Chapter 1: Inheritance
A year has passed since John and his family moved out of New York and into their new home located in a hit town. And during that time, Phoebe tried to find ways to distract herself from missing her boyfriend let alone constantly think about him. Yeah, the two had talked, texted, and video-chatted during their separation but it is not satisfying for the two. But mostly for Phoebe. Once she had gotten up from her sleep and eaten breakfast, she had come up with the idea of working on making herself and John a special matching medical bracelet. A bracelet that would have personal information of each other.
Such as their blood type, medical conditions, allergies, current medications, in case of emergency numbers to name a few. With that in mindset, Phoebe went to the small metal lathe that John has given her two Christmas ago. She loved when she ripped off the wrapping paper that Christmas morning and thanked her boyfriend for it. Even though she knows that John got this lathe from a dealer who is selling stuff from the trunk of his car and who possibly have stolen it off of someone's truck. Phoebe told John not to buy anything from that guy and knew full well that the items he is selling are hot stolen.
Still, Phoebe can not say no to any items that John buys her from that guy, especially a brand new small metal lathe. After taking it out from underneath the bed, Phoebe set it on the small table in the corner of the room and plug it in.
"Now, which type of metal will I be using?." Phoebe asked herself when opening the black box that has the metals. "Hmmm, titanium should do."
Once getting the two metals and closing her box back, Phoebe put on her safety goggles before starting. Taking her sweet time, Phoebe wanted to shape the bracelet perfectly and not make it look bad. The progress was looking good for Phoebe as she started carving the information into them. The only problem was that her equipment was working slowly to her disapproval. Figuring that everyone in the whole apartment is using the electricity all at once, including her mom Callie, who is currently cutting Trevor's hair to his refusal.
"At this rate, I will not be done in less than an hour." Phoebe turned off her lathe and looked at her progress. "Damn."
With no other options, she grabbed her work tools and light headgear and went to work on adjusting the electricity output. Of course, she is not an excellent electrician or technology repair or modification expert like her boyfriend, but she is able to get the task done with a few errors here and there. Grabbing her tools and playing with the live wires, Phoebe made her house lights flicker and interrupt her mom's cutting hair progress on Trevor.
"Ah, Phoebe!." Callie called her young daughter. "What are doing?."
Phoebe paused her progress and looked in the direction of where her mom and brother is in the other room.
"Sorry, Mom, I was trying to put more output in our electricity since I am trying to make twin medical bracelets for myself and John. That way if anything happens to us we know what to do and know when we have each other's medical information," explained Phoebe.
Callie smiled at the explanation behind her daughter's actions. "Well, that is really thoughtful and so girlfriend of you, Phoebe. Just don't cause a blackout okay?. We are trying to get back on the landlord's good grace again."
Phoebe nodded before resuming. "I'm almost done. I just boosted 220 output for us."
Callie smiled while working on cutting Trevor's hair and ignoring his whining. Callie can not be even happier about John dating her only daughter. At first, she thought that Phoebe would never find a boyfriend or a decent future husband based on her personality and autistic. But for some unknown reason, John finds it attractive and stepped out of the friend zone. She missed John and his family as she was such great friends with his mom and dad. Callie can recall a lot of fun memories they shared together and such.
Callie gave John her blessing of dating and hopefully, one day marrying Phoebe as she sees him as another son. The only issue with John that Callie has is that the boy has no idea what he wants to be in life. And to be on the same boat, Phoebe as well is currently having the exact same issue. Of course, she knows they have enough time to figure it out one day and would support it no matter what occupation they take.
"Mom, the door," Trevor informed his mom and tried to avoid his haircut and try finish eating his breakfast.
"Just a few more tinkering and we should be in business," Phoebe told herself this before pulling the wrong wire. And resulted in causing a blackout. "Don't worry I can fix that!."
Just four hours later after fixing the lights and electricity back on, Phoebe went back to her room and resumed working on her bracelets before packing all of her things that will fit in the car. Her mother informed her and Trevor that they are getting evicted and needed to pack what they need. Phoebe and Trevor would be upset about leaving the apartment that they grew up in, but they got over it in an instant since they gained some inheritance. Sadly, their grandfather suddenly passed away last week and left them a house located out of the state of New York. Phoebe is not too thrilled about moving since this will remind her of John moving out of New York and currently residing in Oklahoma.
Phoebe informed her boyfriend about this in their video chat and expressed her upset about leaving her birth state.
"Oh, look on the bright side, Phoebe." John looked at his girlfriend from his Chromebook. "You, your mom, and Trevor would be away from all that light and noise pollution. Much less not having to deal with the classic New York attitude."
Phoebe smiled when using her laptop. "That is one of the best things that I will miss about New York. I still do not know where exactly we are going to claim the inheritance from my late grandfather."
"Again I am deeply sorry about your loss, Phoebe," said John, showing his compassion.
"Well, to be honest with you, John. Neither I nor Trevor has ever met our grandfather. Mom never talks much about him or what he did for a living. The only thing we know is that he was a scientist. Period." said Phoebe, before taking a bite of her twinkie.
John nodded in understanding what Phoebe is telling him. "Now here is my question. What type of scientist is he?."
"Good question." Phoebe cleaned the cream off her lips with her arm. "Mom is not telling. Her and grandpa's relationship is..."
"Bittersweet?." said John, before taking a bite of his green apple.
Phoebe shook her head. "More bitter and no sweet. That is just my mom. Grandfather however is unknown. But still, we are going to live in the house that he left us. Hopefully, some money too since we are having financial problems."
