𝐆𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 || #𝟏

Chapter 27

As I watch her, and her older sister leave the parking lot - this random revelation came into my mind. The way that I'd smile whenever I was around her, or laugh when we texted, had I really liked her all along? And this was the moment that I found out?

Well, whatever I feel for Jasmine... I can't tell her, it'd ruin her and Luke, and Luke's my friend. 

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"As I said before," my mother chirps, sitting in the front seat while Claudia drives. "I'm sure you'll just love our new house!"

Her unnaturally shrill voice pierces my ears. I want to cover them with my hands, but I knew that if I did that then my mother would get offended, and her new and happy mood we hadn't seen in so long would be ruined. Thanks to me.

Claudia pulls up into our new driveway. As I got out of the car, taking a good view of the house, my mother was right. This is a nice house.

The house is made out of concrete, with long glass paned windows lining up - letting lots of natural light filter in. Flowers of all different colours are set in the front garden, while a small swimming pool is set off to the side. The house is two-storey, and is amazingly big for only three people.

Claudia squeals, running up and down the big backyard. She grabs her many suitcases, and bursts in the front door.

"I BAGS THE BIGGEST BEDROOM!" She yells, as I clamour after her, shouting in protest.

"THAT'S NOT FAIR!" I called out, "YOU'RE GOING BACK TO DAD'S NEXT WEEK SO I SHOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST BEDROOM!"

"FAT CHANCE!" She fights back, ducking in and out of the bedrooms, searching for the biggest one. "GO FLIRT WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND!"

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"

We fight, and fight for the next ten minutes before mum comes upstairs. She watches us in amusement, before opening the door of the biggest room which already has all of her stuff settled in. Claudia and I groan, visibly shrinking as we trail off the claim the smaller ones.

"Better luck next time!" My mother sings, her triumphant voice ringing through the house. "If you really wanted the biggest bedroom you should've got here earlier!"

I unload my things into the bedroom, wondering when my mum got so cheeky when:

"JASMINE!" Claudia whines, "did you see who our next door neighbours are?"

"No," I reply. "Why? Is it someone we know?"

Claudia's lips fold into a smile as she shrieks. "AILEEN LIVES IN THE NEXT HOUSE! MEANING, THAT HER FAMILY LIVES THERE! MEANING, AILEEN'S MUM LIVES THERE! MEANING, AILEEN'S MUM IS A LAWYER! MEANING, I CAN ASK HER FOR TIPS ON MY HARVARD APPLICATION FOR LAW!"

I cringe by the sheer volume of her voice. She dances away from my room, singing loudly out of tune in the house. Later, mum tells her to shut up because she can't think with her dreadful voice. Claudia shrinks back to her room, and starts playing sad songs as she sings to herself. Not too loud so mum can hear her, but not too quiet so that I can.

"All by myself~" She quietly wails, "don't wanna be... All by myself~"

"CLAUDIA!" I scream, banging on my bedroom wall. Her music quickly shuts off, and I hear her gasp. She quickly runs into my bedroom, pretending as if she wasn't crying. "Stop singing depressing songs and unpack."

By the time evening rolls around, we've already unpacked everything. Claudia stopped being upset, and actually got some productive work done. She lounged around in the kitchen with her law book, before mum appeared downstairs, all formally dressed.

"Girls, why aren't you dressed?" She cries, looking at both of us. I was wearing sweatpants and a baggy shirt while Claudia was wearing her pyjamas. "We're meant to be having dinner next door with the Rossi family!"

"We're meant to be having dinner with... Alexis and her family!?" I shriek, while Claudia fangirls over the fact that she'll be able to meet their mother again. My insides churn as I dread the ongoing events, while Claudia's heart almost explodes from pure happiness.

"Yes.. Didn't I tell you?"

"No!" Claudia shrieked, fear finally setting in on her, "you didn't tell us! If you told us I would've been dressed five hours ago in my lawyer outfit! Why didn't you tell me?! Argh, I have to go get ready now!"

Claudia speeds off, tumbling upstairs while I shortly chase after her. Mum rubs her forehead, trying to recall her memories on whether or not she told us about the dinner.

"N-no I did tell you... Didn't I tell you this morning at breakfast? Or yesterday while we were passing through the cemetery?"

Looking into my closet, I picked out the plainest dress that I had. It was plain white, and I knew that mum wouldn't have a problem with it. I quickly change into it, and re-meet mum downstairs. Claudia runs down a couple of minutes later in a hideous judge robe, wearing one of those stereotypical wigs that judges used to wear.

"C-claudia," my mother stutters. "You aren't seriously thinking about wearing that, are you?"

"Of course I am!" Claudia grins, "I've got to put on my best impression if I want to be a lawyer!"

"That's a Judge's outfit, not a lawyer," I point out. Claudia sticks out her tongue at me.

"You know what?" My mother sighs, "we haven't got anymore time. Let's just go have dinner with them."