A/N: This story is set in the early 2000's, so I'm quite aware iPods and modern technology hadn't existed yet, but in my story they do :P This is a story that's been on my mind, so I went for it. It won't be all innocent, and one innocent girl might not come back home so innocent after all. Reviews would splendid to me. Thanks for reading. xo"You know, it's not too late, you can change your mind." my mother said to me for the 15th time as I rolled my eyes and piled in more shirts into my second suitcase. It was times like this when I envied Adam Sandler and wanted a damn universal remote to mute her.

"Mom, we already arranged plans with dad to pick me up at the greyhound station, I can't just say 'oh dad I don't feel like going, sorry.' I explained to her as I sighed inside. I wished she was a little more understanding about the situation. I mean, me and my dad weren't exactly close, we still loved each other a lot. You see my dad left when I was about 12, my parents had the whole love/hate relationship thing down to a tee. It took a quite a toll on me until my dad finally spared me more trauma and decided to split. I was never mad at him though, it was partially my mom's fault anyways; as much as I hate to admit it. I'm not the cliché 'I blame my mom for my problems' kind of gal. She was actually my best friend.

"You act like I'm going to live with him forever, it's just the summer." I reasoned to her as she shook her head.

"But it's so far away!" she complained as I sighed out loud this time. I knew she was doing this to me for three reasons : she doesn't like me going anywhere unless she can come to, she was a teenager at heart still. Then there was the fact that I was not only going to live with my dad, but my dad's new girlfriend as well. I guess they met last year while my dad was getting his hair cut in some cheesy romantic way. Therefore, even though my parents were separated for 7 years my dad barely hit her with divorce papers. You can understand how my mom's pissed that my dad is fully moving on from her…even though he has been for 7 years.

"I'm going up the coast, not overseas." I explained once more.

"But still!" she whined once more as I clenched my fists and walked into my bathroom to gather the rest of my toiletries. I threw them into my bag and looked at her with a smile.

"Mom, please. It's just the summer, I'll be back before you know it. I see you everyday of my life, I only see dad for school breaks." I told her softly as she looked at me with a frown, but I knew she knew I was right. She wasn't going to guilt trip me this time.

"Fine. I'm just…I'm going to miss you, how am I going to know you're okay?!" she asked me as I put a hand to my face and shook my head.

"There's a thing that's been invented call cell phones.." I explained to her.

"Smartass." she smiled before pulling me into a hug as I rolled my eyes.

"Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise." I sighed as she looked at me carefully.

"I promise!" I said once more as she nodded.

"Good." she replied as I smiled before getting all my stuff and checking I had everything I'd need for the next three months.

"We should probably getting going. Don't want to be late." I told her as she frowned but nodded as we got my bags together and walked down the stairs and outside to the car. I popped them inside the trunk where my mom started the ignition begrudgingly, I was sure part of her would purposely stall so that I was late.

The ride to the bus station was unfortunately not quiet as I'd liked it to be. My mom continued her lectures about me being so far away and to watch out for muggers, crack heads, prostitutes, and other random crap that I found ironic, considering me and my mom live here in Los Angeles. Go figure. I only nodded and pretended to care for what she was saying but daydreamed instead. My eyes glued to the window as I watch the city pass me, and I was beginning to feel slightly better about seeing my dad. The upper coast of California never appealed to me much, but beggars can't be choosers can they?

We finally arrived at the bus station where I showed the kind looking woman who gave me my ticket. I had barely five minutes before my bus left as I turned to my mom who was looking down while holding one of my bags.

"I'll call you every chance I get." I assured her as she smiled at me.

"You better, and if you're not happy, you call me immediately okay? I'll bring you back home." she replied as I smiled and nodded.

"That won't be necessary, but okay." I teased. "I'll be fine mom alright?" I told her as she nodded and looked like she'd cried right then and there as the bus pulled up to the curb.

"This is it. My baby's leaving me." she replied as I rolled my eyes once more while pulling her into a hug.

"I'll be home soon. Don't worry alright? I'll call you as soon as I get there. My phone is charged, see?" I said holding up my sidekick as she nodded.

"Okay then. I love you Gia."

