City Lights

Chapter 9

"So, do you think he'll be there?" Alisha asks.

She's driving me to Brandon's house and the plan is to hang out at Brandon's until school's over.

"I hope so Ali, and if Brandon actually at school, I'll stay at his house anyway. His mom doesn't work and she loves me. She'll probably let me in without telling my parents."

Alisha laughs.

My parents know that I always go to Bryan's 'Back to School' party every year, and mom and dad love all of my friends.

The problem is, I've never skipped school because of a party, and my parents might ban me from parties for the rest of the school year if they ever find out that I did.

And that would meane missing out on excluaive inside jokes and classic teenage fun.

But we all stayed too long at breakfast at Bryan's, and we were already late for school by more than four hours so most of us decided not to go at all. No one else's parents would react like mine, besides Micheal and Sadie's parents. That's why Mike and Sadie decided to go to school even though half the day was gone but I didn't want to because there are only few hours left.

I can't just go home like everyone else though. My dad's a CEO of a large company and doesn't go to work every day. He doesn't need to, unless there is a huge, important meeting, or a huge, important issue... or something huge. He's probably at home in his office, where he answers emails or makes deals with other companies through facetime.

And even if my dad isn't home, my mom is another issue. She's a professional photographer. She does stuff like A-list wedding pictures, photographs models, and sometimes less glamorous stuff, like ads and movie pictures; pretty much anything like that.

Though its not all the time mom's working, there's always a thirteen percent chance that when I go home she'll be there.

"Alright, we're here."

"Hm? What?"

"Brandon's house."

I glance out the window,"Oh thanks."

"Don't be weird and jealous around him just because of last night, okay?" I had filled Alisha in on what happened with Brandon and his date.

I open the door and step out,"I'll try, but no promises. Drive safe Alisha. By the way, you're getting used to this whole 'driving in New York' thing. You seem alot less nervous." I say, shutting the door.

Alisha blows me kisses then makes a U-turn out of the half a mile long road that leads up to the gate of Brandon's house.

I type in the gate's pin code and wait for it to open...

Red light flashes at me.

I frown trying again, this time more careful...

More red flashes.

"Ugh, seriously?"

I call Brandon's house phone and hope he picks up.

After about 15 seconds I hear Brandon's butler, Johnny on the line."Ms. Jessica?"

Then immediately after, another voice--Brandon's voice; he sounds a few feet away from the phone when he speaks."Is that Jessica on the phone?"

I raise my voice,"Brandon, hey!"

He laughs and I hear Johnny hand the phone over to him."Hey Jessie. What are you doing here?"

"Right now? Well I'm kinda just standing alone outside your house, freezing and feeling pretty stupid, just waiting for someone, anyone, to open the freaking gate."