Chapter 1

I walked out of the room, dragging my bag behind me. I'm not looking forward to leaving this place. I wouldn't want to go if it weren't for my Daddy being transferred by the office where he worked.

There will undoubtedly be a yearning for school and friends, despite the fact that school and new friends will be available. New pals, on the other hand, aren't nearly as entertaining as old ones.

"You're so sluggish, Beverly."

Mommy yelled from the living room, "Come on, Daddy's waiting for you in the car!"

I paused for a while to take a deep breath. Mommy and Daddy are the same way; they don't want to know if their lone child is struggling to adjust to a new environment.

We are now based in New Jersey, but will be relocating to Los Angeles, California in a matter of minutes. It's not good news. It's bad news, bad news, bad news, awful news, bad news, bad It does not appeal to me.

The automobile sped away from the house, which had become a distant memory for the last seven years. To be honest, I adore this home. If I may say so, I am not in the least bit interested in selling the house.

We arrived at Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport about four hours after leaving after a couple hours of driving. My father chose economy class seats on purpose. Don't ask why; the answer is, of course, 'economic savings.'

The jet landed at Los Angeles International Airport after the voyage. Then drive 23 minutes to St. San Anseline Ave 1211 in Los Angeles. Our new address is as follows: Even though it was just a few minutes long, it was pretty exhausting.

We arrived at the new residence around 10:05 p.m. Our arrival was hailed by a woman dressed in an official blazer. Mrs. Ryanaa is the real estate agent's name. I'm grateful that the real estate agent was willing to contract out a cleaning service. So there's no need to tidy the house.

In the living room, we talked for a long time. It turns out that the whole contents of this house are being sold. The previous owner similarly provided little explanation for why he sold the residence.

Mommy instructed Mrs. Ryanaa to choose one of the four available rooms after a lengthy discussion regarding the residence. There are two on the upper level and two on the lower level. It reminds me of our previous house. I'd always wanted to live in a room on the second floor. A room near the stairwell is a possibility.

A old mattress sat on an iron bed. I didn't want to sleep there, of course. I'll tell Mommy to get a new mattress for it. This room's wardrobe is still in decent shape, albeit a touch dusty.

I immediately took out the garments and hung them in the closet after cleaning. On the dressing table, there are also several things and cosmetics. The room at the end of the corridor was larger than mine, but it was empty save for a rusted cupboard.

I returned downstairs after finishing my tour of the upper level to explore the rest of the house. Daddy got this house for a very low price, Mommy explained, possibly because it hasn't been lived in for a long time. Mrs. Ryanaa stated that it had been vacant for eight years. It's no surprise that the paint has faded. I believe it requires minor renovations in several areas, as well as new paint.

We have enough room in the house for the three of us. A classic vibe is added by a large living area with a fireplace. A kitchen with a well-organized cooking utensil set. Also, a clean bathroom with a wall-mounted storage cabinet.

Mrs. Ryanaa stated that the house had an attic at the very top. A place to store objects that are no longer in use. He suspected that some of the previous owner's items had been left behind. Maybe I'll check back later. I was exhausted and sleepy after exploring the house. I could feel better if get some rest.

The morning was greeted by a dismal sky. The face was assaulted by a blast of cold air. The air vent allows the wind to enter. Today is going to be a rainy day. I didn't want to get out of my bed at all. I tightened my grip on the cushion and shifted the blanket to cover my full body. I heard footsteps coming closer. The sleepiness, on the other hand, is unavoidable.

'knock-knock'

"Are you already awake, Bev?" Mommy said from behind the closed door.

I didn't respond.

'knock-knock-knock'

"Beverly, can you hear me?" the knock on the door grew louder.

To be honest, I'm starting to become irritated.

"Yeah. But, I..."

"Get dressed as soon as possible. You have to go to school today," says Mommy.

What?!

We just moved yesterday and now have to go to school. They are quite efficient in handling school transfer paperwork.

I only had a quarter glass of milk and half a toast. The stomach refuses to eat breakfast due to anxiety in the heart. But if I don't eat it, Mommy will be upset.

We were driven to school by the automobile. Oh, my God, this is only going to get more difficult. What if your teacher is a bully? What if I was bullied by a female gang? What if I make a mistake and get ridiculed as a result? This makes me nervous and lightly ruffles my hair.

"Are you all OK, Bev?"

"Ah, yeah. Fine."

The name on the front gate is Los Angeles High School. The structure comprises four levels. My age group engages in a wide range of activities. Reading books at the park, skateboarding, basketball, and a group of girls chatting were all present. It's not unusual; they're probably telling each other stories about the person they like.

Beverly, it's all right. You've got it!

In front of the class, I introduced myself. The attention in this class appear uninterested. That's excellent. Lessons are similar to those taught in elementary school. Not as horrible as I had anticipated. After an hour of class, the recess bell finally rung.

There were a lot of students in the canteen. Some of them intended to eat, while others simply sat and talked with their friends. Students were also lined up to get their meals at food kiosks. They frequently push and compete with one another to be the first to be served by the salesperson. This is disgusting.

I made the decision to visit the library and read a book there.

"Ehemm! May I have a seat here?"

A golden-brown-haired boy with blue eyes smiled.

"Of course!"

He was holding a book of "The Lord of the Rings." Apparently, he enjoys fantasy fiction.

"My name is Kevin Holden. And your name is Beverly, right?" he asked as he extended his hand.

"Yes. How did you figure that out?"

"You stood up in front of the class and introduced yourself."

"Oh, I didn't see you before. Sorry."

I gave him a friendly grin, hoping he wouldn't be offended.

"It's all right. Where do you live, by the way?"

"St. San Anseline Ave 1211," says the sign.

"Have you only been here a day?"

How did he know?

"excuse?"

"We live next door!"

"My house is around 100 meters from yours," He said, beaming. "By the way, do you have anything planned for tonight?"

"No."

"Would you like to attend my friend's birthday party? It's my friend's birthday, after all. However, it was a tiny gathering, with only a few people invited."

"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid he doesn't like it when I'm around. Only a select handful were invited, as you stated. I'm new here as well."

"No, no, no. He's a pleasant and considerate individual. I'll phone him, and he'll be sure to bring one more."

"You want it, don't you?"

I am smiled.

***

It was 13:05 when I checked my watch. The majority of the kids had left school, but a few remained, including myself. Mommy hasn't arrived yet after 15 minutes of waiting. If I had known it would be like way, I would have started using the school bus from the beginning. Perhaps I'm already at home.