"I love you too. Bye mom." I replied as I hugged her once more and pulled my bags over my shoulders while I walked to the bus and put them inside the luggage area but holding onto my purse. I walked up the first steps before turning to my mom who waved at me with a frown as I smiled and blew her a kiss before I fully got into the bus. I took my seat by the window thankfully and sighed as I sunk into the plush chair. I reached into my purse and got out my iPod, Veruca Salt instantly playing as I looked out the window where I had this weird feeling come over me. It was…relief. I had never traveled very far, only lived in one other state, so this was pretty exciting to me. And if I was totally honest with you, even though I loved my mom dearly, it was sort of nice to have a break from her…

Almost a day later, the bus had halted to its final stop. I had never been confined to such a small seat for such a long time. I thank the Lord that I could get off, my iPod needed to be charged badly and my legs were falling asleep. I winced as I shook my foot awake before standing up and retrieving my crap. I jogged down the stairs of the bus before looking around the new scenery. So this was the wonderful Las Gatos. How my dad decided to live here, I don't know. He's kind of a weird nature person. It kind of reminded me of my trip to Big Bear. Green, nature-y, sunny, and I had to admit it was pretty beautiful. There were no billboards promoting music or strip clubs, or people dressing like Lady Gaga. But it was still pretty classy.

"Gianna!" I heard someone call as I turned my head to the direction of the voice, my dad's tall stature coming into view as I smiled and waved before walking over to him.

"My girl." he said softly as he embraced me into a tight hug as I gasped to myself before hugging him back. He let me go finally as he looked down at me. He was a little different than I last saw him, but he still had his charm. Tall, tan, barely any hair, but pretty green eyes.

"You've grown so much." he sighed. "How was your trip?"

"Pretty good. Just want to stretch my legs." I shrugged as he smiled.

"Well I'm glad you're here pumpkin, I've missed you."

"I've missed you too dad. So this is where you live now?" I asked curiously as he nodded.

"Yeah I know what you're thinking, but I just felt like I needed to go somewhere far and different, not too far from you of course." he said putting an arm around me as I rolled my eyes but smiled.

"Shall we blow this place? Cora can't wait to meet you." he explained as I assumed this 'Cora' was his new girlfriend.

"Sure." I shrugged simply as he nodded before helping me put the things in the car.

It was a 10 minute drive, but my dad made it feel so much longer. Not that I minded, he just had a lot to say, but I couldn't blame him. The scenery hadn't changed much, rather it got greener and greener as we drove into the neighborhoods of houses. It was a drastic change for a person like me, but I would have to make do.

We turned the corner and into a 'community' of some sort with the whole 'neighborhood watch' thing, that ought to be fun.

"A lot of the people are different here, they're nice, respectful." my dad said to me as I nodded, not fully sure if he was bullshitting me to make me less nervous. We turned on De Soto ST, where I was met with two rows of modern houses while I shrugged at them in approval. My dad did have taste after all.

"Well this is it." he smiled at me as stopped at the middle house on the left side of the street. It was a tan color with picket fencing. I hopped out of the car while dad grabbed my bags for me while we walked to the door. I observed my surroundings and realized I had never seen so much green in my life. My dad opened the door where the smell of peaches caught me off guard.

"Cora!" my dad called as I heard a woman's voice respond. A moment later a slender woman with pretty brown eyes appeared, as I almost widened my eyes at her. She was definitely pretty, dressed in black pants that hugged her bottom a little too tightly and a red shirt that showed off her chest as well. No wonder my mom was bitter.

"Cora, this is Gia." my dad explained as she greeted me with a large smile.

"You're finally here!" she exclaimed as she pulled me into a hug.

"Ray talks about you so much, it's so glad to see a face finally." she teased as I nodded.

"Well thanks, it's nice to meet you too." I replied politely while she looked at my father.

"Well dinner's almost ready, I'm sure you'd like to get settled in first?" she asked as she looked back at me while I shrugged.

"Sure." I nodded as both of them ushered me upstairs into, I of course scrutinized the place with careful eyes. When it seemed to my liking, I was motioned to go into the last room. It was medium sized with a twin sized be in the middle. I had a dresser, a desk, and a nightstand with a personal little lamp sitting atop it. The closet wasn't so bad either. It was almost better than my real room…almost. The plain walls cramped my style, but I hoped I could put some color into the room. The walls were at least a lavender, not my favorite color but it was acceptable.

"Pretty nice dad." I nodded at him.

"I know it's not exactly made for a teenager, but I'm sure you can use your creativity to give it umm…what do you kids call it..? An oomph?" he asked me as I laughed.

"Yeah dad, it's an oomph." I nodded as he smiled.

"I'm glad to have you sweetie. I think you're going to like it here. When you're done settling in, come down for dinner." he replied kissing my head as I greeted him off before sighing and plopping down on my bed while staring at the ceiling. I couldn't believe the words that slipped into my mind. I think my dad was right.

I think I would might like it here…