Lonely in Cali

Chapter 1: See you soon

"SURPRISE!" all my friends yelled as they jumped out from behind various pieces of furniture. There was a banner on the wall with SEE YOU SOON typed out in big bold letters.

About a month ago, my father broke the news to me that we were moving to a small town in California for the upcoming school year. He had lost his job and the only way to keep it was to accept a transfer that no one else was willing to take on.

It was hard to tell my friends that I was leaving, we were all born here, and have been going to the same preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school our whole lives. I've never had to make new friends, we all already knew each other. It was really scary to have to go to a new high school next week, but there wasn't anything I could do.

It was going to be my last year of high school, so all I needed to do was get the grades and get out of there in nine months. It doesn't sound terrible when I put it like that, but it definitely isn't going to be any fun.

I decided to push all my worries to the back of my mind, and enjoy the surprise my friends put together, one last time, before we move out and the new tenants move in.

"Oh my god," I laugh, at the different hiding spaces everyone had taken, and the child party decorations set up everywhere, "What's going on?"

"It's your going away party!" My best friend A.J. yells out, and everyone hollers in unison, "So come on, join us for some cake!"

Two of my friends pull me from the door, where I've been standing in shock since I walked in. This explains why my car wouldn't work today and I had to get home by walking. They tampered with my car so I'd be late. Thank god it wouldn't start and not kill me driving in it. Sometimes, my friends were idiots. The amount of times they've almost gotten us killed is crazy.

I hook each arm through theirs, and let them lead me to the main area for the party. There's a huge blue cake with fondant clouds and planes on it. There's a pin the tail on the donkey, but instead it's me and they're pinning a camera to my hands. There's snacks all around, from popcorn to nachos. Music is blaring, and playing my 80s playlist, and it's pretty fitting.

I sit down with my friends, as we all laugh and have fun, trying to ignore our impending goodbye.

***

"I'm gonna miss you so much, B." A.J. mumbles into my shoulders. I hug him back just as fiercely and reply, "I'm gonna miss you too." We both pull apart after a few minutes, tears in our eyes. We've never been separated for more than those two months in the summer after seventh grade when we went to separate camps.

My mom and dad call me from the gate, waving me over. I turn to A.J and smile, "See you soon?"

He nods and pushes me away, towards my parents. When I get there, I turn around and wave, as he waves back. I pull on my backpack straps tightly, nervously preparing myself for my new life.

We board the flight and settle in, I sit in silence next to my parents as they chat about the house, and their new jobs. I put on my sleeping mask, and drift off.

***

California. It's not any better than any other state. All the hype for the entire state, and it's probably just the south that people like.

We get in a rental car and make our way to our new home using the gps that took us 45 mins to figure out how to work. I sit in the back and put on my headphones, sighing.

As we drive around, I look out the window to see the mediocre view. All I could think about was how scared I was. I didn't know anyone. I didn't have anyone to watch movies with when I was sad. I had no one to run to when I couldn't stand being home. I had no support system here.

After over an hour from the airport we finally made it to the suburban neighborhood that was gonna become our new home. I took in a deep breath as we slowed down in front of a small, two story house. It was an off white color with a white picket fence and a run down garden that no one in my family would take on.

We got out of the car and my dad immediately went to the front door, pulling out the keys. He unlocked the door, and it creaked as it was being opened.

We all piled into the house and started walking around. I immediately went up to second floor to find the room I was told was gonna be mine. It was supposedly at the far end with a large window above the bed.

When I found it and made sure it was mine, I closed the door behind me and sat on the dusty bed to take everything in.

I managed a whole 30 seconds before I broke down and started crying, burying my face in my arms.