John knows about that since Callie did have a job as a mail girl for a bank until the job let her go, due to them cleaning up house and saving money. His mom and dad helped Phoebe and Trevor's mom with help paying the rent and buying half the groceries. Callie did try to find work but no one is hiring her no matter if she is a single mother.
"Look on the positive side, Phoebe. Don't let the negative out weight the positive. Like my grandma always says. Everything happens for a reason." said John, finishing up his apple.
Phoebe took a bite of her fourth twinkie. "I will try, John. How are things in Summerville?."
"The same as always." John had a bored look on his face. "The town feels like a ghost town with limited civilization. It was so bad that me and Podcast had to find some trouble to keep us entertained. Other than the random not too dangerous earthquakes."
"Earthquakes?." Phoebe had a look of worry on her face. "Are you alright?. You did not get hurt did you not?."
"Hey, Hey, calm down, my little yummy twinkie girl, I am fine and so are my folks. I did some research on this town and it is not standing on a fault. Meaning that the area that I'm in should not have any shifting tectonic plates. And it has been this way since last week." said John, before drinking his water bottle.
Phoebe took in what John just said as that is kinda off. An area that is not on any faults is having sudden earthquakes is indeed out of the ordinary. She wishes that she can help aid her boyfriend in this investigation but they are distances away from each other. And is going to increase more when they move out of both the apartment and the state of New York.
"This is so bullshit, John." sighed Phoebe.
"It is what it is. Well, I have to go to bed and get up in the morning." John informed after throwing his bottle away.
Phoebe raised her brow. "Why?. It is summertime, ghost head."
John smirked. "Podcast and I signed up for summer school. Even though we are academically strong we just need to stay somewhere cool and burn some time."
Phoebe chuckled at hearing this. "That figures much. Before you hang up let us say happy birthday to each other while holding our cupcakes."
John had almost forgotten about that as today is their fourteen birthday. Picking up his strawberry frosting chocolate cupcake as so did Phoebe's, whose cupcake was lemon. They raised their cupcakes up and smiled at one another.
"Happy Birthday, Phoebe, and many more," spoke John.
"Happy Birthday, John, and to you as well," said Phoebe, smiling happily.
After saying goodbye to John she ate her cupcake in one mouthful and chewed like a chipmunk. After swallowing her junk food she went to play some online chess before sleep crept in. The next day, Phoebe, Trevor, and their mom had packed all they can pack and placed them inside the wagon. They originally thought that it is going to take them at least a week and a half to gather what they need and load the car up. Once done filling the whole tank of gas yesterday the three said their farewells to their apartment neighbors and drove off. Phoebe had herself facing the window watching everything she has known in New York pass her by. Let alone seeing themselves exiting the state with a face of sadness and depression.
The drive was hours none stop as it made Phoebe fall asleep every so often when they reach another mile. During that time she would either read one of her books or play with her small rubrics cube to pass the time. They did not stop for gas until sunset and then had to stop when the car stopped moving.
"Please tell me the issue is not too serious." said a slightly stressed Callie, when popping the hood open.
"Let me check and see what I can do," said Trevor, grabbing his tools and going to work.
Phoebe climbed on top of the car's roof to get some air and to look around the area filled with clay dirt. Callie joined her daughter and smiled at her who was trying to stay cool when drinking her water.
"Phoebe you are going to have a positive output on our new place to stay." Callie crossed her legs. "We are getting a fresh clean start."
"I have wild butterflies in my stomach." Phoebe looked at her mother plainly. "It feels so real but it is just the chemicals in my brain are telling me."
"Oh, do not be such a stump, Phoebe," Callie spoke, before looking up at the clouds.
"I can not help it." Phoebe looked at her mom. "We left our home and we are moving into an inherent house from my deceased grandfather who myself or Trevor have never got the opportunity to know him. And to top it all off my boyfriend is in Summerville, Oklahoma, and miles away from me."
Callie can not deny her grandfather since he isolated himself from everyone including his best friends. However, she can aid her with the current situation.
"Well, I have good news for you anyway." Callie got Phoebe's attention. "I did not tell you where the house is located that your grandfather has left us."
Phoebe started to feel interested. "Where is the house located, Mom?."
Callie smirked. "Our brand new home is located in Summerville, Oklahoma."
Phoebe had a look of surprise at hearing this. Then she grinned big at this wonderful news. Callie grinned at this while Trevor smirked as he already knew that this is going to be his sister's reaction, after finishing the work needed on the engine and closing the hood down.
"Seriously, Mom?!. That is excellent news!." said Phoebe, showing her fun and emotional side without even knowing it. She got out of the car roof with newfound energy. "Come on you guys what are we waiting for!. Let's get back on the street while the sun is still shining!."
Callie got into the car and started the engine while Trevor sat in the front passenger seat with a smirk.
Callie smiled happily at seeing her daughter back into her normal self. Guessing that her father's passing would somehow bring her daughter and John back together.
"Ready or Not, Summerville, because this family is coming and ready to stay," said Callie.
"Yep, and I might find myself a good girlfriend and a job for once," said Trevor, before looking at his phone to watch funny videos.
Phoebe looked out the window having a huge smile on her face. Having the mindset of being reunited with her loving, caring, and smart black boyfriend.
"This is going to be the coolest birthday gift for both myself and for you as well John," spoke Phoebe, before laying on the window and closing her eyes with a smile.
(A/N): Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Until next time and thanks for reading!.