Elsa's Pov
I froze, my throat burning with guilt. I didn't have to spill all my childhood traumas just like that. Why did I even mention about my birth parents?
I remembered it very clearly. The camera lights flashing into my face every direction I went. How can I even trust them? We have only met each other just fifteen minutes ago.
To my greatest relieve, none of them ever asked about what I had just said. Instead, Liv was the one that spoke first, "Alright then, Elsa. So, what brings you here?"
Oh God Liv the hero saves me once again.
As Mom called us that it was time to go, I introduced my two new friends to her. She seemed to enjoy three new company, with one that she knew as long as I did. I took once last look at Mexico's train station before boarding the train to L.A.
Do not cry, Erica. You're gonna leave the past now. Cherish the life that Elsa's going to live right now.
Mom had found new company with a fellow mid-aged Californian lady and they seemed to be having a pleasant time together, so it was safe for me to occupy another compartment. Only that I wasn't alone. Three seconds into my profound little space that the door of my compartment slid open, and the three friends came in.
"Anyone sitting there?" Peter asked, pointing at the seat opposite mine. "Everywhere else is full."
I beamed slightly and gestured for them to take the space. Liv took a seat beside me, while Peter and Mike occupied the ones opposite.
The train began to move. I watched the archway disappear as the train peaked up its speed and rounded the corner. Houses flashed past the window. The roadway of Mexican cars, the small neighborhood I frequented as a youngling. All gone in a flash. There was a great leap of hope in my heart. It was good to be able to leave behind my past.
"You all have been living in L.A., right? What is it like?" I blurted, all too sudden.
"Horrible— well, not all of it. The food is extremely appetizing, I admit. But our lives' been pretty boring, don't you think Peter? We've heard you have an older brother. Wish I'd had a brother," said Mike glumly.
It was funny to think that we had barely reached the one hour mark that I already found how different our lives are. While Michael whines about having boring days, I ,on the other hand, have days of sleepless nights of paparazzi banging on my apartment door, asking for endless questions that made no sense when said out loud.
"I do have a brother, but he had his study in L.A. after my dad got his work transferred there. In other words, I live my pre-teen life almost with no brother."
"Well... that sucks. So that's why you're going to L.A.? To visit your brother and father?" Michael seemed keen on my story.
"Yeah, but Lucas and Dad had been renting rooms from people until just recently that they have bought a flat apartment. So Mom and I decided to move to L.A. with them."
The four of us spent some time talking as the train went. About their school days; their lifestyle; how they met. I didn't talk much, instead listened attentively as they babbled about. Well, Liv and Michael did the talking.
Michael was a treat to be around—we've had awkward pauses in between our conversations, but it was at most enjoyable.
Peter occasionally joined the conversation, most of the time will he have his eyes out the window or checking his phone, as if he was waiting for something. He did seem pretty reserved—or rather distracted. I was going to ask him if he could have motion sickness, but I knew better than to invade someone else's privacy.
The train jerked once a while, but it doesn't seem to affect my friends in any way. Until, it slowed down and finally stopped what seemed to be hours later.
The first thing I saw was the polluted California sky. Back in Mexico, the sky was more blue-ish than I remember. The air smells unusual, the people all speak differently. It was only then that realization hit me that I was not going to see the three friends again. A bummer, I was starting to like the two boys.
"I really hope that we could spend more time together," Liv sobbed a little.
"Come on, now. We could still meet up when we have time, no? I promise to keep our contacts save!" I crossed my fingers tight, trying to comforting her and at the same time, controlling my own emotions.
She nodded her head and wiped off her tears. Giving each other our one last hug, Mom and I headed to our new address, rolling our luggage onto the Los Angeles ground.
I couldn't tell you how excited Mom and I were to see Dad and Lucas's face as we opened the doors of our apartment. Our family was apart for nearly ten full years. Seeing them now was kind of weird, but nostalgic. Dad, apart from growing a little beard, didn't grow much after. Well, Lucas. All I can say was that... puberty hit him hard. I could barely even recognise my own big brother!
It was a pity that we didn't get to grow up together. The both of us missed a lot of our sister-brother bonding time. Yet, seeing him for the first time in ten years had me shed a tear, as if we had always been living in the same roof my whole life.
Moving-in went pretty quickly, since the men of the family helped most of it, and I hadn't had time to pack much. Lucas decided that I needed some fresh air from all the travelling and offered to give me a little tour around the area. That's my brother. Always knows what I was thinking.