Mr West

PROLOGUE: PART 1

Eliza

"You're really going back aren't you?" Lily asked, clearly shocked.

Lily was my best friend and she was the reason I had even stumbled upon the small town I was now going to call home. When she suggested heading out of town for a break I hadn't expected it to be across the country. Nor had I expected to be so entranced in the simplicity of small town life. I was a city girl at heart and had never experienced anything close to country living. Not to say that Rose Coast was a countryside area, it had it's aspects close to city living. The things it was missing were the busy highways, the hectic pedestrians rushing up and down the pavements or the houses all cluttered together in little quiet streets.

In the one and only pub in the town we were surprised to find the oldest of tunes pounding from the speakers, a small dancefloor able to fit only a small handful of people (not a bad thing when there were under 350 people living here, only a few of which were of the clubs age). The music was something I would relate to my mother, music she would be inclined to listen to. None of the current hits that circulated the city's radio stations were playing that night. Or any other night for that matter. Lily had even taken it upon herself to ask the DJ if he would play some songs, requesting several artists which we could only assume would be recognised. Unfortunately for us Drake was a singer that the DJ was not familiar with. We didn't think too much of it, imagining the man, looking to be in his early forties, wouldn't have heard of a famous rap artist that many of the teens were invested in. However, we were shocked to find he didn't know any of the others we mentioned either.

"Yes, why not?" I shrugged, as I continued packing my suitcases.

She sat on my bed, cross legged as she flipped through a magazine. She couldn't understand why I'd even consider giving up the luxuries offered in the city. All that I could count as a luxury was the amount of shops available and the fact many were open way past 9pm. On top of that I guess I'd miss the clubs and pubs open all hours, strolling the dark city streets guided only by the flickering streetlights. The music I would miss too but my trusty iPod would sate such desires.

The town had internet available, although many people didn't bother installing it at home. Rather they meandered into the local Internet café, (who even used Internet cafes anymore when Starbucks and Costa's were dotted around) sending a multitude of emails to family members across the coast and searching for odds and ends that they couldn't find in the stores offered to them. Online shopping was practically unheard of in Rose Coast. The only people who took the time to search online were the store owners, mostly when a customer had asked for a specific item that they did not have.

In many shops back home the employers had a custom computer which they used to order all their stock. The store owners in this small town were very different. They handled stock over the phone and the people who handled collections and deliveries were well known, practically like family to the store owners, meaning it didn't take too long to reach them and ask for a delivery. Anything else was to be ordered online. I guess spending the odd evening scouring the internet for good buys would be something I'd miss. It may prove to be helpful though in saving me a ton of money. I guess every cloud does have a silver lining!

"I just can't believe you want to go back there. There's literally nothing there for you," she scoffed, eyes widening in disbelief.

The little town of Rose Coast was just off a highway and was very hidden. She was right when she said there was nothing really there, but that was what I liked about it. Oddly enough I was excited about small town living. It was a small town, with a population of 350 and no more. There were few shops, just the very necessary ones such as a supermarket, a clothes shop, a book shop, a mechanics, an internet café and a few other little cafes, as well as the odd souvenir shop. The biggest building was the country club. The country club stood in the middle of the town and everything else surrounded it, kind of like the planets surrounded the sun. We hadn't gone into the country club as it was always extremely busy and seemed very high class, something we weren't used to. Women in pearls and diamonds sauntered into the building, as we lounged on the beach across from it. And men dressed in slacks and blazers with combed back hair strutted inside like they owned the place. We definitely didn't fit in.

"I liked the town. It may have been small but it had a very homely feel to it," I recalled. My mind began to float back. Pictures flickering behind my lids of the quaint town.

There was something welcoming and friendly about the place. Something of a homely feel, which was strange considering I was a city girl. It may have had something to do with the many smiling, friendly faces. We were greeted by many, most likely it was more out of intrigue at the new people, but there was a hint of good nature and friendliness dashed in for good measure. The residents of the town were the friendliest people I had had the pleasure to meet. They were all on first name basis, and their life stories were literally written on the pavements. Sort of like each paving stone held a star, like on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, except instead of just having the individuals name, these stars displayed little snippets of the persons lives. The little town was their home and they were proud of it. And I loved that. I wanted to be a part of something so magical and beautiful, just as these people were.

"Where are you even going to get a job? There's nothing there!" she said again, her voice high pitched, taking on a whining tone.

"I don't know," I admitted, with a shrug. "Maybe one of the pubs or the little cafes. It will be a nice experience to have."

There may have been few people residing there, and even less places of business to work within, but I had a feeling the residents would be welcoming and bring me into their little world with open arms. I hadn't actually told her that the girl we had met in Rose Coast had basically offered me a job. She snorted and shook her head in disbelief, her dark curls falling over her face.

"You're crazy!" she laughed, laying back on the bed with her legs in the air.

Maybe I was, but this felt like a good idea. And if worst came to worst, I could just come back home, which would mean hearing her telling me she was right for the next year!

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