\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I took a deep breath \u2013 this place promised to be different. Like any teenager, I was familiar with the California of photo and film, but looking at the real thing, I felt like the adventurer Cabrillo in 1542. Having just left the frozen tundra of a Canadian winter, California was like a movie set. I clambered down the stairs from the private jet. <\/span>As usual<\/span>, Dad was on a business call while checking his email on a second phone he pulled from an Italian suit pocket. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cGeez, these apps take forever to load!\u201d muttered Dad to someone on the other end of the line. \u201cOh, there it is.\u201d He turned to me without looking. \u201cHailey honey, your Uber will be here in 7 minutes. Go with Max.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I sighed. Dad had been waist-deep in work since before I was born, or so I am told. He self-started his way from the Chicago projects to Forbes\u2019 \u201cRichest Entrepreneurs Under 40 List\u201d. \u00a0Mom, meanwhile, was meeting with directors of a philanthropy program for impoverished communities near our old home in Morocco. My parents were always involved in grand projects that overshadowed my meager accomplishments. <\/span>They were successful in everything they endeavored.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m stuck with you now,\u201d I said to Max. He rolled his startling olive-green eyes and laughed as he punched my shoulder. Max had become family to me, and we had encountered many of life\u2019s curveballs together. He offered to carry my bags but I insisted on carrying them myself. Max observed me with amused detachment as I dragged my bags, or maybe it was the bags dragging me, to the car. I finally submitted to defeat and accepted Max\u2019s assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The ride to the new house was quiet. <\/span>I had never seen this house, since Dad was always making real estate purchases in far-flung locations and often selling them at a profit. It was just the usual conversation between Max and me, exchanging comments about Instagram posts, trying to make each other laugh, and pointing at famous landmarks and buildings that were framed in the tinted windows.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As soon as we got to the house, or should I say, the gated fortress, I gasped. <\/span>Max was silent, staring.<\/span> It never seemed possible that Dad would be able to find a house that would outshine the last, yet he always found a way.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I gazed at the expansive walls that enclosed what would be my room. \u00a0The view was beautiful, but somehow the appearance of the surrounding grounds filled me with unease. Tripping over boxes, I made my way towards the middle of the room and sat, taking it all in. <\/span>The hairs on my arms began to stretch upwards.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cMaxxxxxxxxx!\u201d I screamed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0He appeared by the door in an instant. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, what is it?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s freezing in here,\u201d I said in an exaggerated tone that made him roll his eyes at me again. So typical of Max. \u201cIs the heater set up yet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHailey, you scared me and no, not yet.\u201d He sighed and went over to the bay window, cranking it open just a sliver so a warm breeze trickled in. \u201cNatural heating,\u201d he grinned. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWell, I guess I\u2019ll go outside and look around the neighborhood a bit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cAll right, I\u2019ll be unpacking the boxes and getting the house ready for when your parents are back home tonight.\u201d Max looked into a box labelled \u201cOFFICE\u201d, then reached over and threw a tracker phone at me. These new models were especially annoying, consistently sending alerts to Max whenever I strayed too far from where I said I would be going. But still they were useful since they allowed my calls to go through to Dad during his tight schedule of conference calls whenever I had an emergency. I still remember how much I used to abuse that right when I was young, always interrupting Dad\u2019s meetings to talk to him about small, unimportant things. But now I felt them more a nuisance than a toy. \u201cBe back by six and Hails, don\u2019t go too far down the hill! I\u2019ll have Mrs. Marbella cook your favorite pasta for dinner tonight!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mrs. Marbella was my favorite family chef, <\/span>and traveled from location to location with the family<\/span>. Her rotini hair twisted into a tight bun and the smell of spices wafting out of the kitchen always set me in a good mood. I could almost taste her chicken cordon bleu, with its melted cheese and\u2013<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Lost in reverie<\/span>, I found myself on a downtown street. People of all ages were sprawled along the strip, some wearing typical clothes and others featuring high-fashion or party attire. <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWelcome to Sunset Boulevard!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Startled, I turned around slowly. Two girls standing by a palm tree were waving, motioning for me to come over. I dragged my feet in their direction. It had already been an hour since I\u2019d left and Max was due to call me to come home anyway. I was lost in the city and making a few friends wouldn\u2019t hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The auburn-haired girl spoke first. \u201cSo Bev Hills, when did you move here and what are you doing all alone?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cMy name\u2019s actually Hailey and I just got here today. I live in Trousdale um\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cEstates,\u201d the other girl finished. \u201cYes, I\u2019ve heard of the area. I\u2019m Hanna and this is Harlow. Oh wow you have the whitest, straightest teeth I\u2019ve ever seen. Looks like someone had to go through the pain of braces.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cTwice and for two years each,\u201d I blushed, shying away from their prying eyes. I wasn\u2019t used to this kind of attention.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cYou know who you look like? Oh!\u201d Harlow exclaimed, acting as though she had just had a revelation. \u201cTaylor Hill but with wavy hair! Yes, that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0She was full of energy, talking a mile a minute, but I couldn\u2019t help but notice that she was wearing some sort of uniform. They looked like the scrubs that doctors wear but not quite. Then it hit me! Of course, it was October 31st.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re dressed up for Halloween! I totally forgot. What are you, like some juvenile delinquent?