Chapter 2

The bombshell hit me like a tidal wave. California, Beverly Hills — a new chapter awaited, but it meant leaving everything behind. Panic and excitement danced within me, creating a storm of conflicting emotions.

Unable to contain my thoughts, I blurted out, "Why are Mum and Dad back in town, and why did we leave school early? What about my perfect grades?" My inner conscience urged me to seek answers.

"Okay, can someone please explain to me why I left school early and why Dad and Mum are back in town?" I asked, anticipating a logical explanation.

Josh began, "Well, Ava, we are going--" but my dad interjected, insisting it was better if I heard it from him. "No, it's better if she hears it from me. Honey, we have to move because of my business. We are moving to California, Beverly Hills."

A whirlwind of emotions enveloped me — joy at the prospect of California adventures, sadness at leaving behind friends like Maddi, and uncertainty about what the future held.

"What about Madi and my school? Yay for California, but Maddi, my bestie," I expressed, caught in the maelstrom of mixed emotions.

"I don't know, honey. Maybe you'll find a new best friend," my mum offered, attempting to comfort me with a gentle pat on the back.

"We need to pack now; our plane leaves in the next 1 hour and 25 minutes," my dad announced, injecting a sense of urgency into the situation.

With a heavy heart, I mumbled a goodbye to the familiar, wondering what the future held for my friendships and my life in California.

"I will go freshen up," I said, the sadness palpable in my tone. The realization hit that while new friends awaited, Maddi's place in my heart was irreplaceable.

I emerged from the bathroom after a quick shower, my hair styled into a chic look, wearing an outfit that reflected a blend of style and melancholy.

When I descended with my luggage, Josh's surprise was evident. "Why are you surprised?" I quipped.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here. Maybe you're growing up," he teased, to which I retorted with a playful shut-up, reminding him of the morning's school-delay incident.

Before long, my parents joined us. "Are you guys ready, forgotten anything?" my mum inquired. "Yeah, and we aren't forgetting anything, Mum," I reassured her.

Josh and I loaded all the luggage into the car, and soon we were on our way to the airport. Once there, I took a moment to call Maddi, sharing the sudden turn of events.

The conversation was bittersweet as Maddi expressed her curiosity and disappointment at my departure. I handed the phone to my mum, and the conversation continued. Finally, my mum handed the phone back to me.

"She wants to speak with you," my mum said. I took the phone, and Maddi and I exchanged heartfelt words, promising to stay in touch.

"Okay, bye, love you," I said, a lump forming in my throat as I ended the call. The reality of leaving settled in, and as the plane took off, I couldn't help but glance back at the town I was leaving behind, uncertain about the adventures that awaited in California.

After the emotional call with Maddi, I found myself oscillating between excitement for the California adventure and sorrow for leaving my old life behind. The turbulence of emotions threatened to overwhelm me.

"Hey, what about the summer bikinis and don't skip the charming boys," quipped my inner conscience, injecting a moment of amusement amidst the chaos.

"What happened? Your inner conscience made you laugh," inquired Josh, catching on to my sudden burst of laughter.

Surprised, I questioned, "How did you know?"

He revealed, "Well, let's say when you were little, and things didn't go your way, you kinda zoned out and later chuckled. 'My inner conscience said I should go on with what's happening; some good will happen to you.' I assumed you were insane. You made your inner conscience your best friend before you met Maddi."

"That explains it. Please promise me you won't tell Maddi," I pleaded, only to be met with Josh's refusal to make any promises.

As we boarded the plane, I clung to Josh's hand, battling my fear of heights and the potential horrors of a plane crash.

"Are you still afraid of heights?" he inquired.

"Yeah, is there a problem with that?" I retorted.

"Nothing, just nothing," he replied.

Inside the first-class section, I turned to TikTok to pass the time. Laughter filled the cabin as I scrolled through videos, temporarily forgetting the weight of my situation. Sharing a funny moment with Josh, I couldn't help but post a picture, capturing the mix of emotions.

When we landed, my jaw dropped at the sight of our new house, but I quickly closed it to avoid catching any flies.

"WOW," Josh and I exclaimed simultaneously as our mum showed us our furnished rooms. My room boasted a walk-in closet and a beautiful bathroom. I quickly organized my belongings, took a quick bath, and donned a new outfit.

I also checked Josh's room, finding it equally amazing with its own walk-in closet.

As I explored, Josh caught me and questioned my actions. "What're you doing? Don't you have your own room?"

"Yup, just checking out how your room is," I responded.

"Okay, you're through exploring, and where are you going?" he asked, gently pushing me toward the door.

"Just going to explore and maybe make a friend. Want to join?" I replied.

"Okay, I'm coming with," said Josh, slipping back into his protective brother role.

Regret crept in as I asked Josh to join me in exploring the new neighborhood. In the living room, waiting for him, I couldn't help but tease him about his time in the bathroom.

"What took you so long in there?" I asked, playfully.

"Nothing. What about you taking a whole hour to get ready? Now you know how it feels?" he retorted.

"Well, I am a girl, and girls take time to get ready. It's our nature," I replied, emphasizing my point with a hair flip. "I wish," he murmured, and I caught it, deciding not to engage in a pointless argument.

I drove aimlessly until I saw the Starbucks logo on Google Maps, prompting a spontaneous turn. Inside Starbucks, I and Josh ordered our drinks, but my attention was diverted by a guy with dark brown hair and sky-blue eyes. Caught up in the moment, I didn't notice the barista calling me.

"Miss, miss, miss," she said, snapping me out of my daydream. Embarrassed, I fumbled for my order, hoping Josh hadn't witnessed my little crush moment. To my dismay, he gave me a disapproving look.

SPLASH!

Bumping into someone, I spilled my drink. To my surprise, it was the cute guy. Embarrassment flooded over me as he assured me it was his fault.

"Sorry, am so sorry, it was a mistake, I wasn't loo—" I started but was cut off by him.

"Don't worry; I will clean it up. It wasn't your fault; it's mine. I wasn't looking where I was going," he said.

Apologizing again, I was abruptly pulled away by Josh, who clearly disapproved of the situation.

Back in the car, Josh insisted on driving, his anger palpable. We arrived home, and he practically dragged me inside, displaying a level of overprotectiveness that irked me. In the living room, he demanded an explanation.

"First, nothing happened, and I accidentally spilled a drink on him. I didn't get his name because of you," I defended myself.

Josh scoffed, "You expect me to believe it 'accidentally' spilled? Grow up."

Frustrated, I lashed out, "See, Josh, I'm old enough to talk to guys. What's wrong with you? If you don't let me talk to guys, how will I get married someday?"

He countered with a hypothetical scenario, questioning my maturity. Our argument escalated, touching on my age and supposed naivety. Angry and tired, I retreated to my room, slamming the door.

Fed up with the overprotectiveness, I sighed, "See what I mean by overprotective? I'm so sick of it."

Deciding to escape into sleep, I prepared for bed. After a shower, I put my hair in a messy bun and wore comfortable pajamas. As I lay on my bed, thoughts of tomorrow's consequences filled my mind. Before I knew it, the exhaustion caught up with me, and I drifted off into a deep slumber.