Chapter 1 ~The Move~

~ Roxanne ~

“You can't be serious!” I barked as I watched Georgia stack empty moving boxes in my room.

“Roxanne,”

“No! I don't want to hear any of your bullshit excuses!” My chest kept rising and falling in an unsteady rhythm, my hands balled into fists at my sides.

“This is for your own good.” I snorted at her unreasonable response.

For my own good? 

How was any of this for my own good?

If anything, this was just her trying to ruin my life as always.

“Does any of this not mean anything to you?!” I pointed at the countless trophies on my shelf.

“I built a life here. I have friends. I have a boyfriend who loves and adores me more than anything. And I just got promoted to captain of Seaggles Female Hockey Team. You're just going to make me throw all that away? Why?! You never give me any meaningful reason why we have to move!”

“You can play hockey at your new school. It doesn't make any difference.”

At this point, all I saw was red. My throat had already run dry from all the shouting and I held my chest as a sharp pain hit me.

It felt like a sharp blade was plunged right into my heart, and I couldn't breathe.

“Five years," I dragged, ”You want me to throw it all away and follow you to god knows where!”

“Redhills.” Georgia responded so casually as though all my rants went on deaf ears.

“What?” My jaw dropped.

Redhills was practically another continent away from Blue Valley. I don't get why she has to make us move that far.

“Roxanne, I don't want to argue with you. We leave by dawn tomorrow, so pack up anything that's important to you.” And with that, she left without another word.

My legs gave way almost immediately and I crashed onto the pile of boxes.

This has to be a nightmare. Georgia couldn't possibly be serious... Right?

But the answer cut deeper than a stab wound.

I thought we were done. I thought Blue Valley was our last stop. I even decorated my room this time because I was certain we would stay.

We've never stayed more than two years in one city, but I've lived in Blue Valley for half a decade and now... 

I let out a bitter chuckle as I tugged at my dark hair. My mind was in turmoil.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the reflection I had grown to acknowledge as mine. 

I had always been a shadow of myself. I never truly understood who I was until now.

I am Roxanne Walker, now Captain Roxanne Walker, best friend of Juliette Foster and girlfriend of the star athlete Noah Baxon. 

This has been my whole identity, and now, I was packing it up in a box.

Sometimes I wondered if Georgia was truly my mother. She never really cared about what I did with my life. She never cared about my opinions. We always had to do it ‘her way.’

“I hate her.” I muttered. My nails dug into my palms until my knuckles turned white. It felt as though something inside me was trying to fight its way up to the surface.

I recognized that feeling.

Rage.

Raw unfiltered rage was all I felt in that moment.

“I hate you!” I shut my eyes as the sound of shattered glass echoed in the room. I winced when I felt one slice through my face, leaving a clean cut.

Georgia stormed into the room almost immediately, and while I was petrified staring at my perfectly fine knuckles and my supposedly scratched-up face, she didn't seem fazed at all.

“No blood,” my voice sounded more like a distant whisper than I had intended it to be. 

“Roxanne, what did you do?” Georgia asked as she walked up to me, her heels crushing the glass underneath.

“I-I think I smashed it…” I looked up at Georgia but she simply let out a long sigh.

“It's getting stronger.” She muttered then turned to the empty boxes.

“Start packing. We leave tonight.”

“Tonight?!” I widened my eyes in shock.

“Look, I'll explain everything later. Just listen to me for once!”

“That is what you always say, but you never explain anything! What happened just now? Why aren't I bleeding? How did I break—”

“Roxanne!” Georgia snapped, cutting me off. “There's no time for this. We need to leave by nightfall. Please.” There was urgency and concern in her tone but as usual, it wasn't the answer I was looking for.

“Well I don't care if we're leaving right this minute. I'm going to school!”

“Roxanne,”

“If you're going to rip my heart to shreds and take everything I love away from me, then at least grant me the mercy of saying goodbye!” I snapped.

“You don't understand. If we waste any more time, they'll find you. You were never supposed to be here.” Georgia tried taking my hand but I stepped back immediately.

“What the hell are you talking about? Who's going to find me?” I furrowed my brows but she just pressed her lips into a thin line.

“That's what I thought.” I grabbed my jacket and stormed out of the house.

I wasn't going to let Georgia or anyone else ruin this day for me. 

My friends and I had already agreed to meet up to celebrate our 3rd win this season, and also plan my 18th birthday party. 

It was supposed to be the highlight of my week, but instead I'm about to crush their hearts with the news of moving to a new city.

“There she is! Our very own Captain.” Juliette beamed the moment she spotted me in the hallway.

“Please don't remind me.” I sulked.

A small frown appeared on her face.

“Woah, what's with the attitude? Did you have a fight with Noah?”

It would have been better if Noah and I had a fight than this living nightmare.

“Juliette, I have to tell you something,”

“Save it for your party. The girls and I really put in a lot of effort to make it work.” Juliette beamed as she pulled me along.

I guess it would be best to wait until then. It wouldn't hurt to have one last fun moment with my friends before I leave.

The party was just as expected. Hockey themed with both the male and female team players gathered. They all came to celebrate me.

“For someone who finally got what she's always wanted, you don't look too elated.” Michaela pointed out and the girls turned their attention to me.

“Trust me I am happy,”

“But?” Juliette raised a brow at me.

I took a deep breath then told them everything.

Juliette was the first to freak out.

“This is a disaster!”

“I know right? We're definitely going to lose next season's game.” Michaela sighed.

“Not that you idiot! I'm talking about my best friend moving away!” Juliette snapped at Michaela.

I felt the tears I had been holding down resurface again, and this time I let it fall.

The girls hugged me as tightly as their fragile hands could let them, the air replaced with sad tension.

"Have you told Noah?" 

“Told me what?” I felt a slightly warm and heavy hand wrap around my shoulders, and the smell of wild flowers hit my nostrils immediately.

“Noah,” His name came out as a whisper as he spun me around then pulled me close by my waist.

"Hey peach. Congratulations on your ranking." His soft lips met mine and my entire being became a puddle.

“Roxanne is moving away. To a very far city.” Michaela suddenly burst out, and I swear I would have killed her with my eyes if eyes could kill.

“What? When were you planning on telling me?” Noah withdrew from me and I could see the pain in his eyes.

My chest tightened.

“I swear I just found out today. Georgia is just unbelievable.” I gritted my teeth.

I watched Noah struggle internally for a moment, his green eyes filled with uncertainty but then he replaced his frown with a light smile, causing the knot in my stomach to untangle.

“It's fine peach,” he took my hands in his, his eyes boring into mine, “Distance will never be a barrier between us. And you'll be turning 18 soon. You can move back to Blue Valley and we can be together.”

Hold up... Move back?

I stilled as my mind tried to process what Noah said.

I mean I hated Georgia but I couldn't possibly just leave her and live on my own. She was the only family I knew.

I didn't say a word and just smiled slightly.

Noah pulled me into a tight hug, and I let myself melt in his arms. That was all the comfort I needed.

My gaze dropped to my hands, and the mirror incident replayed in my head.

Nothing about what happened this morning was normal. Even Georgia was acting strange.

By the time I got home, Georgia had already packed everything and loaded them in the truck.

“You're going to love it at Redhills. I promise.” She smiled.

That was a big fat lie. 

Everything and everyone I loved was in Blue Valley. I had no plans of getting comfortable in Redhills.

And deep down, something told me things would never be the same from here on.

My fingers twitched slightly at my side, a faint tingling sensation crawling beneath my skin.

The air suddenly felt heavier, pressing down on my chest as an unfamiliar fear crept in.

I didn’t know why…

but for the first time,

I felt like I was in danger.