CHAPTER 1
I shifted from foot to foot nervously, watching the different faces fly by as the crowds headed to their destinations. I searched the sign above me, waiting for my flight to show up. A few minutes passed, and the neon sign lit up with another flight and gate.
SACRAMENTO- GATE 4B
I hurried to pick up my bag and move in the right direction as others started to move to go the same direction. The stress inducing day made everything oversaturated with colors and noise, so I kept focused on my destination. I nearly ran the whole way, just wanting to get on the plane and arrive in Sacramento already. I was one of the first people there, but it didn't matter that much… I would have to wait a long time to even be boarded. So I popped one earbud in and kept my iPod on low volume to try to lessen the stress and pass the time. As the sound of my favorite comedy duo, Smosh, filled my head, I sighed in relief, tapping my foot to the quirky music. I finally boarded and prepared myself as the bored flight attendants instructed me. Staring out the small window beside me, I ponderewd my situation.
I was moving to Sacramento, one of the cities I've always wanted to go to. My boyfriend would be there later, but he was wrapping things up back in Vermont. He had always lived in Montpilier, so I didn't expect him to ake California in very well. I was fine with my exposure to Columbus Ohio through my childhood and New York City through my college years. But we expected to have an interesting time. As the plane left the ground, pushing me back into my seat, I drifted off, dreaming of all the scenarios we might encounter in California.
Standing in front of the white house on a suburban street, I gazed around, memorizing my new neighborhood. Leaving the rental car in the driveway, I pulled my bags out of the trunk and tried to juggle them all as I fiddled with the new door key. I heard the neighbor's door open and shut, but I ignored it. The key was stuck, and I couldn't turn it without making everything fall to the ground. Suddenly, by bags seemed to vanish, although I still felt their straps on my arms. I looked up, surprised, and started to blush furiously as I saw my new neighbors. Two male faces were smiling at me, the shorter one was introducing themselves and offering their help, but I already had their names memorized in my heart. I stuttered a quick yes and thank you as the two men lifted my bags into their arms. The lock clicked and I stumbled into my new house, red as a tomato, and Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox followed me in with my bags.
I turned around and put my hands out for the bags, but they ignored me and went to put them down in the living room just down the hall. As they passed, I heard Anthony chuckle a bit. I blushed even more as I realized he probably saw my Smosh hoodie I was wearing. I shuffled into the living room and plopped my purse onto the kitchen counter and watched them put my bags down. I was ready to wake up. But I didn't so when they saw me all red and embarrassed, they couldn't help but smile at me. I finally said something.
"Well, thanks for helping you guys." I said, trying to keep my voice even and calm. I stuck my hand out towards them. "I'm Elizabeth, by the way. Elizabeth Forenzio. But you can call me Eliza."
As Ian reached forward and shook my hand, my heart did a mini flip-flop of excitement. Then Anthony did, and I nearly squealed. They were both gorgeous men, and I wanted to sigh dreamily just looking at pictures at them on the internet. But here they were, alive and in the flesh, and I was feeling extremely self-conscious in my Smosh hoodie. We stood there awkwardly for a bit, my heart pounding, still waiting to wake up. Ian surprised me by nudging me in the side with his elbow teasingly. "So, where're you from?" He asked, trying to make me feel a little bit more comfortable. For a second I couldn't remember, but I finally did. "Well, I'm coming from Vermont with my boyfriend, but I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and went to college in Manhattan." Anthony raised his eyebrows. "Wow, that's quite a living resume." He joked, flashing a smile at me, making me melt on the inside in ways not even imaginable. I smiled back, nervously, and they both relaxed visibly.
"Well, if you even need help, you can talk to us, okay?" Anthony told me with a smile. Ian nodded and grabbed my phone, which I had set on the counter.
"Here is my number…" He said, tapping away on the smartphone. He then handed the phone to Anthony, who did the same. I was still expecting to wake up, so when they handed me their phones for me to put my number in, I forgot my number for a split second, but tapped it in super-fast to make up for it. I walked with them to the door, and just as they were about to leave, Ian whirled around and grabbed my arm. "Wait a second!" He exclaimed. I jumped at the sudden movement and shout, and Anthony snickered at us. "Anthony, we should get her something to eat!" Ian said, looking at him. Anthony nodded and looked at me. "Well? We'll take you to get some dinner, and show you around a bit! Are you okay with that?"
I was jumping for joy inside, realizing that I was going to spend at least an hour with my two idols. But I remained calm on the outside, and elicited only a grin. "Sure, I'd love that! I'll just go grab my purse." As I half skipped, half walked back into the living room, I couldn't help but glance back at them. Ian was smiling at me, hand in his pockets casually. Anthony had his weight shifted onto one leg, and one arm across his chest and tucked under the other one. He was stroking his bottom lip with his thumb thoughtfully, and he almost seemed to be seeing right through me. When I came back with my purse and phone, he came back to normal and smiled at me.
And so my first day living in Sacramento was one of the best days of my life.