Torn Souls (2 page)

Knowing it was just about time to leave, I could feel my hands start to sweat. My throat becomes dry, so I decide to grab a bottle of water for the road and a couple of napkins for my sweaty hands. Looking over at Alex, I notice he’s smiling at me. It kind of makes me feel uncomfortable.

“What’s up? Why are you smiling?” I ask Alex.

“I don’t want to say.”

“Come on, now you have to tell me.” I insisted.

“Well, I’ve just never seen you look like a girly girl, that’s all.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to the comment Alex had just made, so I politely smile and close the refrigerator door. My mom and dad tell us it’s time to head on out, so Alex and I make our way out the door while I lock up behind me. The car ride is a quiet one. I think it’s because everyone’s nerves are on edge. After a little over five hours in a car and two stops in between, we finally arrive. My dad decides to drop us off in front of the building while he parks the car.

“So this is it, Julia. Don’t be nervous. Remember, you’ve got this. It’s a done deal,” Alex says while trying to reassure me.

“Yes, honey. You’ve come this far. Just remember to speak from the heart and be thankful for the people who’ve stood behind you. You’re about to do a lot of good for others, giving them a second chance at hope,” my mom says with a reassuring smile.

I can see my dad coming around the corner making his way toward the building. He has a huge smile plastered on his face. My dad and I have always been close, so whenever I’ve been stressed or nervous he’s the one that makes me feel better.

“What’s wrong, Julia?” Dad asks with a sense of love and compassion.

I know he worries about me. I also know that I’m lucky to have him here by my side. Not wanting him to see me a wreck, I put a smile on my face and say, “I’m a bit nervous and my hands are clammy, that’s all.”

“Where are the napkins you brought from the house?” Alex chimes in.

“I forgot them in the car.”

Before I could ask my dad if he would go back to the car to get the napkins, he reaches into his pocket and pulls them out while saying “I have you covered, Julia.” With a feeling of comfort I reach out for the napkins, but not before reaching for Dad. I wrap my arms around him while he whispers in my ear, “I’m right here and I’ll be with you every step of the way.” I knew as soon as he said those words my stomach would stop flipping and my nerves would calm a little.

“So, are we ready to head on in?” Alex asked with his voice sounding a little shaky like my knees.

“Yes, let’s get going. We only have a few more minutes before it starts,” says Dad.

“You guys head on in. I want to take a minute if you don’t mind?” I ask while trying to hide the fact that I was still nervous and didn’t want them to see.

Nobody actually says anything; they just walk up the stairs and into the building.

Standing alone I find myself looking straight out into the world. I breathe in and then out. I tell myself that this is it, and then I walk up the stairs. I’m greeted by my parents and Alex, but it’s not until I hear a familiar voice that I’m taken back a little.

“Hello, Julia. How are you?” Without hesitation, I turn around and smile with happiness.

“I’m good, really good now.”

“I hope you’re ready because this is your moment to shine, Julia. So, what do you say, shall we go in?”

Chapter One

My name is Julia Stone and this is my story. In order for you to better understand what has happened in my life, I’ll have to go back one year ago. It all started the night I sat down at dinner with my parents. My life had been turned upside down within the blink of an eye. I remember it so well. Every day like clockwork we always ate dinner as a family at the same time. The rule in our house has always been simple, wash before dinner and be seated at the dining room table by six sharp.

My parents have never really been strict with rules, but this one has always been set in stone mainly because this is when we interact with each other. Both of my parents’ jobs are demanding, so it’s hard for them to forget about work when they come home. Their phones are constantly ringing and they’re always on their laptops. Seriously, what it comes down to is they’re married to their jobs. I swear on occasion while crossing the hall to use the bathroom late at night, I’ve heard my dad mumble names and stuff about work in his sleep. Crazy, huh?

On this particular night Mom cooked her famous lasagna and homemade garlic bread which she only usually cooks when there’s a big announcement, so I had a feeling something was up. While I sat patiently at the table wondering, I ran possibilities through my head. Pregnant, loss of job, promotion, but no matter what I thought, I knew I’d probably be wrong so I gave up. While we ate both of my parents made small talk with me at the table, but there was no big announcement. I started to think maybe Mom just wanted to change it up a little by making something we hadn’t had in a while.

After we’d finished eating, Mom cleared the table while Dad continued telling me about his day. It wasn’t until Mom came out of the kitchen with three small plates, some forks and a pie that I knew something was really up. I mean come on, pie?
This was a set-up and I didn’t like the feeling. When Mom was done cutting the pie and serving it, she sat down and said “Honey, your dad and I want to talk to you.” Her face was at ease while the words came out of her mouth, so I knew that at least I wasn’t in trouble.

“Sure, I’m listening. What’s going on?” I asked.

“Well, as you know your dad and I work very hard trying to give you all the things we never had growing up. We want to be able to give you what you need, like money for college, a car, and whatever else may come along. In order for us to give you that, your dad has decided to change careers.”

