1.01: Let's Go Exploring

I took a deep breath and looked around at my new surroundings a bit longer.

Some questions arose - how did I get here? And, like, was it possible to go home?

Something moved off to the side of me - my head turned.

Person? Nope, just a bird.

I decided that, like, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be, yanno, stuck here - it was pretty.

I thought I saw something over behind me, so I walked over. Just my imagination.

"Pull your shit together, Brittany." I murmured to myself.

And so help me Watcher, I was going to make it home if I could. This place was...almost too serene, like a movie set or something out of a cartoon or one of those dumbass video game worlds Larissa's little sister liked so much. But whatever. I could call home, right?

Thankfully, I still had my cell phone on me, so I pulled it out and opened my contacts list.

"The hell?"

It was empty. With no Larissa or Makenzie, there was no way I'd be able to get home from where I was - wherever that was. Great. Just- just great.

But there was one number in my phone.

"Taxi. Hmmm...maybe they can take me shopping for a new outfit?"

As it turns out, there was no mall here in town. But they did have a thrift store - ick, sure, but better than nothing. The only shirt in pink was kinda hideous, but it was pink. At least the skirt I got to go with it was cute. And the bracelet? Only a simoleon. I went to the drugstore next door to pick up some make up to redo my eyeshadow for a more daytime-friendly look. After all that, I called the taxi again to take me to the library.

I thanked him promptly and walked inside - there was no one around this early in the morning. Bizarre, I guess? Maybe I'm just more used to people. Bridgeport will do that to a girl.

After changing the public bathroom - ick again, I know - I sat down at the computer.

What should I Google first?

When I typed in my situation, all that I got was some bullshit on legacy families and whatever, so that was no help. But it looked like wherever I was, I was stuck here. An ad caught the corner of my eye - media interns at a local PR firm.

I mean, I didn't go to college or do all that well in high school, but I was a two-star celebrity back home. Maybe that'd give me a boost with the practical side. And if I was stuck, I might as well get a job so I can afford an apartment or something.

Within ten minutes, I got an email back saying they'd love to hire me and the only thing I'd have to do was make a Simbook profile.

Easy-peasy.

Maybe this place wasn't so bad after all.

Satisfied at last, I made my way out of the library.

I'd made it one or two steps out of the building when I caught the eye of somebody frowning. I made my way over to him as fast as I could.

"Hey. Everything okay?"

"My wife and I got into a fight." He buried his face in his hands. "It's my fault - the pregnancy test was negative, again. And she's blaming me."

Shit. Marital issues. Not equipped to handle this. But maybe I can try to comfort him?

"Hey. Look. It just wasn't meant to be this time. Give it time, go to the doctor, enjoy your life, and eventually - boom, kid."

"It's been a year already. But yeah, maybe I should just relax and let nature take its course." he said.

"Better?"

"Mmhm. Thanks. Anything I can help you with, miss?"

"Actually, yeah. I just..." I paused for a moment. Woke up here randomly with no friggin' clue how I got here didn't quite seem right. "...moved here. Any tips on meeting folks?"

"Let me be the first to welcome you to Windenburg." So this place has a name after all, I thought to myself. "As for your question, check out the park. It's a bit off the beaten path, but you can't miss it."

And yeah, the park was hard to miss. I walked over and spied a guy by himself at the chess table. Time to go make friends, I guess. Even though I don't know how to play chess, but that's besides the point.

"Um, hi. Can I join you?"

"You sure you can keep up?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

No. "Yeah. You sure you can beat me?"

"I always like a challenge. Let's begin. Name's Shingo, by the way."

"Brittany."

Eventually, a blue-haired girl wandered over. She introduced herself as Yuki, and we hit it off right away. She explained that she grew up in Willow Creek (wherever that was) but visited her grandparents here every summer, then moved here permanently with her older sister about a year ago.

I asked what she knew about good bars and clubs. I always enjoy a good party, after all. 

"Not my thing, really." She made a face.

"Can you ask someone, then?"

"Yeah, totally, Candy's a DJ sometimes at the clubs and she says - I mean, I'll have to text her, but - "

"Checkmate." Shingo smiled. "You put up a good fight, I'm impressed."

"Thanks." My stomach growled. "Anyone know a good food spot?"

"There's a café not too far away that has some lighter things." Yuki said without looking up from her phone.

"Great. I'll go try it. See you both later."

The café turned out to be right next door to the park. Sweet. It smelled good. I ordered a 'Mericano then grabbed a book to read.

Honestly, I had no idea what was going on in the book. But it wasn't bad. And okay, sure, the vocab was kinda over my head but that happens. A lot.

"Mericano for Brittany?"

And that's my cue.

Book? Check. Drink? Check. Time to get a seat.

Some pornstache guy in a fancy jacket offered me a seat next to him. Ugh, but whatever. He was soon replaced, anyway.

The barista sat down by me with some food. I'd forgotten to get any for myself. Oops. Ah well. Maybe I'll get some later.

I finished up my drink, put the cup down, and walked out. Time to go clubbing.

Some guy was checking out my ass as we walked in. But that wasn't what I came here for tonight.

I walked up the other side's stairs over to the bar. I paused to check out the scene. Tamer than Bridgeport? Like, duh. But still good.

Better yet, somebody'd left chips on a table. Free food.

And they were the best chips I'd eaten, like, ever. I went up to the bar after I finished them.

"Whatcha want tonight?"

"Surprise me."

"You look like you could use a strong one. Juice on the Rocks it is. Long day?"

I laughed. "You have no idea how accurate that is."

I took a sip - it wasn't, well, bad or anything, but it was a little strong. Only one tonight, then.

Later on the dance floor, I was talking to some people. Eliza and I hit it off away. Eventually, Paolo, the guy who checked my ass out, and Joaquin, a club regular, came over too.

I took selfies with my new friends to remember my first night in a strange new world.

I checked my phone. 9% battery and 3 AM. I had work in six hours. Time to bow out and go - shit. I don't know? Back where I came from this morning?

And okay, I guess I should've peed before I left the club. If only I'd known.

Because the lot - though somebody'd dropped off a tent and a cooler and some other things, thank goodness - had no toilet.

Nobody was around, though, so I did my thing in the big old bush.

Never again, if I could help it. But for now, it was time to sleep. So I crawled into my tent and was out no sooner than I lay my head on the pillow.