☀️She's Extraordinary ☀️

We're Going On A Trip

(1 Halsey Path) (Southampton, NY) (Olivia's Perspective)
Vacation always equals chaos in our house. We've come to accept it. Currently, we were packing for our road trip, and let's just say that the house was a mess.
"Leia, I haven't got all day. I need you to try on these clothes to see if they fit."
"I'm coming, Mommy." She came into my bedroom with her stuffed kitty and set it down next to me.
"Lolo wants to be a part of the fashion show." She told me. I handed her a pair of shorts to try on.
"Mommy, these are tight." She said with a sense of discomfort.
"I know, you've outgrown them. I'll give this to Amanda."
"Amanda? But these clothes are for little girls."
"Not for Amanda pumpkin, for Billie!"
"Oh, I'm so silly!" We both giggled. As I helped her put on some clothes we had a little chat.
"Mommy, guess what Barrett said to me."
"What?"
"He told me that boys are smarter than girls. Is that true?" I put on a dress I recently bought for her on got on my knees.
"No, that is absolutely not true."
"So girls can be smart like boys."
"Yes, of course. Both girls and boys can be brilliant. Boys are not better than girls in any way, shape, or form."
"But they're stronger. Isn't that better?"
"Anybody can be strong, Leia."
"My teacher said so."
"I think what your teacher meant is that usually, boys are stronger than girls in some cases. But girls are just as strong, maybe even stronger. Wanna know why?"
"Why?"
"Because when things are thrown in our way, we get right back up and prove them wrong. Don't we?"
"Yeah! Girls are strong! Just like boys."
"You've got it. Do you like this dress?"
"I love it. Mom, can I get more dresses and skirts and stuff for school? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
"Yes, Lei. You can."
"Yay!!!"
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Hannah's House (Bella's Perspective)
When I need someone to confide in and make me laugh, I know where to go.
"What is wrong with you?!?" I joked. Hannah's "smoothie" was all over her shirt and shorts. I couldn't stop laughing. Who switches on the blender so carelessly?
"I didn't realize that it was open."
"Hannah!" I helped my bestie clean up and I wiped my eyes.
"You kill me, honestly."
"Everybody makes mistakes. Mine just happen to be really stupid. So, what's up Bell?"
"We're going on a road trip for like two weeks."
"Oooo, where to?"
"It's a secret."
"That's always fun. So what's the dire situation?"
"This is gonna be like, the longest I'm away from Jake."
"You could sneak him."
"Uh, yeah sure. Because they won't notice a tall, handsome, boy in the back of the car. You want me killed?"
"Look I'm just giving you a suggestion."
"But seriously, how are you able to be separated from Knox so long?"
"Because my honeymoon phase is over. Yours is in motion."
"There is no honeymoon phase."
"Umm...yes there is." I listened as my friend described how it contained constantly wanting to be with the person, an overwhelming amount of lovey-dovey moments, and separation anxiety. All of which I experience.
"So what do I do?"
"Find what works for the both of you." But what is that??
^^^^^^^^^^
Target
"Mom, what exactly are we here for?" I asked her.
"Food and supplies."
"So then why are we in the clothing section?"
"Do you want something or not?"
"Um, yes." I chuckled.
"So like, I know the destination is a secret, but are we stuffing all of this into your car or Elliot's car?"
"I don't know that part yet."
"Liar."
"Maybe my car. That'll be the last big trip with it."
"Ooo, you're getting a new car?"
"Yes, hopefully after Leia's birthday." Suddenly, something took over me.
"Hey, Mom?" I asked while walking closer to her. We were at the self-checkout now, bagging the hundreds of items we bought. I figured that if I didn't ask soon, it'd be never.
"Yes?" She paid and we made our way out of the store.
"What do you do when Elliot is undercover or stays at work for days?" I asked her. She continued pushing the cart towards the car. Is she onto me? Does she think I need a session or something?
"Like how do you contact him and stuff?"
"Well, when he's undercover, I can only call him when he's free so it's a bit more sporadic, so what I do is send him texts telling him how much I love him, and I tell him about my day and how you guys drive me crazy. It's like he never left." She said in Italian.
"Really, or are you just saying that?"
"Really. Why are you asking me this?"
"It just came to my mind."
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Crumbl Cookies (Westhampton, NY) (6:02 PM) (Leia's Perspective)
"This week's flavors look so yummy!" I told my older sister Bella. She's been a little bit nicer this week and not on the phone with Jake so much. I asked my Mom why she's being so weird and she said that Bella likes being friends with Jake so they talk a lot.
