Page 72 of Chasing Elliott
"Wait, what are you talking about?" I rushed out as I pushed myself out of the chair.
"Kara is going to apologize and forgive Elliott because she doesn't want to leave anything unresolved before Elliott moves in with her cousin out in Florida," Andrea informed me. Noticing the shocked look on my face, she rolled her eyes as she gave me an annoyed look. "You're running away, too. Don't get why you look so hurt."
"When does she leave?" I asked as Andrea pulled open the front door.
She turned around to look at me with a sad smile, but it didn't seem all that genuine. "Sheleaves tonight with Nicholas. Actually, I'm sure they're heading to the airport soon. I know Karasaid she'd be there about now to say goodbye, so."
Not giving me a chance to reply, she turned around and walked out of the apartment. Standing there alone in the silence, I started to think about how much I loved her and how it would crush me to leave things like they are. I felt horrible that it took me hearing that she was leaving to make me desperate, but I think a small part of me was telling myself that she'd always be here if things changed.
But that wasn't the case anymore.
Unless I did something about it.
Tearing out of the apartment, I quickly ran down the stairs to my car. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I clicked on Elliott's number, but it went straight to voicemail. Climbing into the car, I tried Kara as I drove off towards their townhouse.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do, sweetie?" My Aunt asked as she helped mepack the last of my stuff in the bedroom at the townhouse. "You can always just move back home with us. Your room is still the same way you left it."
"I'm sure, momma," I reassured her as I flashed her a weak smile. "This will be good for me. A fresh start and going for my masters is a good thing."
My Uncle entered the room and leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded over his chest. "We just want to make sure you're going for the right reasons. We are so proud of youfor pursuing your dreams, we just want to check in and make sure you aren't running away from the bad here and actually picked Florida because you want to be there."
Sighing as I dropped a photo album in the box in front of me, I closed my eyes to contain my tears before slowly opening them to look at the two people who saved me from the horriblelife I was given. The people who helped shape me into the person I am today.
"I just need to go somewhere new, and I think Alex could really help me," I told them sadly as a stray tear fell from my eye. "I need something that's somewhat familiar to help mestart piecing my life back together. I need to find myself again, and I really think that I can do that out there."
"Okay, bug," my Aunt mumbled sadly as she put a hand on my shoulder. "We'll support you no matter what. We love you so much."
Throwing my arms around her, I hugged her tightly as the tears poured from my eyes. It killed me to think about leaving them and not being able to go and see them whenever I wanted,but it was time I took a leap and did something I wouldn't normally do to try and reconnect with who I used to be.
"Alright guys, stop getting so emotional," Nicholas interrupted as he burst into the room. "She's not dying. She'll be home plenty and you'll go visit her more than necessary, so you'll befine. We're supposed to be helping her move, not making her cry so come on you three, get it together."
Laughing at him, I pulled away from my Aunt and shook my head as I wiped at my eyes. "Thanks, Nico. Is the kitchen done?"
"Yes, it is," my Uncle answered as he grabbed the two boxes I had sitting by the door. "Everything is in the truck already so it's just getting the last few things in here and your mattress and then we can go."
Nodding, I gave them a small smile as they disappeared with some boxes. Walking over to my end table, I grabbed the last picture I had in the room and tears sprung to my eyes again. The picture was of me, Kara, Benjamin, and Cooper at karaoke when we all sang a song together. Smiling at the memory, I walked back over to my Aunt and put the photo on the top of the box.
"It's a beautiful picture," she said softly as she rested a hand on my back before I closed the box and reached for the duct tape.
"It was a great memory."
My Aunt pressed a kiss to my temple before picking up the box and heading out of theroom. Looking over at Mia who lay on my bed, I grabbed the leash off the floor and clipped itonto her collar. She instantly jumped off the mattress and followed beside me as I walked to thefront door.
Nicholas and my Uncle came walking by me, heading toward my room to collect my mattress. Making my way down the stairs with Mia, I walked out into the nice sunny weatherand made my way over to the car where my Aunt stood leaning against the hood.
I opened up the back door and let Mia jump in before closing it behind her. She rested herhead against the open window as I watched the boys carry the mattress outside and disappear into the back of the moving van.
Once they had my things loaded up, they closed up the back of the van and hopped in. Giving my Aunt a small smile over the hood of the car, I slid into the passenger seat and turned on the radio as we drove off to their house.
Pulling up to my Aunt and Uncle's home, a genuine smile came to my face as I looked up at the large modern house. So many memories from my childhood after I moved in here flashed through my head and a sense of nostalgia rushed over me.
"It's been empty without you three in it," my Aunt commented as we climbed out of the car. Opening up the back seat, Mia jumped out and I unhooked her leash. She wasted no time in running around the yard, enjoying the open space. “I don’t know what we were thinking about selling it. This will always be home.”
"I bet, but I'm sure it's cheaper," I teased as I bumped my shoulder into hers beforelinking our arms together and walking up to the front door. “I am glad you decided not to sell.”
Nicholas and my Uncle came walking up behind us and I turned around to narrow my eyes at Nicholas as he kicked my foot, trying to trip me up. "Since we have to leave in two hours for the airport, want me to order a pizza?"
"Works for me," I told him as I followed my Aunt inside after calling for Mia. "You know what I like."
