Chapter Text
Chapter One: New Town, Who Dis?
David wasn’t sure why his mother had decided to leave her show and let their father move them away to this dinky small town. He wasn't sure any of them even liked it here. Not much discussion had been had with David and Alexis in the room. All Johnny and Moira had said was that it was necessary and would be an adventure. Now as he tried again to fit all of his clothes into this much smaller closet in his much smaller room in his practically tiny house he wondered again at his current predicament.
“David, I worry about you son. We've been here for two months. School is starting tomorrow and you've barely left the house.” His father said while leaning into his room. He wasn't sure what his father did all day. He just sat in his, basically a box, office all day quietly. “Your mother and I want you to-”
“What does mom want me to do? Mom is more upset about the move than anyone right now. Why are we even here dad?”
“Your mother is no longer on the show and we sold the house in LA to move closer to my new business. You know this David.”
“Yes, I do know this, but why did we do that? Dad none of this makes sense. Why isn't Mom on the show? Why did we sell the house? Why did we have to move closer to whatever this random job is in which you never leave your office. Where is Mom anyway?”
“She’s out with Jocelyn I’m not sure where. I know Alexis is out at probably the cafe again with the other girls on the squad.”
“Fine. Whatever. What do you guys want me to do? I don’t like it here. I’m a senior. Why now. Why couldn’t we have stayed in LA where I have friends and things to do.”
“That's what we want you to do. We want you to find something to do to make the time move faster for you. I’m hoping that by this time next year we're back to the city and all of this will be behind us and it's your last year anyway. Better to focus on your future than your friends you don't even like.”
“I-”
“You don't like them David. I'm not an idiot.”
“Whatever. They had connections to fun things and now they all think I’m a joke anyway. I doubt they'll ever text me while I'm here. Maybe next year I can show them my glow up.”
“Yes. until then find something to do and some people to do it with. Please.”
“Whatever. I’ll be going to town soon. I’m hungry.”
“Fine. Check in on your sister when you do.”
“I’m sure Alexis is fine. She doesn't like it when I check on her.”
“Do it anyway son.”
“Yeah ok.”
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David’s father Johnny left his son there playing with the rings on his fingers to go sit in his makeshift office. He worried he would have to tell them the truth. He didn't have a job. He had connections to a cheap house and a couple ideas. They had basically no money left and his wife had been written off her show. He knew they'd find out eventually with how little their mother was her usual dramatic self but that was changing too. He just hoped Jocelyn would be able to help her more.
For now he worried mostly about his son. The only one who hasn't made any connections here yet. They wouldn't be here long but it would be harder for David if he had no one to talk to outside of his family. He worried the most about his son. Moira is resilient, she will be fine. Alexis is flexible, she’ll make any situation work for her. Johnny is resourceful and he will find a way to save them. David is unique and talented but not good with people.
**********
David walked through the town with a displeased look on his face. The style of this town could use some help. It was small and quaint sure but several years outdated. He found the local Cafe and saw his sister sitting in the corner with several girls. The local school’s cheerleading squad. How she got on the squad was almost a mystery. Alexis had a way of making things happen for her. She was naturally gifted that way.
“The best way to fit in David is to stand out” she had said to him when she told him she was a cheerleader now.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Ugh nevermind David you wouldn't get it.”
Now he walked up to her and simply said, “text dad. Let him know I saw you and you're fine and apparently still at the cafe.”
“Why can't you do it David?”
“Because I'm not the one being checked on Alexis.”
“Ugh, whatever, just go David.”
“Fine.”
They stick their tongues out at each other while he backs away to the counter. There he gets a drink and a muffin from the girl who won't shut up and leaves Alexis with her new friends.
He goes to the store to pick up some things his parents forgot to get and then texts his dad to let him know Alexis is just fine with her friends who never seem to leave the cafe, knowing full well she won't, and that he’s at the store and will be home soon. All he gets back is an, Ok son. Take your time., in response. He rolls his eyes at that and asks a girl shelving things where the face towelettes are.
“The what?”
“Face towelettes. You know like towelettes for your face.”
“Face towels?”
“Yes, the ones that take off makeup.”
“Makeup remover wipes are in the cosmetic section two rows over.”
“Thank you for that”, he says in a sarcastic tone.
He goes to walk away and turns back to her rolling her eyes. She points to the left and he shrugs and goes where she pointed to find his sister’s towelettes. He picks up some questionable almost generic skin care for the both of them and then goes to wait in line.
On his way out the door a girl almost runs into him while giggling and he drops a bag.
He sighs and goes to pick it up but there is a boy there holding the bag out to him smiling with shining eyes.
“I'm sorry about her. She's on a sugar rush from 5 frappuccinos from the cafe.” the boy says to him, smiling. “Cheerleaders right?”
The girl just giggles some more while David takes the bag from the boy, smiling at him without knowing why and says, “That's ok. My sister is a cheerleader so I understand. She's eccentric.”
“Patrick come on.” the petite ginger girl says to the smiling boy while tugging on his arm.
“Fine, I'm coming. Sorry again, I hope you have a good day. See you around.”
“Bye”, David watches them go and as he walks home he is a little less mad at the world than he was before.