The Neighbor

Chapter 19: California

"Are you ready to go?" Brendan asked.

"I've been ready for an hour, "I said, "are you sure your ready?"

"Could you act like a girl, "he joked, "like at least once. Girls are supposed to take a long time to get ready."

"Well that's a little stereotypical isn't it?" I joked.

"Very funny, "he said sarcastically.

"How are we getting to the airport?" I asked, "Are we going in a limo or some other luxurious vehicle?"

"What makes you think all rock stars travel in limos?" he said. I gave him an incredulous look. "I mean we are but that's a bit stereotypical."

"Yeah whatever, "I said.

"It should be here any moment, "he said, "so your sure your ready to go?"

"Brendan I have almost no belongings, "I said, "it doesn't take that long to pack."

"Yeah well we'll just have to change that, "he said. A horn honked outside and Brendan said, "Time to go." I grabbed my bag and followed Brendan outside. "Oh and I have a little surprise, "he said.

"What?" I asked.

A girl's head popped out of the window of the limo. She screamed, "Danny!"

"Lani?" I shouted back in disbelief.
"I thought you might want a friend while we're there, "Brendan said.
"Thank you, "I said. I ran to the limo and jumped in.
Inside was the most luxurious car I had ever been in. The seats were as comfortable as recliners. There was a mini fridge full of pop and an assortment of chips and candy. Lani and I immediately filled our arms with candy and sat down in the squishy seats.
"You two have enough snacks?" Brendan asked.
"Not even close, "Lani said.
"I hope you don't need any of this, "I said, "'cause we're going to eat it all."
-------------------------------------------------------
The plane ride was quite possibly the worst experience I had ever had. Going into the air port was cool enough. We drove under the run ways and everyone stared at us in awe and jealousy.
But on the plane my ears popped, the engines were so loud I couldn't hear my music, and a kid kicked my seat the entire time.
"Tell me again why we couldn't take your private jet?" I whined when we in the car on the way to Brendan's beach house.
"I need to stay low, you know not draw any attention to myself, "Brendan said.
"That's stupid, "I said.
"I think it's awesome, "Lani said, "Brendan Jones, incognito."
"Says the girl that snored throughout the entire plane ride, "I said.
"All right before the cat fight starts, let's get inside, "Brendan said.
Brendan's beach house was more like a mansion. There was a large fence to keep people out. Multiple balconies surrounded the house on the second, third, and fourth levels. There was a large fountain in the front yard that sprayed water out of a mermaid's mouth.
"This is amazing, "I said.
"Thanks, "Brendan said, "make yourselves at home."
The inside was just as magnificent as the outside. A crystal chandelier hung on the ceiling far above our heads. The floor was polished white marble. A spiral staircase led upstairs. It was just like entering a castle from the movies.
"You want a tour?" Brendon asked.
"Of course, "Lani and I said in unison.
"Follow me, "Brendan said. He showed us the living room, the kitchen, the office, the library, the five bathrooms, and a ton of other rooms. Finally we got to me and Lani's room.
It was five times larger than my tiny closet back home. There were two queen sized beds with curtains, two flat screen TV's, two gigantic dressers and vanities, and one walk in closet.
"This. Is. Awesome, "I said slowly.
"Well when you two are done gawking you can unpack and then do what you want, "Brendan said, "I have a rehearsal but my driver will take you anywhere."
Brendan left and me and Lani quickly unpacked then ran downstairs.
"Oh let's go shopping, "Lani said, "you desperately need new clothes." We grabbed Brendan's credit card and his driver took us to a mall in Anaheim.
Lani dragged me to every store she liked. The only arguments we had was when she tried to take me to Victoria's Secret and when I tried to take her to Hot Topic. Finally we stopped to have lunch.
I found a table for us while Lani went to get the food. Our table was in the sun light with an umbrella for shade. I leaned back and felt the sun on my face. Then I pulled out a notebook from my bag and started to work on one of my clothing designs. I had expected to be alone for a while but someone in front of me cleared their throat. I looked up to see a short man in a brown tweed suit and a brown hat standing in front of me.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"Those designs are very interesting, very unique, "he said.
"Thanks, I think, "I said.
"Allow me to introduce myself, "the man said, "the name's Tobias Tork, editor of Fashion Freak Weekly. You know the magazine for goth kids like yourself. And you are?"
"Danny, "I said.
"Well Danny I have an offer for you, "Tobias said, "I like your work and we're looking for someone to design this week's sets. How would you like to design some sets for us and if the people like them we can make an even sweeter deal."
"You mean you want to put my designs in a real magazine?" I asked.
"That's right, "he said, "so do we have a deal?"
"Yes! Yes, deal!" I said.
"Good just send your designs to this address before Friday." He handed me a card with an email on it and left. Once he was gone Lani came running up.
"Oh my God!" she shrieked, "your gonna be a fashion designer!"
"Yes, "I said dreamily. Lani continued to blabber on but I got distracted by a bill board. It was for Fashion Freak but it wasn't that that had caught my eye. It was the designer from last week. He had magnificently white teeth, pale skin, and black hair. It was a face I hadn't seen in two years, a face I thought of as a sack of dirt.
"Come on, "Lani said, "you need more clothes Miss. Fashion Designer." She dragged me away and down the street. I got one last look of the face before we turned the corner. The face I thought I would never see again. The face of my father.