ERA- Ross Lynch

Chapter 1: The Move

Emmaline's POV:

"Emmaline hunny it's time to wake up we're almost there " I heard my mother call back into the backseat.

I slowly opened my eyes, feeling the air conditioned window against my cheek. I was forced into the middle row of our oh so glamorous minivan for the ride from South Dakota to Littleton Colorado. My younger brother, Grant, managed to escape mom's wrath as he was still snoozing in the backseat with Rusty, our bulldog, who lay drooling next to him.

I watched out the window as we progressed passing medium farmhouses, into what began to look like a normal suburb. I knew of where we were moving to, from googling and zillow, but I had elected to spend the weekend with Link over the summer instead of going to look at houses. I'd kill to be doing just that right now too.

I realize I spent too long staring out the window and Grant is already awake and talking back to my mother per usual. I mean what can you expect he's 15 and does not want to move. I mean I can't blame him, I certainly don't want to either. Currently he's mad because mom and dad had met some kids when they came to house hunt who offered to help us move in, and on top of that mom and dad think "it would be a good idea" for Grant to help them to make friends. I mean I don't disagree, it would slow him down from starting back up his "rising" weed business. He thinks he's all tough because he's somehow managed to hide from mom and dad that he's been selling weed for over a year now, but I know he's just as worried about not meeting friends as I am. His excuse might be to have potential customers but I know under his goblin exterior he actually cares about being liked.

".. and you too Emmaline, it'll be good for you" my mom said offhandedly.

"What?! Mom, I don't need your help to make friends, besides what if they're absolute weirdos?" I countered. I never had trouble being social, I'm not an alcoholic but I've been known to go out with friends or my boyfriend on the weekends and have a good time.

"Oh they seemed normal enough," she nearly giggled out "besides you might think they're actually quite cute"

"Ew mom, gross" I gagged while Grant mumbled something about "cougar tendencies" under his breath.

~

We finally approached the housing development we now live in, thankfully I know this much from my extensive Zillow searching. We're certainly not short on money, we also didn't feel the need to purchase too extravagant of a house. I mean they're only gonna be living there for 3 more years tops, Grant is coming up on his sophomore year. We've never moved before but it's always been my mom and dad's dream to go off and retire in some tropical area, so I'm betting as soon as Grant graduates high school, they're off.

We turn the corner and approach a long winding driveway. The driveway takes us semi deep into the woods, which confused me at first because my mom described this place as "suburban" but this feels more "horror story chic" than anything.

We finally pulled up to our new home, and my fight or flight kicked in. As soon as the car came to a halt, I flung open the car door and ran into the new house, with one thing on my mind. I need to get to the bedroom that has its own bathroom before Grant does.

I breathlessly ran up the stairs and flung open each set of doors to find the one I knew had the attached bathroom. Once I found it I flung myself onto the cold wood floor and tried to catch my breath. This way if Grant came up he couldn't argue that he knows this room is mine.

The only good part of moving states away, leaving my friends and boyfriend behind, is getting to design a brand new room, and a big one at that. Well and maybe no longer having to go to a private school because the schools around here are actually decent.

I've been daydreaming about where I'll place my bed, where should my mirror go for the best lighting, and of course where should my keyboard go. I was your stereotypical piano child growing up, I took lessons, I learned the classics, I was never a prodigy and actually I didn't even like playing. One day though I decided to stop lessons, and to just play for fun, I learned how to improvise, how to transcribe music, and even made plenty of my own harmonies. Sure i love music it's just not exactly a career in my eyes. Besides I can't even sing, I can rock a twinkle twinkle little sky as a bedtime story when I babysit, but that's about it.

"Emmaline honey those Lice boys .." My mom trailed off and I heard my dad mumbling to her.

"Those Lynch boys are coming over to help unpack" She corrected herself and hollered up.

No way not for me, I guess I'll have to go walk Rusty because there's no way I'm gonna awkwardly make conversation for 2 hours over physical work moving what's left of our furniture. My mom loves designing, so she took this move as a chance to sell most of our furniture, so at least they won't be here long.

I grabbed my sneakers, threw my hair up into a bun, and ran downstairs to get Rusty before the "intruders" were here.

~

Hi Everyone, sorry this is still a bit of a filler chapter. We're hoping you're getting a big better view as to what Emmaline is like. The goal for this book is going to be to post as frequently as possible, while we're still gaining traction I think the goal will be to post every day.

Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy :)

- Jane and Alex