home. // katy perry fan fiction

ten;

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chapter ten:
late night discussions;
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After that Aunt-Shannon-turning-into-the-devil fiasco, the devil herself insisted on taking the wheel since nobody actually bought pizza. She was pretty pissed about it but now that we stopped by a local pizza parlour and bought three large boxes, I think she's starting to become human again. Mind you, she's obsessed with pizza. Both her and mom are. Even after that gluten issue with mom and how she should avoid anything with gluten since it messes up her digestive system, they still continue to devour every pepperoni pizza they could buy. Jesus.

"So you grew up here?" I ask as we pass by a tiny neighbourhood, identical looking houses line up on every block. The wind ferociously blows against my face, my hair going in every direction. I don't mind though, I love the breeze.

"Yes and no." My mom replies, giggling as she looks at me. Aunt Shannon's behind the wheel, so both of us are seated at the back since Mia called shotgun. I wasn't so ecstatic about sitting in the back, kinda hated it even, but atleast mom's keeping me company.

"I was a rebellious little miss when I was your age, so I ran away from my real home, from Santa Barbara, because I wanted to come here and follow my own dream." She says, smiling as she looks around, her hair flying in every direction.

"Shan, make a l-"

"I know where you lived, Kate." Aunt Shannon says, adding a giggle at the end to make it sound less harsh, the devil inside her nowhere in sight. It was silent for a little while after that, the air filled with unspoken words. I can sense both mom and her wanted to say something but choose not to.

"So, are we going to drop by your old house or are we just driving past it and head to Nonna and Papa's?" I ask, trying not to feel awkward.

"The latter." Mom answers, smiling at me. I nod.

"Alright."

"Mom?" I ask, my voice close to a whisper.

"Yes, Vi?"

"Why did you leave for Miami? Why not just stay here? I mean, Los Angeles isn't that bad. I wouldn't mind living here." I ask after awhile, the silence inside the car slowly deafening me.

"Well, don't get me wrong, Los Angeles is amazing but this place is also where a lot of famous people live. Your dad and I just didn't think that it would have been a good idea to raise you and your brother here in such a busy city."

"So did you not like it that much?"

"Oh, I loved it. . . I had two houses here, and the view out my balcony was breathtaking. But with every good reason to stay, there are billions of bad ones to contradict that. I had zero privacy, literally. People take photos of me in my backyard, when I'm out shopping, when I'm out for lunch or whatever, even when I'm just by the window brushing my teeth! They literally follow me around twenty-four-seven to watch my every single move! It sucked ass. It was like living under a microscope."

"Oh God, that's awful." I respond, trying to picture out the life she had before Newt and I came along. It must have been hell for her despite the glitter and glamour of her celebrity life. I don't know if I could live with that.

"It was more than awful, trust me." Aunt Shannon joins in on our conversation, glancing at us on the rearview mirror.

"They spread rumours about you all over the internet, the newspapers, tabloids, everywhere. It was like living in a literal nightmare. Thank God I got out before everything went downhill." I cringe, uncomfortable about the thought of people having to put up with stalkers and have zero privacy. I mean, why can't they just treat them like what they are- human. They're as human as everyone of us. The car ride to Nonna's and Papa's was silent- thankfully not the awkward kind. I don't know, I guess we just needed some time to think of the many horrors Shannon Marie Woodward and Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson went through before they ran away from all that madness.