Looking over at Dad, I noticed he wasn’t looking like himself. He had a look that I’d never seen which had me worried, but I played it off before assuming the worse. “So, Dad, you have a new job. That’s great. What kind of job is it?” I asked.

Just as my mom was about to answer for him, he raised his head up from his plate and said “I’ll be the new state’s attorney in…”

But before he could even finish his sentence, I rose from the table, walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck saying, “Wow, Dad, I’m so proud of you. This is what you’ve wanted for so long. I think you’ll make a great state’s attorney.”

“Honey, why don’t you sit back down?” Mom suggested with a strange tone in her voice.

The tone in her voice didn’t sit well with me. It wasn’t demanding, yet it was firm. I was taken back a little, but did what she asked. Silence filled the air for only seconds, but it sure seemed like forever.

“Julia, there’s more that we need to tell you,” Mom said.

“All right,” I replied with an uneasy feeling.

“The job that your dad has decided to take is in New York City. Now I know this is a lot for you, but I think this is a great opportunity for all of us.”

I was in total disbelief and somehow couldn’t find the words to speak. In my mind, I was freaking out, but still I said nothing. My parents just simply stared waiting for me to reply to what was just told to me. It was at that moment my dad said, “Julie, please say something, anything.”

Looking at both of them and without any hesitation I blurted out, “Are you two crazy? I’m not moving to New York. I’m in the middle of my freshman year at school. I like it here. This is home. I can’t and I won’t move.”

I could see the shock in both their faces after saying what I did. I’d never spoken to my parents in such a tone. “Julia, I know this is a lot to take in, but it’s New York. There are so many things you’ll get to do that you can’t do here,” Dad said making it sound like a wonderful place.

“This is way too much for me right now. I don’t want to think about it. Can I please be excused from the table? I have homework that I need to finish before bed.”

I was waiting for one of them to make me stay and see their point, but neither one of them did. Instead, my dad rose from the table and walked away while my mom looked at me and said, “Yes, you may,” with a look that was very upsetting.

Maybe they both thought I’d just smile and agree to the move, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to live anywhere else. Once in my room, I fell flat on my bed and started to cry. I knew it didn’t matter if I said I didn’t want to move, we’d be moving anyways. After calming myself down and wiping my face, I reached down on the side of my bed to grab my backpack. I needed to get my science paper finished and still had to take a shower before bed.

Even with my bedroom door closed, I could hear my parents discuss plans about calling a moving company. I tried to ignore them while writing, but couldn’t so I tossed my ear buds in my ears and switched on my IPod. I shuffled through songs until I found Lady Gaga. Her music always seemed to put me at ease and made me forget about the world around me. It took me about a half hour to finish my homework which still gave me fifteen minutes to jump in the shower before my show came on.

Every night I’m usually asleep by nine except for Thursdays when my favorite show, The Mentalist, comes on. If there’s one person who can get me out of my rotten mood, its Patrick Jane played by the charming, sexy, Simon Baker. So, after I set my TV timer, I slithered under my covers and glued my eyes to the TV.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of my annoying alarm clock. Beep. Beep. Beep. Once I found the strength to reach my arm out from underneath my covers, I hit the button a couple of times before it stopped. Dragging my life-less body from my bed, I grabbed my jean out of my dresser and yanked a shirt off a hanger in my closet. After getting dressed and brushing my teeth, I grabbed my backpack and headed down stairs to the kitchen hoping neither one of my parents were there.

“Good morning, Julia,” said Dad with a warm inviting smile.

“Good morning, Dad. Where’s Mom?”

“She’s still getting ready for work. What do you want for breakfast,” Dad asked.

“I’m just going to grab a banana. Don’t want to be late for school. I’ll see you later on when you get out of work, bye,” I yelled back as I hurried out the door.

My school was only four blocks from my house, so most of the time I walked, except if it rained. Then I had to take the bus, which I really didn’t care for. I’ve never been popular or even had that many friends, mostly because I’ve stayed to myself. It’s not that I don’t want a social life; it’s just that being a freshman in high school is tough.

There are so many cliques in school. There’s the jocks, cheerleaders, band, social clubs, like math, science, and chess. I’ve never wanted to be in any clique simply because I’m my own person. I have a few friends that I sit with at lunch, but other than that, I pretty much pay attention in school and get good grades. My favorite subject has always been social studies. As the day went by in school, I started to think about the move to New York. Maybe it wouldn’t be all that bad. Maybe I’d find a friend or two.

The walk home gave me a chance to try and have an open mind about the new changes that were about to take place. Okay, so I’d have a new home, a new neighborhood, a new school, and new places to shop. Now shopping in New York would more than likely be a lot different from shopping in Ohio. I’ve seen some of the clothes in teen magazines. Not sure if I’d where any of them, but they are really stylish.

Once I arrived back home, I went straight to my room to get started on my homework. Neither one of my parents were home yet. I had a big history test coming up in two day and I wanted to make a good grade. In class our focus has been about presidents and laws. When it comes to politics, I’m neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I stand for what I believe is right for our country. I studied for over an hour and then headed down to the kitchen for a light snack before dinner.