It didnt take us the two weeks we'd anticipated. It took us three weeks to get to Sunny CA. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, the states just flew straight over my head. I just wanted to get to California as far away as possible from Ralph, Mom, and possibly Dad. Colorado and Arizona followed. Finally, twenty days, a hundred cappucinos and a gazillion miles later, from the Ralph/Ohio/cops incident, we drove into the outskirts of California. I felt at ease instantly. I'd found my sanctuary, I was going to meet Jake's family, and I was going to be safe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Jake! Bring a kegger?"
In front of me stood a tall, dark-haired boy about my age. He looked muscular, and his tanned face completely ignored me.
"No, Brad," replied Jake shortly, and he stomped straight past his brother and into the hall, pulling me by the hand.
Brad took my rugsack and slammed the door behind him.
"Sorry for the sea of cardboard boxes," said Jake, kicking one out of the way. "Dad's just remarried, and we had to move into a bigger house to fit her kid in."
With or without boxes, Ninety-nine Pine Crest Road was beautiful. I'd never stayed inside a house before, and me and Grandma both owned flats. I admired the wall-papered walls and soft carpet beneath my feet then was led into the kitchen where the smell of Mexican food greeted me.
"Hey! You must be Susan!"
I shook Jake's dad's brown hand, and said, "Hello Mr Ackerman. I'm Susannah, but you can call me Suze."
"Sorry, Suze. Please, call me Andy! Do you like fajhitas?"
"I can't say I've eaten them," I replied, taking a good look at Andy. He looked just like Jake, only with stubble. Like Ralph...
My stomach lurched and I raised my hand to my mouth. Andy dropped his wooden spoon into his wok and helped me stand stubble.
"Are you ok?" he asked. "You look really pale."
"Motion sickness," I lied, dropping my hand. "I guess travelling non-stop for 20 days can be a dis-orientating."
Andy looked as if he didnt quite believe me, but he turned back to his stir-frying.
"Show Suze to her room, Jake," he said, through a mouthful of steam. "She'll be bunking with Lizzie. Is that ok, Suze?"
"Yeah, whatever," I said, still-half dazed. I followed Jake upstairs and was left at a sturdy oak-door.
"There you go," muttered Jake. "Have fun with Lizzie. "See ya at dinner." He kissed my cheek then started downstairs, whistling.
I stood there for a bit, then decided to knock. The door was answered by a girl about my height, with poker straight, layered brown hair.
"Hey," she grinned. "I'm Lizzie, Jake's stepsister. I'm guessing you're Suze?"
She stuck out a hand with painted red nails. Her cheeks were fiercely freckled, and on her lips was a thin layer of gloss. I shook her hand, and she took my rugsack from me.
"Come on in," she said, and she dumped my bag on a camper bed. I sat next to it and took off my jersey.It was a cute room, I guess, but too girly for me. It had forget-me-not dotted wallpaper, a glass topped dressing tabel, and a four-poster lace canopy bed. A real cheerleader, school-spirit squad bedroom, one my mom would have decorated for me. The walls were covered with pictures of Lizzie, in her cheerleading uniforn, with friends, at debating ceremonies. Suddenly, I had the feeling Lizzie and I weren't going to get along that great. I got up and stroked one grimy finger across her dressing table, and fingered her alphabetized DVD collection. Lizzie, I found as I turned around to face her, had been watching me with intense fascination. As soon as I caught her, however, she shook her head.
"Well, I'm popping to the shower. Catch ya later, Susie."
"Its Suze," I growled, but she ignored me and disappeared. This left me to absorb my surroundings. After being in a car for a month, it was nice to stable, but it didnt feel natural just staying with my boyfriend of two months' family. I walked over to the window seat and the view took my breath away. I'd rarely seen the sea, and the Pacific was beautiful and blue it almost hurt to look. my knees rested against the soft pink velvet seat and I brought my face closer to the window. I was lost in my gaze of the ocean, but then someone materialized right in front of me.