It all began when it was my 12th birthday, I was spending it at my birthplace, England. For one week I was touring the sites, eating the food, and meeting the people of one of my favorite places. But as I blew out my candles I made a simple wish- to have a REAL home. A home that I live at longer then 5 years. A home that I have longtime friends, instead of short term. A home of my own. Sighing, I turned to my parents and 5 younger siblings. I picked up my first gift and began to unwrap it. Forcing a grin on my face I opened the small box, hoping that inside was some friends. Some real friends.

Time came and went, and soon enough I found myself in a new home. The town was called Tulsa, Oklahoma and my dad was here to build a new mall and some restaurant. He also mentioned something about an oil company but I wasn’t really paying attention so I can’t recall anything else about that. Our house was pretty, I presumed I shouldn’t get used to it for I would move soon. I guess 2 years, give or take. Usually I was right about my “estimates”. I surveyed my room and ran my fingers gently over the faded baby blue wallpaper that I assumed was left from some girl or guy who was torn painfully from his/her beloved house. Then again, I could be wrong.

The day came and went without an event. We began unpacking, “settling the house” as my mom fondling states before each time we unpack. I, being the oldest and wisest if I may add, got the biggest room next to my parents room. As I stated above, the room had baby blue wallpaper, but my dad promptly removed it and began painting a fresh coat of lavender (my favorite color at the time) on one of the walls. He simply concluded he would “finish this business tomorrow.” I helped my mom unpack the kitchen utensils and we began to roll out some of the bedroom things after we finished the kitchen. That night I had to sleep in, what would be, the living room, for the newly halfway painted room of my was making me sick. I tossed and turned all night thinking of how I despised Tulsa from the start. Isn’t Oklahoma a musical?

Three days went by and our home looked almost livable. That day my mom practically shoved me out the door yelling “either make a friend today or don’t come home” as I made my way down our street. Tulsa sure was a nothing city. I glimpsed at the rows of rows of plain country homes as I continued my search for a “friend.” I remembered walking for about 2 hours without sighting anyone close to my age. Eventually I reached my destination. A park. The park was just like any other park, you’d never pay any attention to it if you were driving past it. It had the normal sand “pit”, with swings and all. But the scenery around it was shockingly beautiful. There were a few kids there, but I noticed only one was my age. He was in the back with 2 other older boys playing soccer. Soccer wasn’t MY sport, per say, so I decided to stray away from them and pay attention to the swings. I couldn’t really hurt myself on the swings now could I? I slowly swayed back and forth as I breathed in my surroundings. I saw 2 little girls playing near the swings. They appeared to be sisters, for they had similar appearances. One looked 3 or 4 and the older girl looked 7. I couldn’t swaying as I noticed a woman sitting at a nearby bench, watching the two little girls. I assumed she was there mother. I continued my observations of the park by looking, once again, at the 3 boys in the back playing soccer. The boy who looks my age had short blond hair that mesmerized me. One of the other older boys resembled him(he, too, had blond hair), while the other had blond hair too, but he had an earring. I continued to watch them in amusement as they continued their game of soccer. Minutes went by and I grew quickly bored. The swings were becoming more and more, um, less “exciting.” I hopped off the black leather seat and dug my feet in the smooth sand. I made my way closer to the 2 young girls and tried to hear what they were saying. Sure, they were younger than me and what could they possibly say that would amuse me? But ANYTHING looked better than the dreaded swings. I reached a perfect spot, right behind the slide which was behind them, and pretended to be interested in the chipping paint of the slide. From what I heard the older girl was named Jessie (could it be short for Jessica?) and the other girl was named Avie (short for???). They were discussing Ken and Barbie’s “wedding” of sorts. How fun. Yea. As I was about to leave the oh- so interested slide I felt something hit my leg. I turned around and looked down to see the soccer ball that the 3 guys were playing with. I picked it up and headed over to the guys to give it back to them.

“Hey, this your ball?” I said, quite unsure of myself. At that point I wished I had just left it there, next to the slide, and ran. But as many say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I held the ball high in the palm of my hand and looked from boy to boy, each of them drenched in sweat. I estimated that they had AT LEAST been playing soccer for an hour or two.

“Ya. Toss it over here.” The older blond boy said to me. I quickly tossed the ball to him and began my walk home. Hopefully I could find my way home.

“Hey, did you just move here? I don’t recognize you.” The third blond haired boy with the earring asked.

“Ya. I moved here from Ohio, though I was in England at the time when I found out. Oh, my name’s Irene. What’s your names?” I asked, putting on a fake smile. Sure, I hadn’t planned on telling them my whole life story, but then again, I didn’t plan on talking to them either.

“My name’s Jake.” The blond haired boy with the earring said.

“I’m Ike.” The older blond said.

“Taylor.” The younger blond said. I looked at each one of them and noted that they all looked completely different and unique from one another. Jake looked more outgoing and wild. Ike looked nice and brotherly. While Taylor looked, hmm... He looked shy, but someone that you could trust. Whatever.

I was back home. Home sweet home. I had spent a half hour talking to Jake, Ike, and Taylor- well, it was more just Jake and Ike. The conversation concluded when we switched addresses and I was then informed that Ike and Taylor were brothers, and Ike was indeed older. It turned out Jake lived 1 block down, while Ike and Taylor live 6 blocks away.

“Still walking distance,” Ike had said to me when Jake reported the “shocking” news. Jake walked me home, while Taylor and Ike stayed with their mom and 2 sisters(yep, those 2 blond, younger girls were their younger sisters). The whole way home Jake informed me that Ike and him were best friends, he had known the Hansons (that’s Ike and Taylor’s last name) for 5 years, when he moved to Tulsa from Florida. He told me Ike was the oldest of 5(Taylor, 12, Zac, 10, Jessica, 7, Avery, 4, and Mackenzie, 1) and they were a very tight family. He told me Taylor’s really shy, so that’s why he wasn’t in a “talking” mood. Jake seemed really nice, we’d probably become friends while I’m in Tulsa. I even told him about all the places I’ve been(Ohio, England, California, Arizona, and Virginia). He was amazed that I’ve lived in so many different places and I’m only 12. He’s only been in Florida(where he was born) and Tulsa.

“Wow. What a life,” I said sarcastically.

Chapter Two

I woke up with a start the next morning. I’d been having this weird dream. A dream that contained of me, Taylor, and Ike older. And I was crying. I think I was moving again or something. That’s when it happened. Taylor and I kissed. Not a friendship kiss, a real long kiss. One that you’d give to your girlfriend or boyfriend. That’s when I woke up.