Chapter two: The Train to California

"You serious dad, you're going to send us to PCA?" Monica ask.

"Yeah. I am now going to make more money to afford the tuition, and I'll try and buy some stocks just in case something happens in the mine," Johann said. "However, there is one catch."

"What is it?" Harry ask. "Are we not going until October?"

"No, but you will miss the first two days school because you have to go by train," their dad said.

"I thought we were going to take an airplane," Harry said.

Johann shook his head. "Sorry, but I can't afford to buy a car, insurance, or gas yet. So tomorrow, you are going to hop a boxcar for PCA," Johann said.

Harry and Monica looked confused. "How?" they ask a minute later.

"My friend Bob is going to allow you to hop the train, but there another catch. You are going to jump out when you're near PCA," Johann said.

"That's crazy," Harry said. "But alright."

The next day,they packing uptheirpossession (which by the way isn't much but two small typewriter, seven pieces of paper, a few clothing, and their puppy, Billy). Johann gives them their schedules, a calander, a few bucks, and a permit allowing their dog. Last night, Johann gave them both two ancient swords, both embeded with jewlery. Those swords belong to their German ancestors who fought in the German wars back in the past. They also receive permits to have them here, but they must be encase in a glass case. Their dad already send a glass case for the swords ahead of time.

Now that they're ready for California, they walk over to the mine where there was an ancient steam engine waiting for them. On it was about twenty-five coal cars, two box cars, and in the steam engine was their father's friend, Bob. Bob Mason was originally from Pottsville, which was next to them, but when their mine was run down to the ground, he came to Shamokin. Then when they've been finding nothing but rock, he applied for work on the local railroad as a engine operator. Because he was shipping fromthe now operationalcoal mine, he had to use the steam engine they had there. He manage to bring at least two boxcars all the way to Shamokin.

"How's it going in the mine now?" Bob ask them while they were hopping the train.

"It's going good," Monica said.

"Yeah. I can't believe they just had to use dyamite to find the coal," said Harry. After hopping the train, he started hacking a lot. He gets out a bandanna and coughs wildly into it. "Allergies?" Bob ask.

"Yeah. Very bad allergies," Harry said.

Actually, it wasn't allergies at all. Ever sine the coal mine reopen, he's been going down there ever since, and got caught in the coal dust everytime. In three words, black lung disease. However, he doesn't know it, his other famliy members and Anna don't know, and he doesn't know he has it.

"Well, if you're alright, then California here we come," Bob said. After the last coal car was filled up with coal, they started to move from the Shamokin coal mine tipple for Pacific Coast Academy.

Meanwhile, at PCA

A black Crysler cruiser was speeding all the way to the entrance of the PCA campus. After arriving at the student drop off, Zoey Brooks, now a tenth grader, and Dustin Brooks, now a seventh grader, jumps out (literally) of the car.

"Woah Zoey, slow your role," Mr. Brooks said.

"Sorry dad, but I can't wait to meet up with Dana, Lola, Nicole, Chase, Michael, Quinn, even Logan," she said.

"Yeah, and I got meet up with my friends," Dustin said. They got out their luggage and they walk to drop them off at their dorm. In the tenth grade dorms, you are allowed four people in each room. She, Dana, Nicole, and Lola got once again room 101, this timein Jefferson Hall. She arrives at the room and there she sees her friends in the dorm.

"Hey," they all said to Zoey. She was happy to be seeing them. However, something was wrong. "What happened?" Zoey ask.

They point at a glass case that sits on the mantal. Property of Monica Wolfgang, that's what it says on the case.
"Who's not in here?" Zoey ask.

Lola raised her hand. "I'm with Danielle, Michelle, and Irene in room 102, just next to you all, and this Monica girl," said Lola in disgust. She leave the room in a huf. The next person to come in was Michael. "Hey Zoey, Chase it looking for you by the railroad," he said.

"Mmmm...I wonder why he wants me to meet him at the railroad," Zoey said.

"Acutally, it's for tomorrow, but he wanted to tell you right now because he can't make it to Shushi Rox right now, he's been having bits of problems from home," Michael said. He then leaves the room.

"Mmm...I wonder what kind of problems he have?" Zoey ask.

When Michael returns to his dorm, he talks to Chase.

"Okay man, I know you don't have a problem at home because you are too nice," Michael said. "Now tell me why you wanted me to tell Zoey you do have problems?"

"Michael, what I'm about to say it to be kept between us," Chase said. Michael nodded quickly.

"Okay, Michael, I'm going to, at great risk, tell Zoey that I love her," Chase said.

Michael's smile got bigger. "Finally, it's about time you finally crack up," he said. "It's been like two years, and now I'm going to see if you and Zoey end up together.

"Woah Michael, you might see up together, but you are not going to spy on me and Zoey at the railroad," Chase said. "I just want it to be me and Zoey only. Not you or her friends, hopefully."

"Okay, chill out Chase," Micahel said leaving for the bathroom.

The next day went very fine. However, Zoey and Chase has only two classes together, Mr. Bender's class, and English Class. They also have lunch together and also gym, but nothing else. After the second day was nearing sunset, Zoey set up to find Chase at the railroad. Before she got to the main steps, she saw Chase walking down from the other direction.

"Hey Zoey," he said.

"Hey Chase, how have you been doing?" Zoey ask him. "Is your problem from home settle now?"

"Sort of?" Chase said. "Shall we get to walking?" he ask her holding up his hand.

"Sure," Zoey said grabbing his hands at the tips. They walk about a few yards all the way to the railroad. They knew they had to be careful because a train couuld come anytime, and they have to make sure they are still on school campus.

"Man the ocean looks beautiful from here," Zoey said. They had just walk onto a hill overlookin the school and the ocean.

"Yes it is," Logan said smiling. Then his hand started to get very sweaty. Zoey let go of his hand withing a few seconds.

"Chase, why are you all sweaty?" she ask him?"

"Zoey, I got to tell you something that I've been keeping secret from you for a while," Chase said.

"What is it?" Zoey ask afer hesitating for a moment.

But before he even got the chance to tell her his true feeling for her, a train starts to come, but it wasn't no ordinary train. It was a steam engine.

"Wow, a steam engine, I hadn't seen one for real for my entire life. I'm going down to see it," Zoey said quickly running down the hill. Chase stay up there for a few seconds. "How does this happen to me?" He follows her down the hill.

in the train car

Harry and Monica were sleeping after traveling about a day or two from Shamokin. They wanted to get out of the box car right now. They didn't know if they had left Norfolk, Virginia yet. Then suddenly, a walkie-talkie started to speak, "Harry, Monica, wake up, we're here. Are you awake?"

Harry and Monica quickly wake up. "Yeah, we're awake, what is it?" he ask Bob.

"We have arrive at PCA," Bob said in the walkie-talkie.

Quickly, with the help from Monica, they open the doors that were closed on them for about two days. They saw the view of Pacific Coast Academy. It look very big for them since they came from a small high school. From the steam engine, Bob shouted, "YOU GUYS HAVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ON YOUR ARMS?" he ask them.

"YEAH BILLY, WE'RE READY TO JUMP OUT!" Harry said. They had all their suit cases,three in all.

"READY MONICA?" Harry ask her.

"YEAH HARRY!" Monica shouted back. They counted to three, then they jump out of the box car. Their dog, Billy was alright, and they still have everything, and the typewriters are still in good condition. They were looking at the school with good amazment. Then all of a sudden, a voice from somewhere shouted to them. "Are you guys crazy!"

Zoey and Chase had obviously saw them jump out of the boxcar.

I hope this was more of a Zoey 101 chapter.