BEFORE YOU

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One year ago;

My mother was in a relationship for three years with a man named Robert as her boyfriend, who seemed okay for the most part after my parents got divorced.

My dad cheated on my mom with his secretary's name, Lila. Time passed, and my mom caught them in the actual position of "s*x in the office," and because of that, their happy marriage ended. He just got up and left us, like we were dog s**t on the bottom of his shoe. My mom was broken for a few months before she met Robert, and she came back to life. She started smiling again, and she even started laughing again; even her styles of wearing clothes have changed. There is no loneliness covering her face now, and as her daughter, I am happy for her.

I remember my high school days when I got my first crush in school. I was like a tale by following and observing him except during classes. It was kind of a cute day, inspiring myself with people I wish I had in the future. The same is true for my mom now; she is like a love-sick puppy when it comes to Robert.

And I saw mom turn to the mirror again to put a matte lipstick on her lips.

"Mom is this really necessary? Why can't they just move in with us?" I said, pouting my lips.

I put more of my belongings in another plastic box. I am not even trying to organize anything; I am just literally shoving my stuff into random boxes. Unpacking them is going to be a real treat, but I can't be bothered to care about that right now. I am hoping my mom will change her mind and let us stay in our house, a house I have lived in since the day I was born.

"It's because my job had transfered there. And the four of them already treat us as part of their family now. Plus, we can save money for your future. I promise sweetie, you will be happy this time," she smiled.

There is a reason why we are moving across town. Now, that doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but our town is huge. It takes forty minutes to get all the way through it, especially with traffic. We have been leaving our home for over eighteen years and moving to the north side. Robert, my mom's boyfriend, is the CEO of a big corporate office. He is so rich, and his house is a damn mansion. I got lost the one time I went there.

"We aren't too far away so you can come to see your friends any time you want. Plus you get to have a fresh start at a new school. A well-known university for a rich kid, your future is more important for me sweetie." She added.

And so I continued packing my stuff. To be honest this house no longer feels like a home, not since my dad left.

"Yeah, it's time to start over, good luck to me!" I scoffed rolling my eyes. Thinking the two words of "no choices"

"Sweety, I know this is not ideal, and I am sorry that you are having to uproot everything for me. This could be really good for us; just please git a chance" I sigh with frustration and stuff the rest of my belongings into the box. I threw each box down hard as I assisted her in loading it into the moving truck's back. Even though I knew I was being dramatic, I didn't care.

"Couldn't Robert like hire some movers?" I realize how ridiculous I sound but I've never moved before and honestly it sucks more ass than I could even express.

"He offered but I said no. I figured it would be therapeutic for us to bond one last time just the two of us while we pack up our old house. I didn't want anyone scuffing anything up or ruining, maybe even breaking our stuff."

"This place isn't a home anymore." I jumped out of the back of the moving truck and pulled the sliding door down and flicked the latch locking the back of the truck shutting all of our belongings inside.

I hear my mom mutter under her breath, and guilt fills my veins. I know I am being a brat, but I am not thrilled about moving. I am not thrilled about living with four guys, Robert and his three sons. I have met two of the three, and sure, they are hot but arrogant pricks. Jefferson and Alfred. Robert has a third son named Reid, whom I've never met, and from what I have heard the one time I was there, I am not sure that I ever want to.

"I can't thank you enough for agreeing to come with me. I know your father offered to let you live with him and Lila but I am glad you choose to stay with me."

"I would rather die than to live with him again. So the choice wasn't a hard one to make."

"You know you don't have to hate him because of what he did. I don't. He set me free sweetie, if anything I owe him a token of appreciation. I want you to have a relationship with your dad."

"Yeah well I am still mad at him. You can forgive the man all you want but he didn't just leave you he left me too, his own flesh and blood and started a new family, got a woman who is only seven years older than me pregnant and wants to be father of the year? f**k that." I huffed and watched my childhood home get smaller and smaller as my mom drove off leaving our home and my childhood in the rear view mirror.

After two hours, we pulled into the iron-fenced mansion on several acres of land; there were no neighbors within miles. That is comforting. My mom drove the moving truck up a long, stained slab of concrete that led up to the house. The house is gorgeous by any standards. It's huge white and tan stones with big bay windows that take up most of the front of the house. There is a five-car garage attached to it, with some of the luxurious cars parked inside. It is easy to spot with the garage doors all open. There's a Lamborghini, an Audi, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, a Range Rover, and a Rolls Royce all parked inside. A bit excessive if you ask me, but hey, I didn't buy the damn things. I will never be able to afford something like those cars anyway, but they sure are nice to look at.

"Mom, are you sure about this?" I asked her once again while we were still inside the truck.

"Yes sweetie. I already think this twice like a hundred times. And Robert made a promise that he will keep us safe and happy. I trusted him."

Actually, from what my mom said, there is still some doubt deep inside of me. I don't know how deeply Mom knows this family, but for me, they will still be strangers in my life. Right now, there is nothing I can do but trust and respect them.

I am Jenny Mortez, a 18-year-old daughter who is heartbroken.