1. Welcome to Hollybrooke

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Moving out. 

I have always thought that I will leave Portland when I go to university, but things changed a month ago. My mother got a job offer in London and she had to go to live there. Since I had one more year of high school left, she insisted on me staying in USA. So I had two choices: either move to California and live with my crazy aunt and her cats, or move to the most boring town in the whole world - Hollybrooke with my father and grandmother. As much as I didn't like my father, I didn't like my aunt even more, so I chose the other option.

At this moment my mom is driving me to the airport. It is the last day of August and it is very hot in Portland today. It is very beautiful day too - no clouds, just a beautiful blue sky and fresh air. As I watch buildings and streets passing, I feel a curl of nausea in my stomach. Before this moment I haven't realised how much I love Portland. I will miss green parks, I will miss cold lakes, I will miss the streets, I will miss Joe's coffee shop where I hung out with mom after school, hell, I will even miss school. It should be easier for me to leave this place because I don't have friends, boyfriend or any other relative except for my mom, but all I think about is how much I want to stay.

I don't want to go to Hollybrooke. I have gone there only twice during my lifetime and I hated every second of it.

Hollybrooke is an ant-sized town in western part of Talimuk district, in the state of Oregon. The town is famous for the lowest-criminal rate and fishing. Well, I can't even call that being famous. The city has around five thousand citizens, each of them more boring than the last one.

My mother, Natalie Montgomery, escaped this gloomy town when I was only a baby, but not by choice. She loved and still loves that town, but she had to leave it because of my asshole father. He used to cheat on her with everybody and Hollybrooke, being a small town, everybody knew and talked about that. At first, she ignored the talks and stayed with my father in a hope that he will change, but of course he didn't. The last straw for my mother was when one of my father's lovers got pregnant. She decided that she had enough, she packed her things and left him.

After that I saw my father, Evan Montgomery, only few times. While I was younger he used to take me somewhere for holidays, but it was always forced. I know that my grandma, Jessica Montgomery, tried to persuade him into forming a relationship with me, but it never really worked out. We are polar opposites.

I haven't seen him in three years and now I am supposed to start living with a man I resent.

"You will like Hollybrooke, Nessa." - I hear my mom saying. - "There are many interesting things to do. I really miss it sometimes."

"I bet." - I answer sarcastically.

"Nessa, I don't have a choice. If I did, I would never send you there." - She stops the car at the airport's parking lot. - "London is a big city and I will need some time to settle in. I can't afford to take care of you at the same time, Nessa."

"You got apartment from the company and they will make sure that you have enough resources to survive." - I frown. I still haven't forgiven her for deciding to leave me behind. - "I don't need much, mom. Just a little bit of food. I could go to community high-school in London. That would save your money."

"Nessa, this is just temporary. One year at most." - She is not helping. I don't want to be in that city for a second, let alone a year.

"It is easy for you to say that." - I roll my eyes. - "I will be stuck in that town for one year, not you."

"Anessa, you know very well that I left that town only because I couldn't handle gossiping anymore."

"So I have to handle it now, right?"

"It is not the same." - She shakes her head. - "You are his daughter and they won't treat you the way they treated me."

"My sister is there." - I remind her of dad's other daughter. That is the thing I worry about the most. She probably hates me and I don't want to have problems with her.

"Maybe she isn't. Jessica said that she haven't met your sister, so I am pretty sure she doesn't live in that town."

"Or grandma just doesn't care about meeting her since she hates her mother." - My grandma never wants to acknowledge that she has another grandchild. She accepts only me as her granddaughter.

"Either way, don't let it affect you."

"Mom, I just don't want to go. Can't I just stay here alone? I can take care of myself very well."

She glares at me with sadness in her big blue eyes. My mom has just turned 40 and she is still one of the most breathtaking women I have ever seen. She has a heart-shaped face and short reddish hair. She is around 170cm tall, just like me and she has small slender figure that is more rounded than mine. Unlike her, I am very skinny and I don't have many curves. My mom has always sacrificed herself for me. For years she struggled going from job to job, so she can afford me everything I wanted. Only three years ago has she gotten a job she deserves, and now they want to promote her and send her to London. This is the big break she has been waiting for and I am being selfish. Instead of being supportive, I am trying to drag her down.

