Chapter 2 New Town

Here I am packing up all my stuff, realizing I have way more clothes than I remember buying. Hannah is in the room next to mine; she’s packing as well. My father agreed to send me to Pennsylvania only if she comes as well. Guess my parents are still a little overprotective or they don’t trust me being on my own. Maybe they’re sending Hannah to spy on me just so I don’t get wrapped up over some guy. 

I hear knocking on my bedroom door. I throw the clothes back on my bed and walk over to open the door, only to see Hannah on the other side holding up two dresses.

“What should I wear on moving day?” She asks.

“Seriously? This was supposed to be an adventure, not some fashion show Hannah. They’re only sending you with me because you have no plans for summer.”

“That’s not true. Kelly invited me to her beach house. I would have gone with the squad, but I chose my sister instead.”

“Whatever, do you have your stuff ready?”

“Stuff? Correction, you mean my collection of Chanel and Louis Vuitton sets, handbags, and my heels. That’s what you meant by stuff right? Come on, can anyone understand me around here?” 

She walks out and back into her room to finish packing. This is going to be a nightmare. My room is in a mess.

“Carol.” 

My mom walks in and sees the eruption of clothes on my bed.

“Mom, I know it looks bad, but I have it under control. I just need another suitcase and I’ll be good to go.” 

I start panicking, why did I say that? I’m so lost I just feel so confused, I don’t know if I’m ready.

Mom walks up to me and tells me to breathe. 

“It’s going to be okay.” She says, while fixing my hair. 

“Let me help you, it looks like you can use an extra hand.”

“Yes desperately.” I say while nodding my head. 

Mom smiles at me. She helps me fold my clothes and pack my suitcases neatly.

“It’s all going to be worth it. You will have fun, trust me.” Mom says.

“Thanks mom. I needed to hear that!” 

I continue packing with mom until it’s all done.

“You girls have everything?” Dad asks, while we get in the line to check in our suitcases. 

“Yes, I think.” Hannah says.

“I think we do, dad. I’m so excited for this trip.” I say with a hit of enthusiasm.

“Carol, Hannah, before you go, I want to give you this.” 

Tanner hands us both a small tape with some of the songs he’s written so far. Some I’ve even helped him with. 

I look down at the tape, then back up at Tanner. 

“Aww. Come here little one.” 

I give Tanner a hug and Hannah joins in. It’s going to be so different being apart from him.

“Call me if you need anything.” Mom says.

Mom and dad join in on our bundled hug, crushing Hannah and I. We all started laughing and  just couldn’t stop. 

“We will.” I say with a smile.

“Okay now, you girls better get going. Don’t want you to miss your flight.” Dad says.

“He’s right, off we go Carol!”

Hannah looks like some model, or should I say, someone that should be in Paris fashion week. She’s wearing a pink fur coat, with black sunglasses on her head as a headband. Her Chanel handbag and suitcase has everyone in the airport looking at us. As we say bye to our parents and little brother we check in our suitcases and wait for our plane. 

“Finally, a chair, that was so much walking. Carol, my foot has blisters!” 

“No one told you to wear heels to the airport sis!”

“I have a reputation to maintain.” 

Hannah pulls out her phone and takes pictures to post to her I*******m or Snapchat story, I honestly have no clue.

I sit and I can’t help but think how fast this is all happening. I’m happy I have a tape with Tanner's music. Hopefully mom sends him to California. Maybe, he’ll even release an album someday! Maybe, this vacation will be good for me. I need to have a different perspective on life again. 

“Now boarding flight PA-114 to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.” The woman says through the microphone. 

“We will start boarding all first-class passengers, please form a line and show your ticket upfront.” 

“Hannah, you got your ticket?” I ask nervously.

“Yes, well, no, just kidding it’s right here, I’m not that dumb.”

I roll my eyes and walk to the line.

“Here’s our tickets, ma’am.” I say.

“Great you guys can board. Please follow the flight attendant to your given seat!” The woman says.

I follow the flight attendant and walk through the mini tunnel to the airplane. I’m so excited, I still feel like I’m dreaming to be honest. The flight attendant takes Hannah and I to our correct spots on the plane.We both sit and buckle our seat belts. 

“Is there anything I can get for you girls?”

“Water would be fine.” I say.

“I’ll have some wine please. This plane is already giving me the jitters.” Hannah says.

“Shush Hannah, stop acting like that!” 

“What, it's not my fault it's bad service.”

“She’s so nice, what do you mean? Can you please zip it now?”

“Damn, what’s your problem, missy?”

“Nothing, just zip it and enjoy the flight.” I say.

I pull out my headphones from inside my purse and start listening to a song called “Like That,” by Bea Miller. 

First class is quite nice. So much space and room! Guess it’s not so bad after all. Mom was right, I just need to be calm. 

“All passengers, please buckle up your seatbelts. We are preparing for takeoff in just five minutes!”

I continue listening to songs all the way through! 

