Things Started To Go Sideways...

Aug 18, 2014

Dear Diary,

So today was the first day of school.

Yes, I know it’s been a while, and I feel like I probably won’t be very consistent with this diary.

Today was… interesting.

I don’t know where I left off, but this is where I’m starting.

Since he’s been back, Phil has been getting paid a lot to make appearances on TV and stuff. It all happened so fast.

The first couple of times, it was weird, but now I think we’re all pretty used to it.

That’s how we ended up moving from San Fran to Los Angeles.

Phil confused seems to not like it too much before, but now it feels different. It was because of something Catalina said.

We were at the recording of a TV show, and she said that the irony of his life is what makes him sad.

That all he ever wanted was to be known for his voice acting skills, and now he’s surrounded by actors in the city of his dreams… but instead of being famous for his voice, he’s famous for what he looks like.

I don’t really know what that’s like, but I imagine it sucks.

Ava

Aug 26, 2014

Dear Diary,

I’m in the hospital recovering, and Moon has come to visit me like he does every day.

I think my brother has finally stopped being so overprotective and gotten used to him being around so often. Now, he doesn’t mind leaving my side and letting Moon take over babysitting duty.

Moon’s really cool, and I’m so glad I met him.

Me and my brother go to the same school, so we walk together.

Every time we get there, everyone stares at him. Some people even call him a freak.

It’s so frustrating. Like, how is that his fault?

People in California can be so mean.

Oh! I totally forgot to mention—we’re rich now.

Like, really rich.

Phil’s TV appearances are worth so much that we made millions super fast.

It was like a dream.

I am sad, though.

I didn’t have that many friends before, but the ones I did have—I had to leave them all behind.

But after about two months of living here in Hollywood, two important things happened.

The first is that I kinda made a friend.

I mean, he’s a total nerd, and he’s really into anime, but he doesn’t think me or my family are weird. And—bonus—he doesn’t seem to want anything from me, like money or fame.

His name is Moon.

His full name is Moon-Flake Sunbeam Smith.

And no, I didn’t spell that wrong. And no, I’m not making a joke.

That’s really his name.

His parents are hippies.

My brother has a TV for a head, and somehow, Moon is the one that confuses me. He's like some science loving geeky guy, but his parents are hippies. I don't know how that happens.

The second thing that happened was that I was approached by two really odd-looking men after school one day.

One was tall and fat, and the other was average height but super skinny.

They said they wanted to talk to me about my brother for a TV show.

Phil did not want a reality TV show, but that didn’t stop people from asking.

I said, “Sure, but I have track practice.”

Then they said they would wait for me on the roof of the school.

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but looking back… that was a huge mistake.

I met them on the roof after practice like we agreed, but when I got up there, they had very serious faces.

"Call your brother," said the fat one. "The kaijinn!"

"Anything you need to say, you can say to me," I told them. "And besides, he doesn’t call people on a cell phone. He can’t talk, duh. You kinda need a mouth for that."

They looked at each other.

Then they looked at me.

"Seriously, we don’t have time for this," said the skinny one. "Just call your brother, and there will be no problems."

I started to feel really uneasy.

"What do you mean, call him?" I asked.

"She’s just toying with us!" the fat one snapped—then he grabbed me by the throat and picked me up with one hand.

I freaked out.

Not because I was scared or anything!

But, like—no one ever challenges me in a fight, and this guy already had me beat?!

"Let me go!" I yelled over and over, but they weren’t listening.

"Call your brother," said the skinny one. "Or we’ll make you call him."

"Phil..." I gasped.

"No, no, no! That’s not how you do it! Maybe you just need an incentive."

Then the fat guy punched me in the side—hard.

I felt my rib break.

I’d never broken a bone before, but trust me—when it happens, you know.

I screamed in pain, and they got more upset.

"You have to say his name!"

The fat one punched me again, breaking another rib.

I screamed.

But this time, I screamed my brother’s name.

And suddenly—

The skinny guy flew off the roof.

And Phil was standing in his place.

His screen showed an angry pixel face.

A long black streak was steaming across the roof, leading to his feet.

The fat guy was so startled that he dropped me.

My ribs made a horrible clacking sound, and my chest burned with pain.

I cried out, and my brother punched the fat guy so hard in the stomach that he rolled and almost fell off the roof, too.

Unfortunately… I don’t know what happened after that.

Because I passed out from the pain.

I woke up a couple of days later in a hospital bed with Phil by my side.

His screen showed a sad face made of dots.

As soon as he saw I was awake, his screen changed to a happy face.

Then he looked down, and his screen went blank.

He looked back up at me, and a sentence scrolled across his screen:

"Do you know who those guys were?"

I shook my head no.

"They said something about a beast coming to finish the job. Do you know what that means?"

I shook my head again.

"How did you do that?" I asked.

His screen showed a question mark.

"How did you know where I was? And you were so fast and strong."

He hung his head. His screen went blank.

I waited.

And then, finally, he looked up at me…

And shrugged with a smiley face.

Typical Phil.

Always involved in super important stuff…

And yet never has a clue what’s going on.

Man, I am starving.

Sorry if this seems abrupt, but I’m gonna see if Mom made me something to eat.

Until next time,
Ava