"So unexpected,
the tables have turned."

[POV: Nova]

I FELT THE AIR ESCAPE MY LUNGS, my heart sinking into the depths of despair. It felt as if the very foundation of our memories, our safe haven, was being ripped away from us. Each room, each corner held cherished moments with our mother, etched in our hearts forever.

Nova: "But how?" -I stammered, struggling to comprehend the news.

Conrad: "How what?"

Nova: "Why would they sell it? Mom's only been gone for a month, how could they?" -I cried out, covering my face as more sobs came out of me.

I felt Conrad's hands trying to grab my back, but I quickly stepped off to catch a breath by myself.

Nova: "I mean, who even is behind all of this? Who's selling the house?"

I could hear the boy taking deep breaths behind me before answering my question, curiosity and anger both eating me up all at once. Conrad's voice trembled as he then revealed the cruel truth.

Conrad: "Apparently, Aunt Julia is the one selling it. It's hers now."

Nova: "Aunt Julia?" -I repeated, staring at Conrad in disbelief.

He only nodded slowly, making me scoff as I began to reach for my phone quickly. The boy then noticed and walked towards me rapidly, grabbing my wrist as soon as he noticed what I was doing.

Conrad: "Don't call, Dad."

Nova: "What do you mean don't call him? He's literally the only one that could help us, Con."

Conrad: "I already tried countless of times to convince him...trust me, it didn't work."-he spoke firmly, pulling my phone away from my grip and placing it on the living room's couch.

I stared at him for a short amount of time until I finally realized something in particular, I stepped back slightly almost feeling like I was about to lose my balance.

Nova: "Wait a minute, how long have you known about this?"

Conrad: "I can't tell you right now."

Nova: "What the hell do you mean you can't tell me?!" -I shouted, pushing him back.

Conrad: "Meryl, calm down."

I pushed the boy even harder after hearing his words, making him hit his back against the wall behind him. He stared at me almost in shock but still raised his hands up in surrender.

Nova: "Why do you do this, Conrad? Why do you hide secrets from everyone? I've talked to you about this countless of times, I've told you to trust me with anything but you still don't."

Conrad: "Maybe cause I knew this would be the exact same way you'd react."

I sighed out loud after his reply, glancing at the ground with complete exhaustion and frustration at the same time.

Nova: "Why would she do this to, Mom?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as waves of grief mingled with overwhelming anger. How could our Aunt kept such a burden concealed from us, from her nephews? It felt like a betrayal, a cruel twist of fate.

I get that we weren't close, but she's still family...we're still family. Why wasn't Dad doing anything as well? What was his problem?

Nova: "Have you confronted, Aunt Julia?" -I asked, glancing at Conrad again.

Conrad: "Not really, Dad only said that we can't afford to repay the house's debts, Nova. Since Aunt Julia owns it, she and the bank has decided to foreclose, and they're putting the house up for sale."

Conrad's eyes seemed to harden, his voice filled with a fierce determination.

Conrad: "Look, Nova, we need to be strong now. We have to face this head-on. We'll find a way to navigate through this chaos and learn how to let go from this house...maybe it's for the bet-"

Nova: "Stop it! I won't allow you to finish your sentence. This house created so many memories for us since little, I won't let them sell it and I won't let go of it."

Conrad: "Nova."

Nova: "I'm calling, Jere."

I quickly walked off, grabbing my phone from the couch as I began to look for my younger sibling's phone number.

Conrad: "Nova, don't!"

Conrad's words struck a chord deep within me, how could he be so decided to give up on the house already? Our mother had always been our guiding light, and it was now our responsibility to champion her legacy. This house was one of our responsibilities completely, I knew it deep within me.

I kept hearing Conrad calling for my name on the distance as I headed outside. This all happened so fast though, all while I was only searching for Jeremiah's contact. But then, a voice in front of me gained my attention.

