Okay, I know what you're thinking, "A 90210-style fic, how original, Melissa!"
But I'm hoping to do something a little different with this one, so please give it a try, and I hope you enjoy it!

JUST A SMALL TOWN GIRL

Eve Torres couldn't help but think how much she hated losing battery on her iPod. What was she supposed to do for the rest of this journey?

She wasn't a negative person – in fact, she was probably one of the sweetest girls in America – but seriously? This sucked hard. Colorado to California was the longest car ride she'd ever taken, and it was everything she'd predicted it would be; sweaty and extremely boring. It takes about a day to get there, however the Torres/Kingston family had spent the night in a motel to break up the journey.

"Two hours to go." Eve's mom Carol Torres counted down, looking at the glowing numbers of the clock on the dashboard. "You kids excited?"

Eve looked over at her step-brother, Kofi Kingston, whose ears were enthralled by Lil Wayne blasting through his iPod earphones. His eyes were captured by his cell phone, as he was no doubt looking at pictures of his precious Danielle on his cell phone, mentally cursing his father's new job in Beverly Hills and wishing he didn't have to travel across the country to start a new life. If Kofi had a voodoo doll, there'd be no guesses as to who he'd be stabbing.

"Someone's in a bad mood." Eve laughed, nudging her brother and pulling an earphone out of his ear. "Are you listening?"

"He's too busy thinking about Danielle." Kofi's dad Andrew Kingston teased from the driver's seat, referring to Kofi's pride and joy; more important than any of his basketball trophies was his girlfriend Danielle. "You worried she's going to forget about you?"

"Why would she want to remember me? I had to break up with her because we're moving to stupid L.A" He folded his arms across his chest, letting out a deep sigh. Yep, he was in a bad mood.

"You're such a drama queen." Eve told him. "We've all had to leave things behind in Denver-"

"I had a lot going for me, Eve!" Kofi exclaimed, losing his rag. "I was the captain of the basketball team, I had an incredible girlfriend and everything was going just fine!"

"And I was on the cheerleading team and was captain of the dance squad! I had a great group of friends and when it comes to grades, I'm in the top twenty kids in the entire junior class." Eve paused to catch her breath. She rarely argued with her step-brother, and when she did, she hated it. "We've all left things behind, bro. Some of us just don't go on about it like a stuck record."

A frosty silence filled the car, as Andrew tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, and Carol kept her attention focused on the surroundings outside the car. California was certainly different to Colorado, and it was a lot to take in for everyone. Eve wound down her window and draped her arm out the side of the car, letting the warm midday air hit her.

"Can we stop for something to eat?" Eve asked, as she noticed a sign instructing there was a service station ahead. "I'm starving."

Carol turned around to look at her stepson. "Kofi?"

The teenage boy rolled his eyes, before looking out of the window. "Yeah, I guess I could eat something."

"I know he tries to come across as the big tough guy, but he's pretty sensitive really." Andrew told Eve, as they sat with Carol around a small service station cafe table, watching Kofi stood by a magazine stand, flicking through a copy of Sports Illustrated.

"Yeah, and the only way he can be soothed is by looking at Bar Raffaeli in a bikini." Eve responded sarcastically.

"I think this move's been harder on him than it has on you." Carol explained. "Perhaps you could talk-"

"You think I should apologize to him?" Eve practically spat out the Diet Coke that was in her mouth. "I didn't even do anything wrong!"

"Just do what you think is right, sweetie." Carol got out of her chair, before she signalled for Andrew to follow her lead. "We'll wait in the car."

Eve groaned, draining the last contents of her drink. Perhaps she'd been a little harsh on Kofi, but she was frustrated. They were both sacrificing, so why did he have to be such a baby about it? If this was about Danielle, then he could've done a hell of a lot better anyway. She was just a face of make-up-

Before she mind-bitch about Danielle anymore, she was joined at her table by Kofi, who didn't say anything. Instead, he just drank his Coke and read his copy of Sports Illustrated.

"Sorry I snapped at you earlier." She said lightly. Well, someone had to be the bigger person.

Kofi looked up. "You shouldn't apologize; I was the one being a jackass."

"Yeah, you were." Eve grinned. "But I get it. This move's gonna be difficult for all of us, but we've just gotta learn to deal with it, and that doesn't include getting into stupid fights. Deal?"

"Deal." Kofi and Eve fist-bumped.

"So your dad said this new school has a basket ball team." Eve absentmindedly attempted to lighten the mood, as she rifled through a copy of Cosmopolitan. "You thinking of trying out?"

"Hadn't really thought about it." Kofi admitted. "I'm sure they have a cheerleading team. Are you gonna join that?"

"Maybe." Eve shrugged. "Depends on what the team's like."

"Everything was great in Denver." Kofi commented. "What do you think this new place is gonna be like?"

Eve put down her magazine and twisted her lips in thought. "It's Beverly Hills, Kofi. It's definitely gonna be different." She paused, before turning her mouth into a smile. "But I think I'm excited. I mean it's a new opportunity-"

"Are you slow coaches coming?" Carol called the two teenagers from the entrance of the service station. Eve shot her mom two thumbs up in response.

"We'd better get going before Mom starts PMSing." Eve grinned, slinging her handbag over her shoulder and placing the copy of Cosmo back onto the magazine rack. "You ready?"

"Two hours to go." Kofi looked down at his watch, as the pair walked to the entrance in silence.

Eventually, Eve had to say, "I mean, how bad could it be, right?"

"Everybody raise your glasses." Carol instructed, as she, Eve, Kofi and Andrew sat around a picnic rug spread out on their living room floor, eating Chinese take-out and drinking out of paper cups. Their furniture hadn't been unpacked yet, and was set up in a fortress around them.

"What are we toasting?" Eve asked.

"We've got a lot to celebrate; new jobs, new schools, not to mention a wonderful new house..."

Eve had to admit; this was a pretty sweet house. Obviously Andrew's new job meant a pay rise, meaning their Beverly Hills mansion was a little more illustrious than their Denver town house. Well, none of them were complaining. Despite the fact there was no furniture, it was already beginning to feel like home.

"Your mom was terrified when I told her I'd bought a house without showing her." Andrew grinned. "I hope her mind's been put to rest."

"You did a good job." Everyone looked at the previously grumpy Kofi in shock. "What?! There's a great basketball court just down the road."

"Not to mention the pretty blonde girl that lives next door." Eve giggled.

"What pretty blonde girl?" Carol asked.

"When we were unloading the van, there was pretty blonde girl that pulled up onto the driveway next door." Eve explained. "She looked about our age. She smiled at Kofi, and now he's totally smitten."

"No, I'm not!"

"So am I adding new neighbours to the toast?" Carol smiled. "Okay, new jobs, new school, new house, and new, pretty blonde neighbours!"

"Here, here!" Andrew received a dirty look from his wife.

"Cheers!"

"I'm gonna go use the bathroom." Eve got up to her feet, and made her way out of the living room.

As she walked the echoed hallways of her new home, she smiled. This was her home now, and whether she liked it or not, she'd be living there for the next couple of was her first day at her new school, and despite the butterflies in her stomach, she could feel excitement brewing.

Eve grinned; she could definitely learn to like this.

So much intrigue!
Who's the pretty blonde neighbour? How will Eve and Kofi's first days turn out?
Hope you liked the update, and please leave a review and tell me what you think!