Emma hearts LA Read Online Free

be some noise from the building works over there,’ Michael says, gesturing over the back of the house towards the site I saw when we first pulled up, ‘which is why it came in a lot cheaper than the other houses. But it shouldn’t be too bad, at least in the evenings and weekends anyway.’
    ‘It’s wonderful,’ Mum says. ‘Thank you so much for sorting this out.’
    ‘It was my pleasure,’ he says.
    Once Michael’s left to let us get unpacked and settle in, Mum puts her arms around me and my sister. ‘So what do you think? Better than you expected?’
    ‘Much better,’ I say. ‘I was expecting one of those apartment blocks around a pool with a dead body floating in it.’
    Mum laughs and squeezes me. ‘My little optimist.’

Chapter Five
     
    I wake up to the sound of birdsong and a weird whirring noise I can’t quite place. Then I open my eyes and remember – the ceiling fan. I stretch my feet down to the bottom of the bed and look over to my right where I left a space in the curtains so I could look out and remind myself of exactly where we’ve ended up living.
    You wouldn’t know we were in the middle of not only a city, but an enormous city – all I can see is the wooden terrace, trees and sky. It’s gorgeous. I jump as something taps against the window and drag myself out of bed to check. If it’s a raccoon I’m getting on the next flight home. I pull my curtain back slowly, squinting as if that’ll protect me from whatever’s out there, but it turns out it’s just Bex. She’s wearing a Justin Bieber T-shirt (she says it’s ironic – I’m not so sure) and her school gym shorts.
    ‘What the hell are you doing?’ I ask her through the glass.
    She gestures at me to open the door, so I do before crossing the room and getting back in my bed.
    ‘Yoga!’ she says, bounding into my room like Tigger. ‘I thought we could do it every morning. You know, on the terrace?’
    ‘Feel free,’ I say.
    ‘No! Both of us! I think it’ll be really good! We can have some sister bonding time. You can get a bit more flexible, you know?’
    ‘I don’t need to be more flexible,’ I say, burrowing down under the covers. ‘I’m as flexible as I want to be.’
    ‘It’s good for you!’ Bex says. ‘This is California. Beautiful people! You need to step it up!’
    ‘Why do I?’ I say. I can hear a weird thudding noise. I open one eye. She’s actually running on the spot.
    ‘Because we’re in LA now!’ she says, and starts stretching. ‘I’m going to get fit. I’m going to start running, and Mum says she’ll get me a bike. Or maybe some rollerblades. Do you think people really do rollerblade at the beach? Like in films?’
    ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised,’ I tell her. ‘But you’re on your own.’
    ‘Fine,’ she says, and I hear her cross the room again. ‘But just for today. You’re joining me tomorrow.’
    ‘Whatever.’
    I go back to sleep.
     
    When I finally get up, Mum and Bex are sitting on the deck downstairs. Mum’s writing a list.
    ‘Sleep well?’ Mum asks.
    ‘Really well,’ I tell her. I was surprised because I went to bed thinking about home and Dad and how different everything is here, so I expected to lie awake for ages, but I think I must’ve fallen asleep straight away. The bed is really comfy. ‘You?’
    ‘Great,’ she says. ‘I think we were all worn out from the journey.’
    ‘You didn’t expect to sleep either?’ I ask her.
    She shakes her head. ‘I thought I’d be too worried. You know, about work and this house and driving in LA!’ She makes a horrified face. ‘I suppose I can just worry about that today instead.’
    ‘Has the university got a car for you?’ I ask her.
    She nods. ‘Michael sorted that out too. Didn’t you see it when we got here? It’s a blue Mini.’
    ‘I didn’t notice.’ I was probably too busy looking at the building site and the bins.
    ‘Do you need anything?’ she asks, pointing at her list with the pen.