The C Word

Chapter Two

After everyone retired to their bedrooms for the night, Livy Marie felt incredibly grateful that her mom had kept her bedroom exactly the same. It still housed her childhood memories and many pictures of loved ones. The lavender colored walls with black stripes reminded her of the many sleepovers and late nights of secret sharing about crushes. Even though she had a boyfriend in high school, he definitely wasn't her sweetheart. He enlisted in the Army right after their high school graduation and they never spoke again. After having a fun filled freshman year, Livy Marie settled down with Tyyler after meeting in the campus library. Consumed with memories of the past, she jumped out of fear when she heard a loud knock on her bedroom window. Knowing it could only be one person, she smiled and opened the locked window.

"So... you couldn't even text your favorite cousin and let a bitch know that you was here?" Mandi Green asked as she climbed through the bedroom window and fell on the floor. Obviously inebriated.

Shaking her head, Livy Marie responded while laughing, "You're my only cousin MAN-di."

"Don't do me!"

"Whatever. Since you're family and only live a few miles away, you know that you can use the front door right?"

"Please! I prefer a more dramatic entrance," Mandi stated as she gracefully bowed.

"Yeah right! You're drunk and clearly doing too much. I just can't with you right now but I've missed my partner in crime. We could've had so much fun in college if you would have stayed."

"Yeah I know but college ain't for me. And it's hard to be in the wolfpack without a key member but me and Shai been holding it down."

"I bet," Livy Marie replied already knowing how they like to party.

"Don't judge me. We're only twenty-one years old and it's peak time for us. Plus, I plan to move away just like you. I will be a huge star some day. This crap town can't hold me down."

"I hear you but Shai is only nineteen years old and you can't be having her drinking while she's underage. And my uncle and aunt will never let you leave," Livy Marie reminded her.

"And my uncle and aunt will never let you leave neither. You are the oldest."

"Only by a month. And they won't have a choice. I'm leaving for a job. My dream career."

"And my dreams of being a famous actress isn't a career goal? It's my dream job and they can't rob me of that!"

"Well since neither one of our fathers had a son, one of us has to stay back and continue the family legacy."

"So why should it be me? You will have the fancy degree so you could be more of an asset."

"But you have the best personality," Livy Marie said as she batted her eyes mocking her cousin.

"Oh shut up!" Mandi replied as she threw a pillow at her.

"No pillow fights tonight. I'm sleepy. You staying?"

"Of course. It's your first night back and it should be like old times."

"Just don't sleep talk; it's annoying."

"I do not talk in my sleep!"

Giggling, Livy Marie responded, "Keep telling yourself that."

"Goodnight bighead!"

"Night MAN-di."

****

Livy Marie awoke to her mom banging on the door while instructing her and Mandi to wake up. She looked at her cell and it was 5:01am. Mandi loudly cursed wondering how Aunt Bobbi Lee knew she was there.