My eyes darted up front and held contact with a pair of green eyes. My eyes widened as I realized who they belonged to, I almost dropped my phone by the sight.

Nova: "Maia?" -I mumbled, looking at the girl in front of me.

She stood completely still, a serious expression covering her face at first. But, once I spoke, she smile faintly at me and approached slowly.

Maia, my cousin that I hadn't seen in way too long. Also, unfortunately...Aunt Julia's daughter. She used to visit us a lot but stopped once Aunt Julia's sibling bond dropped with mom's.

Maia: "Hey, Nova."

Nova: "What are you doing here?" -I asked, heading down the steps of the front door to approach the girl.

She stopped her tracks once she reached a good distance from me, looking behind my shoulder with frowned eyebrows. I turned around and spotted Conrad, he stood completely still as he stared at the both of us. His expression gave away what he was probably feeling, confusion, anger and frustration all at once.

Maia: "I brought some tea." -the girl mentioned, showing off a small box she held on her hands.
__________________________________

Sitting across from my cousin Maia, I found myself engulfed in a sea of conflicting emotions. My heart ached with a tangle of sadness, resentment, and an unshakeable sense of betrayal. Maia, the daughter of Aunt Julia, who had made the decision to sell the beach house, sat before me, unaware of the storm brewing within me.

Everyone sat silently on the beach house's living room, the tense ambiance slowly consuming me in the most uncomfortable way. I could tell Conrad wanted to speak badly but couldn't, Maia on the other hand seemed nervous as she stared around the house.

I glanced at the girl, taking in her features, so familiar yet so distant now. Some dark bags etched underneath her eyes seemed to mirror the burden I carried in my heart. She looked tired, as if the weight of the world had settled squarely upon her shoulders. A part of me empathized with her, knowing that the decision to sell our home must have been a difficult one.

The room still felt stifling, the air heavy with unspoken tension. I struggled to find the right words, to convey the depth of my emotions without succumbing to the tidal wave of anger that threatened to consume me. This was family, after all, and a part of me longed for understanding and resolution.

But as Maia began to speak, explaining the circumstances that led to the agonizing decision, a wave of bitterness washed over me. Each word felt like a cruel twist of the knife, a reminder of the shattered dreams and cherished memories that now hung in the balance. It felt as if our connection, once strong and unbreakable, had become frayed and fragile.

Maia: "Look, I'm so sorry that my mom took this decision. I tried my best to convince her not to, I saw all the pictures Aunt Susannah would post on social media of you guys here. It all looked so fun and relaxing, I'm sorry my mom is taking this away from all of you."

Conrad: "Couldn't you try harder?"

Nova: "Conrad." -I firmly said after his stupid question, eyeing the boy completely annoyed.

Maia: "I genuinely tried, you guys wouldn't get it though. She's very direct with her decisions, no one can convince her otherwise."

My mind raced with questions, a maelstrom of anger and confusion.

Nova: "How could she do this to us? To our mother's memory? How could she put a price tag on our childhood, on the echoes of laughter that once filled these walls?" -I snapped, glancing at Maia as tears flooded my eyes.

The short haired girl only glanced at the ground with embarrassment, not answering any of the questions I had asked. I wanted to scream, to unleash the pent-up emotions that threatened to shatter the fragile peace that remained between us.

But as I studied Maia's face, I saw the weariness etched deep within her eyes. It was then that a flicker of understanding snaked its way through the darkness within me.

Was it possible that she too was torn apart by this decision? That she, too, had been forced to make this heartbreaking choice?

A moment of silence hung between us, heavy with unspoken words. The weight of our shared history weighed upon me, whispering of the bonds that had once held us together. As much as the anger raged within me, I couldn't ignore that we were both victims of a relentless force beyond our control.

In that moment, I realized that our family had borne a heavy burden, forcing Maia into a place of desperate decision-making. It wasn't personal; it was the cruel hand we had been dealt. The anger shifted, morphing into a yearning for understanding, for unity amidst the chaos that threatened to tear us apart.

