Chapter 2

I wake up as my mother shakes me and tells me to wake up. The lady is announcing that we are soon arriving to Los Angeles. Thank God, it has been hours since we've left Milan. The landing is a bit bumpy, I would have imagined it to be smoother. When we stop we take out our bags. Mine is a bit big and it gets stuck. A guy, probably around my age, helps me. Once he gets it down I thank him, he smiles and says "Anything for a beautiful girl like you." I smile politely and walk towards the exit, rolling my eyes when my mother wriggles her eyebrows at me. I never would have thought that people could get in line like this without even being told and would let other people pass to be polite. But then, it's probably some universal plane rule that I don't know about. I step outside and the cold air hits me, messing up my hair. I don't know if I'm cold or if I'm warm, the wind freezing me and the Sun burning me make it hard to decide. We take a bus and get to the airport. I'm stuck between about fifty people. My face is basically in this old man's armpit, I can barely breathe. Damn, I'm kinda sorry for his wife. Ok, no mean thoughts, put yourself together Rose. As we walk out an old lady with short, brownish, curly hair and a bald, tall old man, presumably her husband, smiles and walk over to us, embracing me in a hug. Well, the old lady walks over to my mother, says hello, then hugs me and starts inspecting me. She takes a good look at me while the man stands back watching us and smiling, giving a short wave to my mother. "You told me I had a beautiful granddaughter but I never thought she would be this beautiful. I hope it matches her personality. But then, with a nice face like this she can't not be an ugly person, can she?" I blush at the compliment, feeling shy and smiling. So the lady is my grandmother and the man my grandfather. I've never met them before. Seeing my mother close to them really gives the idea that they are a happy, loving family.

The man gets closer to me and puts his right hand in front of him. I shake it while I say "Nice to meet you."

"What the heck-" he goes and hugs me so tight I almost can't breathe. "It's so nice to finally see you."

"We've heard so much about you, it's an honor to see you in person. Not once did your mother send us a picture." my grandmother says. I have no idea why, but thinking of old people using modern phones makes me want to laugh my ass off.

After picking up our luggage, we walk towards the parking lot. I text Martina and Lorenzo on our group chat that I have arrived and that my grandparents are insane but that I already love them. I'm going to have a blast here in the US.

We go to my grandparents' home, which will now be my home too. It looks like they have a shitload of money. The house is huge, with lots of glass, two garages, an enormous garden, exotic plants everywhere and a super modern pool, like one of the cool ones with a wall made of glass overlooking the ocean.

"Wow, you actually have a pool? Mom, you never told me this place was so cool, why couldn't we live here instead?"

"She had to leave not only to stay with your father, but to escape one of her toxic exes too. He was crazy about her, but now he got married so he shouldn't be a problem." my grandmother explaines.

"Gosh, I'm sorry for his wife" mom laughs.

"We have a Jacuzzi inside too."

"A Jacuzzi? Indoors? Oh this is the dream life." I basically scream. The others laugh and my grandfather says "Yes, it most definitely is."

I'm way too exited, I should calm down. I just can't, I'm basically jumping up and down. I already know I'm going to spend lots of time in the Jacuzzi.

Inside it's way cooler that outside. It's all modern and I bet my family is rich. I didn't even know we had that much money. They show me to my room and it's enormous. It's all white, even the furniture. On the door's wall there's a big mirror and a white desk with cupboards on top of it. There are a few objects, a smaller mirror, some pen holders, a light and other stationery. On the righten wall there's a king-sized bed with white sheets and white pillows. The bed frame is big and elegant, fit for a royal. Well, ok, not that much, but still. There are two little desks, both with little lamps on them. I don't know why there are two of them, my grandparents said that they set up the room especially for me but nevermind. On the left wall there's a big white wardrobe and next to the bed there's a closed door. All this white is blinding, it's all so clean it basically shines. The wall in front of me is all made of glass. On the corners of the wall, or shall I say window, are two cream curtains and a switch to bring down the automatic blinds. I open the door next to the bed and there's a small white toilet, with a shower too. On the right wall there's a french door that leads to a balcony, one all for myself.

I put my luggage on the bed and start unpacking. Once I'm done I sit on my bed and read Martina and Lorenzo's texts. We chat for a while and I think about how my new school and my new friends will be. I think I could get used to this.