“Oh enough with that. You’re going to learn to love it here.” Her mother responded before launching into one of her stories about her childhood. The brunette tuned it out, eventually getting up the nerve to open the door and step out of the vehicle. The hot, damp air hit her like a smack in the face, and she immediately felt little beads of sweat beginning to form on the back of her neck.

“Is that little Ashley Davies?” A woman exclaimed with a grin as she rushed towards her. She was wearing jeans and a white, button up shirt. She looked completely at ease with the temperature, much to the girls surprise.

“Hi Aunt Josie.” She finally replied in a lackluster tone, trying not to grimace when the woman pulled her into a hug.

“Jo!” Her mother exclaimed as she walked around the car. She pulled the slightly shorter woman in for a hug before kissing the air around her cheeks. Josie looked a little awkward, her smile wavering slightly before she pulled away. Ashley was slightly relieved to see that her mother’s little LA routine made the other woman feel uncomfortable.

The two women began talking excitedly, with Ashley’s aunt speaking with a pretty noticeable southern twang. The girl made a silent promise with herself that she would not allow that to rub off on her. She slowly slipped away from them and into the home, her eyes wary. The floor creaked eerily when she walked, which didn’t help the fact that this place gave her the creeps. A door on the first floor was left open and she peered inside. There was a small bed in the center, with a dresser adjacent to it and a desk in the opposite corner. Her closet at home was bigger than the entire room.

“Oh god.” She uttered aloud when she realized this was the room she was going to be sleeping in. She hated to think of herself as some spoiled, Hollywood brat, but this was too much. Even inside the slightly cooler home the thickness of the air was overwhelming. It was like breathing water when compared with where she was from.

“Well, what do ya think?” The voice of her aunt startled her and she jumped a little, wheeling quickly around on her heels.