章節 9: this place is beautiful

I leave waving bye, probably the goofiest smile I've ever had. Honestly this is one of the most exciting moment of my life. My first real road trip, my first concert. I haven't been to the beach since I was a kid.

Taking off I continue to wave until we turn the corner and they're out of sight. Looking over to Brooke who was driving and Josie kicked back in the backseat I could feel a huge smile creep up my face.

I was so excited I could barely contain myself. I pull my phone out and start recording the mountain drive for my TikTok followers.

I was pretty famous for my photography and painting. I did a lot of elapsed footage of my painting as I do them and photography of plants and wildlife. I like to show a lot of growth in nature. If people at school knew it was me, they'd probably freak, half the students are desperate to meet me or buy my art. I've never showed my face though, I've

managed to keep my identity a secret, I want the focus to be of my art, not the artist. Filming the drive and waves and beach will be great. I really hoped to fin something to paint.

"Ohh I love this song." Josie yelled sitting up quickly in the backseat jumping between the two front seats to climb in with us to turn the song up.

It was Gwen Stefani's "Banana's. Josie started bouncing and dancing in the backseat shaking her head.

Brooke and I join in and scream "This shit is bananas. B. A. N. A. N. A. S." After the song is over we all laugh together.

"I love you guys." Josie said hooking both me and Brooke in her arms. "Thanks for indulging me with that."

"Love you too." We say back.

Shuffling between songs the trip when pretty quickly. In only 3 hours with traffic we made it to Eureka.

The city was cute, it was such a harbor

village. Old Victorian Era architecture. It was stunning.

I wonder if I could do an elapse short about the harbor.

I was so excited to visit the galleries and some of the cute cafes.

"This is amazing I'm so excited." Josie said looking around "The selfies I'm going to get here will definitely go viral."

This place was perfect.

We pull up to a little hotel, it was Carter House Inn. The building was also an old Victorian style, painted pale yellow with a burnt orange trim. It was truly adorable.

"It's so wonderful. Here I wonder how the rooms look?" Brooke staring up at the magnificent building before us.

"I'll have to call my mom and thank her later, she really outdid herself finding this place and renting us a room."

Grabbing our bags we hurry inside, impatient for the days events.

"Welcome to the Historic Carter House Inn, do you have a reservation?" The receptionist behind the counter asked.

"Yes under Kinsington." Brooke answered

stepping forward.

She was always the adult between the three of us.

"Yes I see you here, the Grand Suite. This way please."

The woman takes us up the stairs two flights and arrives at a white door.

"This is your room, I'm Helen, if you need anything theres a house phone in the room you can make Outbound calls and you can call the front desk, the Wi-Fi password is in your welcome package by the phone." Helen said "Any questions?"

"Nope thank you!" Brooke said before closing the door.

The room was stunning. Natural real hardwood floors. There was a kitchenette with a small microwave oven and a stove. There was a glass cabinet above the sink that was filled with white porcelain dishes. The bed was shite with green pillows a white canopy was draped over the bed. There was a soft felt pull out couch with a large TV in

the living space. The doors that separate the bedroom from the living room were white glass panel doors and green curtains that matched the pillows on the bed.

"Okay Meredith I see you, call her right now." Josie said.

I pull out my phone and dial my mother. I reach her voicemail. "Hey mom, the room is amazing thank you so much. I promise to make the most of this trip. We love you, give dad a hug and kiss for me."

The possibilities felt limitless. There was so much to see, so little time.

"Let's go to an art museum, and then a café. After that we can do the beach, come home and clean up and get ready for the concert and grab dinner on the way?" I asked "Sound like a plan?

"Let's get changed." Brooke said excitedly.

We get changed. I wear a pear of black jeans and a an off white button up shirt, that hung loosely to my body. My shirt had cute little giraffe's all over it. I had a brown leather jacket with matching brown leather boots. I put on a black belt and a black leather over the shoulder satchel bag.

Releasing the braid, left my hair in beautiful wavy curls that cascaded down my back.

"Wow girl, you're gonna break some necks for sure." Josie said looking at me she was sporting a black bomber jacket and a white crop top with a pair of joggers and boots. Her usual alt self.

Brooke had on her usual pastels or nudes. She was wear a long pink shirt like dress that was tied in a knot at the bottom just above her knees. She had on a pair faded black stockings, brown boots a long brown cardigan. She had a bag made of straw.

None of us looked liked we'd ever be friends just by looking at us, all of us had our own unique look and vibe we brought to the table.

"Shall we ladies?" Josie asked.

"To the museum!" I say

As we walk to the museum we admire the city by the bay. Some of the streets were still made of brick. They had lanterns instead of street lights. The neighborhood was so quaint.

Getting more into the urban areas the streets became more cement, but the buildings still look pretty old. Maintaining the same image. I pul out my phone and start snapping photos and doing slow-mo video. It will be easier to edit later if id that now.

The museum wasn't far from the hotel and neither was the beach.

Because we're art students, we get into art museums for free, no admissions fee.

The museum was filled with local artist's paintings, seeing some with such beautiful shades of blue when painting the ocean. They brought out deep feelings from inside me.

Josie got bored pretty quickly so she was moving us through the museum pretty quickly. It was hard to focus and then I stumbled on this winter image of an angel. And it took my breath away. I couldn't stop staring, I was practically gawking. I felt this since of longing and homesickness while I gazed at the painting. I had to restrain myself from reaching out to touch it. I've never felt this way looking at art.