Same weather, green grass, but the house is bigger than what I can remember as a child. Growing up my parents always brought us herefor family vacations. Now I can’t believe my dad just gave it to me! It’s nice having wealthy parents, yet horrible at the same time. They're never around to enjoy nice moments like this. I mean, sending me here with my twin sister to babysit me, then telling me to follow my dreams. Something in the back of my mind keeps telling me, probably they just wanted to ship us away. I know it’s a crazy thought but maybe I’m just overwhelmed, after all, it was a long flight.

Hannah booked an Uber Luxury ride from the airport because she’s that extra. The driver finally parks the car and gives us our bags. 

“So many suitcases.” The driver says. 

“Yep, we came all the way from New York, so had to come prepared!” I say.

“Well, that’s the last of it.” He says.

“Thank you so much, I really appreciate it a lot!” 

The suitcases were so heavy. I turned around to look for Hannah. She’s up by the door, leaving me with all the bags as usual. 

“Hannah! Come back, you need to help me.” 

“Alright, fine, just my thingsthough.” She says.

“Just your things? They're mostly all your bags!” 

I roll my eyes at her, then roll each suitcase up by the door. 

“Yes you’re right! Mine are the ones with personality!” 

“Inanimate objects don’t have a personality, Hannah.”

“Whatever, just hurry up, I want to see my room so I can start decorating it. You know, making it all super girly!”

It hasn’t even been an hour since we arrived, and it feels like a nightmare. Can she just relax and act casual for a change? Who knows, we might be back home after summer or should I stop running away from my fears and start embracing them. Well, if I think positive, at least Hannah is here and I’m not alone. It would be challenging if I came by myself. 

As I step into the house, my mind is flushed with childhood memories. I can remember when we were all kids and sitting by the fireplace. My dad would constantly be telling us stories about meeting mom in Pittsburgh. They first met in Pennsylvania, fell in love, and then got married here as well. I guess that’s why he bought this house in the first place. It all makes sense now since I’m older and wiser. 

“Okay, so we need to make a few adjustments around here. I’m going to take the master bedroom, but I need the flat screen TV. There's another in the living room for you, but I’m moving this one into my room.” Hannah says.

She drives me nuts sometimes. When will she realize that money isn’t everything in life? First, it cannot buy happiness, yes you can have everything in the world but what if you have it all and you’re not happy? I think that’s the kind of rut I’m in or have been in since my breakup. 

“Fine, but keep it down, don't blast the music, we have neighbors in the area!” 

“Yea, yea, I will. Damn, you can be such a granny sometimes.”

“Not a granny, just the mature twin.”

How are we even twins? We’re completely the opposite of each other. We don’t like anything that’s the same. If I was the mature one, why did mom and dad send her with me? Maybe to keep me company? I don’t know. But I do love her. Whatever happens, happens, but in the end it’s good we got each other during this time. The most important thing is sticking together.

I start to carry my things up to my bedroom.

“Wow, it's huge!” I say.

I put my things down and beginlooking around the room. I see so many old photos of my family and ornaments my mom had filled the room with. 

“It’s lovely.” I whisper to myself.

Hannah walks across the hall.

“So, I talked to dad and he’s hiring a maid for us. She’ll come once a week to maintain the house.”

“What? No. I can do it all myself, it's fine, really. There’s not even much to clean. Paying someone to come here isn’t the best idea. Hannah, you came with me to help start my journey. The reason why we came here is to explore, be independent, learn different aspects of life, a simple life, and living the wealthy lifestyle our parents made us grow up in, isn’t really my cup of tea. So, give me her number, I’m canceling!” 

“Dang, you really don’t know how to have fun; this will be the worst summer ever. Ugh, why do you have to be so stubborn?” Hannah says.

“Well because I have to, stop being so dramatic. Can I have that number now?”

Hannah gives me the number and I call the maid, Patricia,immediately. She was so sweet and kind over the phone. I feel horrible about telling her not to come, however, I need to be independent, which means, doing things on my own. I’m in Pennsylvania, without my parents. I need to learn how to live on my own. 

I walk towards the window and hear the birds chirping from outside. I forgot we left so early that it’s still morning here. It’s only 10:30 a.m. 

It’s so gorgeous, I can smell nature. 

“Hannah, I can’t believe you're having your car shipped here, ugh!” I say with an annoyed look on my face.

“It’s the last thing, I promise. Well, I’m trying sis.” 

“Whatever, I’m going to make some coffee and toast. Tomorrow we need to go to the grocery store to stock up.” I say.

I feel so much better here. So peaceful and calm. The weather is basically the same but it’s a lot better. Wow, it looks like it’s going to be a long summer after all. 

“Hannah, where are you going to work?” I ask.

“At Tiffany’s Salon. She has another salon here in Pennsylvania, Betsy or is it Betty told me. Dang, can’t remember that girl's name.”

“It’s okay, I need to find a job here as well. I've applied to a few online before coming here but I haven’t heard anything back. I’ll let you know if I do.” 

“You can come work with me and give clients manicures and pedicures!” She says with a big smile. 

“Nah, I’ll leave that up to you, don’t want to interfere with your work. I think I might go for a walk.” 

I finish up my coffee, grab my phone on the counter and go out for a walk around town.