𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍'|| 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐎

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧'

Hopping in my mother's Volkswagen Beetle from her teenage years, I looked at my house one last time before we headed for California. My mom always hated home. The surroundings and weather, she claims it's depressing. That's how it is in Illinois I suppose.

"Did we really have to move now? My toes are frozen. You couldn't have waited until after winter?" I groan shutting the door harshly.

"Well I wanted to spend Christmas in California!" She started driving with a huge grin on her face.
I wasn't upset about us moving at all, in fact I was okay with it. She divorced my dad and he moved to New York with his new girlfriend. Never was a fan of his anyway. But we have have our own stuff going on and I don't think my mom could be happier.

For the first thirty minutes I analyzed things about my mom's face that I had never noticed before.
She was very skinny and had short brown hair that was dark enough to look kind of red. Her short bangs fit her haircut well and she had a beautiful smile that I surely inherited. After a while of listening to music and looking out the window I finally saw that we made it out of Illinois.

"See ya never!" My mom cackled moving in the drivers seat. I chuckled at my mom's energy. We've always been close and I can tell why. We're basically the same person, I'm just younger.

We stopped for food at a Burger King and we ate in the car talking about all the things we would do once we got settled in California. She also described our new apartment complex and I was impressed with what I was hearing. A pool included.

I slowly saw the snow disappear as we got closer to golden state. I thought long and hard about how I would make friends at a new school. I have to make sure I don't mess up because I had no friends back at my school in Illinois and it was not fun.
—
After many stops, songs and naps, we made it to Reseda, California.
"Finally!" My mom parked the car in front of the apartment's entrance.

My mouth was agape. It was not at all what I was expecting but I can't say I hated it. It was...charming.
"Wow mom. It's..." I turned to smile at her then got out of the car leaving her hanging.

She did the same. "I know," she sighed, "it's not all I said it would be but I didn't want you to not be excited about our big move." She untied some of our things from the roof of the car and I opened the trunk. I struggled with carrying some of the boxes and I pushed on the front gate and knocked over some kid.

"Aw jeez" I mumbled as I saw him tumble and fall to the hard ground.
"Not again!" He grunted when he hit the ground.
"I'm sorry." I wobbled to put the boxes down and helped the guy up.
"Don't worry, it's already happened once." He chuckled realizing I wasn't from around here and that I'm the new person moving into the only empty apartment.

"Im Freddy" he got up and eyed the boxes I had set down.
"Hi I'm Scarlett Rossi" I smiled at him, watching him pick up the boxes I was struggling with.
"Where to?"
"Apartment 18" I nodded looking back at my mom then following Freddy up the stairs and to my door.

"Thank you" I patted the boxes.
"What school you going to?"
"Oh um, I'm not sure. I'm guessing the same school as you?"
He chuckled and grabbed my shoulder and leaned into my ear.
"Word of advice, do not talk to the kid in apartment 20 if you want friends."

He walked off with a wave and I was left standing there staring at the door of apartment 20, wondering what he meant.
—
We had gotten everything inside the apartment and out of the boxes.
"We need beds mom" I sighed sitting on the counter opening a water bottle. It was hot outside, I was sweating like a pig. After taking a few sips of my water I tied my dark brown, reddish hair up and wiped my forehead hopping down from the counter.