As our eyes met, I saw a flicker of something, perhaps regret or empathy, pass through Maia's gaze. It was a glimmer of acknowledgement, an unspoken apology from one wounded soul to another. And in that silent moment, a flicker of hope sparked within me. Perhaps, despite the pain and betrayal, we could find a way to heal.

Nova: "Look, do you think that if I talk to Aunt Julia, she might understand what we are talking about?" -I asked, fidgeting nervously with my hands.

Maia: "I don't know, she seems pretty decided already. Like I said, she's very hard to convince too."

Conrad: "Is there some way we can try convincing her that you know of?" -Conrad spoke once more, this time, a calm tone living his mouth.

The girl took a while to answer our question, looking out through the living room's glass door. I noticed how the sun had started to rise up. Had it really been that long since I got here? I seriously didn't noticed.

Conrad: "Maia, is there some way?"

She then glanced at us, shaking her head side to side which only made us sigh out of frustration. The silence took a hold of the space once more, this time for a very long time. I could see how the pair in front of me had started to think of something at the same time.

Me on the other hand, I was only thinking of life without this house. It would be extremely hard for me and for everyone else that spend half of their childhoods coming here.

Suddenly, I began to feel nauseous just by thinking of the fact of never coming back here again. I stood up suddenly from my chair, covering my mouth as I felt like I was going to throw up in any second.

Maia: "Nova, are you okay?" -the girl asked with worry covering her face, she glanced at Conrad who quickly stood up and stopped beside me.

Conrad: "Hey, what's wrong?"

I quickly ran off towards the nearest bathroom, proceeding to enter and drop myself in front of the toilet to throw up whatever was still inside my stomach. I was so tired of everything already, the pain, the frustration, the anger.

I was tired of feeling sad all the time.

My back rested against the bathroom's wall after I finished throwing up, eyes darting towards the ceiling as I thought of all the beautiful memories I had here. Last summer had its bad times, but it was also beautiful. I started to remember all the good memories from last summer, tears proceeding to fall just by the thought of it.

A knock on the bathroom's door gained my attention, the noise being produced by Conrad who stood at the entrance with worry covering him.

Nova: "I'm okay, I just drank a lot yesterday." -I lied, wiping the tears away from my face.

Conrad: "Drank? Drank where?"

Nova: "Steven's graduation party." -I replied, sighing out of relief as I realized he wasn't mad that I drank.

Conrad: "You two are back together?"

The question made me chuckle over how unfortunate it sounded, I completely broke Steven's heart by breaking up with him after our relationship had taken a turn for the better.

Why would he get back with me after that?

Nova: "No, we are not." -I spoke again, watching how he nodded.

Conrad: "Did you talked to him?"

I nodded this time, putting my hair up in a bun.

Nova: "He asked if you were going to the party but I said that you were busy."

Conrad: "Thanks for saying that." -he said, receiving a nod from me.

Nova: "Why didn't you go though?"

His expression changed completely after what I asked, I could tell he felt sad by the sudden question. I soon after realized what his expression meant, sighing out loud.

Nova: "Belly, right?" -I questioned, seeing how he nodded slowly as he sniffled.

Conrad: "She probably hates me."

Nova: "She doesn't, Conrad." -I spoke, trying to reassure him but my words did not seem to work since he walked off.

I let out another sigh, proceeding to stand from the ground and walk off the bathroom. As much as I wanted to go back downstairs, I stayed at the second floor and walked through the hallway carefully. I stumbled across Steven's room, opening the door gently to peek inside.

It took me a while to decide if I wanted to go in or not, but I still did.

Walking into Steven's room, memories flooded back with each step. The walls, adorned with photographs capturing our laughter and adventures, told stories of a love once strong and vibrant. The room itself seemed frozen in time, preserving remnants of our joy and pain.

