Mystery at Brightfields

Chapter 24.

Zoe had filled up one full box of things before getting too exhausted to go on. She had laid all of her clothes on the bed and found a small spot to curl up and nap for a while. Pin had left a little while ago to help Rosie move some of her massive closet items around, she needed far more boxes than Zoe did.

After about 2 hours of catch up sleep, Maggie lightly shook her awake with a few more boxes in hand. Zoe reluctantly woke up and started sorting clothes. All jeans were a yes. She needed those for sure for the barn. T-shirts needed picked through. As much as she wanted to rid herself of the LA Zoe, she kept a few shirts with memories. She sighed at the dresses still hanging in the closet, ugh.
Probably should keep just a few.

Soon enough Zoe's get rid of pile was much bigger than her save pile. Which felt good. Rosie could take up some of her extra left over space in the unit they were having transported as cargo. Mostly boxes were going but she knew her Mom was keeping some furniture that was family heirlooms, some kitchen stuff, and pretty sure they were trying to take their couch, as they has only bought it the year before.

"Ah, you're awake again. Please save me from your sister". Pin laughed at her.

"Well, let's go sit outside, or walk around or something. Kind of stuck here in the sorting. I think I'm pretty much done, I know Mom needs some help with the rest of their house. But we can take a break." Zoe said.

They said their be right backs to Huck and Maggie and went walking around the block together hand in hand.

"Is it weird to be packing up all of your things?" Pin questioned as they walked. "Your whole life is in that room. The island is nothing like this place." He gestured to the big city buildings not too far off in the distance.

" I'm pretty sure it's a good thing. It'll be weird to not have to sit in traffic to go to school, or even GO to school with 95% of them rich over entitled teens with semi famous parents. At least at the island we only have Mia to do that....and you of course. Your head is getting pretty big Mr. Hawthorne." Zoe poked.

Pin laughed and kissed her hand.

"Doubt that, still the same Peter here. Just a weird castle that I sleep in one room of and I pretty much ignore the rest." He replied.

Zoe wondered why he used his real name.

A honk from beside them walking made her jump.

"ZOE?!" someone squealed at her.

Immediately Zoe cringed. Alexis.

Who was Alexis you ask? Pretty much the person who made her life hell in school. A Heather, or a Mean Girl type. Rude, pretty, and IDGAF because I'm better than you personality.

Her and Zoe were friends.
Kind of.

It was like a switch turned on in her head and ol' Zoe was right back.

"Omigoodness. Alexis?  I didn't know if I would see you or not before we left! How crazy !" Zoe pepped. She shot a glance over at super confused Pin.

Alexis jumped out of the super expensive car she was riding in and ran to give Zoe a hug.

"Where have to been lady? You like, went on vacation and never came back? You never update your Facebook or Insta so no one has any idea if you were dead!"

Not true, she had posted a photos of Raven like a month or two ago.

"Ah, no no. Totally fine. We are moving back to England, a small island of the coast actually. We are just here this weekend to pack up everything and say goodbye." Zoe replied.

"Omg I can't believe I caught you then! So crazy, can't believe you want to leave CA and the warm and the shopping and school! Well, maybe to leave that small condo of yours and your old wardrobe" Alexis laughed. (At her probably)

"Oh you know...ha ha ha..." Zoe trailed off, fake laughing. "This is my boyfriend Pin, he is here visiting with us and helping us move" she grabbed and pulled him forward.

"Pleasure" he says and reaches out his hand.

"Oh" Alexis giggles, and gives him a wimpy girly handshake. "Your accent is to die for".

She had heard him say one word.
Girls are the worst.

Luckily Pin just nodded and shut up.

"Well. It was SO great to see you! We will miss you at school and parties will not be the same without you! Def keep in touch, girl."  Alexis leaned in to hug her again and gave a flirty wave towards Pin. "Nice to meet you Tim!"

"Bye"  Zoe and Pin chorused.

Alexis got in the car put on her sunglasses and waved fakely out the window pulling out her phone. "Bye Z!"

"She's probably updating everyone that I finally have a boyfriend and celebrating that Rose and I are leaving"  Zoe laughed.

"That's what people are like here? We're you guys close?" Pin questioned.

"Yeah pretty much, fake friends. Fake people. Fake parties and fake social status. I was kind of in that circle. If you think she's bad, the ring leader Gabby, is about 3x worse."

Pin made a face and nodded to himself. "I see why you're leaving."

"Well, leaving for Raven. He's a million times better than any "friend" I ever had here. " Zoe sighed. "Everytime I think about it though, I realize that my family is uprooting their lives because I found him. I really hope it works out for them...I really hope it works out for Raven and I. There's a lot riding on the Youth show."

"You will be perfectly fine, love. Your parents wouldn't have made this decision if they didn't see you had it in you to be great". Pin replied, re grabbing her hand slightly tighter.
"And now that I'm back, you have me, the best horseman in England, to train you".

"Oh really? The best?! I had no idea, I'm so honored." Zoe laughed. "I really wanted to shove it in Alexis's face that you were a Duke though, might have shut her up."

"I wouldn't have been mad, that girl is like 10 Mia's."
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The next day was filled with intense packing. Pretty much the house was split into separate quadrants of what was staying, leaving, donate and garbage.

Rosie had left early afternoon to see all of her friends and go shopping one last time. Which means another box for the take pile. The cargo truck was coming in the next few hours and they had it overnight for them to take it the next afternoon before they left to fly back to the island that next evening.

Huck had offered to take them to a tack shop that was about 30 minutes outside of LA. Zoe hadn't even known it existed, but makes since because horses were so far off her radar that last time she was here. She appreciated her dad's effort...and she did want to get some new saddle pads for Raven. Even with all of Rosie's extra boxes there was space for another tote of horse things in the container.

Maggie had to take Baxter to the vet for his last check up before flying, and they were going to meet her at the car dealership, so they could sell her car back afterwards.

One they got in the car they were all quiet. Most because of the amount of work they had accomplished in the last 24 hours and the small amount of sleep. They really had another 24 hours left in LA and that was it for her. They were really moving.

Zoe squealed when they pulled up to the tack shop. Other than online shopping she hadn't really seeming anything horse tack wise in person. Once they pulled the door open and the strong smell of leather hit her nose, she knew that her savings were lost. Equestrian life was now hers and she was going to be mad broke.

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Writers note- I'M BACK! Hello everyone old and new! I know I took a long break and I'm sorry, but I'm back for 2020. Probably will change the photo for this story soon (heads up) Lots to still happen for the Brightfields gang ♥️ Update coming this week 4/14.