"Sure...Chris can help you with that stuff...but make sure to not talk about this stuff near the twins.", I said with a smile before I give him a stern look. "Got it.", Hopper said with a firm nod.
The two of us started to head down the stairs. We saw Chris and Dad coming in with super bags of breakfast food, and Chris called out, "Who's hungry for some IHOP breakfast?!", and I hear the twins cheer, "Me, Me!". I laugh softly. I almost forget that teenagers have double the appetite as adults do, thanks to puberty and such.
"What's IHOP?", Dot asked curiously. "Is it some sort of food?", Manny asked in wonder.
Dad chuckled heartily, "IHOP is short for 'International House of Pancakes', and pancakes is one of the best breakfast foods next to eggs and bacon.".
"Pancakes?", Flik asked in surprise. "Let's set the food on the table, so we can show you.", I said with a smile. I helped Dad carry a few of the bags into the kitchen.
Chris hummed lightly as he got out several plastic bottles of orange juice, milk, and water, and a package of plastic cups out of one bag, and winked at me, "It was nice that the gas station is open early too, next to IHOP. We were lucky.".
"Well..let's start serving the food.", I said with a nod.
Time skip-
The gang fell in love with the IHOP breakfast food as soon as they took their first bite of the food. Atta gasped softly, "The blueberry pancakes are so good!". Dot nodded, "Yeah, those waffles are really fluffy!".
"And this orange juice is so good!", Rosie said in surprise. "These bacon and eggs are so delicious!", Molt said with a grin.
Dim hummed happily, "Dim like milk!". Flik laughed lightly, "This omelette is fantastic! So many little food all at one into this warm and soft omelette!".
"It's so delicious!", Hopper said as he took a bite out of the pancake. "This coffee is so tasty!", Gyspy said with a hum.
Manny smiled brightly, "I didn't even realize that apple juice could be a real thing here...So good!". Slim nodded, "I don't care if I get a bit weight from this sausage fritter, it's so great!".
Francis grinned brightly, "The breakfast burrito is definitely perfect!". Tuck and Roll called out as one, "IHOP up fired good!".
Heimlich nodded, "Strawberry pancakes are delicious! Better than gooseberry pie!".
"Wait till you try the other foods of this world.", I said with a grin. "After we are done eating..we have to start packing.", Dad said with a smile.
"Right...Also, we have to call in a few trucks that will carry our stuff.", I said with a nod. Alex glanced at me, "Does that mean the beds too, Mom?".
"There will be plenty of beds in the mansion.", I said with a smile. "So it's unlikely we need to bring the beds with us...you can bring your blankets and pillows, if you want to.", Chris said with a chuckle.
Ashley grinned lightly, "Great!", and I chuckled softly before I looked at Dad, "Any response from your lawyer this morning?".
"He said that he will come over as soon as he can, when he has free time.", Dad said with a nod. "That's great news.", I said with a bright, happy smile.
Hopper smiled warmly, "Let's enjoy this breakfast quickly so we can get a move on with the packing.". The others nod their heads. A few minutes later, we were all done with breakfast. I was in my room, and Hopper was helping me pack my stuff.
Hopper chuckled lightly, "It's a adventure to see what's out there, but I am by your side today just for safety's sake.", before looking around in thought, "No regrets leaving this place, my love? I mean, the mansion means a better life for all of us...I know that..but still, the memories with you yesterday and today are still fresh in my mind...".
"I will admit...that I will miss this house...as it's my hometown...but since we are moving to the mansion, there will be a lot more space for all of us.", I said with a smile. Hopper then hugged me close to him. "Always thinking of others...that's what i love about you, my angel.", Hopper said with a smile.
I blushed lightly before I kiss him on the cheek warmly, "Thank you, Hopper.". Hopper smiled as he kissed my forehead, and we then returned to what we were doing.
Time skip-
Soon, the trucks were here, and I watched as all of our stuff were taken inside. I then turned to give one last glance at the house as it might be the last time I will ever see it.
Dad patted my shoulder softly, "Don't worry, Angela. This house has seen generations of families including you and the twins, and it will see to the future generations of a new family or two.".
I sighed lightly with a nod. "You're right, Dad...It's time for me and the twins to say goodbye to this house.", I said with a bittersweet smile.
Ashley gasped softly, "Our growth board!", and Alex blinked in surprise, "Did we pack that in? We can't take the whole house with us, but that growth board, it is part of the house, and we gotta be sure we're bringing it along!".
I nodded, "Oh, that's right, you're still growing, and the growth board is a treasured memory.". Dot blinked in confusion, "Growth board?".
Chris spoke for me, "It's like something to keep track of the twins' height each year, and sometimes months as well, for humans stop growing at the prime of their 20s.".
