MOVING
I stepped out of the car. I could feel the sun on my legs from my rolled up jean shorts with my solid pink tank top. I stared up at our new house.
A 4 bedroom,2 bath,1 pool home. And for a teenager...All of that equals one thing and one thing only...Paradise. And with this sun I could go swimming everyday. My mom came around the car with a her bags.
''Your not just gonna stand there are you?'' She said with a smile.
''Just uh...takin' it all in.'' I said casualy.
''Hahaha'' She said walking away.She opened the door, put her bags down and ran through the new house. I rolled my eyes and smiled. And I turned to the back of the car to get my bags when I had a feeling of someone behind me. And I was right. I turned around. There was a guy there. I would say around my age. Blonde,blue eyes. Skate board in my hand And the other reached toward me.
''Need Some help with that?''
''Uh yeah thanks.'' I handed him one of my bags.
''It's Austin, by the way.'' He smiled as we walked up to the door.
''Ashley.'' I said. He opened the door for me like a gentle men. Dropping his skateboard on the pavement.
''And-'' I pointed to my mom. ''-That's my mom''
We put the bags by the door.
''Oh. Hi there.'' She smiled welcomingly.
''I'm Rachel. Call me Rachel cuz' I don't like the whole mrs. thing.'' She said jokingly and honestly.
''Haha ok Rachel.''
My mom and I started at each other for a second.
''Well I've got everything here. You can unpack when you get back. Go have fun.'' She said smiling.
Austin smiled at her, then turned to me. We left the house. I could feel my mom's eyes on us as we walked down the sidewalk. He picked up his skateboard.
''So where ya from?''
''Memphis.'' I said simply.
He smiled. ''Well you'll like it here.''
''So do you play sports?'' I asked.
''No, I'm more of a skater myself.''
I looked at his skateboard. There was some writing on it. I pointed at it.
''What's that?''
He stopped and held it up.
''Tony Hawk.''
I smiled even though I had no idea who it was.
''Oh...Yeah...Him. nice.'' I hesitated racking my brain for anything that had to do with skating. I was a rollar blader. That was pretty much it.
''Yeah, you have no idea who that it do you?'' He asked still smiling.
''Not one.'' I replyed honestly.
We both laughed.
I could feel the sun burning on my legs.
''Wow,it's hot.''
''Yeah. You wanna go back?''
Then I remembered I had a pool. I automaticly smiled.
''I have a pool-'' I looked at him. He looked back at me.
''-If you want...to..come by for a swim..?''
I stopped and turned to him. His lips were in a hard line.
''Well...I was going to go swimming with Kim Kardashion but you'll do.'' He said with a huge grin on his face.
''Haha. Well come back to my place in an hour.''
I said walking away. Then he stopped me.
''I didn't get your number...'' He said pulling out his phone. I sighed and pulled out mine.
''Number..?'' I asked. He automaticly smiled.
''555-0129'' He said. I called him. His phone rang.
''And now you have it..and I have yours.'' I smiled.
He winked at me and I walked away.


I walked back into my house. My mom had unpacked half the new living room already.
''Wow, your fast.''
''Haha. Thanks. So how's your new little friend?'' She said gentleing takeing a lamp out of a newspaper filled box.
''Uhhhhh...It was okay. It was hot so I invited him over for a swim. That okay?''
''Yeah sure...Oh yeah you haven't even seen the back yard yet. It's so beautiful...'' She said walking me over to the glass slide door. The door was already open. The pool took up about 30%of the yard. The left side was trees and branches with a small garden for my mom. I knew she would enjoy that. A 4 ft' white fence stood alone in the other corner a rose vine growing up it.
''Wow............'' was all I could say.
''Yup...Hahaha.'' She laughed and walked away.
I took my old Cheerleading bag upstairs.
''Your room is the one with the balcony. I've already mapped out where the other rooms are gonna be.'' She yelled up the stairs.
''Uhhh Thanks!''
Suddenly I was alot happier. My new room was just like my old room except, of course the balcony. i put my bags down and walked toward it. Opened the doors. The balcony was to the side of the house. It was small but doable.i imagined my study desk in the corner.and thats all it really needed.
Then I went to get my bathing suit. My bright green bikini fit me perfectly. I remembered when I bought it last summer with Amanda and Kelsey.
