August 18th, 2002

We’re moving today. To LA. Not sure why Dad decided we needed to do that. I was perfectly happy here. But it’s a big change and I guess I have to get used to those at some point.

But, my favorite musical is playing in a theater there not long after we get the keys to the new house. I might try and persuade him to buy the tickets for me. You know, as an apology for packing up my life and shoving it into a tiny apartment on the west coast.

Update: he said we’d be unpacking that day, and that it was a waste of time since we were going through such a big change. This shit seriously blows.

August 20th, 2002

So far, it hasn’t been bad. The new school is weird. These kids do not understand the concept of personal space, and they ask the weirdest questions. Like, some kid asked me if we had television in Texas? Yeah? Of course we do, dumbass.

It’s also kinda weird that all of my friends back home are ignoring me. I thought we were close but… I guess that just shows you who your real friends are. I guess I’m looking forward to making new friends here. Once we get over the boundaries thing.

September 3rd, 2002

It’s not getting better. It’s so hard to make friends. The kids are just getting more odd. They just… stare. At you. When you do anything that they don’t do. Like, for example, I got up to get a fork from the lunch line because I forgot one, and it was a little awkward because everyone else had already sat down, but I made my way up there and when I turned around, it was absolutely silent. And everyone was looking at me. Talk about freaky and uncomfortable. And then later, I raised my hand to ask a question about our math test, and they did it again! Even the teacher stared at me weird. Of course, my question didn’t get answered. I literally just wanted to know when the test was.

After that, I tried to call my friends from Texas. Guess what!! None of them picked up. It’s like they forgot all about me. It’s so weird. Especially because Paige won’t pick up. We were like attatched at the hip. But now she’s not answering my texts, or my calls. At this point I might just send her a freaking letter.

September 5th, 1988

Ok. I’m officially done with this place. I tried talking to this girl in my history class, Eva. She sits beside me. I tried to ask her about this research assignment we have coming up. Literally just the simplest of questions. “When is this due??” Because I swear that no one ever talks about due dates here. Seriously, sometimes I feel like no one understands the concept of time.

So anyways, I asked Eva about the assignment, and she shook her head at me, making that dumbass ‘shush’ sign with her finger. Like, seriously??? It’s been like 2 months and I haven’t made a single friend here. Not even outside of school. I tried going down the road to this sci-fi looking pizza place. Seriously, it was super high tech. Anyways, I tried making small talk with the cashier, but he completely blew me off! Not like I’d normally complain about someone not being interested in talking, but it’s like he didn’t even hear me! Like at all! You might be thinking, “wow Jen, you’re an asshole” but let me tell you this: he didn’t even take my order. I asked for a Hawaiian (don’t even start) and he gave me this weird cheese thing. Not even a plain cheese pizza, it was… odd. Like, expired. Cardboard. And then these guys came from the kitchen and escorted me out!!

Hands on my shoulders and everything, telling me that I had everything I needed. It’s probably just some gang/mafia bullshit. I guess I should be glad that I got out alive.

October 11th, 1988

Dad doesn’t seem to understand that everything is just wrong. I stepped outside this morning and it’s like the whole neighborhood changed. The houses look a little different to me. Like, more old fashioned. But every time I think about it for too long my head gets fuzzy. It’s weird.

Nobody seemed to notice anything off at school either. But Eva started talking to me like a normal human being. As long as I don’t ask questions. Or talk to her first. Or laugh. But I get to sit with her at lunch, so that’s a start.

She’s coming over tomorrow to help me with my history assignment. Maybe we can talk like real people.

November 29th, 1988

Sorry, this book went missing for a while. I think Eva took it. Which is weird, because she told me the secrets about this place. I don’t think she wanted me to write them down, but I got the book back!

At least I understand what’s going on now. California is a weird ass place. At least, this city is. According to Eva, she moved here in like, 2007. Which you might think is odd, considering it’s 2001. But it’s because this place changes you. She said that time started going backwards, and everyone stopped caring about the changes. They just accept it. They say it’s some otherworldly type force, or something.

Remember that fucked up pizza place? Apparently that’s the source of the issue. Eva said she lost all contact with her friends back at home, just like I did. When she tried to find once girl she met online, who worked at the pizza place, that girl doesn’t seem to exist. The guy working the register told her to never mention other cities or people outside of LA. Which is weird as hell, right?

But I guess the longer you live here, or at least the more you accept it, you just… move on. I don’t know if I’ll be able to move on. Dad already has. But I don’t think I will. I can already feel like time is shifting, but I still don’t think I will be able to let my old home go. How could I just accept this shit?

November 30th, 1970

I think I’ve investigated too far. I’m shoving this in the carpet to hide it. I hope someone remodels or something, because this place is terrifying. I don’t even know how my house is still standing to be honest. It was built in 2000. But at least, someone might be able to find this and get the hell out of LA. Don’t move here. If you did, just leave as soon as you can.

The least you can do is stay out of the pizza place next to the apartment. Eva and I snuck there after dark to see what was going on. I was convinced it was gangs or some shit. But we made it to the basement. I didn’t even know there was a basement in that place. But the register guy was dragging weird bags down the stairs, so we followed him. There was this weird glowy room, bright greens, with a silver orb in the middle. Eva looked into it for too long. She screamed, and now I guess she can’t see?? I don’t know. That’s what she was screaming about when I ran.

I left her behind. But I had to get out. I need to warn people about this place. I have no idea if this is happening anywhere else. It might even just be happebing in my county. I’ve never been outside of it. Dad doesn’t like me going outside much these days. I guess he was right to be cautious.

So I’m gonna keep running. I’m gonna try and get home. But I’m leaving this here. Hopefully someone will believe me.