Somehow, I manage to convince Veronica to stay with me during Martin's soccer practice. It's not like either of us is the least interested in the sport, but we embrace the chance to cuddle up in our now usual spot under the staircase. We could wait outside and watch the practice, but the cold weather is starting to bite, and Veronica is busy writing a list of names, thinking about her fifteenth birthday party, even though that's nine months away.

"So, why do you live with Martin, anyway?" she asks, pausing with her list.

I'm taken aback, but only for a minute. "Circumstances, I guess."

I could try and tell her the whole story (the bits I know, anyway), but after spending all day focusing too much on serious school stuff, I'm feeling lazy. I'd rather rest my head on her shoulder and fall asleep.

Veronica, however, has other ideas. "Elaborate," she says.

"Hmm... okay." I shift just enough to allow me to kiss her temple. "Dad was left unemployed after the factory he was working at went bankrupt, so Uncle Owen offered my parents work at Aloha-Aloha for a while, so they could save money to open another restaurant one day, you know... turning Aloha into a chain."

"That sounds like a good idea, I guess."

"Yeah." I take a strand of her beautiful hair and curl it around my finger.

"Though, you know..." Veronica says thoughtfully.

"Hmm?"

"What happens then?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what happens when your parents save enough money to start their own business."

"Enlighten me. What happens?"

"They'll probably move." She pauses for a second before stating another very disturbing thought. "Which means YOU will probably move."

I have never thought about this before. I mean, she's making a valid point, and looking back, it's weird that I never considered this myself. Back in the day I thought that moving in with Martin was only a temporary thing, and I was pretty eager for it to pass and be done quickly so I could get back to being the former John—the one with his own room and no troublesome cousin to deal with.

But then time passed, and I find I've become used to this life. I've forgotten about this living situation being temporary. I guess I've taken living in Celadon Bay for granted to the point where I've ended up liking this place and this life without even noticing. This is why Veronica's statement suddenly terrifies me. Will we actually be leaving at some point? Will I have to forego life in Celadon Bay for another new room?

I say the first thing that crosses my mind as a way to dismiss the panic rising in my chest.

"I guess I can ask Mom if I can stay here." I mean, what could possibly go wrong? "Aunt Sugar isn't going to say no to it, and Uncle Owen wouldn't notice either way since he pretty much lives in his restaurant."

"Do you really think your mom would allow that?" Veronica doesn't even try to conceal her sarcasm, and if she is, well... it's not working. At any rate, she's right. Mom would NEVER allow me to stay here while she goes elsewhere. No matter where that "somewhere" happens to be.

"Probably not." Can we please move away from this topic before I start sweating? Because I don't really like where this conversation is going so I guess the best I can do is put an end to it. "To answer your question," I continue, "we'll probably be moving back to Sunset Central, where we lived before. That's just thirty miles away, so I guess it's not that big a deal."

"I guess that makes sense," Veronica says flatly.

Still, the idea of moving away from Celadon Bay makes my heart shrink with longing. I almost miss Veronica even though she's right here cuddling with me. I think she notices, because she holds both my hands, squeezing them in a reassuring way. When I look at her, she's smiling at me. Her eyes are bright, warm and nurturing, and for a second I forget what we're talking about as her warmth spreads to my heart, gathers intensity, and then travels all the way to my lips.

"You went all gloomy there for a moment," she says. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Her smile finally snaps me out of my dark thoughts. This is why I need this girl in my life, see? More confidently now, I repeat myself. "Yeah, definitely."

But just for good measure, I free my hands from hers and pull her into a tight hug. I just want to feel her closer. She runs her fingers through my hair, just above the back of my neck: she learned that this puts me at ease like nothing else in the world. Her usual sixteen decibels are halved as she whispers in my ear.

"I'm not going anywhere, John."

She sounds so earnest, so honest, that I don't doubt her at all. She's not going anywhere.

Problem is, one day I might.