"It's okay...the growth board is in one of the suitcases.", I said with a reassuring nod. "Thanks, Mom.", Alex said with a sigh of relief.
"Now are you two sure that you have everything packed, and aren't forgetting anything else?", I asked sternly. "No, mom.", The twins said, nodding before smiling.
"Then we are ready to go.", I said with a last glance at the house before I turned around. I patted the mailbox fondly for the last time, noticing Ashley and Alex do the same, and I looked at Hopper, "Come on, I'll help ya.", giving him a reassuring smile.
I grabbed a few suitcases, and carried them to the car. "Alright, you two inside.", I said to the twins, who climbed inside the car. After making sure the twins had their seatbelts on, I opened the door for Hopper, and he climbed in.
I then closed it, and I walked to the other side and got in. I glanced at Hopper, showed him how I go get my seatbelt on, and smiled at him gently, "You think you got it?". Hopper then grabbed his seatbelt, and to my surprise..he was able to get it on. "Great job, Hopper.", I said proudly. Hopper is definitely learning fast.
"Thank you, my dear.", Hopper said with a gleeful smile. I then started up the car. I grinned warmly as I focused on driving, and I side-glanced at Hopper as he looked around in awe and curiosity, listening to the twins explain what's what.
I saw that behind me was Chris driving his car, and Dad driving his car as well. I smiled as I kept on driving. I knew it is two hours to get there to the mansion, so I called out lightly, "How about some music, twins? Any choice for Hopper to hear first?".
"Make it in America.", Alex said with a laugh. "Yeah, that song by Victoria Justice!", Ashley said with a giggle.
"Okay then.", I said with a chuckle. I smiled lightly, and clicked the interface automatically, and called out, "Make it in America by Victoria Justice.", and music came on, and I tuned up the volume a bit, side-glancing at Hopper who's copying the twins with nodding his head to the beat of the song , making me giggle.
Got a one way ticket down a 2 way street
Got the wind in my hair and there's dust on my feet
I'm just trying to make it in America
Only thing to my name is an old t-shirt
Faded 1985 from a Stones' concert
And I'm dying to make it in America
I smiled lightly as the song was quite catchy, and I couldn't help drumming my fingers upon the wheel as I watched the road ahead, and I hear Hopper laugh as he reached over with a hand on my shoulder, "I think I'd get used to this, riding in a car and listening to music.".
I smiled as I kept dancing to the song.
And I'm singing the words to my favorite song
With the rag top down and my glasses on
And I'm driving straight through America
I wanna taste the sun
Cause baby I'm born to run
I got a feeling that I'm not the only one
I, I wanna show some skin
Yeah baby I need the ocean
And you can't stop me now I've got my heart in motion
I want to make it in America
I hear the twins singing along, and I giggled lightly as I kept driving.
I can see my star sunset and vine
Gonna carve my name in the Hollywood sign
Yeah I gotta, gotta make it in America
See me wearin' a smile, even if I'm broke
I'll be singing the words from a song I wrote
And I called it Make It In America
Hopper chuckled warmly, "The twins sure like it, and I gotta admit that they have good singing voices, but you truly sing beautifully, my angel.". "They love songs like these ones...since it comes from one of their favorite shows, Victorious.", I said with a chuckle.
I glanced at him with a smile as he replied, "All the more to know those days. I can't wait to see the mansion once we get close.".
I wanna taste the sun
Cause baby I'm born to run
I got a feeling that I'm not the only one
I, I wanna show some skin
Baby I need the ocean
And you can't stop me now I've got my heart in motion
I wanna make it in America
"How far is the mansion, mom?", Alex asked quickly. I looked at the time, "Oh, still a hour and half.", and Ashley sighed softly, "Can we play games on our phones, Mom?".
"Yeah, sure...just don't play too much...as it can tire your eyes out.", I said sternly.
"Okay, Mom.", The twins said.
I can feel the sweat dripping down my face
I can hear my heart as it starts to race
Yeah sometimes this world's such a lonely place
If I just push on I know that
I wanna taste the sun
Cause baby I'm born to run
I got a feeling that I'm not the only one
I, I wanna show some skin
Baby I need the ocean
And you can't stop me now I've got my heart in motion
I wanna make it in America
Hopper asked quietly as I tuned down the music slightly, "Do teenagers get bored easily while being in cars?".
"Yeah, they get bored way too easy.", I said with a smirk. "Hey!", The twins said. "But I love you two!", I giggled.
Alex and Ashley called out, "We love you too, Mom!", before talking to each other and playing their games. I smiled lightly as I kept driving, and I replied warmly to Hopper, "So, is there something you'd like to know and talk while we keep on?".