I sighed. I walked down the hallway for the bathroom to change. I looked in the mirror and turned front and back to see how it looked. Then I went downstairs.
''I set some towels out their on the chair-'' I walked past her.
''-Thanks mom. Oh your welcome sweety.'' She said sarcasticly.
''Oh sorry. Thanks mom.''
''You okay?''
''Yeah I just remembered when I bought this swim suit with Amanda and Kelsey...''
''Oh honey..You'll make new friends.'' She hugged me. I walked over to the glass door.
''Oh mom...''
''Yes?''
''When Austin comes,can you tell him just to come out here.''
''Sure.'' she said continueing to un pack.

I swam around the pool for at least 10 minutes. Until I heard footsteps. I jumped out.
''There you are.'' I said smiling. He was in trunks and a T-shirt. He smiled, and took his shirt off. His abbs shone againest the sun. I turned around and walked back up to the pull. I felt his eyes on me. I smiled to myself and did a swan dive in.
Soon enough he was in the pool with me.
''So do the kids around here like to swim?''
''Yeah. We're all very outdoor-sy.''
We both sat in silence for a moment. I sat on the rimm of the pool.My feet swishing themselves around in the water.
''Can I ask you something?'' He said.
My heart stopped.
''Sure.'' I bearly mumbled.
''Do you have a boyfriend?''
''Well...it's complicated.''
''How so?'' He asked, his tone curious.
''I had one...but when I moved. I just don't know what we're doing now. I don't know if he thinks we broke up or to stay in touch or...I don't know.'' I honestly told him. I stared down at my lap. I felt like I could trust him. I wanted to pour my heart out to him...but of course I didn't. He tooked up at me. His eyes gentle. His ips in a hard line. He looked diffrent then earlier today when I met him. The grin on his face was gone.
''I guess I could call him and-'' He put his finger over my lips. My heart took off racing.
''I'm not taking advantage of you. I was raised right. Always remember that. I have alot of friends because I never turn on anyone. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. okay?''
''Okay.'' I said behind his finger. He lifted his finger off my face.
''Hey, Ashley. Phone call.'' My mom said her hand reached out with the phone.
''Excuse me.'' I said politely, as I got up and went to get the phone.
''Hello?''
''Are you ignoring me or what? Amanda and Kelsey think so to. Your haven't been answering.'' I heard Alex's voice on the other line.
''Oh Sorry, I must have left my phone in my room.''
''Wait...where are you?''
''Swimming.''
''Alone?''
''No.''
''Then who is you with?''
''A boy I met while un-packing.''
The onther line went silent for a moment.
''Who?'' He finally asked.
''His name is Austin. He's just a friend.''
I turned around. He was underwater so he couldn't have heard me. I paced back in forth of the glassing slide door.
''Just a friend...''
''Yes just a friend. Listen can I can you back tonight?''
''Sure.'' He hung up without saying bye.
I returned to the pool. He was swimming toward me. I kept standing. He came out of the water like an olympic champion on an Old Spice comericial. ''Okay. Here's what I'm thinking.'' He said. taking a breathe before continueing.
''I'll give you 1 day...1 day to figure things out. If you to are still...then we'll just be friends. If it's ment to be it will happen. That's all you can ever hope for. '' He gave me hug. I could feel his heartbeat through his warm chest. He picked up his phone and T-shirt, and walk through the sliding glass door. I waited untill I heard the front door to do the same.
I walked up to my room in silence.
''Have fun?''
''Yeah.'' I hurried back to my room.
My mom had unbacked my dresser for me. I smiled and quickly gathered some clothes. I hurried down the hallway to change. I could feel the cold air conditioning againest my pale wet skin. I took off my bathing suit and took a shower. I let the hot water burn againest my back. I stood there until the hot water ran out.
As I walked back into my room the first thing I cwas going to do is check my phone. Alex wasen't lying. I read the bright little screen. And read it outloud.
''14 Missed Calls.12 Text Messages. Great.'' I said as I deleted all the text's. Then I decided to call Kelsey. She was the onyl person I could talk to now that I would think she'd understand.
