How To Become A High Class Criminal Chapter 2

Chapter 1 link: http://www.kidpub.com/story/how-become-high-class-criminal-chapter-1-188...

Chapter 2

As I thought of the visit, it made me think of the divorce. Amber didn't care, mostly because she didn't understand. Being only eight, it was hard for me to understand, too, but I knew that I might not be staying Maine, and that things were going to change.

When mom said that we were moving, I asked, "What about Dad and Amber?"

"They're staying here, honey." mom replied.

"But why?" I asked, starting to pout.

"It's complicated. Now, start packing, and say goodbye to your friends, because we're leaving next week." Mom said sadly.

"Where are we going?"

"I'll tell you when we get there. I love you, Ced."

"Love you, too." I said, still crossing my little arms and pouting. She kissed my forehead on her way out the door.

I coped pretty well with the move. Once I said all my goodbyes, I jumped into my mom's car. She hugged Amber and gave her a big kiss, and told her that she loved her and was gonna miss her. Amber said, "Will you come back and visit, mommy?" Tears were welling up in her eyes, making them look like a pool of confusion and sadness.

"Of course I will, Butterscotch." Mom replied, trying to make her feel better. Amber laughed at her silly nickname. I chuckled, too. Mom had called her that ever since she was three. We took her to the library to read her a story called Bambi's Watch ( in no relation to the little orphan deer thing.) When Amber read out the title, she said "Butterscotch!" instead. I smiled a little when I thought if that.

Mom told dad her goodbyes, and said that she wished things could have worked out better. Me too, I thought, the smile withdrawing from my face.

The trip down to Georgia was about a week long. Mom stopped at landmarks and cool museums along the way. She said stopping at all those places will give me a "better sense of the east coast." We went to the Statue of Liberty, the Philadelphia Bell, Fort McHenry, The Lincoln Memorial, and lots of zoos.

When we got to Pine Lake, the first thing I said was, "This is kinda like Maine, mom." She smiled. "Its why I wanted to live here, hon." Over the years, I've come to like it here. It doesn't get too cold, the beaches are cool, and some of the people are fun. Its also kinda woodsy, with lots of trees and a lake nearby. The food is good, too, and these folks down south really know how to have a cookout. But I have one question that continued to roam around in my mind: Will Amber and Dad like it here? Will they find it as cool as I do?

When I got back to my room, I got a video chat request. I was amazed at who sent the invite. "Dad?" I said in astonishment, as I accepted the request.

"Hey Cedric!" Dad said, his voice full of joy.

"Hi dad! I, so happy to see you!" He looked different. His clean, shaven face now had a goatee. His black hair had streaks of gray hair. His teeth were a bit yellow, and his voice was husky. Also, I could tell he wasn't at the old house. Did he move? Was he at work?

"How is out there, kiddo?" He asked, fusing with a string hanging off his shirt.

"Great. I really like it here." I told him.

"Hmmmm." He said.

"What?" I replied. "It's fun here."

There was a long pause. Then dad said, "Don't you miss Maine, boy?"

"Yeah." I replied quizzically. "So what?"

"Don't you miss the snow, and sledding down the hills? Don't you miss hot coco and warmn' up by the fireplace? Don't you miss Amber? Don't you miss Greg?"

I paused. "Greg?" I said in a hopeful voice.

Dad nodded. "That boy you liked to play with. He's a nice kid, y'know, wonderful parents. Wouldn't it be great if you could see him all the time?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Dad, what are you getting at?"

He winked. "Can you go get your mother for me, son?"

I uneasily nodded. "Uh... Sure."

I was too confused to walk down the stairs, so I shouted, "Mom! Dad's on video chat and wants to talk to you!" Mom ran up the stairs and into my room, her face looking
troubled. She slammed the door hard, so I knew this wasn't good.

Did Dad really want me to live with him in Maine? Was that even legal? Could he really do that? How would mom feel? I thought. I eventually found the strength to walk downstairs after collecting myself from what jus occurred. I then wrote mom a note that read:

Dear mom,

I'm going for a walk. Be back in around an hour.
I'll be going into town and buying some groceries,
so don't worry about that for now.

-Cedric

I left the note on the coffee table in the living room. I put on my shoes, took my keys, and left the house.

The market wasn't that far, but I walked slower than ever. My mind boggled and blurred by what Dad had said to me. Don't you miss Amber? Don't you miss Greg? Wouldn't it be great if you could see him all the time? His words buzzed around in my head like busy bees.

He had to be kidding, I thought. "I like it here. This is where I am. This is where I
belong. " I told myself, confidently. However, once I said that, Dad's husky voice was back in my head. Don't you miss Maine, boy? He jested. I closed my eyes, walking faster, shaking my head trying to get his voice to go away.

"Shut up," I yelled. "SHUT UP!"

"Cedric?"

I opened my eyes. I saw Raven, looking absolutely stunning.

Ok, you can do this. I thought to myself. Don't screw this up.

"Hey, uh, Raven. I didn't mean to scream at you, I've just had a rough day." I stammered.

Raven smiled. "It's alright, Cedric. We all have those moments. Where we're you off to?"

My throat was dry. Act cool. "Oh, just, you know, the market." I responded cooly.

"Turns out I'm going there, too." She flashed that enchanting smile again.

At this point, I've forgotten all dad. My only words in my head were YES! VICTORY!
Raven looked down at her feet. "You wanna walk with me there?" She offered.

"Uh, yeah, sure." I agreed.

As we walked down to the market, we talked about school.

"Didn't Mr. Burton give us a ton of history homework?" Raven said.

"Are you kidding me? That was so easy." I boasted.

"Oh." She said quietly "Well, I don't get it. Math is kinda hard, too."

"I could help you out with both, miss." I declared.

"Well, sir, that would be much too kind."

"Anything for the queen!" I exclaimed in a British accent, and pretended to be a knight.

"Oh wow, Cedric." Raven responed, blushing.

When we got to the market, we looked for our groceries together. I made countless jokes that made her laugh, and she told me more about her personal life.

"I have two brothers. They're both older that me." Raven said causally.

"I only have a younger sister, and she lives in Maine with my dad."

Raven seemed sort of impressed. "I guess that sort of makes you an only child then?"

"Sort of."

Raven and I finished our grocery shopping an hour after we got there, so I really needed to get home. Raven wrote something on my receipt, but I was in such a rush, that I had no time to see it.

I ran home carrying two pounds of groceries. I got there at 7:00 p.m., two hours from when I left the house. I fumbled getting the key into the lock, but I got in the house soon enough.

"Mom, I'm home!" I shouted breathlessly.

She came fast walking down the hall. She seemed upset. I thought she was gonna explode because I was home so late. She snatched the bags out of my hands, and placed them in the kitchen. I tried to walk after her, but my legs were to worn out.

"I'm sorry I'm late, mom. I saw someone school, and time just got away from me."
Mom looked more pissed than I've ever seen her before. "Sit down." she said seriously.
I plopped my butt the couch. "Whats up with you?"

I could see the wrinkles on her forehead,letting me know she was really displeased about something. Her gray eyes glared down at me like a hawk, stalking its prey. She took a breath. "Next week, you will only talk and see Amber, do you understand? You're dad is an awful man, and I don't want to see you around him."

I was speechless. "What do he do?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Just stay away from him." Mom choked on her last word. "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, mom."

"Good." And with that, she began to cry.