I do not own the movie the Lost Boys or any of the characters in the movie. This is the sequel to The New Kid, so if you haven't read that, read it before you read this.
I stepped out of the car into the bright sunlight. My mom and I had just driven all the way from our home in Lexington, Kentucky to my grandparents' house in Santa Carla, California. I could hear the sound of people on the boardwalk, kids playing on the beach, and seagulls flying high above. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to be home. Mom thought a change of scenery for the new school year would be nice. I got into too much trouble at my old school last year. I probably would've stayed on the straight and narrow if my estranged dad hadn't decided to suddenly butt into my life.
"Come on" said Mom, taking our suitcases up to the house.
"Do I have to?" I asked, leaning against the car.
Mom sighed and put the bags down. She walked quickly over to the car.
"Look" she said, her eyes narrowing in on me, "I know you think I'm doing this to spite you, but I'm not. I'm trying to help you. I don't want to have a repeat of last year."
"Then tell Dad to leave me alone" I said.
"I'm sorry about what happened with your dad, but it's time to start over. Come on" she said, walking back to the suitcases. She picked them up and continued towards the door.
I slowly pushed myself off the car and followed behind.
The house was brown and boxy, like it was a life-size version of a fort a kid built out of cardboard boxes. This is where I was going to be until May of next year. Wonderful.
A short, stout woman with wrinkly skin and graying hair answered the door. She was wearing a simple, blue sundress. Her large feet were stuffed into two tiny blue shoes. Her hands looked like small balls of dough because her stubby fingers curved so much from arthritis pain. Her eyes were a dark brown, the same as mine. Her smile was perfect, with perfectly straightened and whitened teeth.
"April! Kelsey!" she said happily. She pulled us both into a giant bear hug. It had been years since I'd been to my grandparent's house.
"I can't believe you're finally here" said grandma as she showed us into the house.
"It's good to see you too, Mom" said Mom.
"April, we're so happy you are going to be spending the school year with us. It's going to be a banner year for you. I just know it" said Grandma, smiling. The thing I loved about my grandma was she always had faith in me when everyone else doubted me.
My grandpa came in from the kitchen, wearing kahki pants and a red plaid shirt. He was tall with grey hair. His eyes were green. Almost everyone in our family had green eyes except my mom, grandma, and I. My grandpa was normally quiet and passive.
"I'll show you to your room" he said. He picked up my suitcases and led me up the stairs.
"Here it is" he said, opening the door. "It was your mother's room when she was in high school. You can decorate it anyway you want and you've got your own balcony out here." Grandpa opened the double glass doors to a small balcony with a wrought iron table, chairs, and railing. I could feel the sea breeze and smell the ocean air. It made me sick.
"Let's go down stairs. You can unpack later" said Grandpa. I followed him out of the room and down the stairs. My mom and grandma were sitting in the kitchen, talking about me I'm sure.
"There she is" said Grandma, smiling. "We were just talking about you. Are you excited about starting school?"
"Oh yeah. I'm thrilled" I said, laying the sarcasm on thick. I never liked school. I tried when I was younger. But as I got older, it became increasingly difficult. The classes got harder, the teachers were tougher, and the kids were brutal. School seemed to go downhill when I reached high school. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd. By the time I reached 10th grade, I had been suspended for cutting class, ran away from home, arrested for underage drinking, and expelled for drug possession. I even spent a night in jail for vandalizing a cop car on a dare.
"Do you want to go with us to the boardwalk?" asked Mom.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it's fun. Besides, this'll be the last time we'll get to do something together until Thanksgiving."
"Fine" I said.
Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, and I walked to the boardwalk together. It wasn't like how I remember it. Most of the shops were closed and boarded up. The restaurants were dingy and barely passing inspections. The rollercoaster creaked and groaned as the cars raced down the rusty tracks. The only ride that hadn't changed through the years was the merry go round.
"Let's go eat. I'm starving" said Mom. We sat outside at a little seafood restaurant. I guess they forgot I hate seafood. As they were eating, I got up and looked over the side of the boardwalk. The sun was beginning to set. The beach goers were disappearing. The ocean was growing darker and calmer.
"It's nice, isn't it?" said Mom as she walked up behind me.
"Yeah, I guess" I said.
"I think you're going to like it here. There's more to Santa Carla than you think" she said.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean Santa Carla may prove to be more interesting than it appears to be" she said.
"Right" I said, rolling my eyes.
"You just wait and see. Once school starts I think you'll know what I'm talking about" said Mom.