A/N: Hi, so here's the first chapter of my new story. If you have any feedback at all, good or bad please don't hesitate to tell me. I also don't have anyone to edit my story yet so if you're up to the challenge let me know! The chapters will get longer as we go.

June 8th, 2020

Dear Diary,

My Aunt Sarah got me this diary after my family passed away. She said that I should write my feelings because it's good to let your feelings out, she figured since I don't like to talk about my feelings this would be better, and I should at least give it a go. I'm moving in with her today, in a city called Walnut Creek where my parents grew up. You see a month ago my parents and two sisters perished in a fire, nobody knows how it started, the police said the fire from the fireplace must have caught on something which caused the house to catch fire, and nobody could make it out, but I'm not buying it. Something seems off, the fireplace should have a screen, the fire shouldn't have been able to catch on anything. Also, assuming my family were in their rooms, we have fire ladders in each of the rooms in case of emergencies, they should have made it out.

Love,

Charlotte-Louise Miller

I close the worn leather diary and stuff it in my carry on bag. And stare off into space as the last six words I wrote ring in my ears, They should have made it out, this kept chanting in my head giving me a headache. I placed my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands, trying to block out the bright lights and loud noises of the busy airport.

I was brought out of my thoughts by my flight being announced, "Attention passengers now boarding for the 6:15 flight to San Francisco…" the flight attendant went on announcing the order in which to board. I sit listening attentively waiting for my turn and taking in all the sounds around me. When it's my turn to board I stand up dragging along my one backpack that I had brought with me to my friends house, the rest of my stuff having been destroyed in the fire, and walk through the connecting tube to the plane that seems miles long.

I quickly find my seat, and shove my bag under the seat after pulling out my ipod and earbuds. I hit play on my shuffle of Beatles songs, turn towards the window and become immune to the world around me. I'm briefly aware of someone pooping into the aisle seat next to me but pay no attention to it. Focusing on the lyrics, I doze off "...Strawberry fields forever" being the last words I hear.

Suddenly I'm woken up by someone roughly shoving my arm. "What was that for?!" I snap then turn towards the person next to me. He looks to be about 14 or 15, so my age and has grassy green eyes and curly brown hair.

"The seatbelt sign just came on, sorry for trying to keep you alive" he responded sarcastically, which I definitely deserved.

"Sorry" I said "just had a bad week"

"Don't sweat it" he said with an unexpected friendliness to his voice, "I'm Conner, Conner Brown" he held out his hand

"Charlotte-Louis Miller" I replied

"Wow that's a mouthful, what were your parents, English professors?" He chuckled "I'm going to pick out a nickname for you by the end of this flight you have my word."

"Sounds fair" I laughed and popped my headphones back in.

About an hour into the almost 6 hour flight, I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked up to see Conner holding a yellow legal some writing and doodles scribbled on it.

"Yes?" I asked?

"I've got some nicknames for you, let's try these out." He cleared his throat dramatically and crossed his legs turning towards me. "Charlie?"

I started tearing up hearing that name.

"What did I say?!" he asked looking horrified, "Whatever it is I'm really sorry."

"Nothing"I said wiping my tears``nothing at all, that was just my fathers name, what's next?"

"Oh-um, Harley?

"Next"

"Lou Lou?"

"I'm not a dog, next"

"Oooh I like this one, Lottie?"

"You know, I don't actually hate that"

"Lottie it is, so Lottie where are you headed on this fine day?"

"I'm going to Walnut Creek, my aunt lives there."

"No way, that's where i'm going too! I was visiting my father up in Maine, I'm guessing that's where you used to live?"

"Yep" I replied, starting to get emotional."I'm just going to get back to my music now if you don't mind"

"Oh sure." He said, sounding a bit disappointed and going back to his notepad.

We sat in silent for the rest of the flight, by the end of the remaining 5 hours, i'd probably listened to every single beatles song ever made at least 3 times and when i glanced over at Conner i could see that he had filled over half the notepad with random doodles that weren't half bad.

An announcement came over the speakers letting us know to make sure our seatbelts were on and that we would be landing soon.