Chapter 3 Moving Out

• "That was just a dream!" I tried to excuse myself.
• "Oh, but it was more than that, and you know it too!" she said.
• "Mom!" I turned to my mom, wanting to leave.
• "You are a ticking time bomb, on the verge of exploding! You need to accept that what you saw was not just a dream, but a reality more real than you can imagine!" she declared.
• I stood up and declared, "Enough! I may be a gentle person, truly I am, but you are constantly calling me a misfortune, ticking time bomb, or whatnot.
• Whether you believe it or not, I have self-respect!" With that, I walked out of her house.
• My mom looked at her with a sense of helplessness in her eyes. "This is why I cannot assist her because taming a 16-year-old is far more challenging than taming a wolf!" she stated.
• "I want no part in it unless it is her choice." She turned her chair away.
• As my mother got up to leave the house, Green quietly said, "Don't push her; whatever has to happen has to happen by her own will."
• Next, we were planning to stay at Granny's house.
• The next morning, I stumbled upon a skateboard in the parking lot and asked, "Who does this belong to?"
• "It belongs to your cousin," my mom replied.
• "Walrus?" I questioned.
• "Very funny, but it's Walter," she clarified.
• "Yeah, whatever!" I winked. "Can I borrow it for today?" I inquired.
• "Of course!" she smiled.
• My cousin Walter had relocated to another country for work, and he and I were best friends. He always allowed me to use his belongings.
• So I hopped on the skateboard and as I rode, as I looked around the town, Shadowbrook is a small, charming town that feels like it stepped out of a fairytale. My new home on Elm Street is a cozy two-story house with a welcoming front porch and a white picket fence. It's not the biggest house, but it feels just right.
• The Town Square is the heart of Shadowbrook, with cobblestone paths, a central fountain, and many little shops and cafés. It’s where everyone seems to gather, and I can tell it's a place full of life and community. Surrounding the town is the Forest, a beautiful but slightly creepy place filled with ancient trees and mist.
• There's also an Abandoned Chapel, covered in ivy and slowly falling apart. People whisper that it’s haunted, and I can't help but be intrigued, even though I still don’t believe in such stuff.
• Shadowbrook looks peaceful on the surface, but I sense there are many secrets waiting to be discovered.
• I was lost in its beauty when the skateboard almost caused me to stumble. It almost caused me to stumble. I looked around and made my way to the nearby park to see the issue. It was then that I noticed the wheels were rusted.
• "Let's find you a mechanic, baby!" I whispered.
• Yes, I know it may sound strange, but I talk to the things I use.
• I took it to the shop to have the rust cleaned off, and that's when I noticed two girls approaching me.
• One had beautiful, silky, straight yellow hair, while the other was taller than me with long blond hair.
• The girl with yellow hair smiled at me and asked, "Are you new to this town?"
• I smiled back and replied, "Yes, kind of!" I then added in a whisper, "Actually, I was here before I was born!" We both burst into laughter.
• "Victoria!" she introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake.
• We shook hands, and then the second girl also greeted me and introduced herself as Jeniece.
• I introduced myself, "Julia, but you can call me Jules!" I expressed my pleasure in meeting them.
• "So, Jules, what brings you to Shadowbrook?" Victoria inquired.
• "Bad luck!" I responded, and we shared another chuckle.
• We chatted and shared laughter until my work was completed.
• We exchanged contact numbers, as I always welcomed new people into my life.
• As I headed my way, a sudden burning sensation in my wound and a pounding heart left me confused.
• I couldn't understand what was happening, but I knew something was not right.
• Upon returning home that evening, I discovered my mother sitting on the couch, tears streaming down her face.
• Concerned, I hurried toward her and asked, "What's wrong, Mom?"
• "It's your dad," she whispered.
• It turned out that my father had suffered a sudden heart attack without any apparent cause.
• All they told us was that my Dad passed away and Uncle Reed, who's my father's brother, was bringing his body by plane after going through some necessary process.
• However, we later discovered that he had left me a voicemail.
• "I apologize, my dear, for not being there for you. I drifted off to my office, and then he came, the man in black, charming yet mysterious; he gripped my heart tightly.
• Ever since I woke up, all I could feel was the pounding of my heart.
• Eve, my sweet daughter, I don't have much time, but know that I will never miss any of your special moments.
• I will always be there, sitting in the front row whenever you play the guitar.
• I will witness you cutting the first piece of cake, just as you used to do, and feed me.
• I will be by your side during movie nights.
• Always remember that I love you and your mother." And just like that, silence filled the air.
• I turned to my mother and embraced her, and together we cried until we couldn't anymore.
• We remained in Shadowbrook while the body was being transferred to us.
• 2 Days passed, and one morning, my mother woke up to find me reading a brochure.
• "It's a school, Mom! The largest school in town, ShadowBrook High!" I excitedly showed it to her.
• "I used to attend that school too!" she exclaimed.
• "Are you certain that you want to stay?" Mom asked gently, placing her hand on my shoulder.
• I held her hand and thought for a moment, "As much as I hate to admit it, I do believe you. Something feels off, and I was only trying to ignore it. However, after Dad's passing, I now realize the truth." We sat together, leaning our heads against each other, shedding a few tears.
• The following morning, I entered the school's walkway, and as usual, all eyes turned toward me.
• I was dressed in a blue jacket and pants with a pink crop top underneath. Everyone stared at me, but then I noticed two familiar faces, Victoria and Jeniece.
• They hurriedly approached me, with Victoria greeting me, "Hey!"
• "Hi!" I smiled as they led me to the classroom. It was a big room filled with numerous students.
• As they left me at the classroom door, Victoria excused herself and went to the restroom.
• She seemed anxious about something. I wondered what it could be.
• Anyway, Jeniece guided me inside the classroom, and that's when my eyes landed on a guy with black hair falling onto his forehead. He had his gaze fixed on me.
• "Oh, him? He's the most popular guy in this school!" Jeniece whispered to me.
• "What makes him so special?" I pursed my lips and turned my head away.
• Although I did so, he continued to gaze at me, just like every other guy in the class, except for one individual.