As I took in the sight before me, the nerves swirled in my stomach like a tempest. Seeing everything again after all this time, in the place where we had grown together, stirred an inexplicable mix of emotions. Uncertainty and fear pulsed through me like a heartbeat, wondering if this visit would bring closure or reopen old wounds.

Tentatively, I touched the memories scattered around the room. The ache of loss and the longing to reclaim what was lost surged through me. A sense of bittersweetness settled in, knowing that we had both changed, shaped by the experiences we endured in our time apart.

As I gazed at Steven's belongings, I realized how much I missed him, that life had continued for him, but for me it had stopped.

In the midst of this emotional whirlwind, I reminded myself of the purpose behind my return. It was a chance to find closure, to face the remnants of our love head-on. It wasn't about rekindling what was lost but rather acknowledging the impact we had on each other's lives, and finding the strength to move forward.

With trepidation, I traced my fingers along the edges of a photograph. As I stared into the frozen image of our once-happy selves, a sense of calm washed over me. The nerves that had once gripped me began to subside, replaced by a quiet resolve.

I sat down on his bed, resting my back carefully against the mattress. I could still hear Conrad and Maia's voice resonating downstairs, but I couldn't seem to budge. My eyes slowly began to close, eventually closing shut and sending me into a very deep sleep.

Flashback.

I sat in my bedroom, surrounded by the familiar sights and smells that held countless memories. The soft light of the setting sun casted a warm glow through the window, illuminating the room.

Susannah, my beautiful mother, had been an artist, and her paintings adorned the walls of my room, each one drenched in vibrant hues and emotion.

I stood up covered in frustration, walking towards my window to look at the backyard. As I stared around, I spotted mom actually painting outside with a big smile plastered on her face.

Her canvas in front of her, an an array of colors and brushes at her fingertips. It was a scene that I've seen too many times throughout my childhood – my mother fully immersed in her craft, finding solace and expression in her art.

I quickly grabbed my painting stuff and headed out of my room, running downstairs to stumble across Laurel.

Laurel: "Be careful, sweetheart."

Nova: "Sorry, Laurel." -I apologized, laughing after seeing the woman's face.

Steven sat on the couch while playing his favorite video game alongside Conrad, so I quickly ran towards him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Steven: "Good morning, finally out of your cave?"

Nova: "I was painting, I'll be back soon." -I spoke, placing another kiss on his cheek and then one on Conrad's.

The pair laughed together and watched me run outside. I eventually then arrived where mom was, her aura resonating piece everywhere. I smiled, approaching her carefully.

Nova: "Hey, Mom." -I spoke softly, standing beside her, my gaze fixed on the canvas.

Susannah: "Hi, hun."

Nova: "What are you painting?" -I asked, peeking at mom's canvas.

Mom then looked up, her eyes crinkling with a gentle smile.

Susannah: "This is a special piece, Nova." -she replied, her voice carrying a sense of peace and purpose.

Nova: "Oh, really?"

The blonde one nodded confidently, showing the color palette she had picked for her painting. I instantly knew what was she was painting just by the colors.

Susannah: "I'm capturing the spirit of the ocean, its vastness and magnificence. It reminds me of the boundless possibilities that lie within us."

I leaned in closer, my curiosity piqued.

Nova: "How do you do it, Mom? How do you capture such beauty on canvas?" -I asked once I took a look at the beautiful painting she had created.

Mom's eyes sparkled with a mixture of love and wisdom. A chuckle later on coming out of her lips as she stared at me.

Susannah: "It's not just about capturing what you see, Nova. It's about capturing what you feel, what moves you deep inside. When you let your emotions guide your brush, your art becomes an extension of your soul." -she explained, reaching out to gently touch my cheek.

A sense of awe filled my chest as I absorbed my mother's words. I longed to understand and embrace that same connection to my own creativity, to translate my thoughts and emotions onto canvas. It was as if a door had opened before me, inviting me to step into a new realm of self-expression.

