"Good morning kids."Robert greeted as we walked into the kitchen for breakfast.

"Morning Robbie."Charlie replied while I just grunted out my response because I hadn't taken my morning coffee yet.

Robert pushed a mug of steaming hot coffee towards me and I smiled at him thankfully taking a sip. It warmed me up from the inside waking me up instantly.

I poured Charlie a bowl of cereal and some cut up fruit for breakfast while I had the same.

"So kids there's something I want to talk to you about before you go to school."Robert said looking at us with a sad look on his face.

"What's up?"I asked taking a seat as I dug into my cereal.

"Well this is not going to get any easier so I'll just go ahead and say it. I am....... I am divorcing your mother."He answered dropping the bombshell.

I had seen it coming so I wasn't as shocked but Robert and Charlie had grown close so my baby brother didn't exactly take the news well. We had witnessed a few of my mom divorces but Robert was actually a nice guy and we would definitely miss him. I was happy for him though, he deserved someone better than my mom.

"You're leaving us?"Charlie asked with a sniff.

Robert immediately went to Charlie and engulfed him in a hug.

"I'm sorry Charlie but it's for the best."Robert consoled.

It took some time for Charlie to calm down and I really felt sorry for my brother but he would be okay. He was as good as me at adjusting and soon enough he'd get over Robert's absence.

"I've been thinking about this for a while and yesterday I got some news that finally pushed me to do it. My company has been sponsored by Apple to go to Kenya, Africa to build schools there and start a tech program in schools. This is something I've always wanted to do and I know your mom won't agree to come with me thus the divorce. We aren't made for each other anyway."Robert explained.

"I am sad to see you go Robert but I'm also happy for you. You deserve to be happy."I told him.

"Thanks Willow."He said with a smile.

"I'll miss you."Charlie sniffed.

"I'll miss you too bud, so much."Robert admitted.

"So have you told mom yet?"I asked.

"Nope I wanted to tell you guys first. I'll tell her when you two leave for school, don't want you getting caught up in the middle of our fight."Robert replied.

"Best of luck to you then."I said to him.

"Thanks, I'll definitely need it."Robert answered.

"One more thing. Your mom and I will split everything halfway and that's okay because I don't really care about the money and I can always make more. The one thing I don't want her to have is this house. We have so many good memories here and I don't want her to tarnish them so I'm giving it to you Willow."Robert declared pushing an envelope to me.

"Why are you giving me the house?"I asked reaching inside the envelope to see the ownership documents of the house all with my name on it.

"You're finally eighteen now and can get out of your mother's crutches so I'm hoping you can be free of her like I will be. You can keep the house and live here or sell it and move elsewhere."Robert explained.

I looked at the papers shocked out of words. None of my mom's ex husbands had ever been so kind. Robert was giving us a way out. I didn't want to tell him about my plans yet before I told Charlie or Henry so I just nodded with a smile on my lips.

"Thank you Robert."I mumbled my voice clogged with emotion.

I got off my stool and went around the kitchen island to hug him.

"You guys deserve this and so much more."Robert replied.

I pulled away and we continued to have breakfast as Robert told us all about the project he was going to do in Kenya.

"Can we come visit you there?"Charlie asked looking hopeful.

Robert looked at me for approval and I nodded with a smile.

"Sure, when you're older you can come visit me."Robert replied.

"Awesome."Charlie cheered excitedly.

Robert and I smiled at his excitement happy he was already adjusting to news of the divorce. We finished up our breakfast and just as we were saying goodbye to Robert we heard my mom's footsteps coming down the stairs. We wished Robert good luck one last time and got out of the house before the yelling started. My mom's scream as we got into my truck was more than enough evidence of how bad the argument would get.

"Willow do we have to move again?"Charlie asked sitting next to me on the passenger's side.

He was pretty upset about Robert leaving so I gave into him sitting with me instead of car seat.

I thought about his question and wondered how to approach the subject. Yes we were leaving but this time around it wouldn't be with our mom. It would just be the both of us and probably Henry.

"Yes we are probably going to leave Crescent now that mom and Robert aren't together anymore."I replied and Charlie looked even sadder.

"But I don't want to leave, I like it here. I have Alex, Jack, Hannah and Henry as my friends now. I don't want to leave them behind."Charlie sobbed.

