1 Chapter 1:

I was at a sleepover on a Monday night. It was the last day of school. I live in Los Angeles, California. My best friend, Mary Jane Coonts, invited me. In fact, our other two best friends, Janet Phoneix and Sarah Jones, as well. Actually, it was my final day here because my father, Robert Moore, and I are moving away to Providence, Rhode Island. He was going to pick me up at ten in the morning to finish packing and we can leave soon after that. My mama, Beth, left us when I was little and we have no idea where she went. Dad won't tell me because he didn't have a clue. I love doing everything with Dad although he has a few rules.

I'm 14 years old and I'm starting high school in Providence in September. I'm not allowed to have a boyfriend. The truth is that I'm ready to have one. I have a cell phone, but I can't use it at dinnertime or anywhere else (duh), which is I knew. And, the only times I can leave the table is when I get tired, sick, or to finish homework. I didn't mind that rule so I can spend time with Dad. But I would like to make my own choices for a change.

Mary Jane gave me a gift and said, "This is a farewell present for you."

When I opened it, I noticed it was a scrapbook.

"Janet, Stephanie, and Sarah pitched in," said Mary Jane. "Speaking of Stephanie, she's not coming to the party. She got sick after school."

"She told me that before I came," I said.

Stephanie is my fourth best friend.

Then, we looked through the memory book together.

"Thanks. I like this idea," I said.

"This would be a perfect way for you to think of us each day," said Mary Jane.

"I knew I would," I said. "I wish I wouldn't move. I'd miss all three of you."

"You better call and email us every single day, Becky," said Mary Jane.

My friends call me that. It's short for Rebecca. Mary Jane and I have been best friends since preschool. Then, we became good friends with Janet and Sarah in first grade on the first day of school. They were already friends at the time. Janet was from Ohio and Sarah was from Maine. We're like sisters. I have no siblings. Dad is all that I got. He always tells me I'm his only girl in his life. He's a doctor and works at St. Jude's Hospital and his boss decided to relocate him to Women and Infants' Hospital. That's why we're leaving L.A. Now, I'm used to warm weather, so I'd have to adjust to the cold during Fall and Winter when it snows.

The part from California I would miss is the beach. The gals and I would spend the day there every weekend. My Grandma Tricia used to take us there. She passed away two years ago. I miss her a lot. Her husband, Luke, passed away not long before I was born. Mom was pregnant with me back then. Her parents has been dead for five years from a broken heart according to Dad. Why? They were very upset what Mom did to us and neither of them knew where their daughter went to. They both would like to know why she did it. Dad and I would like to know, too.

An hour later, the doorbell rang.

"Party!" we exclaimed.

We did everything tonight. We would do manicures and watch movies. We also ordered our favorite slumber party food, Pizza. Mary Jane's parents are out, so they decided to let her have a sleepover to keep her company. They trust us to be on our own. We like that. Who needs sitters at our ages? We used to have them until we were old enough to be on our own when we were 12.

We didn't go to bed until her parents got home, which was after 11:00 pm. They go out for dinner and see a movie or plays.

Like me, Mary Jane is an only child. She was adopted as a toddler. It was a secret. She doesn't know it yet. I was the only one knew from the Coonts. Her real parents are dead. They were in a plane going to Bahamas when it crashed into an ocean and it was lost. So were all of the passengers- including her birth folks- and crew members. She was staying with her godparents, which happened to be the Coonts. Her godparents and her deceased parents were good friends. Her parents haven't told her.

The next day, we were up by 9:00 am. Her parents left for work. Mr. Coonts works at the bank and Mrs. Coonts is a lawyer.

At 9:50 am, I said, "My dad will be here soon. I have to finish packing so we can take off right after that."

"My mother's on her way and offered to give Sarah a ride home," said Janet.

We were outside when Mrs. Jones came and picked the girls up.

"There's my mom. Come on, Sarah," said Janet.

"Alright. Bye, Becky. We'll miss you," said Sarah as they got in Mrs. Jones' car.

"Bye. Thanks for the scrapbook," I said waving to them.

"Not a problem," said Janet as her car was moving.

"I can't believe this is the end today," said Mary Jane.

"I know," I said. "Thank god we're still best friends no matter where we are. Nothing would ever change."

"Tell me about it," agreed Mary Jane.

That was when I spotted Dad's car showing up.

"Well, thanks for everything," I said as we hugged. "I won't forget you or the girls."

"Same here," said Mary Jane.

I got my suitcase with my scrapbook in it going to the car and got in.

"Bye," I said waving to her.

"Bye, Becky," said Mary Jane waving back.

"Did you had fun time at the sleepover party?" asked Dad as we took off.

"I did," I replied.

At home, I finished packing my stuff from my room. Then, I continued helping Dad pack from the living room that he started yesterday and the kitchen. When we completed, we packed up the car.

"Are we all set to go before we take off?" asked Dad.

"Yes," I replied.

Then, we turned off the lights and locked the doors. We went in the car as we took off.

"We can have lunch in town on the way to the highway," said Dad.

"Sounds good to me," I said.

I was hungry all of sudden. We decided to have KFC. I like fast foods when Dad feels like it.

"Rebecca, is that you?" asked a woman.

I looked and it was my godmother I haven't seen for the past ten years. She's a good friend of Mom's. It's odd that I remembered her.

"Hi, Martha," I said.

"I can't believe you're getting big," said Martha.

"I'm 14 now," I said.

"Already. Wow," said Martha. "You look so much like your mother."

"Dad tells me the same thing. We still don't know where she went," I said.

"I still can't find her either. Leaving you with your father wasn't a smart thing. I do remember she didn't want to be a mother or a wife anymore, which might explain why she left," said Martha.

"It seemed she didn't care about us," I said.

"I agree with you," said Martha.

"Dad and I are moving to Providence, Rhode Island today. Dr. Lance decided to relocate Dad for working so hard," I said.

"Good for you, Robert," said Martha.

"Thank you," said Dad. "I figured to have lunch before we hit the highway. We just finished packing."

"How's Patrick? I haven't seen him for a long time," I said.

Patrick is her husband and my godfather.

"He got killed in a car accident. My two children were ten and nine. My third child died in the same crash," replied Martha.

"Wow," I said.

"I'm dating again. His name is Peter. He's great to my kids. He also has children of his own. He has four of them. Their names are Alicia, Marcia, Jackie, and Peter, Jr. They and our kids get along great," said Martha. "We have been together for the past three to four years. His former wife, Jocelyn, and I get along just fine."

"That's good," I said.

After lunch, we said our good-byes and left. It was nice that she ate with us. I don't get why we ended up seeing each other after ten years. I was four when Mom left. Did Martha thought Mom she took me? I doubt it since Martha left us both. I heard Dad had a fight with Patrick and Martha, which may explain why I haven't seen my godparents all these years. Dad never tells me anything about that.