"They do! I wonder how that birthday cake one tastes." She said to me.
"Me too! I think Daddy, Eli, and Noah would like the chocolate one."
"Definitely, it'll be World War 3 over that." Mommy said. We took the cookies and went back into the car. We were having a special dessert with our dinner because we'd be leaving tomorrow. I've been asking Mommy and Daddy a lot of questions about our trip but they wouldn't tell me anything.
"Mommy, will the doggies come?"
"No, they'll be staying with Hannah and the twins."
"I'm gonna miss them."
"It'll fly by, I promise." As Mommy began to drive I started to think of a lot of other things. Who's going with us? Where are we going? Is it far away?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(7:10 PM)
"What's that noise?!" I asked Mommy. Someone was honking in the driveway. But not just anyone can come in the driveway because there's a gate.
"That doesn't sound like Dad's car." Eli said.
"Well...let's go outside and see." I put on my slippers and we all went outside. When we got outside and I saw the best thing ever.
"YOU GOT AN RV?!" I jumped up and down.
"Can we go in please?!?"
"You guys can check it out." I stepped inside and hugged Daddy Elliot.
"Woah!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best Daddy ever!"
"Ooo, look at the tv!" The RV's really cool! Like I feel like it's a small luxury hotel! There was a kitchen thing and a dining table and a little couch and a tv! I walked down and saw the bathroom, which looked okay I guess! But the best part of all was the bunk beds! I love bunk beds so, so, so much but Mommy and Daddy won't let me have one.
"This is my bed! I claim the top bunk!"
"By the way, this is me and Dad's bed. Not Leia and Bella and co.'s bed."
"No fair. I can't even cuddle before bedtime?" I asked.
"You can, but we'd prefer if you slept in your bed."
"Hmph."
"Look, Lei, they're gonna let you hang out in it." Noah said.
"They're not completely kicking you out."
"It feels like it!"
"Alright guys, let's go have dinner and get ready for bed. We have a long day ahead of us."
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The Porch (7:55 AM) (Thursday, July 20th) (Olivia's Perspective)
"Mommy.." Leia whined as we began to load things onto the RV.
"I'm not going to respond to you when you're whining." She went back inside, sulking.
"Bella, go get the box of snacks that I put in the basement, they have the label 'trip' on them."
"Got it."
"Liv, when are the friends coming?" Eli asked.
"Very soon. I promise."
"I feel like I know who they are, Mom."
"Then who are they?!"
"I'm not saying. That'd ruin the surprise."
"You know, if you're going to claim to know such a hefty piece of info you gotta have the bravery to back it up." He laughed and hugged me.
"Got the box!"
"Thanks, Bell. Okay, Dad's gonna start getting ready. Do you guys have everything you need? Oh wait, where's Leia? Leia Mae Benson!" She came out followed by Elliot. From the looks of it, they just had a little "chat".
"I have everything." Noah said.
"Me too." Eli and Bella added.
"And I know Leia has everything because I packed it. Okay, let's hit the road!" We all got into the RV and I gave Elliot a wink.
"Why isn't it starting?!?"
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The RV (8:25 AM) (Long Island) (Bella's Perspective)
Okay, so we're supposed to be starting our RV trip but the damn RV won't start so we're just sitting here in our RV looking like fools. Luckily though, we're in our driveway so it doesn't look worse.
"Honk honk!"
"Who's that?!!" Mom laughed and Leia started to get even more cranky. I stared out of the window and I saw a woman with blonde hair and glasses waving at me.
"Alex?!?" I said. Leia snapped out of her bad mood quickly and ran to the twins.
"I've missed you!" I told her! She also brought along her boyfriend, Garrett. He seems nice. She gave us all hugs and we all just started chatting away.
"How does Alex get to outshine us?!" And then there was Aunty Eve, Aunty Elena, and Aunty Kate and their families.
"Okay, woah! This is too much to handle!" Noah said.
"Are there any more guests?!"
"No, no that's it!" I ran up to Amelia, Ellie, Lila, and Julia. We're all basically cousins because our parents are so close. This trip is gonna be awesome.
"Am I the only one who had no idea about this?!!" I asked them.
"No, we're just as shocked as you are!" Once everyone got over the novelty of seeing each other Noah read the first clue for our next destination: