Do I Wanna Know?

June 22ndWell, I have arrived at my beloved childhood town, the Californian Watsonville. Four years ago, after my graduation, I left with a sudden uproar, and now I still feel that maybe it is too early to come home, but I could not delay it any longer. I am Lucille Haggerty, a lover of Renaissance and Florence, a twenty-two-year-old newly qualified with Bachelor of Arts, who has not yet decided whether to carry on studying or bury herself in the world of employment from September. My relatives and friends call me Lulu or Berry, depending on which part of my life we have met. As a family tradition, I call my Mum when I land at the airport. My family of four live an impetuous and Italian lifestyle. They are a bit louder than average families, bit crazy, friendly, and they are the type of family to hug and welcome in everyone. I have been drinking all the way here, so I pop into the toilet of the world`s smallest airport and have a look at my reflection. Long, wavy blonde hair with lots of sun dyed curls, and quite light brown eyes. I have lucky features and figure. According to my friends, my smile and my kindness are the features that make me beautiful. Familiar sounds, smells, and memories hit me while I`m in the taxi. The driver is searching through the radio stations when finally he stops by one of Sigma`s song - Nobody to love. He nods to acknowledge his decision and I don`t complain as I like this song too. I keep turning my head, that restaurant is closed, the small shop has a new name, there`s a new statue in front of the library. Four years is not that long but so many things have changed. The taxi slowly approaches the neighbourhood where I used to know everything like my own palm. Before we turn into my street, I take a big breath and I finally see our house. It surprises me how much I have missed my home. We have an average two-story house with a big garden and a pond which was created by Dad, some thuja and roses which Mum takes care of and a terrace. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a toilet, downstairs there is a big living room with a glass wall and a kitchen where half of the street has spent time most days. I pay the taxi driver, then grab my suitcase. As I approach the house, I remember that I will be spending the first three nights on my own as my brother, Andrew, and my parents will only be arriving later from Denver, where my parents are helping Andrew to move into a new apartment closer to his workplace. I have a happy family. My Mum is an economist, and my Dad is an IT specialist engineer but none of them work within their profession. This complicated my decision about further education but then I made a quick decision in seconds. I wanted to go to Princeton to study a history related course and I managed to get on a course. It was one of the best times of my life, which may continue. While I look for my keys in my handbag, my eyes wander to the front door and I notice that the door is slightly open. My first thought is that someone came home before me, but then I stop. That`s not possible. I grab my phone from my bag and call my brother. Andrew is twenty-seven years old and has similar blonde hair and light brown eyes as I have. Both in high school and college, he was seen as a popular guy, and I realised that there was no point trying to remember the name of his girlfriends as they changed quite often. My beloved brother is the most unreliable person in the world when it comes to love. However, this has changed in the recent past. He answers my call quick. - Hey Berry, are you at home? While you were sunbathing, we have been working hard. I don`t even understand why you always miss out on the fun? - he teases me like a good brother, but I leave him without a comment. - There is a problem. Are you all still in Denver? – my voice goes a bit shaky and Andrew`s voice turns serious: - Problem? What problem? - I just got home and the front door is open. The alarm is not going off and there is no one here. The taxi has gone. I don`t know whether I should go inside? – I hear quiet and nervous conversations and Dad takes the phone: - Do not move one bit. Don`t try to be a hero Berry! Walk to Emma Small, your Mum is talking to her right now, Arthur will sort everything. Give me a call to let me know about what happened!– I`m on my way already. The roundish, typical grandmother looking Emma Smith, who lives two doors down from us, jumps straight on my neck and after a short briefing, her husband Arthur, who with his long beard could be Santa Claus if he wasn`t covered in tattoos, calls the police and stays with me. They are a very lovable couple. They have been pensioners for a long time. We have an interesting relationship, Emma and I have always been casual with each other but with Arthur, we both remain a little bit more formal. When I was little, they used to look after me and my brother a lot. Like every other year, they are looking after their three cheeky grandchildren. During high school, I used to look after them for some pocket money, and let`s just say I don`t miss those times. I walk back to the front of our house. When the police arrive, within minutes it is clear that there is no one in the house but a few things have gone missing. The alarm was broken, the house was trashed, a TV and Dad`s computer went missing. The police officers have asked me some questions but I could not be much help to them as I have not been to the house in years. Arthur starts a video call on his tab with my Dad, who has a look around every single room. Looks as if they only took the TV and the computer. The police believe that something or someone must have distracted the burglar. Hours passed. I check out the house. My room did not change one bit. It looks exactly as I left it four years ago. All of my furniture is white, just