"If you want," - I can hear that she is willing to sacrifice for me once again in her voice. - "I can refuse that job offer. We can stay here. I have been doing good in Portland too."

No. I could never ask her to do something like that. My mom has always put somebody else first in her life. She sacrificed herself and her needs because of my dad for years, then she sacrificed herself for me and I really can't allow her to toss this opportunity through the window. It is time for me to sacrifice for once. It is time for her to do something for herself. I am a big girl, I can handle one year in Hollybrooke.

"No, mom." - I answer remorsefully. - "I am sorry. I was selfish. I am afraid of living with him and I am being a spoiled brat out of fear. You don't deserve this behaviour. You raised me better. I want you to be happy. Go and chase your dreams. I will be fine."

She smiles at me with relief.

We leave the car and head to the airport to wait for my airplane. I have already sent most of my stuff to Hollybrooke so I have only one small bag with me.

While we wait, my father calls my mom. He tells her something that makes her very angry. She murmurs something into the phone and hangs up on him.

"He won't wait for you at the airport." - She growls. - "I can't believe that man."

"It is fine, mom." - Three years ago he left me alone in Los Angeles because he had some other business, so I had to find my way back home alone. That was the last time I saw him. - "I will go to Hollybrooke by myself. It is easy to get around Oregon."

"I can't believe that I am sending you to him." - I can see that she is questioning her decision now. - "That man is not capable of taking care of you."

"Mom, I don't need him to take care of me." - I hug her. - "I can do it by myself. Besides, it would be just one awkward ride. I will rather go alone to Hollybrooke."

"Please call me if you need something." - She tightens her grip around my shoulders. - "And remember that I expect you to come to London for Christmas."

"I am looking forward to it."

"Don't forget about me there, Nessa."

"I would never." - I feel cold tears on my cheeks. - "I love you and I am going to miss you."

"I love you too."

We stay in a hug for few more minutes and then we say our last goodbyes. I hurry up to catch my plane.

It's a five hour flight from Portland in Maine to Portland in Oregon, then I have another hour in a train to Giribaldi. After that I have to catch the bus for Hollybrooke. It will take one hour from Giribaldi to Hollybrooke. I didn't want to say anything to my mom, but I expected that Evan won't come to pick me up so I googled the easiest ways to get to Hollybrooke from the airport. He was always irresponsible and he hated this whole situation. I am very well aware that my grandmother agreed to take me in, not my father. If it was up to him, he would leave me out on the streets. That man cares only about himself. He has never sent a single penny to my mother while I was growing up although he has a lot of money. My mom was too prideful to ask even in times when she needed his financial support. She learnt to take care of me on her own and she is the best mother I could ask for.

After landing in Portland, I go to taxi-stop and take one. He takes me to the train station, I buy the ticket, but the train for Giribaldi escapes me just for a second. I have no idea when is the next train.

I see a tall man in blue uniform and I approach him. Maybe he will know when I can take the next train. I hope I won't have to wait for tomorrow or something. I don't like the thought of sleeping alone at the train station.

"Excuse me," - I say and his green eyes focus on me. - "When is the next train to Giribaldi?"

"In about two hours." - He answers.

"Great." - I frown. - "Is there some direct train for Hollybrooke maybe?"

"Oh, you are going to Hollybrooke." - He says instead of answering me. - "I haven't seen you around before. I am from Hollybrooke."

Here we go.

"I am just moving in there with my father." - I hope that he won't ask me for my name, because I really don't feel like talking about my parent's failed marriage with a stranger. I am sure that is all I will have to do once I start my school tomorrow. I don't need to begin today.

"What is your name?" - Fuck.

"Anessa Montgomery." - I murmur, hoping that he doesn't know my father.

"Oh, Evan's girl." - He nods. - "He is my great friend. My name is Thomas Dickinson. I am not sure if you remember me."

"Um, no, not really." - I try to repress all of the memories I have about Hollybrooke.

"You used to play with my boy when you were little. His name is John."

"Um, yeah, now I remember." - I lie. I just want this conversation to end.

He smiles proudly, still not answering my question.

"So, is there some earlier train?"

"I am afraid not." - He points at the coffee shop behind me. - "You can wait in there for the next one. You can read a magazine or something."

"Thanks."

I walk away.

I am so glad that I have only one bag, otherwise I would be hating my father so much at this moment if I had to drag three suitcases.

I enter the small coffee shop and I leave my bag on the red plastic chair. I walk to the counter.

Cute, brunette waitress is smiling at me. - "What would you like to order?"

"Um, cappuccino." - I answer and hand her three dollars.

"What is your name?" - She takes my money.

"Anessa." - ﹰI hate how they write names on the cup because they always get my wrong.

"Have a safe trip!" - She hands me a cup with cappuccino.

I smile at her and take the cup from her hands. I look at the name on it. It says Agnesa. Of course.

My name is very old because my grandmother named me by her great-great grandmother so people usually didn't hear about my name before and they often call me Agnesa. It is irritating so I introduce myself as Nessa mostly. It is easier for people to remember.

I take one of the magazines and sit on the plastic chair. I am lost in the latest gossip in Hollywood when I hear a high-pitched, girl's  voice. - "Can I join you?"

I lift my head up to look at the girl. And wow, she is drop-dead gorgeous. She looks like she has come out of one of those old, black and white movies. She has curly, golden hair, big blue eyes, and oval-shaped face. She is slender and graceful. She is a little bit shorter than I am, but she has amazing long legs that make her look taller than she really is. Her skin is very tanned like she is coming from some very sunny place.

"Of course, you can." - I nod.

She pulls her full lips into warm smile and puts her small yellow purse on the empty chair across of me. She walks to the counter to order something.

Usually, I don't like company. I am not very social person and I don't like conversations. I have had my own world for as long as I can remember and people don't really understand that so I stayed alone for the most of the time. The only friend I have ever had is my mom, but even she is too different from me.

But there is something about this girl that is very appealing and that makes me want to talk to her and get to know her. I am not really sure what.

She walks back after taking her coffee  and sits across of me.

"It is so cold outside." - She says. I, only then, notice that she is wearing strapless, yellow dress. - "This dress is so not for this weather."

"I agree." - I point at my white sweater. - "I put it on as soon as I landed. In Maine it was very hot. This is a huge change."

"I hate Oregon." - She murmurs. - "And this is a very bad day for me. First my flight was delayed, then I was late for the train and now I am stuck in here without anything warmer to wear."

"Tell me about it." - I sigh.

"Where are you going?" - She takes a sip of her coffee.

"Hollybrooke." - I answer, not expecting that she knows where is that place.

"Me too." - She surprises me. - "You were probably late for the train too."

"I thought that Hollybrooke is a small place and you are the second person from there that I met today."

"You met old Thomas, I suppose."

"Yes." 

"From which city are you?"

"Portland." - I inspect her tanned face. - "And you are coming from some very warm place, I assume."

"My tan gave me away?"

"Pretty much."

"Yes, I am coming from Los Angeles." - She confirms. - "I spent my summer there, trying to land some acting role, but it isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Nevertheless, I am not losing hope. I will go back to high-school now. I am only seventeen years old and I have life ahead of me. I will fulfil my dream eventually."

"I am sure you will." - I encourage her. - "Were you there alone?"

"Yes."

"Your parents allowed you to go by yourself?" - I gasp. My mom would never let me do something like that in this age. She is too overprotective.

"My parents don't really care." - She answers blankly. - "I am sure they haven't even noticed that I was gone. I am the black sheep of our family. If they have noticed that I am gone, then they are probably hoping that I won't come back home." - She, obviously, wants to change the subject. - "What about you? Why are you going to Hollybrooke?"

