The Splat Chronicles: Book One - Jake

Chapter Two: Welcome To Inkopolis

It's finally Jake's 18th birthday, and everyone is up early to be ready for Jake's departure. Isabelle is lugging the moving boxes out to the truck, while Jake is doing his best to help. Ma watches this, trying to restrain herself from welling up with tears. Her little boy is finally leaving the nest, and she almost can't bear to see him go. Yet, she knows he's all grown up now, and deserves to live his dreams.

After the truck is packed, Jake gets a moment to say goodbye to his room. What? He can't help but be a little cheesy, he's leaving his childhood home after all. He looks around the room, now barren save for a bedframe with a bare mattress, and an empty dresser. He takes a moment to take in the bittersweet sight, reveling in all the sweet memories he made in this room. As he looks, he spots the skyline of Inkopolis through his window. He takes a moment, before smiling softly to himself. He's stared at that skyline for longer than he can remember, it was such an important part of his life. Now, he'll finally get to see the sparkling city for real. He gives his room one last goodbye, and turns to leave. It was time to make new memories, and he knew he was ready for it.

He heads downstairs and out to the truck, where Isabelle and Ma are waiting for him.

"Took ya long enough!" Isabelle shouted, "Needed a cuddle sesh with your bed? A moment alone with your drawers?"

"Maybe I did, you don't know!" Jake retorts, slightly flustered.

"Oh, be nice to him, he's leaving home, he has every right to take his time and say goodbye." Ma adds. Jake smiles softly to that, and gets into the car.

Isabelle is in the drivers seat, being the only one in the house with a driver's license. 

"So, we ready to get on the road?" Isabelle shouts, excitement in her voice.

"As long as we plan to survive the drive." Jake retorts, snickering.

"Oh yeah?" She starts the car and speeds down the road.

"I WAS KIDDIIIIING!!!!" Jake shouts.

This is going to be quite the eventful ride.

~~~

They're an hour and a half in to the drive when they finally make it to the border of Inkopolis. By now Isabelle has certainly slowed down, mainly due to Ma's scolding. Jake looks out the window, and marvels as they pass a sign that says: "Welcome to Inkopolis! The City of Color". He begins to feel butterflies swell up in his stomach; it's finally happening! He's finally going to live in Inkopolis, like he's always dreamed! He looks out the window in awe as country farmland begins to blend into a bustling cityscape. The streets are lined with inklings of different ages and heights and ethnicities and everything, it's definitely more of a variety of people than Jake is used to, and in much bigger quantities. He hasn't seen this many people in once place since- well, ever! 

They drive through the city, doing their best to find their way around. It's a big city, and its hard to navigate, especially for a countryside family and their dingy pickup truck. 

Eventually, after many wrong turns and missed street signs, they make it to the Inkopolis Housing Center, and pull over up front. There are many other inklings with their families getting sorted out. There's a variety of people, from some Jake's age, to others much older. Jake jumps out of the car, excited to finally be here. He stretches his arms up, before looking around at the other groups of people, trying to decide who to introduce himself to first. Oh, or maybe he'll check into his dorm first, or take a walk around the city, while he still has time, or maybe-

"Jake...?" Ma whimpers out. Jake stops his train of thought and turns to her, to see her starting to tear up.

"Ma..? Are you okay...?" he gets closer to her as she begins to cry.