I heard pots and pans in the kitchen. Mom must be cooking dinner. That should give me an hour without any interupptions. I took a deep breathe and went through my contacts. I'd have to have at least 200 contacts from my old school. Finally I found Kelsey. I hesitated as I pressed the green Send button. I tapped my foot as the phone rang.
''Hello.Kel-say here.'' Kelsey's preppy voice greeted me.
''Hey stranger it's Ashley.''
''O-m-g -'' She spelled. ''- Why weren't you answering your la'freakin phone?!''
''I was swimming...With a boy.'' The last part bearly even came out. But somehow she still heard it.
She gasped like 'London Tipton' off of Suite life of Zack and Cody. Then I prepared as her gossiping little mouth opened to respond.
''A boy?!Who is he?Where'd you meet him?Don't you have a b-f?''
I sighed. ''His name is Austin. I met him while unpacking. He was being a gentlemen and helped me bring my bags in then we went for a walk. He got my number. And an hour later he came by for a swim.'' Everything came out in a rush.
''Are you totally forgetting about Alex or what?''
Maybe calling Kelsey wasen't such a good idea after all...
''No, that's kinda why I called you. Alex has been a real jerk lately...but I know I can trust Austin. He's...just so..diffrent.''
''Follow your heart. I may not be the best example but I gotta admit...Ever since Alex joined the football snobs he's been a little...''
She said not finishing her sentence.
''Well I'll call you back tomorrow. School is gonna suck. But I have till monday to prepare. Bye girl.''
''Goodnight bye girl. And call me if you have any updates. Goodnight.''
''Kay. Goodnight.''
I hung up the phone and put it on the charger. I pulled my Zebra print conforter over my shoulders and drifted to sleep.



I ran through the woods. I didn't know what was chasing me. I just knew it wasen't good. There was a light ahead. I ran toward it. The light always means the good end. I think. I kept running. Then...something caught my eye. I forgot about whatever was chasing me. Something shined. A pot. I didn't know what was happening.
Then Austin was behind me. And I turned. Alex was on the other side. Austin smiled. His eyes turned to all diffrent colors. Like the rainbow.
Then some other guy stepped out of the shadows. He had a leather jacket,worn out jeans,and combat boots on. He smiled and a bright set of fangs that shone in the moon light. Austin threw his arm in the direction. His hand looked like it was holding somthing up. He threw his arm back in the other direction and back toward the guy,when he did a huge sheild appeared. It looked like electricity. Zipping and zapping in one thin sheet. Almost like a fence. The guy ran toward the sheild and was thrown back into the forest. Austin's arm went down but the sheild remained there. Alex took my hand. His Jock jacket had mud on the back. Austin took my other hand. Austin held up his free hand. Suddenly a Black Rose Grew from the vein in his arm. It was all so confusing. Then it all went black...

I woke up in sweat. I thought I was about to scream. I immediantly took my shirt off. The heat was aggonizing. I smelled eggs and bacon. Quickly put on a tank top and rushed downstairs.
''Sleep well?'' My mom asked handing me a plate as I sat down. ''Not really...Nightmares.''
''About?''
''I was running through woods. And I stopped. Austin was on my left...Alex on my right...somthing about another guy....I don't remember...Why is it so hot?'' I said distracted.
''I don't know. Lemme turn it down.''
''No, I'll do it. You cooked breakfast.'' I said smiling. She smiling back as she pulled the fork with eggs on it to her mouth. I went to the thermostat. It was 76 degrees. I turned it down to 60.
As I returned to the table. The door rang.
''I'll get it.'' I said leaving the table again.
When I opened the door a middle aged red headed women was standing before me.
''I just wanted to say welcome to the neighborhood.'' She smiled and handed me a basket. Filled with coffee,muffins,and a $10 starbucks gift card.
''Thankyou. Hold on...Mom, come here.''
My mom walked up to the lady and shoke hands.
''Thankyou. It's very generous of you.''
''Your welcome. If you need anyhing we live on on the creek.'' She said pointing at a house near the creek. She smiled.
''Good day now.'' She tilted her head like a southern lady. My mother and I waved goodbye.
As soon as my mother closed the door she head up the basket.
''Nice people around here, huh?'' She said to me.
''Yeah...Really nice. I call the chocolate muffins.'' I said laughing. She couldnt help but laugh with me.