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cYeah definitely. Straight out of juvie!\u201d They exchanged a look.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cEnjoying sabbatical from your incarceration?!\u201d Hanna barely finished saying before doubling over in laughter and all of us joined in. She glanced around and began putting her hair up with a scrunchie. \u201cWell what are we doing just standing here? Let\u2019s go out and stir up trouble! Hey Hailey, do you by any chance have a car?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Just as I was about to answer, my phone buzzed three times.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Max: <\/span>Come home now, Mrs. Marbella couldn\u2019t make it but I\u2019m going out to get pineapple pizza now. \u00a0Will be home in 30.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mom: <\/span>Caught up with work & probably won\u2019t be home \u2018til late love you\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\ud83d\udc93<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Dad: <\/span>Stuck in the crazy LA traffic!!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I looked up from the bright screen to the anxious faces of Harlow and Hanna, awaiting my response.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWell Hailey Hills, you free for a little joyride tonight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I knew I shouldn\u2019t but it was too perfect a chance to pass up. As we approached the house, I fought my inner angel that told me that this was a bad idea. I wanted to get to know the area and Mom and Dad weren\u2019t here to show me anyway. I jumped into the driver\u2019s seat of the white BMW that had come straight out of the local dealership. Gingerly pulling out of its new spot in our driveway, I felt a rush of adrenaline.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cHop in!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As they got in the car, Harlow, suspicious she already knew the answer, asked, \u201cYou\u2019ve had your license for a year already?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cActually, I don\u2019t have my license at all. I\u2019m used to other people driving me everywhere, but don\u2019t worry, I got this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I stepped firmly on the gas pedal and we were off. I suddenly felt the urge to stop. \u00a0Reaching into my back pocket I retrieved my tracker phone and threw it out the window.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cNow I\u2019m ready!\u201d I hollered at the top of my lungs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWhere are we even going?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Confidently I replied, \u201cI have no idea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We wound our way up along the <\/span>sparkling<\/span> coast towards Malibu. The sun was beginning to set and everything felt like a dream. It was just the three of us, singing along to music, with our shades on and not a single care. I pulled the roof down so the wind danced through our hair and the rest of the world melted away, until it was just me and the road ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Of course, I should have known that this feeling of freedom would soon come to an end. \u00a0The tank, empty, left the car no choice but to crawl to a stop.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWe all forgot about gas,\u201d said Hanna in a worried tone. \u00a0\u201cand my phone is dead!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Harlow passed her phone to me and I quickly dialed Dad\u2019s number. Straight to voicemail. \u00a0<\/span>Why did I throw the tracker phone away?<\/span> I threw my head back, already knowing the amount of trouble I was going to be in. I slowly dialed Max\u2019s number and brought the phone up to my ear. The rings felt endless, and I kept searching my mind for another solution while the seconds trailed on.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Max was upset, but more so for my safety than the fact that I had stolen my parents\u2019 new car. He quickly assured me that a police officer, who was also a family friend, would escort us home and that he was sending over a tow truck for the BMW as we spoke. <\/span>He hinted that he would be telling Mom and Dad what happened and a wave of dread fell over me.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cAll right\u2026 ok\u2026 yes, I know thank you.\u201d I hung up and breathed a sigh of relief.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Hanna and Harlow were still in a frenzy when the cop car pulled up.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cWhat?! \u00a0Cops?! Are we going to be in trouble?\u201d Frightened, Harlow stepped back.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t worry, it\u2019s alright.\u201d But she had already gotten on her phone and ordered an Uber before I could finish explaining what was going on.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll go with her to make sure she gets home alright,\u201d Hanna said, seeming concerned for Harlow. And just as fast as they had been introduced into my life, they were gone.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I sat in the backseat going over how I would explain everything to Mom, Dad, even Max. \u00a0It was strange. Taking the car had been a rash decision and not the sort of thing that I would normally do.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I was just trying to fit in, just trying to feel at home.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The sudden realization of my heart thudding loudly did not help me sort my thoughts. As dusk fell rapidly, it dawned on me. I had been working so hard to get myself used to this new, unfamiliar place that I forgot that my true home was with my family.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As soon as I arrived home, I stepped into the warm embrace of Mom and Dad. This was where I was supposed to be. <\/span>There was not a single trace of disappointment or anger on Mom and Dad\u2019s faces; they were smiling as if this was just another normal day and I was coming home. Max had covered for me. I glanced over at the kitchen counter looked at Max with gratitude in my eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cMax?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cYes?\u201d he said <\/span>with a small smile playing on his lips<\/span>. \u00a0He already knew what I was thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m really craving some pineapple pizza.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Home \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I took a deep breath \u2013 this place promised to be different. Like any teenager, I was familiar with the California of photo and film, but looking at the real thing, I felt like the adventurer Cabrillo in 1542. Having just left the frozen tundra of a Canadian winter, California was like … <\/p>\n