Haven

Eighteen

The next morning Jayana got up earlier than me, as usual. I didn't bother to get a maid because I preferred doing the chores alone and so the sound of her doing dishes woke me up. Living alone also meant I didn't make much of a mess.

"Do you always have to make so much noise when doing the dishes?" I said walking down the stairs and pouring myself a glass of water.

"I see your glass of water has an extra hint of cranky," I rolled my eyes at her comment. I wasn't a morning person so waking up after nine and cranky was my thing.

"I'm having it on the rocks today. " I joked.

"Oh please," she rolled her eyes. "Just grab a broom and let's get cleaning. "

After an hour we were done cleaning the whole house and just hanging around the living room in our pyjamas when we heard a car horn sound outside the gate.

"Are you expecting someone?" Jayana asked looking out the window.

I wasn't expecting anyone but I did recognize Anny's car driving in and parking where she usually did.

"Hai girls," she greeted us as she followed her to the door. "You guys don't look ready at all." She added disapprovingly.

"Ready for what?" I asked.

"To give Jayana the full Shadesdale experience duh. " She definitely looked ready wearing skinny jeans and a green crop top that only went as far as under her breasts.

"Don't you have class today?" I asked curiously.

"Seniors don't have class on Friday sweety. Now let's go." She said grabbing Jayana by her arm. "Where are we going?" She asked as she dragged her up the stairs.

"To change out of those hideous pyjamas. Gracie, come on, we don't have all day," she said and I followed them behind.

After about an hour we walked out of the house dressed in whatever Anny approved of us to wear. Jayana was in a purple floral sundress and I was in bell-bottom denim and a halter top. We got into Anny's car and drove to the mall. I asked Matthew and the other bodyguards to stay behind today because I honestly felt I had tolerated them enough and to be rational, I hadn't had any threats in such a long time. But I knew Matthew followed us behind anyway, he freakishly took his job very seriously. Jayana always told me I needed the protection because my father was wealthy and they'd use to get to him. But that sounded scripted to me, besides people hardly knew that he had any kids.

We drove all around town, Anny was doing most of the work showing Jayana around because I forgot where some places were and even the ones I did remember looked a little bit different from the last time I was here.

"It's so cool here," Jayana said after we made a stop at the nail salon and got mani-pedis, I sure needed one.

"I'm hungry. We should go to Spice place to eat," Anny suggested referring to a food court located near us. At least spice place looked the same as I had remembered.

Spice place was famously knowns for having the best take-out food in Shadesdale, and it sure did live up to its expectation. It was an all-in-one, it had: Subway, a cafe, a pizza place, an ice cream shop, a sandwich shop and a burger stand.

Jayana was the type of girl who always watched what she ate except for today when she had a little bit of everything because she was tired of dieting to make sure she fit into her dress.

"So when is the wedding date?" Anny asked swallowing down a slice of pizza in two bites.

"It's just two months from now," she responded. " I really want you guys to come. "