Olivia's POV
The school bell rings at two in the afternoon and I teeth my way through the crowd like a stylist combing through an expensive wig.
"Who are you looking for?"
My heart jumps at the sudden sound of my best friend's voice, before returning to its normal beat.
"Dammit, you scared me, Lay!" I say and she chuckles as she opens her locker, which just so happens to be right next to mine.
"Why are you looking around this hallway like the camera crew from Cheaters?"
"Because I'm trying to avoid my dad at all cost," I answer plainly.
"Is this about the stuff your parents found in your book bag?" She asks, already knowing what my response will be. "—— thought that was——"
"——- a mistake," I say overtop of her words and she looks curiously as my dad walks up behind her.
"I was going to say—-"
"——I wish I could hang out, but I can't." I complete her sentence and she finally shuts her mouth before my dad interrupts.
"That's right! Tell her you can't hang out tonight because we have an exciting family evening planned."
"Oh darn—- that sounds—- uh—- fun!" Layla mumbles sarcastically and I chuckle.
"You need a ride, baby girl?" He asks as my twin brother, Jordan, comes out of the locker room with a bunch of his douchebag friends.
"Uh— no, I'll catch the bus," I answer as Jordan walks by with a smirk I'd like to knock off his face.
"What was that?" Layla whispers as distance grows between us and my father.
"That was me continuing to save my twin's ass. And yet, he gives me his to kiss."
"Why don't you just tell your parents the truth?" She asks.
"Because my father and mother think the world of their precious baby boy. And I actually don't want to see their hearts crushed into tiny little pieces. Plus, it's not a big deal." I try to convince her with my words and she's even more confused. "Besides, they'll just give me way more attention than usual for a couple of weeks. And then it all goes back to normal."
"What if they do more, though? I mean, you said it yourself! Your mom has been researching rehabs—- and boarding schools all over the internet for the past couple of days." She counters.
"Layla, relax! I know my parents!" I insist. "But if you want to help me, then you'll give me a ride home. I can't stand the bus."
She nods as we walk out of school towards her car.
"What time is your family night out? Or whatever it is you have to pretend you like doing tonight?" She asks with a sinister grin plastered on her face.
"My mom usually works until like six. Unless, she gets off early. Why?"
"You have to come to this day party with me!" She pleads and I shake my head no.
"Do you not understand? I'm on thin ice with my parents. They're talking rehab and boarding school, Layla!"
"Do you realize you're not guilty of anything in which you're being accused?" She questions rhetorically.
I pause because she's one hundred percent correct. I've done nothing wrong. Why should I suffer because my parents are too fragile to handle the truth?
"An hour!" I make her promise me with the clinching of our pinky fingers before we leave school and show up poolside at her boyfriend's family beach loft.
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YOU ARE READING
From the Hills to Crenshaw
FanfictionWhen Olivia's given an ultimatum by her parents, she chooses to stay with her grandfather in South Crenshaw. And what was originally supposed to be temporary, turns into a permanent memory that will last a lifetime.
