Mr. Popular And His Nerdy Sister novel Chapter 1

Forgotten

Sighing, I grab the handle of my beat up suitcase and wheel the case to the airport doors that lead to the sunny and warm California air. Inside my well-used suitcase hold all the memories of my past life-well, all the memories that would fit in the small, black box on wheels. Having to pack up your whole life into a suitcase is hard. Having to pick and choose what to take and what to leave behind feels like choosing which memories you want to keep and which ones you want to get rid of, but I had to do it. I had no choice.

I search the pickup area hoping to spot my dad in the midst of all the people. I have not seen him since I was six, but I had a good idea of what he looked like. Plus, he sent me a picture so I would be able to spot him easily.

Giving up, I plop down on the curb pulling out my flip phone. Yes, I know, flip phones are so in right now. I search my contacts for the unfamiliar name, dad.

My parents divorced when I was six and when my brother was eight. My dad got custody of my brother and moved to San Francisco, California, while my mom got custody of me and we stayed in Raleigh, North Carolina. The day my parents divorce was finalized was the last day I saw my dad and Conner. It was not that big of a deal to me because I was never close to my dad, but my brother and I were inseparable. Well, apparently not totally inseparable, but you get what I mean.

"Hello," the unfamiliar voice breaks me from my thoughts. "Are you okay, Marley?" My dad's unfamiliar voice is etched with concern.

"Uh, yeah, dad," I bite my lip nervously. I literally have spoken once to my dad since I had to pack my bags and move out here to California, not to mention that I have not had contact with him for the past ten years. You can see why I'm a bit nervous-I don't know the man! "Are you here at the airport to pick me up?"

"Oh," the frown evident in his voice. He forgot-of course. "I'm sorry, Marley. I forgot that you were coming today. I thought you were coming next week," he pauses probably rubbing his hand over his face. "I'll send a car to come get you. It won't be too long. Just hang out at the airport."

Before I can even reply, he hangs up. Thanks for the warm welcome, dad. Sighing once more, I pull out my iPod and plug in my headphones. The song Counting Stars starts playing and I hum along to the music. Normally I would sing along, but I am out in public and there is no way I am singing in front of people. I am not a terrible singer, but I would not say I am the best, though my best friend back in North Carolina says I am.

Pushing up my glasses, I respond with a similar response. "Well, I could say the same thing about you. It has only been, what? Ten years." A smile makes its way on my face as I take in the appearance of my brother.

His curly brown hair he once had is now much shorter than it was when we were younger. He has lost the curliness of his hair, but the color is still the same chocolate brown I can remember. And his eyes are still as blue as the ocean. He inherited those from dad while I got mom's brown eyes which I do not mind, though, I would have loved to have inherited those blue eyes. His face is no longer round and chubby, but defined. He really looks different, but he seems to be the same old Conner. He definitely looks older, like a man.

"Same old Marley," he scoots over towards me and ruffles my messy blonde hair. I swat his hand away while laughing. I did not realize that things would be the same after ten years. I expected things to be awkward and uncomfortable, but it feels like we were never separated. Now, this will be a whole different story when it comes to seeing my father. I am quite terrified to see him, actually.

Conner and I catch up as we make the trip to his, I guess it is our, house. I learned that Conner is mister popular at school, that he is an amazing surfer-so he says-and that he does not want to go pro like most of his friends, and that he and his dad are wealthy. Like really wealthy.