The band aid was already coming off so why not rip it completely off so he could deal with all the pain any once. I stopped the car by the side of the road and turned to face Charlie.

"Listen to me bud."I requested.

Charlie sniffed, wiped off his tears and turned to look at me. Charlie had never cried when we'd had to leave before, he always loved the adventure but he'd also never had friends worth leaving behind before so I had to be understanding and approach him with care.

"I know this sucks and it will hurt but you can make friends wherever we move to. Your friends here will still be your friends, you can call and text with them plus you, Alex and Jack can always play games online."I consoled.

"It won't be the same."Charlie argued.

"I know but you'll still have me. Can I tell you something and you have to promise to keep it a secret between us until I'm ready to tell everyone else? You can't tell anyone, not even Alex."I asked him.

"Yeah."He replied with a nod.

I knew he wouldn't tell anyone, Charlie liked to talk but he was also a good brother and would keep my secret.

"This time around we aren't moving with mom, it will be just the two of us. I plan on having mom some papers that give me full custody of you since I'm eighteen now. Once she signs them, you and I can move to a new place and start our lives together afresh. You can even choose where you want us to live."I explained.

I didn't mention the possibility of Henry moving with us because I wasn't sure if he would agree to leaving with us.

"So you'll be like my new mom?"Charlie asked.

"Kind of but not exactly, I'll be your guardian. I will be fully responsible for you and we won't have to rely on mom anymore."I replied hoping I'd given a satisfying answer.

"What if mom doesn't sign those papers? Will you move and leave me with her?"Charlie sobbed the tears never-ending.

"No Charlie of course not. I promised that I would never leave you. Have I ever broken any of my promises?"

Charlie shook his head and I smiled cupping his face as I wiped his tears away.

"We are going to be fine Charlie and mom will sign those papers."I assured him.

"Well if she sings them and you get custody of me, why do we have to leave Crescent? We can live in the house since Robert left it to you."Charlie suggested.

"Because this is not our home Charlie. Mom forced us to come here and even if we've made friends it's never truly felt like home. I want you and I to move somewhere new where we can start our own lives together."I answered.

Charlie went silent after that and I was afraid he would reject my proposal. I knew it hurt him to leave Crescent behind but I had to be honest with him. Henry, Jack and Hannah made the stay worthwhile but not enough for me to want to stay in Crescent forever. The people were too hoity toity for me and I'd never truly felt accepted or at home.

"I'll go anywhere with you Willow."Charlie promised me giving me a sad smile.

I smiled back and hugged him happy that he would on board. I would not have forced him to move but convincing him would have been a lot harder.

"Thank you bud, I love you."I whispered getting a little emotional myself.

"I love you too."Charlie replied holding his pinkie out for me.

I smiled, linked mine with his before we kissed our thumbs.

"So do you want me to call the school so you can have the day off or do you still want to go?"I asked him.

"I'll go. If we're leaving I want to spend as much time together as I can with Alex."Charlie replied.

"Okay bud, just remember you can't tell him anything."

"I won't."

After I made sure we looked presentable enough, I got back on the road and drove Charlie to school. I would have skipped too but I wanted to tell Henry the news before he heard it from anyone else. If it led to me asking him to come with us then well and good. It was time we had that particular conversation so that I knew where our relationship lay.

I dropped Charlie off making sure to give him an extra long hug.

"Call me if you need to leave, I'll come pick you up."I instructed.

He nodded, kissed my cheek before running into the school. Time to drive to my own school and talk my boyfriend into leaving his childhood town with us.

When I arrived at school I realized that Henry hadn't arrived yet since his jeep wasn't in the parking lot so I decided to wait for him. I kept picking at the strings of my rugged jeans as I was so nervous because I had no idea how the conversation would go. What if Henry said no? Would that be the end of us? Would we break up when I had to leave him behind? Was long distance even possible when I had no idea where we would be moving to.

"You better be thinking about me."Henry whispered in my ear startling me.

I had been so lost in my own thoughts I had failed to see him approach me.

"You're too cocky for your own good."I retorted.

"Are you okay?"Henry asked looking at me keenly.

"Yeah why?"I mumbled hoping I'd get some more time to get my thoughts right.

"Your eyeliner is smudged a little and your eyes are a little red. Were you crying?"He inquired.