"My mom got a job in London, so I have to move in with my dad."  - I am not trying to hide desperation from my voice. I don't really care.

"And you don't really like that?"

"Is it that obvious?" - I laugh.

"Very." - She nods. - "Who is your dad?"

"Evan Montgomery." - As soon as I answer I can see in her eyes that she knows who he is. My dad is pretty popular in that town not just because of his affairs, but also because he has his own pub. I know that almost everybody know who he is and I hate that.

"I understand." - She scowls. - "People in Hollybrooke like to talk. Be ready. They will give you a lot of shit. You are going to be the talk of the town."

"I expected something like that." - I mumble. Is it too late to go back home?

"Your name is Anessa, right?" - She points her arm at me, so I can shake her hand. I nod and grab her hand in mine. She introduces herself. - "My name is Tracy Hunter. I am the talk of the town too. So, please don't believe everything you hear."

"I most definetly won't." - I giggle. I can't even imagine what that small-minded community thinks about somebody who looks and acts like Tracy.

"And just for a record," - there is no filter in her words. - "Your dad is a pig and I completely understand how you feel."

I don't answer, but she continues talking. - "My parents don't like me. They hate how different from them I am. I am sure they wish I was dead. I am a dirty little secret that they don't want to be discovered." - Pain is evident in her eyes. - "The only person that ever understood me and cared for me in that family was my grandma, Flora. But, after her death, I was lost because all of the people I loved rejected me. Well, all of them, except from your grandmother Jessica. She is the only support I have had since the day my grandma died. You are lucky to have her, Anessa."

"I am sorry." - I have never had a friend and nobody has ever talked to me like she just did, so I have no idea what am I supposed to say or do.

"It is fine." - She sighs. - "I am looking forward to spending time with you and your grandma."

"I haven't spent much time with her, but I enjoyed each of her books, so I am sure that we will get along just fine." - My grandma is one of the best writers in the world. She is writing crime-novels, and many people, including me, enjoy reading her books. I love writing and when things get hard, I lose myself in it just like my grandma. - "I am excited to see her."

"I am sure she is too. She talks about you all the time." - Her attention focuses from me on a tall guy who passes by our table. I think that she is staring at his bottom. - "Man, that is a hot piece of ass, but I miss California and all the hotties there."

I don't answer. I don't really have any experience with boys. I have never even had a crush, let alone something else. None of the boys back home were interested in me and I wasn't interested in them either. I am perfectly fine with not having a boyfriend till my death, I don't want to fall in love with someone like Evan. I don't want to get hurt like my mom was hurt.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Anessa?" - She grins at me.

"No."

"I can't imagine why. You probably broke many hearts in Portland."

"None." - I shake my head.

"Probably because you chose not to." - She chuckles. - "You are gorgeous. There is no straight man that wouldn't want to get freaky with you."

"Oh, thanks." - I say awkwardly. I am not really used to compliments unless they are coming from my mother. I want to change the subject. I am very insecure when it comes to my looks. - "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"I used to have one." - She mutters. - "But it didn't work out. I messed up. That is the part of the reason I am going back home. I want to fix my mistakes."

"What mistakes?"

She doesn't answer, ringing of her phone interrupts her thoughts. She glances at it and gets up from the chair. She seems nervous all of the sudden. Almost scared.

She takes her yellow purse.

"See you around, Anessa. Thank you for the talk, but I need to be somewhere now." - I sense that she is doing her best to keep herself composed.

"See you around." - I don't want to press her into telling me what is wrong. We have just met after all.

She waves at me and walks away from the coffee shop.

I stay inside for one more hour and then I catch the train for Gilibardi. I don't see Tracy in it. Maybe she is late again and maybe she will come to Hollybrooke later.

I sleep through the train ride and wake up at the last station just in time to get off. I catch the bus for Hollybrooke and one hour later I arrive in the town I despise. It is night, and it looks spooky, but I know that nothing bad ever happens here. Or good.

Evan is waiting for me

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