Across the States in 30 Days

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Chapter One

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Rory’s Farewell Party

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You’re invited! Come and celebrate Rory Taylor’s last days in Las Angeles California. We were told by Rory himself that, unfortunately, he will be moving by the beginning of summer vacation to Manhattan, New York. If you have received this invitation then aren’t you lucky! That means you’re one of Rory’s friends and I’ve actually taken the time to invite you. Now remember, this farewell party is a surprise party so keep it a secret. It will take place at Rory’s house at 4 o’clock. It’s Rory’s last days in Las Angeles, try to make them the best for him! See you at the party!

- Carter Johnson

Josie sighed depressingly and closed her locker shut. She clutched the invitation in her hand. The little card had slipped out unknowingly when she opened her locker until her eyes flickered to the tile floor of the hall. She was less than willing to pick up the colorful card and read it. She regretted it after her eyes scanned the text on the card. She flung her backpack over her shoulder and stared into space.

“So the rumors were true,” she breathed. “Rory really is moving.”

“You got one too?” a Mexican accented voice called from behind Josie. She turned to face one of her good friends. The Mexican girl waltzed up to Josie, wearing a smile on her make-up painted face.

“Carter invited you too Jasmine?” Josie laughed lightly. She waved her own invitation in the air. “How do you think Rory will react when he finds out?”

“We won’t know until the party tomorrow,” Jasmine replied.

The two girls made their way down the hall, hurrying to meet up with their other friends. The hallway was filled with high school students, all desperate to make it out. The day had ended and everyone was more than anxious to get home. With it being Friday, the students were ready to get out and relax over the weekend. And summer vacation was almost upon them, making the students extra rowdy.

Jasmine shot Josie a worried side-glance. “So how are you taking the news?” she asked, referring to Rory.

Josie hesitated. She looked down at her friend and forced a smile. “I’m completely fine.” She quickly looked away so that Jasmine wouldn’t notice the sudden frown that soon followed her smile. She was anything but fine.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon in Las Angeles. Mostly everyone had taken shelter inside, including a group of teens participating in certain farewell party. The living room in Rory’s house was crowded with students who had just passed their junior year of high school. The small party was being chaperoned by the parents of the guest of honor. His own farewell party was overcrowding his house, making him slightly annoyed. Rory’s friend was too lazy to throw the party at his house. He wondered why he was friends with Carter. Speaking of him, Carter stood up with a glass of soda on his hand.

“Can I get your attention,” the Black called out to the others participating in the party. Everyone stopped their chattering and directed their attention to the tall seventeen year old. His hair was a pitch-black color, and shaved. He looked out at the crowd with his dark brown eyes. His skin was the same shade of brown as his eyes. Today for the party he wore a green-stripped polo shirt and dark blue jeans rolled up near the end.

The room remained completely silent. Time seemed to be standing still in the living room. The rest of Rory’s friends looked up at Carter, waiting for him to continue his speech.

Carter cleared his throat and continued. “As you all know, we’re throwing this party for the loser we all know as Rory.”

He paused as several teens in front of him laughed. Carter smiled and went on. “We learned that Rory’s family is moving to New York, and he’s leaving the rest of us here in Las Angeles,” Carter said, faking disappointment. Rory chuckled to himself.

In the back of the room, sitting on a squishy couch, were five girls. All of them were holding sodas of some sort in their hands. Among these girls was Josie Pryce. She hadn’t acted like it all day, but she was the most upset about Rory’s moving. She tried to get the nagging feeling to leave her alone, but Jasmine had kept mentioning it. She listened to Carter intently, still unable to believe that Rory really was moving.

It felt like everything she had worked so hard at suddenly crumbled away into nothingness. All her patience and subtle, yet desperate, attempt were for nothing. She worked carefully at each step, each one planned better than the last. Three years of waiting and hoping. And Rory was moving.

“So we’re using up whatever time we have left with Rory,” Carter said. He held his soda in the air. The others copied him. “To Rory!”

“To Rory!” the teens cheered. They clinked their drinks together with whoever was sitting next to them. Josie tapped her cup against her two friends sitting on either side of her.

“Do you have any last words to say dude?” Carter asked as he turned to look at Rory.

A well-built boy with straight dark brown hair reaching the middle of his neck stood up from where he was leaning against the wall. Josie’s eyes washed over Rory. He walked up to Carter’s side and looked out at the crowd with his hazel eyes. Rory’s slight tan was lighter when compared to Carter. Josie closely studied his well-built figure as Rory spoke up.

“First I’d like to thank Carter for throwing this farewell party for me. Also, I enjoyed the time I spent with you guys here,” Rory said, smiling at his friends crowding his living room.

“Now he’s getting sentimental,” Carter joked. Some of their friends laughed.

Rory chuckled and went on. “Of course, New York should be better than here right?”

Some people agreed with him, saying amen and whatnot. The other half of his friends disagreed and booed at him.

“You know I’ll miss you guys though,” Rory laughed. He ran his hand through his hair. “If there’s anything anyone of you would like to tell me, better tell me now.”

“Or forever hold your peace,” Carter added, smiling teasingly.

Rory nodded and looked out at his friends. The small group of teens remained silent, unsure what to say to him. Josie hesitated, thinking deeply about it. It was now or never. She slowly stood up, tightly gripping her soda. Everyone directed their attention to the freakishly tall, lanky brunette whose hair was pulled back into a ponytail that reached her shoulder blades. Josie smiled and held up her glass.

“Rory…” she spoke in a deep voice. Josie tried, but the words she really wanted to say wouldn’t come out. She realized now wasn’t the best time to confess to him, not in front of all their friends. She raised the glass higher and forced a toothy smile. “Good luck in New York.”

The silence in the room was too awkward for her. Carter suddenly started clapping, causing everyone else to join in. Josie frowned and slumped back into the couch. She joined in with the clapping, though not clapping as loudly as the others. She had her chance, and she blew it. Rory was moving, and he was going to move without knowing how Josie really felt.

Carter ran over to a stereo sitting on a shelf in the living room. “Now let’s get this party started!” Carter exclaimed as he pushed a button on the stereo, blasting loud music in the living room.

Everyone in the living room scattered into different directions. Some danced while others mingled as the party officially started. Josie remained on the couch. She watched her four other friends have fun. She looked across the room and noticed Rory and laughing with his friends. Josie sighed and hung her head. She was suddenly not in a partying mood.