Lakesview

Chapter 2 (Grandpa Holt)

"Attention all passengers! we will be landing shortly." The Flight attendant said through the speakers, waking me up. I slept nearly a full 7 hours. The plane was set to leave around 8:30 this morning so it should be about 2:45 right now.  I searched it up, there's a 3-4 hour drive from Portland to Lakesview. Oh yay, 3-4 hours in a car filled with a probably awkward silence.

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I'm standing in the baggage area waiting for my three baby yellow suitcases. I know you're wondering why three and that is because I'll be living here a year and didn't know how much I should bring. Or your wander about the baby yellow suitcases, KC got them for me because they'll stand out among the others and they'll probably be the only one for their color. Plus it's my favorite color.

After a bit, I saw them come around and grabbed them as fast as I could. Ohhh there heavy. One has shoes, one has all clothes and a hairbrush, the last has clothes, makeup (not that there's much of that) and hair stuff or other accessories. Later this week some of my other stuff should be arriving through shipping. I started wheeling two of my suitcases, the third is more of a duffle bag so I carried it. I make my way to the escalators or whatever those moving stairs are that I love riding. At the bottom I see multiple people standing with signs. My eyes immediately start searching for my name. Summer May Watson, I ironic that summer and May are in there considering May is a month in summer. In the far back, I see a man who looks about mid-fifties dressed in jeans and scuffed-up boots and a plaid button-up and a beige cap. The sign he was holding said, 'Summer Watson' is sloppy letters. I guess that is grandpa Holt. When I reach the bottom I lift my bags and get them off the steps. I head towards the back in the direction of the man holding the sign with my name on it. He looks at me once I approached. I slid my cap off and brushed a few strands out of my face.

"Holt Jordan?" I asked him while he stared at me with semi-wide eyes.

"Ah, yes, you must be Summer. You look like your mother." Holt said kind of sadly, I gave him a sad smile. It's not the first someone's said that. And in truth, I see it I have straight brown hair that goes just past my shoulders, and other than the dimples and dark brown eyes I got from my dad, I have her features. Though I'm around three inches tall then she was. "Well then, let's get going." He grabbed my bag off my shoulder and one of the rolling suitcases. I followed him out of the airport and to a rusted old brown truck. "Hand me your bags and ill put the hen and n the back seat for you."

"Ok, " I sat down my bags but kept my purse around me. I slid my phone from the front pocket of my purse, "I'm just going to text aunt KC to let her know I got here ok." He nodded, I opened the passenger door and struggled for a minute as I tried getting in. Darn this tall hecking truck! I finally got in and buckled up then started texting her.

Grandpa Holt got in the driver's seat. We started on our way to my home for about the next year.

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I looked at the clock on the dashboard for about the 20th time this hour. We still have around two more hours before we get to town. 4:33 p.m. Ugh! We have ridden in science students since we left the airport parking lot. I don't want to ask if I could turn on the radio to fill the awkward space because I don't want to be rude. For the first hour, I was reading on my phone but I'm at 45 percent and I don't want to waste any more power in case I need it. The suns out so I can't fall asleep, it's a weird thing and it's the reason I don't take naps during the day unless I'm extremely tired. It also doesn't help when I'm woken up in the morning and can't fall back asleep, I just become plain out grouchy.

Anyway, I turned slightly in my seat to look at grandpa Holt. He has hard lines and creases along his forehead and between his eyebrows. His eyes are cold blue and his face stern. And his lips are in a hard line. He's very concentrated on the road.

"So, what's the town like?"  I asked in a small quiet voice. He peered over at me and studied me with one brow raised before looking back to the road.

"It's... ah... a pretty quiet town, small so you shouldn't get lost too easily. I'm the sheriff so I'm pretty much always on call. Our family has lived in Lakesview for centuries." Wow, that's a long time. "The high school is the only one in town and the student count isn't that high. You start on Monday. Tomorrow you can head to the grocery store and buy what you need and whatever food kids eat nowadays, while I'm at work." I nodded then looked at my lap and played with my fingers. "And I do have some house rules."

"Ok, lay 'em on me." he looked at me like I was kind of crazy. I gave him a small smile.

"Ook, well no going to a friend or having a friend over without asking." Ok that, I can do. "Next, I would appreciate it if you kept me updated on your location." I can do that and get it's for my safety but why not put a tracking chip in me while you're at it.

"Ok, " I answered simply.

"I work most of the time because I'm the sheriff and don't really take days off so I want to just be sure your safe. Anyway, I'll give you some chores as well. On Sundays, I have one of the high school boys stop by while I'm at work and he works in the yard. I'm friends with his aunt so he does it for free. So don't be afraid if he shows up tomorrow. Anyway when we reach town well stop at one of the dinners and get take out then head to the house and ill let you settle in." well, I did not expect him to say so much.

"Ok, that works for me." I went along with it because I really can't say anything against it. I leaned forward and turned up the volume then turned it down to a soft hum. I focused on the lyrics of the country station and closed my eyes. I stayed like this for the better part of an hour. One hour down another to go.