A/n: So, there will be quiet a few text conversations in this story, and this chapter has the first one. When you're reading these conversations remember: Harper's messages are always written in bold and italics, to keep it different from thinking, and anyone else's (Mostly Bailey's) are bold. Thank you, and enjoy!

"Hey, Harper," Harper's father said gently, shaking his daughter's shoulder to wake her up, " We're here. "

Harper rubbed her tired eyes and looked out the car window. They were parked in front of a large apartment building that looked pretty normal. The only weird thing was the strangely high tech door on the front of the house.

"Um... What's up with the door?" Harper asked.

 "Huh? Oh, the door!" Her father rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, " As I said before, my job is really classified, so this door keeps people from breaking in and stealing things. "

Harper nodded, though she didn't entirely understand, and they got out of the car and walks to the door. Her father placed his hand on a small panel beside the door. It slide open quietly, and they stepped inside.

The apartment was fairly big and very modern. The living room had white tile flooring and two whole walls were made of glass sliding doors. There were very rugs and white couches and chairs. The dining room was nearby, and consisted of a dark brown table surrounded by white chairs.

(A/n: It looks like this:)

 "Woah!" Harper gasped as she walked around.

 Her father laughed, "Glad you like it! I know its not much compared to your old home, but it's a good start!"

" How is this 'not much' in your eyes?  This place is amazing! "

He laughed again, "Well, that's good. Come on, let me show you your room." He led her down a rather long hallway before opening a door at the end of it , "Here you are!"

" Wait, how did you already know I would be coming here? "

"I didn't. It was a guest room, but when people visited, it was usually for work, and they didn't spend the night. Now, you can stay there!" Suddenly, his phone beeped and he pulled it out , "Sorry, Harper, it's a work call. I need to take this. You can explore the house on your own for now."

Harper nodded and her father smiled before walking back down the hallway. She watched him go before she opened her bedroom door. Her room was way bigger than the one in her old house. The walls were a dark grey with large windows looking out on the city. The bed rested against a solid black wall covered in light grey squares, and the light coming from below it made the bed seem to float.

(Here's what it looks like:)

Harper dropped her suitcase on the floor and walked over to the floating bed. She flopped down on it in her back and closed her eyes as she sunk into the soft material. She felt herself dozing off when her phone alerted her. Harper opened it up and read the text from Bailey.

Hey! Did you make it to your new house yet?

Yeah! Check it out! She took a few pictures of her room and sent them to her sister.

Nice! Looks really cool!

thanks! How are you guys doing?

Ok, I guess. Thomas has been walking around the house delivering cookies to everyone when they get sad. Surprisingly, he goes to mom the most. He brought me one and I asked him why. Ya know what he said? He said that, since you weren't there in person, he was going to be out "rock and support". Did you give him that idea?

Harper smiled. Maybe?

Well, whatever you told him, thanks. Honestly, it helps a lot.

No problem! I had to leave you guys with someone, right?

yeah. Anyways, Thomas finally coaxed Hayden out of his room this morning. He took your room, ya know. Apparently he found a bunch of your old, broken stuff, and now he's trying to fix all of it so he can give them to you as gifts.

really?! That's so sweet! I can't wait to see you guys again, ya know.

that goes both ways, sister. I'm already making plans for our escape. Maybe you can convince dad to pick us up and take us to his place when we do?

Um, does mom not check your texts anymore? Or will she block my number after she reads this?

Nope! She's been too busy with work and hoping you come home. Honestly, it's giving me the creeps. She literally just stands on the porch waiting for you to show up. 

Um, scary much?

i know. Anyways, the escape plan won't happen for a few years. The boys don't even know I'm making one yet, and I want them to be ready to leave.

Makes sense. Although it hurts me to say this, I agree, waiting a few years will probably be best.

I'm glad you agree. Um, mom's coming up the stairs, so I'll text you when she's done telling at me. 

What'd you do?

Tell you later. Bye!

Bye

Harper sighed as she put the phone down. Slowly, she sat up and pushed herself off the bed. She opened her suitcase and started organizing everything. Her closet was huge, able to store all her clothes with room to spare, leaving her black dressers free to store knick knacks in and anything she may break in the future. 

When everything was perfectly in place, Harper put her now empty suitcase in the closet before grabbing her phone, a blanket, and a pillow, and walking out the door. Since her windows didn't open, she had to find a new place to think. She looked around the living room until she found a sliding door that opened. Quietly, she pushed it open and stepped out onto a balcony. Facing the wall, she looked for foot holds until she found a tall tree growing near it. She easily climbed it and jumped into a small ledge you could consider a roof.

Setting the pillow up against a corner of the overhang, Harper wrapped herself up in the blanket and watched the sun set. The rose colored sky slowly darkened as the sun sunk below the horizen, and the lilac sky turned violet. Harper sighed as the cool night breeze blew by, and waited as the sky fell asleep. 

Don't worry, she thought, staying with dad can give you a fresh start. It can give all of us a fresh start. A new story. Harper gave a small, hopeful smile to herself before looking at the now nighttime sky. She expected to find peace and comfort up there with the twinkling lights, but when she looked at the navy canvas above her, she couldn't see any stars.

Story word count: 1126

YEAH! Chapter 4 has been completed!  So, I'm considering bringing in a new character and I want your opinion. A: should there be a new character at all? B: if so, girl or boy? C:friend or enemy? 

I have Xcountry practice soon, so I may not post at all after this. Sorry, but I'll see you tomorrow!