Mom gestured me to take a seat beside her, handing me a paintbrush. Together, mom and I dipped our brushes into vibrant hues, each stroke bridging the divide between our shared love for art.

As we painted side by side in companionable silence, I felt a profound connection to my mom, an unspoken bond formed through the medium of art. In that precious moment, I understood that our shared passion could transcend time and space, allowing mom's spirit to live on through her paintings and within my own artistic journey.

End of flashback.

I opened my eyes by the sudden shouting coming from downstairs, I recognized all of the voices.

My eyes widened as I heard footsteps approaching Steven's room, my feet instantly moved quickly and stood up from the bed.

I then glanced towards the door once I heard it swinging open, revealing a worried Ethan staring at me.

Ethan: "Oh, thank, God." -he mumbled, walking towards me quickly.

He embraced me into a tight hug, his cologne slapping my nose instantly by how strong it was.

Ethan: "Don't ever do that again."

Nova: "I'm sorry, Ethan." -I whispered, pulling away from the hug as he stared at me.

He took a look at me for a couple of seconds, eventually sighing out of relief.

Nova: "How did you get here?" -I asked, rubbing my eyes over how sleepy I felt.

Ethan: "Well, Pearl and I got a ride from Jeremiah and Belly since they were worried about Conrad."

My eyes widened by his comment and the boy instantly noticed.

Nova: "Jeremiah and Belly...are they here?"

Ethan: "Yeah?" -he replied with a confused tone, eyebrows frowning in between sentence.

Nova: "Shit!"

I quick ran off Steven's room, hearing rapid footsteps behind me that I knew belonged to Ethan. Getting closer to the living room, the shouting from earlier began to get louder.

Pearl: "Guys, please calm down."

Jeremiah: "Pearl, shut up! You don't have a say in this!" -I heard my brother suddenly shout, seconds later hearing a scoff coming from the girl again.

Pearl: "I know I don't have a say in this but you guys are literally screaming to one another and that's just not going to help!"

Belly: "Thank you!"

My eyes widely opened as I heard all the familiar voices combined, my tracks suddenly stopping before I could even show myself to everyone.

Jeremiah: "Have you even talked to Nova about this?"

Conrad: "She's here, dude." -he replied, an uncomfortable tone coming out of him.

Jeremiah: "What do you mean she's here?!"

Conrad: "She's here, Jere. I called her first, she's upstairs."

Jeremiah: "Son of a bitch."

As I heard sudden footsteps, I quickly came out of the hallway and glanced at the pair. I feared they were on the verge of getting into a fight, but instead I noticed that Jeremiah had started to pace around the room. He stopped doing so as soon as he noticed me.

Jeremiah: "Nova, can you tell me why the hell is our brother not attending college and disappearing from the face of the earth without warning?"

I glanced over to Conrad, noticing how tired he already seemed. Belly and Pearl both stared at me with worry, which only sent nerves quickly. The way everyone suddenly had their attention on me intimidated me..a lot.

Jeremiah: "Well?"

Nova: "You haven't told them?" -I asked Conrad, sharing a look of sadness with him.

Jeremiah: "Told us what, exactly?"

We all glanced at Conrad then, awaiting for him to say the truth. I could tell everyone was anxious to hear what was wrong, especially Jeremiah.

This was the moment...the moment where everything was going to change.

[End of chapter]

Sofia's notes:
Do I hate this chapter? YES. Did I wrote it short just so you guys had a chapter today? YES.

I'm so sorry if this chapter was ass, I was genuinely just trying to get something posted for you guys today and this was all I could do since I'm pretty sick and don't feel good at all.

I'll try updating again soon and let the next chapter be a very good one.

ALSO!! sorry if this chapter has writing errors, sooner or later I'll try to edit whatever error I'm able to find. Remember English is not my first language, so there's probably a lot of writing errors in there.

That's it, see you all soon!! Don't forget to vote and please don't be a silent reader 🫶🏼

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