Babe.

7.

Blanca. 

By the time I was finished with my tennis training I was sweating like a pig, the californian heat plus the insanely gruelling routine my teacher had put together were definitely at fault. 

Aside from football, tennis was my favourite sport in the entire world they were both on the same level of what I enjoyed actually. And since I was a girl and that was not accepted at all in football, especially not somwhere as conservative as San Fernando Valley, tennis got my full attention. 

I played three times a week and in any competitions I could find, I didn't want to go pro or anything crazy I just wanted to be really, really good. Nika came bursting through the gates of the court as we were packing up. 

"BLANCA!" She shouted waving her hands to get my attention, "Blanca you will never believe it. Yeah-yeah just asked me out!" 

My mouth dropped open, she had been crushing on him for ages now, "oh my god that's amazing!" 

She grabbed my hand and we jumped up and down shrieking exitedly, there was a sharp whistle as my coach, Jerry shot us a look, "girls, take it off the court please." 

We nodded quickly and I grabbed my stuff, "thanks Jerry, see you on Monday!" I called as we walked out, "now, tell me everything."

While I showered and got changed in the girls locker rooms Nika filled me in on all the details, she was so happy that it made my heart warm. At least things were finally going right for her. And even though it made made me the biggest fattest third wheel now that she and Tilly both had boyfriends, I didn't care I was too exited for her. Benny would have a field day with this. 

"We should have a sleepover tonight." I told her as we walked out of the club, "to celebrate." 

Nika nodded, "I agree. I'm on such a high right now. Should we do yours?" 

"Oh definitely," I agreed, "my dad just had the cinema room renovated." 

"I'll call Tilly and she can come over." I told her slinging my arm through hers, luckily Nika had come with her car so I didn't have to bike back home. I shoved my bike in the back seat of her car and then got in beside her. 

She had the coolest car in the world, it was a hand me down from her grandfather who she claimed to be the favourite grandchild of. A red convertibel cadillac with a full stereo at the front. If I could marry a car, it would have been that car.

Once we got to my house I dialled Tilly's number and told her to come over, she said she'd be there in twenty minutes tops.

At home Ella making arrangements for her birthday party in three weeks, she was turning eighteen and she wanted to do something big. The entire  dining room table was covered in her plans and invitations. "BB! Nika" She called as I walked in, "I need help with theme ideas, come sit with me!" 

We grabbed some cookies from the kitchen before going to sit with my sister, "alright, what are your favourite ones?" I asked pouring the cookies into a bowl. 

"So far I've got, model mayhem, punk rock, midsummer, but I feel like that's quite overdone, ABBA and then sports icons." She filled us in. 

I nodded, "well you're right, midosmmar is overdone, I swear we wen't to like three of those last summer remember?" 

"Yeah, and model mayhem is going to be the theme of Hetty Baker's party in three weeks and she'll be so pissed if you take that." Nika added, "you don't want her on your hands." 

"Both very true, one is boring and the other is not worth the drama," Ellasandra agreed, "keep it coming." 

"I think sports icons is the best." I continued, "and that's because I just thought of the best costume idea ever."

Ella and Nika looked at me expectantly, and I grinned, "we can go as Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders!" 

There was a shriek from the door, as Tilly waltzed in, "I love the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders! What's the occasion?" 

We gestured for her to come sit, "Ella's birthday." She'd turned eighteen a couple days ago but she wanted to have a big party so that was a bit later. 

"You are a little genius BB, that is the best idea ever. We are going to look so hot!" Ella exclaimed exitedly. 

One of the perks of having her as an older sister was that she didn't mind sharing or matching with me which a lot of other older sisters did. But Ella and I, not on a daily basis, did matching at costume parties pretty well. We didn't do it very often but on the occasions that we did, it rocked. 

She turned to my friends, "you should all feel free to join in too, we'll do a little group thing, my friends and yours Blanca. But don't tell anyone because I'll get annoyed if everyone shows up in the costume." 

We nodded amused, "cross our hearts Ella." 

"I'd expect nothing less." My sister answered, "and I want your guest list in a week, so I know how many people I need to account for." 

"I'll get it done don't worry Ella." I reassured her, "we're going to watch a movie, want to come?" 

She shook her head, "can't, I have way too much planning too do. Thanks though." 

We grabbed some more snacks from the kitchen, and by some I mean a shitload, before going dowsntairs to the cinema room. "What should we watch?" I asked looking through our CDs. 

"Do Karate Kid." Tilly called to me, "Ralph Macchio looks so good in that one." 

No one could deny that. 

I grabbed it off the shelf and went to put it in the projector, "after we watched this movie for the first time, E decided he wanted to do karate, and," I laughed at the memory, "he broke is arm trying to attack the mailman because he thought he was a burglar." 

Nika cackled at the idea, she and Emmanuel did not get along by any means, "fucking idiot he is."

He was a fucking idiot. Especially around the time when he'd been twe;ve to fifteen, I'd never laughed as much as those three years. When the movie started we stopped talking, it was time to just enjoy the view.