The California Adventure

Chapter 11: Ellen's perspective

Note: this chapter will go off from Ellen's P.O.V and will focus on Ellen from the day she learned about the California plan to the present day. Enjoy!

I had the most perfect life ever.

I had a part-time job at Daffy Burger and I have had a sixth-month anniversary with my boyfriend Gordie. Life couldn't get any better.

One day I was in my room reading when I hear a knock on my door.

"Come in," I responded.

The door opened.

It was Nate...my brother. He never knocks on my door... (much).

"Family meeting," Nate says with a bit of concern.

"About what?" I ask.

"I have no idea."

And so, the siblings appear before their father in the living room for a meeting.

"I've been trying to figure out how to say this, but I'll go ahead and try to tell you the best I can," Martin says to his kids. Suddenly, he hesitates, unclear on how to deliver the news to his kids. Nate and Ellen started to worry.

"...d...dad?" I asked, starting to freak out a bit. Even my brother was scared.

"Come on, dad. You're scaring me," Nate says to his father.

After a few moments, Martin finally speaks up. "I...I lost my job. The company laid me off last month."

This greatly shocks the siblings. " Wait... last month?" I asked in confusion. "Didn't we see you go the office a few weeks ago?"

Nate jumped into the conversation. "Yeah, remember you were all dressed up and everything?"

It was true. About a few weeks ago, Nate returned home from school to find his dad getting ready to go to work (or what it seemed to be, let alone the truth was going to be revealed in the present day). Nate didn't mind this since he thought his dad had a job to go to.

"Actually, kids...I wasn't going to the office," Martin explains. "I had a job interview. I've been going to lots of job interviews lately, trying to apply for work, but unfortunately, it hasn't been going so well. My first choice would be staying here."

"And the second choice?" Nate asks.

"Well...there IS a company that wants to hire me... in California."

The word 'California' felt like a horrible echo to me and Ellen. Not to mention, it felt like all the air has left the room.

"We're...we're moving?" Nate asks in shock.

"If I can't find any work here in town, yes Nate, I'm afraid we'll have to move," Martin replies sadly.

I turned desperate...quickly. "D-don't make us go, dad. Please? I can't leave my boyfriend and...and..."

"Sorry Ellen, I can't leave you two here by yourselves," Martin responds to Ellen's pleads to stay.

Immediately, I ran to my room, slamming the door shut, and cried into my pillow for a few hours until Dad called me for dinner. And I wasn't in a mood to talk about whatever I wanted to talk about at the table.

And the next morning as I woke up, I wondered why I was in a cruddy mood until about 10 seconds later, I knew why.

It was about 6:10 when I woke up when I heard slight noises coming from Nate's room, so I went over to investigate.

The door was closed so I slightly opened it to see the lamp light on and Nate on the ground seemingly organizing some papers, it seems.

"You're up early," I said.