Leaving You Was Never Easy, chapter 1

"Julia, be quiet!" the teacher roared across the classroom as I sat talking to Ali, my best mate. Ali was the best friend anyone could ask for, she was always there to help out and she would always listen. I risked receiving detention and started talking again.
"So what if I like him, I've known him for eight years."
"Yeah, but, it's just that. I don't know, it doesn't matter."
"No, Ali, tell me please"

"OKAY THAT'S IT JULIA, STAY BEHIND AFTER CLASS, YOU'LL RECIEVE A PUNISHMENT EXERCISE!" she screamed, bloody hell, Goddamn punishment exercises, they're pointless anyway. Oh well, it's not that bad anyway, but Ali hates it when I get them. She's never had one before; she's pretty well behaved all the time, apart from drawing the retarded bears in her French assignment. Oh god it was funny.

-RIIINNNGGGG-

Oh, that time already? Oh yeah, stay behind. Jeez, if I just shut up then I would be able to leave now.

"Julia, what have I told you about this behavior? Hand in the exercise sheet by eleven tomorrow, ok?"
"Yeah whatever Miss Black. Bye"

"So what did she say to you?" Ali asked as I left the room.
"Nothing really, the usual, [not that you'd know what that was]" I murmured
"What did you say?"
"Oh, nothing." I smiled and headed home, "See you later Ali"
" 'Kay, bye." She waved.

Ali was the best friend ever, but it was my fault that it all happened. I knew that there was something in the way I acted that bugged her. I just didn't realize how much that it did bug her, and in time, it would cost me our friendship.
I walked into my house and plunked myself on the leather sofa. I lay there thinking about all that had happened that day and what my parents would say. I heard the door open and my dad walked in.

"Hi"
"What's this?!"
"I got a punishment exercise in school." I said quietly biting my lip.
"WHAT DID I SAY?! I CAN'T HAVE A STUPID DUMB ASS KID!"
"WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH ANYWAY? YOU NEVER SPEAK TO ME AND I HEARD YOU TALKING TO MOM LAST NIGHT ASWELL," I screamed at him. "I HEARD YOU. YOU SAID THAT YOU ONLY LIVE HERE 'CAUSE ROBBIE AND THOMAS ARE HERE. WELL THAT'S FUCKING FINE. I'M GLAD THAT YOU LOVE SOME OF YOUR KIDS! BASTARD!"
"WHAT? JULIA FRANCHESKA SMITH, APOLOGISE AT ONCE!"
"NO, NO, I'M NOT FUCKING APOLOGISING TO YOU! YOU, THE PERSON THAT I STUPIDLY ACCEPTED AS A PARENT, just leave me alone! And also, my name is Frankie!" And with that, he left, driving to God-knows-where. I ran up to my room and started writing out my punishment sheet.

The way that I behave affects my whole class. I will try to work to my full ability. I will let my classmates work in peace and respect my teachers.

Ha, I hate that crap that we have to write out on these. I don't care anymore, I'll stay the rest of the week and then I'll leave. Leave to where? Where could I go? I'd just have to walk out and keep walking. That would do me fine. Ha!

I did all my homework and switched on the T.V. After a while my eyes started drooping and I fell asleep on my bed.

I woke up the next morning, I was surprised that I'd slept that long. I grabbed all my books and shoved them into my bag. Then I put on my jeans and my Ramones T-shirt, and ran out of the house while tying my hair up and putting some black eyeliner on.

"Hey Frankie, what's up?" Ali said with a smile as I walked into our Registration class.
"Hi Ali" I replied attempting to look happy to be at school. I fished my punishment exercise out of my bag.
"Ali, I'm going to go hand this in ok? Just tell Mr. Ion that I'm away."
"Ok, sure," she replied, with a disappointed face. Why did she care so much about my behavior in school? I knew the answer to that actually, it was her parents.



I had handed in my punishment sheet a few hours ago when I remembered something. THE SIGNATURE! NO ONE HAS SIGNED IT! Crap, I was so screwed! I sprinted into the school office leaving my friend in our daily 'huddle' (which was just us sitting around chatting). I found the sheet when a woman came up to me.
"Are you alright miss?"
"Um, well, I handed in my punishment sheet but it doesn't have a signature."
"Right," she sighed and rubbed her eyes (talk about rubbing it in!), "take this sheet and hand it in by lunch time with a signature, if you don't then you're on to a yellow card (move class)"
"Ok, thanks," I said taking the sheet and leaving the room. I thought that things were getting better at that point, but I was so wrong that you wouldn't believe it.

