From Different Worlds

Chapter 1

Returning home never crossed the young woman's mind, watching the trees pass by in such a hurry, seemingly creating an everlasting blur. Recalling the memories of her old life made the woman uneasy. Spending years to get away from that only to have to come back after all this time.

When she first got the devastating news of her family's untimely and unfortunate deaths, she wasn't sure whether to return back to her hometown or let her brother take on the hassle of all the arrangements on his own.

She thought it best to return though, regardless of the unfortunate events that occurred in the past. They were still her family. And what would be said if the youngest daughter of a well known family wasn't to return for the funeral. Besides, she can always go back to her new life in Los Angeles. She doesn't have to stay like a lot of people will expect her to. Nothing in Oakhurst California, is really worth staying for. Nothing is tying her down there anymore. She built a life in Los Angeles, and she wouldn't give it up for the world.

All too soon, the train stopped at her destination. She stayed planted to her seat as several passengers passed her to get off the train, all the while she kept looking out the window, and soon caught her brother in the small crowd of people. She slowly lifted herself from her seat before grabbing her bag from the seat next to her. She collected her luggage before meeting her brother where he stood when she got off.

"Hello, Arabella," he smiled awkwardly, not seeming to know exactly what to say. She flinched at the appearance of her name. She despised the name with every little bit of hate that she carried throughout the years of pain and torment.

"Hi," she replied, "It's just Ella now, Rafael." She wanted, or more so needed to get that out in the open before he called her Arabella again.

"Oh okay, no problem. Should we go ahead and hit the road? It's a bit of a drive," he said, dropping the smile from his face, as he grabbed her luggage.

"Yes, please," she rushed out, clutching onto her backpack as tight as she possibly could, turning her knuckles pure white. Following her brother out to the car she couldn't help but think of how much he has changed. He wasn't that awkward, shy young man anymore, who was always very tall and lanky. She found herself wondering about anything else that might have changed, for the better and for the worse. The atmosphere in the car was awkward. Neither knew what to say to the other. How have you been? Or how is everyone? Did not seem like the best things to ask considering why she was back in the first place.

It was obvious between the both of them that they weren't going to be as close as they used to be. All these years away from each other have caused them to drift apart, much to Ella's surprise. She knew that coming back would have been difficult but she hoped her brother would have helped her in this time.

"So," Rafael dragged out slowly, wondering what he could say that would help smooth out the tension between them. He didn't want to make anything worse so he had to be cautious with what he says and does around his youngest sister. "How has Los Angeles been treating you?"

"It's been good," Ella responded after a few seconds of thinking of the right things to say. She didn't want to sound insensitive. She was worried that if she mentioned how good she has been doing there that it would make her seem cold and heartless towards the family. She didn't exactly leave on good terms with her parents and she didn't feel right rubbing it in anymore.

"That's good," Rafael wanted to say more but nothing would spill out like usual conversations they used to have before she left. He wanted to know if she finished school, if she ever opened her business, all her plans.

"I finally got my culinary license," she spoke up, sensing that he wanted to ask her some questions. The awkward atmosphere was becoming more intense the more they sat in silence. Maybe they could get back to their usual relationship if they opened up a bit? Or that's more so what Ella was hoping.