Chapter 38:

Moving was always hard. But it was harder this time. I'd never had anyone to leave before, and this was what was making it harder for me to let go.

"Andy, c'mon, we've gotta go!" Tara called from downstairs. "Move and get down here now!"

I stayed where I was. It was Friday morning, which meant that I had to leave, but I really didn't wanna go. In the short amount of time that I'd been here, I'd actually managed to create a life for myself, even if it did end up with a few people hating me. I'd actually managed to find a few people like me and now I was gonna have to get up and leave them all behind. If I got up from where I was sitting, I'd have to go.

"Andy, c'mon..." Tara appeared in my doorway and came to a halt as she saw me.

She walked over and crouched down in front of me.

"Andy?" she said quietly. "Hey, c'mon. Don't be like this. I know you don't wanna go, but we've gotta leave now or we're gonna miss the flight back."

I didn't respond. I didn't want to. Tara sighed.

"C'mon Andy, please?" she said. "We have to go."

I looked up at her this time, meeting her gaze.

"Why?" I asked. "Why do I have to go?"

Tara looked at me sadly.

"I'm sorry Andy, but we can't do anything about it. Now c'mon, we have to go."

I shook my head and looked down again, refusing to move.

"How is this gonna be any better Tara?" I asked, not meeting her gaze. "It's gonna be worse. I have to live with you guys for God knows how long and that means living with Connor and Aiden as well, and I know they don't like me at all. So what makes everyone think that this is gonna be better for me?"

Tara sighed. "I know what you're trying to say, but we can talk 'bout this later. Now get up, we have to go."

She grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet, having to practically pull me down the stairs and outside. Once we reached the sidewalk, I pushed her off me. Tara looked at me in shock.

"I'm not going," I said.

Tara crossed her arms and sighed.

"Andy, please don't be difficult," she said. "Mom's already waiting in the car for us."

She gestured to the car she was standing in front of. I shook my head.

"I don't care!" I snapped, starting to get frustrated. "I don't wanna go!"

Tara just ignored me and grabbed my arm again, trying to pull me towards the car. I pushed back, making her let me go. She glared at me.

"Stop it," she said. "You're acting like a Goddamn kid!"

"Well maybe I am!" I shot back. "I don't wanna go, so I'm not gonna get in the car!"

"Andy," Tara warned, anger in her eyes.

She'd taken charge, as my aunt hadn't done anything. I shook my head.

"No," I said. "You may think this' a good idea and that it's gonna do me good, but you're wrong! You're all wrong!"

Tara's expression softened and she looked at me, sadness in her eyes.

"Andy, I know you don't wanna go, but please," she practically begged. "Just please stop being like this. We have to go. Either way, you're gonna have to leave. Whether it's with us now, or when your parents get back, either way, you have to let go."

***

"Andy, you know I'm sorry, right?"

I just shrugged and played around on my phone as we waited at the airport. I knew Tara was sorry- she kept reminding me- but that didn't make my situation any better.

My phone suddenly went off, making me jump, as I'd been in a real intense part of whatever lame game I was playing to keep my mind off the current situation.

Ashley: Hey man, good luck :) We already miss ya

I just smiled sadly, Tara watching me.

"Everything ok?" she asked, a few people glancing at us as they walked past to wherever they were headed.

I shrugged and answered Ashley's message.

Andy: Thanks Ash. I'll call as soon as I can

I put my phone away and sighed, leaning my head on my hand and staring off at some people moving around further away in the airport.

"Look, I know you're not happy with everything right now," Tara began. "But you're gonna be fine. Just try and cheer up a bit, yeah?"

I just shrugged again, looking down. "Yeah, I guess so."

Tara smiled.

"That's more like it Andy," she said, a bit more cheerful this time, but I could tell she was only doing it to make me feel better.

When I didn't respond, she looked at me sadly.

"You really miss them, don't you?" she asked quietly. "You really don't wanna leave, do you?"

"Doesn't matter now, does it?" I asked, not meeting her gaze. "It's done and I can't go back. They're gone now."

"Don't think of it like that," Tara said. "I'm sure you'll see them again."

"Yeah, I highly doubt that Tara," I said.

She hit me on the arm lightly.

"C'mon Andy, smile a bit," she said. "It's not the end of the world. Just think; this' an opportunity for you to meet more people and make new friends. You didn't know those guys for too long."

"Doesn't mean they weren't my friends," I snapped, looking over to her. "And yeah, I'm really gonna make new friends, 'cause I'm just that social."

Tara looked at me sadly again and I just rolled my eyes and looked away.

"I'm just trying to help Andy," she said sadly.

"I know, but it's not helping."

Tara sighed. "Fine then. I'll just stay quiet if you're gonna be like that."

I looked at her as she looked away.

"Look Tara, I'm sorry, ok?" I said. "I don't mean to be like that; I just wanna go home."

I looked down again and put my head in my hands. Tara didn't understand. None of them did. Tara put her arm around my shoulders.

"I know and I understand," she said. "But you're gonna be living with us for a while until your parents figure everything out."

That meant I'd be there for a minimum of two months, because my parents weren't gonna be back for a bit and then they had to deal with the house and everything, making it a longer stay.

"Look, if it makes you feel better, I'll be there if you wanna talk," she continued, not making me feel any better. "I'll try make sure Connor and Aiden keep off your back and leave you alone?"

"They won't listen to you; they won't listen to anyone," I said miserably. "I know from past experience Tara."

"Well I can at least try," she said, pulling me in a bit. "So don't be upset."

"They both hate me Tara," I said, looking at her. "What makes you think you can get them to back off? They're gonna make the next however long of my life absolute hell!"

Next story in series: Moved