Four months ago...

On the gloomy, humid Friday morning, who would have thought that Alina Starling, the most popular girl in her school, girlfriend of the top basketball player Tom, and a full-year scholarship winner, is moving to Sausalito? Leaving her perfect life behind.

San Francisco was a dream come true, but as we all know, good dreams never last long.

"Are we still not going to talk about it?" Mrs. Starling asked.

Talk about what, how my parents ruined my life? Thought Alina but stopped herself from saying it.

"You know it is hard for me too, Alina."

Hard for you too? As if. You weren't the one who left your whole life, friends, and dreams behind. Alina again kept her thoughts to herself and dug deeper into the backseat of her dad's favourite black Honda Civic.

She felt that even if her mom, looks into her eyes through a rare view mirror, she'd see the hate, anger, and sadness in her heart, and that might give her a reason to fight.

After three day-long battle with her parents, she was not really in the mood for another. Plus fighting means not eating food as a way of blackmailing and she was super hungry, so no to any more fights.

Maybe... just maybe, if she ignores and endures everything silently, it will all just vanish like a bad dream. she'd be back in Anna's house having the time of her life.

"Can you at least say something?" Mrs starling pleaded.

Alina looked at her mom through the rare view mirror, She was not a very good driver but here she is driving the car to run away, her eyes looked bloodshot, and her hair was in a messy ponytail, she sobbed and looked towards Alina through the same mirror.

Alina ducked but felt a pang of guilt hit her. That sob told a lot of things to Alina and one of the most prominent messages that sob made known was hurt.

Just like a jolt of electricity, Alina was suddenly very aware of all the bad things she said to her parents in these three-four days. It made her feel like a brat.

"Mom, are you okay?' The guilt in her heart rose, as soon as her mother's eyes met hers through the mirror. The vibrant and beautiful brown eyes were looking dull and puffy like there is no happiness left in her mother's heart.

Was this my fault, she thought.

"Yes, better than ever. Are you?"

She lied, Alina thought, she lied even with those puffy, unhappy eyes, she lied. Just for me, and look at me...

"I know," her mom started while looking straight towards the road. "Leaving is hard and especially with senior year, prom, Anna, Tom, scholarship." she paused, " I know, I am ruining everything for you Ali, but would you just forgive me for that?" In the last sentence, Alina's decision was final. No need to wait for any stop she needs to change seats now.

She squeezed herself in between the gap of the front seats and got stuck. Her mom looked at her in amusement. "Ali..."

"Just a sec Mom." she wiggled her stuck, left foot out of the back floorboard and put it on the passenger seat. She did the same with her right and sat on the chair with a bounce.

"Done." She Announced cheerfully to which her mom laughed. It was good to hear her laugh.

"You look very pretty when you laugh Mom."

Her mom shook her head in denial, "Yeah, yeah, I know."

"No, seriously Mom, I am damn sure, there is going to be a huge line of guys volunteering to be my father in Sausalito as soon as you step foot outside."

Her mom laughed again and it felt like some guilt was gone.

"You are not mad about moving?" her mom asked.

"No, In fact, if I think, it's a great opportunity..." her mom looked at her amused. "You know, how I told you about writers going to some place alone and writing their bestseller, well I think this town will give me my bestseller." Alina Grinned at her mom while she just smiled back.

"it is going to be alright, Mom." She added after a minute. "I am always gonna be with you, no matter what."

"Thanks for saying that, Ali, I am sorry I am not being the best Mom right now..."

"Oh, but you are!" She lept and hugged Mrs. Starling tightly. "You are still the best mom, in the world. I might have to think about Paa Though."

Her mom finally grinned and added, "Okay, okay now let me drive, your Gramps and Gramma are waiting."

"Are we gonna stay with them?" Alina asked while sliding back into her seat.

"For a while yeah."

"Cool."

"Cool." Mrs. starling Mimicked.

"I love you, Mom."

"Love you too, baby."

Alina smiled and looked out of the window towards the forest, her heart felt lighter after having this discussion with her mother, and without any trying, hope started filling it.

Sausalito here we come.

»»————-　★　————-««

I always wanted to write romance and put all my guilty pleasures and cliches in it. So here it is.

I hope you guys love it as much as I do.

Thanks for reading.

Don't forget to vote, share and comment.

Love, Missy𓆩*𓆪.