In Orange County

Chapter four

After about half an hour of driving we arrive at an incredibly huge house. It has a balcony and front double doors. Not to mention the fact that this mansion is sitting on top of an ocean cliff covered with long grass that sways in the wind. If what dad told me about mum wanting to leave because we didn't have enough money for her was true, then she definitely got what she wanted.

"you really live here?"I ask. I am honestly surprised.

"uh ya, what does it look like dumbass?"I hear Sophie say.

"Sophie!"says mum. "don't speak like that!"she scolds her.

I look over to Sophie who rolls her eyes and unclips her seatbelt as we pull up to the house. When I step out of the car I see a middle aged man open the front door an step out into the sunlight. He must be mums husband or something.

"here why don't I help you with those bags?" he says to mum.

"oh that would be great, thanks love." she says and steps away from the trunk.

"hey,"says sophie,"why doesn't he get his own bags!?"

"oh yeah, I can get my own bags,"I say remembering my manners.

"no no, don't worry, George has it."says mum. She couldn't be any more kind.

"okay," i say and grab my carry-on bag and walk inside.

Wow! If I thought the house looked big from the outside, it's even bigger on the inside. There is a spiral staircase leading up to the second floor and doorways entering into many different rooms and through them I can see more doorways leading to more unknown rooms.

"George will lead you to your room."says mum from behind me.

"okay," I say while turning around and following George up the stairs.

He leads me through a long hallway and a few doorways until we arrive at a large bedroom with a small tv in the far right corner and a king sized bed. Next to the window stands a large dresser and on top is the tv remote.

"well be in the kitchen if you need anything."says George.

"okay, thank you."I say and he gives a nod before exiting the room.

I quickly get to work and in about fifteen minutes I have all my clothes in the dresser and my one bag under the bed and out of the way. It's about seven so I decide I should go downstairs for something to eat then go to bed because I am seriously jet-legged.

I retrace my steps and find my way to the staircase. I'm still I'm awe about how big this place is. After getting lost a couple times, I enter the kitchen to find my mum setting the large dining table for supper.

"oh your just in time, I was about to send Sophie up to fetch you."she says in a cheery voice.

"it smells delicious,"I say gesturing towards the steaming pot of stew.

"oh, thanks love. Why don't you take a seat?"she says to me. I walk over to the table and find a chair facing the kitchen.

"that's my seat."I hear someone say from behind me. I turn around and see Sophie glaring at me.

"sorry I didn't know."I say while standing up and giving her the chair.

Dinner passed pretty quickly and when it was I brought me plate and glass of water to the sink and said I was going to bed.

"alright dear, sleep well."mum says and I walk out of the kitchen.

On my way up to my room I see a few photos on the wall of two girls. One with short layered brown hair, the same color as Sophie's and one with long flowing black hair like the color of mine. In one photo, there is three girls. I recognize the one on the right as Sophie but the other two are completely unknown to me. The two I don't know are hugging and smiling and Sophie is blowing bubbles and smiling. They look so happy. Especially Sophie. There are a few others of them each individually but they don't really stand out as much. The other one looked like there was some sort of connection between them more so between the two hugging, but also with Sophie.

When I arrive in my room I don't even bother to brush my teeth or change, I am too exhausted. I fall asleep watching the sun set over the ocean outside my window. So this is what it's like in orange county.