I sigh " I just have no idea how that would go".

"If you do see them, it would go fine Fran, I'm sure they miss you as much as you miss them," Jenny says.

I smile at that possibility. God, I really hope so.

Ivan's POV

I'm on my way home from a party right now. It's pretty late. My father is gonna kill me if he's not working late tonight.

I finally reach the house and open the door. It's quiet and dark, maybe Dad is working late again. He's been working late for most nights since Mom and Fran disappeared.

I reach the staircase when the lights suddenly turn on. And yup, Dad is right there, he narrows his eyes at me and speaks. "Where have you been?" He asks, seemingly totally calm. I don't say anything.

"Where. Have. You. Been?" He repeats his question. Sounding a lot sterner now.

"At a party" I shrug.

"It's 3 am, Ivan," he says.

"I didn't realize it was this late"

"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" he asks. "I've been calling and texting, I've even caught your brother texting you trying to warn you that I'm back".

I shrug. "My phone died". I attempt to step on the stairs, but I lose my balance and slip.

My dad approaches me. "Are you drunk?" He sounds mad.

I nod after briefly considering my option to lie, but no lie could ever go past my father.

He sighs and helps me up and up the stairs to my room. He Puts me on the bed.

"Give me your phone" he orders.

"Huh?"

"Your phone Ivan, you're grounded for the rest of summer break". He says

"But-". "I don't want to hear it Ivan, you. Are. Grounded. Understand?" He says.

"Yes," I mumble. "Good,” he replies.

He looks at me for a few seconds, sighs, shakes his head, and leaves my room.

Ahhh the disappointed head shake. Have seen that one a bunch of times.

I lay on my bed, trying to sleep and I guess mentally prepare for the hangover I'm gonna be experiencing tomorrow morning.

However, I just end up thinking about...well everything. About Dan and starting senior year soon, about Clair who won't leave me alone, about.... how much time has passed since I've last seen my mother and my baby sister.

I don't know why I always think about this stuff when I'm trying to fucking fall asleep, and when I'm really drunk. But I am fucking angry, angry at my mother for leaving and taking Francisca with her. For not only getting out of our lives but forcing Francisca to get out of it too, in some ways I'm mad at Francisca too.

I miss her, I miss my little sister so much.

When we were little we would always fight, or tease each other, Daniel and I would even sometimes gang up and play pranks on her.

They were simpler times.

Happier times.

But Everything changed after she left. Dad was different, more closed off, always at work, rarely at home. Daniel kept being positive, thinking that they'd come back. Although he doesn't think that anymore. He's kind of like me now, always partying, drunk most of the time, always out of the house that no longer holds Francisca's laughter.

I'm the same. Always with a different girl. Occasionally getting high, just wanting to forget that there is someone who should be here that isn't.

I just wonder what kind of life she is leading right now. How is she? Is she happy? Does she have lots of friends? I know she struggled with friends when she was ten. Does she miss me? Miss us?

I keep torturing myself with these kinds of questions, knowing that I might never know the answer.

Zachary's POV

I wake up to the sound of my alarm. It's 5 am, I always wake up at this hour to go on my morning run. But I'm just not up for it today.

I grab my phone and see the missed calls from a particular nuisance that I have no interest in ever interacting with, no matter how many times she tries.

I don’t need to trouble myself with her right now, I have a bigger priority to focus on, my son.

I'm disappointed in him, this isn't the first time he's done this, came back home late drunk, and I warned him multiple times to get his act together and find some other way to keep himself entertained, but I haven't had much luck.

Daniel does stuff like this too. I was a teenager once, I did all kinds of things too. But it wasn't all the damn time.

The parties they attend are mostly in sketchy places.

I feel tremendously relieved when they attend one in a safe place, closer to home, or a party of a friend.

I get out of bed and my room and head to Ivan's to check on him.

I open Ivan's door and see him fast asleep on his bed.

I head to his bed and sit at the edge of it, just looking at my son and thinking about how worried I was about him.

And also think about how much time flies. I remember when he would want to stay up late to see Santa when he came and put the presents under the Christmas tree. Now, he stays up late, outside of the house doing god knows what, with god knows who, and coming home drunk or high.

It has happened a lot and I think it's partly my fault. After everything that happened 6 years ago, I just drowned myself in work and didn't pay as much attention to my sons. I wasn't as present as I was before.

That needs to change.

I kiss Ivan on the forehead and quietly leave his room to start my day. I need to make some arrangements if I'm not gonna be at work as much anymore.

I want to be a better father for my sons, and I will be.

Francisca's POV

It's Saturday, moving day.

The moving truck is already here, the house is almost empty.

I step out of the house when I see Lori and Jenny speaking to Matt, and they quickly spot me.

"Fran!" Jenny exclaims. She runs over to me and hugs me tightly.

“Jenny...I can't... breathe..." I say jokingly.

"Oops sorry". She steps back and laughs.

Now it was Lori's turn to hug me. "We're gonna miss you girl," she says.

"I'm going to miss you guys too," I say, my voice cracks.

"I can't believe you're already leaving," Jenny says. "Summer break isn't even over yet" she frowns.

I smile sadly at her. Yes, it is a week till summer vacation is over.

And I'm gonna be starting my sophomore year at a new school. Where I know no one. That's not scary at all.

Matt approaches us and smiles at me when we make eye contact.

"I'm sorry girls, but we need to get going".

"Seriously? Right now?" Jenny asks.

"I'm afraid so," he says.

Jenny looks at me with sad puppy dog eyes, while Lori just looks at me with a sad smile.

"Come on guys, group hug?" I say.

They hug me and we stay like this for a good 30 seconds before Matthew clears his throat.

Right.

Matt and I get into his car and drive away to the airport...... or so I thought.

I look back and see Jenny and Lori waving at me and I wave back.

Soon enough I don't see them anymore nor do I see the house I used to live in for the past six years.

Now my new life in a new place will begin.

.

.

.

.

Or I'm gonna sit in this car for hours

"I can't believe you're driving us all the way to New York, that's a 7-hour drive, Matt!” I exclaim.

Matt has an amused look on his face.

"It's the end of the month Fran, and I'm already paying for the moving truck and all that, we can't afford a plane ticket right now". He says.

I huff in annoyance. Then I think about what he just said.

Money has never really been that much of an issue before.

"Is money really tight right now?" I ask.

Matt looks at me for a moment, "Not for long hun, I told you my old job was just having some trouble, once I start my new job everything will be back to normal money-wise". He assures me.

I smile at him.

"Driving all the way to New York still sucks though". I mumble.

Matt chuckles. "It's not like it's you who's driving, I'm doing all the work here," he says laughing lightly.

Then I get a bright idea.

"How about I drive for a little bit?" I ask.

"No". He says with no hesitation whatsoever.

"Why not?" I whine.

I know I'm being annoying but I'm bored out of my mind.

I've been doing nothing for two hours now.

"You can't drive for shit Francisca," he says.

I gasped at what he just said, putting my hand on my heart, faking hurt.

I open my mouth to argue but he beats me to it by saying "And you don't have a license".

I huff, annoyed again.

He turns on the radio, Taylor Swift is on, and I guess I can be content with that for now.

After a few more hours I fall asleep and when I wake up I'll already be in New York, starting my new life.

I - the optimist that I am - was determined to make this experience great! Despite leaving my friends behind. However, that wasn’t all that life had in store for me.

I couldn’t imagine what happened next.