I was really hoping I wouldn't have to dive into my woes immediately but Henry was too observant and there was no need lying to him.

"We need to talk."I answered.

"That line never ends well."Henry muttered his whole demeanor changing.

"Let's go somewhere more private."I requested taking his hand and leading him away.

There was no privacy anywhere in the school building so I led him outside to the football field instead. I'd been at Maple Ridge for more than eight months and I had never been to the football field even once. It was impressive considering how serious the school took football. I sat at the bleachers and patted the space next to me.

"Are you breaking up with me?"Henry asked in the saddest tone I'd ever heard from him.

He stood in front of me blocking the sun ignoring my request for him to sit down.

"No I just want to talk."I replied shocked he would even think that.

We were in a very good place and breaking up with him was the last thing on my mind.

"Then what was the 'we need to talk'. It's like the leading line for all break ups."Henry exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, I should have phrased it better. Now can you please sit."I requested.

Henry nodded before taking a seat next to me much more relaxed now that he knew I wasn't breaking up with him.

"What's up?"He asked.

I took a deep breath, collecting my thoughts so I could figure out the best way to broach the subject. The beginning was definitely always best.

"Robert is divorcing my mom."I started.

"Good for him, it's been long overdue. I'm surprised a nice guy like him has lasted this long with your mom."Henry replied.

"True but he's finally doing it and I know for a fact that my mom will want us to move now that they won't be together anymore."I explained further.

"I thought you weren't breaking up with me."Henry asked.

"I'm not."I replied tired of his assumptions.

"Then what's with the talk of you leaving with your mom? Did you give her the custody papers?"He inquired.

"Please stop jumping into conclusions and let me finish."I requested trying to stay calm.

"Sorry, I'm all ears."Henry apologized giving me the space I needed.

"I haven't given my mom the papers yet but I intend to. I was just waiting for the right time but now that the divorce is happening I'll do it soon. Charlie and I are also not leaving with my mom but we are leaving just the two of us immediately after my graduation."I expounded further and Henry looked at me alarmed.

Before he could make any more assumptions I shut him up by lifting a finger to his lips.

"And I wanted to ask you to come with us if you're not too attached to this place?"I asked going directly to the point.

Henry's eyes widened and I slowly took my finger of his lips so he could talk. Instead of replying Henry burst out laughing which took me by surprise. I had no idea if he was laughing at me or if he just thought my idea was ridiculous. I sat there stewing, my hands crossed over my chest as I glared at him listening to him laugh. He was pissing me off more the harder he laughed.

"Come find me when you're done laughing."I scoffed getting up to leave.

"Willow wait."Henry yelled out still chuckling but I was already leaving.

Fast footsteps rushed after me and before I could get far Henry stopped me by standing in my way.

"Oh would you look at that, he's done laughing at me. Glad to know my request was a joke to you. Now get out of my way."I demanded getting angrier.

"Baby stop, I wasn't laughing at you."Henry pleaded.

"Sure you weren't."I retorted my voice filled with sarcasm.

"That wasn't the best way to react and I'm sorry. You just caught me off guard. I was laughing because you just asked the one question I've been twisting myself over for months. I've been planning to leave Crescent ever since I was in middle school but I had to wait until I was old enough and had enough money. Then you came along and complicated everything because I wanted to leave but I also didn't want to leave you behind. I've been considering asking you to come with me for months but it looks like you beat me to the chase."Henry explained and it was my turn to be shocked.

"So we both want to leave Crescent?"I asked and Henry nodded.

"Yes it seems so."

"So is that a yes to coming with me and Charlie?"I inquired all earlier anger forgotten.

"Yes, I'll come with you. To the ends of the world if I have to."Henry replied with a smile his electric blue eyes shining with happiness.

I launched myself at him and hugged him leaning up on my toes to kiss him. Henry hoisted me up so I could wrap my legs around his waist. He twirled me around as we laughed the whole time. I had been so bent up about asking Henry to come with us when he was thinking the same thing the whole time. It made me really happy because everything was falling into place. Jack was the only one left but I knew he wouldn't have an issue with it because more than anything he would want us to be happy.

"I love you so much."Henry declared looking into my eyes.

"I love you too my handsome nerd."I replied kissing him.

Before we could get into a full make out session the coach found us and chased us away demanding we get to class. Henry and I ran away as we laughed the whole time.