Setting: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, CA
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California heat was the complete opposite of New York heat. Demi had made the executive – and awful – decision to move in the middle of the summer so that everyone would have time to settle down before school started. Summers in New York were always her favorite because even though it was hot outside, she could still breathe. The minute she took a step out of the private jet that Demi had bought to prove to her ex-husband that she was successful enough to own one, Isabella felt like all of the oxygen had been sucked right out of her lungs. The heat engulfed her naturally tanned skin and instantly made beads of sweat appear on her arms and forehead. At least in New York she could move around comfortably in the heat. With this weather, all she wanted to do was lie on a marble floor with a fan blowing in her face.
"Bella, go," Nolie whined, pushing at Isabella's legs, causing the other girl to continue her descent on the stairs to the car.
Nolie was Demi's daughter and after she babysat her for the first time, she instantly became her mini-me. Nolie was super sweet when she wanted to be but she could be a brat. Bella didn't hold it against her though. She was only five years old after all.
The signature black Escalade that Demi traveled in was waiting for them, the door already opened by a chauffeur that Bella had never met before. She climbed into the car and out of habit climbed all the way to the back, sitting in between Nolie and Nicolas's carseats. Soon everyone was in the car and they began their journey to their new home. When Bella had asked exactly where they were moving to and what their house looked like, her dad had mumbled something about it being a surprise, another thing that made this entire move complete shit.
Looking out of the window at all of the palm trees lining the streets and the tanned and skinny people strolling on the sidewalks made Bella feel like she was in a music video. And the song of that video was "The Kids" by B.o.B featuring Janelle Monae, just because that's what was playing on her cracked 6 plus. Her dad wasn't a big believer in phone upgrades. He would've kept his 4th generation iPhone if it hadn't finally failed him.
It felt as though they were in the car for days but after she had whined about it, Demi had assured her that it had only been a few hours. They pulled past a pair of black iron gates, driving through what was obviously a very expensive neighborhood. All of the houses looked like private resorts and as they continued driving, they got further and further apart. Bella sat up in interest as they made it to a cul-de-sac and pulled into the driveway of the house right in the middle, which was easily the biggest house in the entire neighborhood.
"Wow mom, go big or go home, huh?" Bella said as they circled around the fountain in the middle of the driveway.
"Actually, I let your dad pick the house," Demi shrugged as the car slowed to a stop right in front of the front door.