like my Yamaha piano, the walls are painted with the brightest pink possible. There is a fluffy white carpet on the grey floorboards. On my double bed, there are hundreds of pillows with a different colour of pink, and above my desk, there is a board covered in pictures. There are childhood pictures, a lot of them with my brother. On one picture I recite, on another, I play the piano. On some of the pictures, I laugh with my friend, Vicky. There are pictures where we are with Andy`s high school or college friends on trips, singing by campfires, dancing in the rain and things like that. On my bookshelves and on the floor there are mainly history books. On my dressing table, there is makeup. In my huge wardrobe, there is a knee length bodycon dress with spaghetti straps and beautiful small pearls which I bought for my eighteenth birthday, I did not take this one with me. Andrew`s room is the opposite of mine. It has grey and brown colours. His room has been designed so that his three or four friends can comfortably sit in front of his TV that`s on the wall. He has a tobacco coloured sofa bed with black and grey pillows. Some parts of his walls are grey, some parts are dark blue. There is a big rug on his light brown floorboards. He has a particularly big black and white desk with a black leather armchair. His shelves are white and there is a big `Be strong` sing above his sofa. Very masculine. The room was made sound-proof ages ago for the sake of family peace. I go back downstairs. Arthur is changing the lock. It is scary that someone was in and out of my family home. I shudder. The police officers are still writing a statement but they don`t need me. They were nice, and before leaving they advised me not to be in the house on my own. I haven`t really thought about this actually. What now? Straight away, Arthur offers to me to stay over at their house, but let`s be honest, they already have their hands full of their three grandchildren. Arthur keeps my Dad updated. My brain is ticking. Vicky, my best friend lives in Watsonville. Not long after me, she and her family left the town, she applied to Princetown to a different course than mine but we were still roommates. I did not keep in contact for long with my old high school friends. I am looking for a nearby cheap accommodation on my phone when Arthur puts his phone in my hand: -Lulu, your father wants to talk to you! – I take the phone. -Listen my darling! You can`t stay alone! Go with Arthur. We will figure out something.- it is wonderful if you have such caring parents. Everything will be fine. I am not worried anymore. -Okay, Dad! I`ll talk to you later. – I put the phone down and wait for Arthur to lock the front door. -Lulu! You know that stress is not good for your soul. You should have your neck massaged. – I nod. Arthur is a masseur and he is the best in the area. He loves the topic of a healthy lifestyle and if he starts talking about this, it`s very hard to get away from him. I and Andrew found out at an early age that the only solution is to not respond to him. You can smile and nod nut any other form of communication is not allowed. Emma welcomes me with an apple pie and some cold lemonade. I only just realised that it is nearly five in the afternoon and I am hungry. We have been talking for a while when Andrew finally calls me: -Berry! I found a solution!- I feel guilty, I really don`t want to be a burden. -Andy just leave it, I will find a cheap hotel close by, I have a few numbers already. -I try to minimise the problem as he already has a lot of problems with the move. -We have a better idea. Josh is on the way to pick you up from Emma`s.- I don`t feel guilty anymore....all the blood has gone to my head. I thought to myself that this must be a very bad joke: -Josh Halding?- I ask and hope for a negative answer. -Yeah of course, who else?- Andrew wonders. -No. – I state firmly so they don`t doubt it. -Berry, don`t be silly!. He is nice, you know him. Our parents trust him as well. We already asked him to look after you and he said yes. Don`t make me look stupid now. I don`t even know what your problem is, you used to be good friends or something – he hesitates. -This is a bad idea. -I shake my head incredulously. -Well, this is it sis. I think you should say goodbye to Emma and Arthur. Be good, we will speak tomorrow by latest. -he ends the call. I stare out my head. I`ve only been home for half a day and now I have to face the one thing I have been dreading for the past four years. Andrew`s high school classmate, college teammate and best friend in one was the reason why I left Watsonville without looking back. I see a car approaching through the living room window. I quickly have a look at myself. I`m wearing my favourite knee-high summer black dress with white dots and with black ballerina shoes. I quickly let my long blonde hair out and brush through it with my fingers. Emma gives me a long hug and I say goodbye to the kids. Arthur is already talking to Josh in front of the house when I slowly pull my suitcase behind me as if I could delay this unavoidable moment. By the time I get to the front of the house, Arthur is already coming back. He gives me two kisses on my cheek, then leaves me alone. Very interesting. I haven`t seen Josh in four years and I have a look at his car first. A classy, nice dark car. I suddenly start to miss his old white Beatle which we used to go on trips with. Josh is standing by the side of his car. We stand opposite each other for a while. He changed. The tall, skinny, blue-eyed boy with shoulder length hair that always used to fall on his eyes, and with skater clothes is in the past. Josh`s hair is elegantly short, looks less messy, he has a short beard which makes his chin look a bit more angular. He is wearing sunglasses and it annoys me how I can`t see his expression.