I eagerly sat through 2 more classes until the lunch bell rang, and I grabbed Eddie Nathan's cell phone.
"What are you doing Julia?!" he shouted
"My name's Frankie! And just let me use your phone ok?! I really need it," I said, and called my house.
'Come on! Pick up god damn it!' I though to myself as the phone rang out for ages. I closed the cell and gave Eddie it back and ran to find Ali. She would know what to do. She always did.

"Ali, I need a signature fast! Can you try and forge my Dad's? I've got it on a letter in my locker."
"No Julia, I'm sick of saving your ass all the time," she said sternly. This was bad; she NEVER called me Julia, ever!
"What? But I thought that we were best friends, forever," I said staring to cry a bit.
"It's my mom, she says that I shouldn't hang around with punks like you."
"Ok hold on there! I knew that she wasn't keen on the music that I listen to and the clothes that I wear, but she's making us stop being best friends? And you agree with her and just dump me off like this?! I can't believe you?! You're sick, you know that Alison, you're a sick bitch!"
Oh my God, I was so going to regret saying that. But I kept it up and gave her a disgusted look then turned and walked away crying to myself, mourning the loss of a life long friendship with the best friend that I had ever had. I remember the promise that I made to her when she was in hospital getting treatment for a small tumor.

Ali, no matter what, I'll always be there for you, you're my best friend in the whole world and no matter what happens to us, I'll always be there. Even if we live on other sides of the world, I'm still always there. I'm always there.

Those words rung in my head over and over again. I'm always there, I'm always there, I'm always there. I fell to the floor and sat against the wall crying. How could I carry on without Ali? She had been there for me all my life.

After a while, I pulled myself together and got out a pen to try and fake the signature. It worked pretty well so I handed it in straight away. My heart was beating faster and faster and my conscience was telling me to run, to run and leave the grudges of the past behind. I skipped the rest of the day and walked home crying. As I got into my house the phone rang; it was Ali. I couldn't face talking to her, so I let her leave a message.

"Frankie this is Ali, look I'm sorry. I had to do this. My mom was going to kick me out if I kept hanging around with you. Just remember what we said when I was ill; I'll always be there. I will Frankie, I will. But I can't hang out with you anymore, not with mom around. I'm sorry babe. I love you."


I fell onto the floor and curled up at the sound of her voice. I missed her already. But I couldn't turn back. Not now. I ran into my room and shoved all of my important possessions (my cd's and my photos) into a backpack and put a jacket on. I grabbed the keys to the old car and all the money that I could find and was ready to leave. I had one last thing to do. I had to speak to Ali. I still couldn't face talking to her so I found some paper and started writing a letter.


Dear Ali,

I wanted our last words to be face to face, but I decided that it wouldn't help you with your mom. So, I am writing this letter instead. Ali, I loved you like a sister, more than a sister. You were the best friend that I ever had, and you meant so much to me. I just wish that you will live happily from now on. I'm going to go away, I don't know where to, but I'll be ok if you just don't show anyone this letter. I heard your message. I would have picked up but it was too much to take. I will always be there for you. I will never break that promise. I love you no matter what. You're a star Ali. I hope to see you later on in life.

All my love and best hopes.

Frankie xxx
P.S- Maybe it's best if we don't stay in touch. I'll find you once again some day. I'll always be there.


Tears dripped onto the paper as I wrote the last words that I would say to her. I hoped that she understood what I was doing. I sealed the envelope, left a note for my mom and left the house. I drove down her street and parked a few houses away so that her mom wouldn't see me. I walked up to the secret door that I had always gone through when her mom didn't want me round. I left the note jammed in the door and turned my back on my life. I remembered the photo that I had of her in my locket. I turned back and took the chain from my neck. I placed it on top of the envelope and got back into the car. I sat crying for a while, once again mourning the loss of something that made my life complete. I started the car and drove out of the street.


I drove for a few miles until I saw a highway, and headed out towards it. All of the signs were blurred in my head and I was heading for no-where. I just kept driving until I saw a sign that caught my eye. Had I gone this far? Was it all a nightmare? Or a dream?
I looked out of the window and up at the large sign.

Welcome to California - The Golden State