Until You.

 A L I Y A H My fingers typed a reply rapidly to the text I had just received from Mia. Letting her know I'd be there soon, I slid my phone back into my jean pocket and leaned my head against the car window. "What did she say?" Dad's voice echoes throughout the car. He looks at me through the rearview mirror for a slight second before indicating and driving off the highway into a local road. "That she's waiting for us," I reply, and he nods. Mom, who was in the passenger seat, reaches for something in her purse and hands it to Loren, who was sitting in the middle, between Emily and me. For the vast Rover we were in, she sure looked squished, seated in between her two sisters. "Only until we get there, then I want it back, bene?" Mom says to her, turning her head towards her. [Bene-Okay.] Loren nods eagerly and snatches her phone out of my Mom's hand. She was definitely always let off the hook since she was the youngest, she got the free pass as a child more than Emily, and I ever did. I was closer with Loren than I was with Emily, even though she was closer to my age. She was two years older than me, graduated with a job that had her work remotely, so it didn't matter to her that we were moving cities. Loren and I were still in school; it sucked that we had to move. Moving cities meant moving schools, and I wasn't exactly the best when it comes to opening up to new people. However, Loren was a beam of sunshine when it came to interacting and socializing. I did not doubt that she would fit in. It is myself that I'm worried about. Gia and Jade had promised to visit every school break they got, and honestly, that was more than enough for me. They were the only two best friends I had aside from Mia, who has always lived in Vegas. Her dad and my father were close with their business, so they would visit Louisville almost every weekend, and since Mia and I were the same age, we became best friends over the years. Mia was part of the reason I wasn't wholly scared of starting school or settling in. Dad made sure to send me to the same school Mia was in to make it easier for me to adjust, and Loren was going to a high school near my college, whose principal happens to know my dad. When dad had told us we were moving to Vegas for his new business deal, I was upset, to say the least. Mom, Emily, and Loren were too, but they got over it in a matter of days. I grew up in Louisville, made friends, and now suddenly, we had to move. I was slightly excited for a fresh start, leaving behind all the bad memories and taking the good ones with me. Most of our family and relatives lived in Vegas anyway, so it wasn't entirely new. "We're here," Dad says, snapping me out of my thoughts. Loren sits up, and we both look outside the window. The neighbourhood was gated; houses looked newly built and expensive. It was nice that Dad was successful enough to be able to afford all of this for us. The area was away from the busy side of the city. It was quiet around here. It looked like the kind of place where everyone knew everyone. Dad parks outside the house. I had seen so many times in the pictures he'd shown me. The truck with all our belongings was already there, and I could see Mia sat on the far-reaching front steps. She stands as soon as she sees us and waves. I didn't even get a chance to catch my balance when I got out of the car before Mia's arms wrapped around me. "Omg, finally. I can't believe you're actually here!" She says, hugging me tightly. I hug her back, being glad to see her again. "Mia," Mom says, and Mia turns around and hugs her and says hi to Dad. She also greets Emily and Loren, who seem to be observing the outside of the house. Mia waits till everyone walks further up ahead before whispering in my ear. "The best thing about these new houses is that you sneak out of your bedroom window." She says with a playful smirk. I roll my eyes with a sight smile, "Mia, you kn-" She cuts me off. "No, shush. You're in Vegas now. It's time to break a few rules; you've been a goody-two-shoes all your life. Loosen up." She says. "I've broken plenty of rules," I reply, and she places her hand on her hips, raising her beautifully thick eyebrows. Mia was a brunette like myself. She had dark brown eyes, tan skin, and a tall figure that she got through her Asian heritage. "Okay, okay, maybe not that many rules but still," I say. She rolls her brown eyes and says "Well I'm going to try to convince you somehow." "Sure," I say, walking up the front steps. Mom, Dad, and my sisters were already inside, placing their suitcases down and wandering about. I step in and take in my surroundings. It felt homey enough. There was a large fireplace to the left, with two couches facing towards it. A couple of doors were scattered around the hallway, which I'm assuming led to the backyard and the kitchen. A large bookcase followed the fireplace and an armchair. Aside from that, the place was empty of furniture but knowing Mom, the house would be ready by the end of the week. A large staircase was on the right, leading upstairs. Mia pulled my arm as we both walked up the stairs. Loren and Emily followed us. I could hear dad downstairs talking to someone on the phone, Mom gushing over how huge the kitchen was. The stairs landed on a vast ground floor: different hallways, different rooms. Double-hung windows were spread across the walls. There were more than enough rooms for the five of us since dad wanted a home office of his own. Loren sprints past us and immediately opens each door room, rapidly inspecting which one she liked most. "This one's mine." She says, stopping at the far left. A few older men, carrying our stuff in boxes, nodded at Loren putting her things in the room she had chosen. Emily had a look of her own before deciding to have the one next to Loren's. That left three more rooms. "This one, Aliyah," Mia says, beckoning to the door on the left opposite Loren's and Emily's room. It was isolated from the rest of the rooms but not too far. I followed Mia to the room and took a step in. Large windows were centred on one wall, Another door leading to the bathroom accompanied them. The room was empty, mine and Mia's footsteps echoing through the room. It was big enough for me, and all my things. I take a long look out the window and realize Mia was right. I could sneak out of here. And since my room window view was towards the backyard, it'd be easier for me to get out without my parents noticing. The backyard was definitely twice the size of our old one, with large evergreens spread neatly around it. The rest was just grass with concrete. Mia opens the bathroom door and squeaks in approval. "Woah, it's marble in here." She says, walking in. I follow behind her and have a look of my own. It was small but big enough. Whoever had designed the place was sure to make it look luxurious despite its small size. A knock on the door made me step out of the bathroom. The same men with Loren's boxes were nowhere with mine. I nod as the two of them walk in, placing them in the corner. Dad follows behind them and smiles as he sees me. "I take it; you like the place then?" He asks, and I nod. "Have you had a look in the rest of the rooms?" He asks. "No, not yet," I say, and he beckons me to follow him. Mia follows as we both inspect the rest of the rooms. Mom and dad obviously got the most enormous room. Emily, mine, and Loren's room is pretty much the same size, a bathroom with large windows allowing plenty of light in. Dad's study was empty as well. It was small, with open bookshelves already fitted in the wall. "Aliyah, bebè, another one of your boxes." Mom's voice rings behind me. I step out of Dad's study and walk into my room as Mom and Mia try to push one of the boxes to the corner of my room. "Geez, Aliyah, what the hell is in this?" Mia asks. "It's probably my books," I say, helping them push the box aside. "The furniture and the rest of your things should be here tomorrow; the mattresses are coming in an hour, so we won't have to sleep on the floor," Mom tells me, and I nod. "Do you like the kitchen then?" I ask her, and her face lights up. She almost squeals like a high school girl. Moms' speciality was in cooking. She loved it. "It's even better than the photos we saw and there's plenty of space for you to bake while I cook." She says, and I smile. I love baking. It was my therapy. It was hard for me to bake in our old house in Louisville while Mom was cooking, but now we could. Maybe moving will be good after all.