The Move

Chapter 1

"Yea, im here. The packers just left." I say on the phone to my best friend, Bella."
"did they unpack for you?" She asks.
"the unloaded all the boxes, including the couch, into the living room, and one of the guys put together my bed for me which is in my room, but I have to unpack everything else."
"oh wow." She says.
"yea. So what are you up to?" I ask, sitting on my couch. It's around 2 o'clock, which means it is around 5 there. " just leaving work, driving home." She said. That explains the noises in the background.
"Ooh. You stayed back late." I said, yawning.
"yea, I had some things to grade and lesson plans to create, and my room was a mess so I had to clean it." She said.
"Ohhh, that makes sense." I say.
"yea. But im gonna let you go, you must be exhausted." She said. I could hear a little sniffle, and im sure she's wiping her eyes right now.
"yeaaaa. I love youuuu! Thanks for calling best friend. I miss you already!!" I said trying to cheer her up.
"I love you too.. Miss you more!" She said, with another sniffle.
"dont start crying, youre driving bozo." I said trying to make her laugh. And it worked. "youre right, butthead." She said chuckling to herself. "it'll be okay, I'll be down again soon! Love youu moron!" I said. "okay, okay. Love youuu!" She said. "bye boo!" "byeeee" she said and hung up.Seconds later I was passed out.

...

I woke up to my stomach growling. "greaaat." I said aloud to myself. I have no food. But I need to eat something.

I got in my rental car and started driving around, looking for something simple.

I turned on the radio and found some country station, at a red light, and when I was done the light turned green.

It's almost 10 o'clock and the streets are empty. A couple cars pass me and my stomach continues to growl.

I drive by a plaza, and see some places that could be food related, so I pull in.

There's a place called 'Pete's Place' that looks pretty good, but when I look at the sign it says closed.

I sigh and continue looking.

Outside of that plaza, I find a pizza shop called 'Me en Ed's Pizzeria' that looks open, so I park my car and walk in.

The little bell on the door rings as I enter, and a friendly looking old woman comes out from the kitchen. "welcome!" She said smiling. "it's just you tonight?" she asks.

"yes ma'am." I say politely.
"oh honey, no need for ma'am, it makes me sound old." She smiles, and motions for me to follow her. "how are you today?" She asks as we approach a table for two. I take a seat and answer a quiet "alright." But make sure to smile. "that's good! My name is Anne, and I will be right back to get your order, I there something I could get you to drink?" She asks. "uh just a water please. And uh can I have a menu please?" I ask.

It takes me a minute to realize there are two menus already on the table.

"oh. Never mind. Sorry, it's been a long day." I say shaking my head.

"its alright dear. I'll be back with your water."

"thank you." I smile and shake my head at myself again.

I look at the menu and find just a small cheese pizza. And when Anne comes back I order it, and a side salad.

While I'm waiting, I check my phone for the closest store so I can get some things for breakfast in the morning. I don't start work until monday, so I have all day tomorrow to get what I need, and than Sunday to sleep and relax.

Anne comes back less than 10 minutes later with my food. "thank you!" I smile and take a sip of my water.

"youre welcome. So are you new to town?" She asks.

"yes ma'am. I just moved here today." I inform her.

"oh wow. Have you been to Cali before?"
"I came with my best friend last month, when I got a job around the corner, to look for apartments and get a feel for it. But im still pretty much lost."
"well congrats on the new job! And welcome to Oakhurst, California. It's beautiful here, and the sunsets and sunrises are just breathe taking!"
"thank you. And so I've heard. Unfortunately, I got to my apartment after unloading everything and crashed, so I didn't get to see the sunset tonight. But I'll be looking forward to it tomorrow night!" I say.
"it really is beautiful! But here" she rips off a piece of paper from her notepad and writes down a few phone numbers with names I dont know next to them. "these are my kids who are about your age and their numbers, and mine is at the bottom. Sarah and Stephen have been here for awhile, I just moved a couple years ago, they know more than I do, but if you ever need anything, give one of us a call." She smiled and handed me the paper.
"oh! Thank you so much!" I smile.

"youre welcome hun, enjoy your meal." She says, smiling and walks back to the kitchen.

...

When I'm done eating, it's pushing 10:45 and Anne is cleaning up. "well I'm gonna go, so you can clean up. Thank you so much for the meal, and the numbers." I smile. "how much do I owe you?"

"$12.50," she states. I pull some money out of my purse and hand her a twenty. We walk over to the cash register and she hands me my change, and I give her the five dollar she just handed me. "thanks again!" I say putting the other two dollars and fifty cents back in my purse.

"you're welcome, hun. Give me a call if you need anything." She says, with a hug.

"I will! Bye." I smile and wave as I walk outside. It's a little cold outside, but it's nice.

I get to my car and go back to that plaza, to see the store, Raley's, is still open. I park and go in.

More smiling people greet me from their cash registers as I enter. I grab a little basket and head for the breakfast area.

I get a box of a dozen donuts and a jug of orange juice. I also grab a box of Dr pepper and a little container of ice cream. Then make my way back to the front.

After I pay and leave, I get back in my car, and find my way back to my new home.

When I finally get back, I turn the tv on, that one of the packers insisted on setting up for me, and started eating my ice cream and opened a can of Dr pepper, while snappchatting Bella.

When Bella says goodnight, its almost 12:30. Which means it is 3:30 in Florida. I dont know how we are going to talk, with out her losing sleep, but I know we will figure something out. It's a good thing she doesn't have to wake up early tomorrow.

...

Too lazy to make my bed, I grab a blanket and a pillow from a box, and decide to crash on the couch.

I don't even bother setting an alarm, because I'm exhausted and don't even care.

I throw away the empty container and empty can, and lay down, scrolling through instagram, until my eyes can stay open anymore.